http://www.stepinotyourpower.com 120 Full article 2_212available at: stepintoyourpower.com " Begin to see yourself as a soul with a body rather than a body with a soul." ~Wayne Dyer~ Not long ago I was out for a run listening to Dr. Wayne Dyer's audio, Balance. Dr. Dyer spoke about the importance of caring for our body as it is a vehicle for God's expression. This lead me to meditate on how often our actions are out of alignment with what we say we want when it comes to our health; in other words we may express a deep desire to be lean, fit and energized and then sabotage ourselves with foods and a lack of exercise that is incongruent with these desires. It was pause to pose the question - do we sabotage because we do not love ourselves enough to commit? For as long as I can remember, I have had the desire to have a lean fit body. As an obese child who became a young adult who struggled with her weight, I experienced the heartache of trying one diet after another and one exercise program and then another. It got to the point where I began to use exercise as punishment for eating; eat several cookies and go for a run, eat four cinnamon buns and run even farther.I deluded myself into thinking that the more I exercised, the more I could eat. As a result of my beliefs which inspired my behaviors, I ended up on the rollercoaster of self-loathing and moods that cycled based on the number on the scale. It is with great certainty that these behaviors combined with an ample dose of choosing to feel inadequate, contributed to being diagnosed with MS, burning out my adrenals and thyroid and ending up in a state of hopelessness that felt so deep that no one could bring me out of it. In the seminars and trainings I do, I am asked often, 'how did you change?' This is such a powerful question and truly one that has inspired much of my work today.The answer is that I decided to love myself. It meant releasing the judgement for the poor and voluntary decisions of my past, letting go of the feelings of inadequacy and choosing to live a life where I put God in the driver's seat. The shift did not happen overnight. I first had to acknowledge that if I was going to fulfill the desires of my heart then I absolutely required a body that would be able to keep up with the dreams that I had. I understood that the cycle of sugar addiction had to end because sugar lowers the immune system, causes weight gain, depression and a variety of other disorders. I gave up the habits that didn't serve me; the overeating, the literal stuffing of emotions. I learned to eat for energy and sustenance and not for temporary satisfaction or self-flagellation. None of this was easy however it was powerful. Making a decision to make choices based on self-love instead of self-loathing was truly the most incredible pronouncement of my life; this is the moment I stepped into my power ™. Making choices that were in alignment with the healthy body I desired was not always easy. Sure, there are mornings that I do not always want to exercise but I realize that getting out the door is half the battle. There are times that I want to eat something that I know isn't healthy for my body, in which case I save it for my 'cheat day' (one day a week where we take a break and indulge) or I acknowledge the desire and make a choice to have a small bite or taste. I also made a conscious choice not to weigh myself. I have a certain size that I like to be and embrace my curves as a woman. It has taken a long time to get to this point and I readily admit that it is a constant process though one I am willing to commit to because I love myself enough to want to feel the best that I can. My question for you is: are you able to commit to the process of self-love? Can you simply make a decision to embrace who you are and take your focus away from what you are not? Can you take a moment every morning to whisper to the man or woman in the mirror, 'I love you?' Can you start there? What I desire for everyone in this community is to find your bliss, joy and self-love. I want you to wake up in the morning and see the possibilities. I want more than anything for you to play a big role in your life. As always, know that I believe in you. Thu, 2 Feb 2012 16:02:42 -0500 Full article 2_211available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy." ~ Lao Tzu Recently, I was in Florida to shoot an episode of Lifetime's, The Balancing Act. When I travel I make every effort to stick with my workout and nutrition routine which includes yoga and eating healthy. Yes, I do indulge and love the occasional margarita, chips and guacamole however because of my commitment to health and being twelve years post MS diagnosis I stick to my program as much as possible. The day before the show taped, I headed to a local Bikram Yoga studio. One of many things I love about Bikram is the consistency; 26 postures done at 104 degrees in a moving meditation. I have been doing Bikram for years and still have a long way to go. When I go to a new studio I head toward the back of the room out of respect for the local regulars. This also gives me perspective and humility; forcing me to surrender to whatever is going on in my mind and literally cleansing out the thoughts that are not serving me. When I walked into the room I knew it was going to be extra hot. I placed my mat and towel and waiting as the instructor spoke to the new students giving them reassurance and guidance on what was to come.By about five minutes into the class I was drenched in sweat. Two gals next to me, who were both new, were already struggling. One of the women went out, an absolute Bikram no-no, and returned a moment later. After a few minutes she went out again and this time, did not return. The teacher poked her head out the door and said sternly, 'Anna, get back in here.You need to just stay in the room.'Grudgingly Anna returned to the class and sat sullenly on the mat. It would have definitely been an opportunity to be embarrassed or angry however Anna sat, stone faced eventually leaning forward, bowing and putting her forehead on the towel submitting to exhaustion and defeat. As I observed Anna, I was inspired to ask - how often do we try to run when our breakthrough is most likely to be found by simply staying long enough? Are we giving up way to soon? How would our lives shift dramatically by staying uncomfortable for a short while? Could we lose the weight, make more money or improve our relationship by staying the course? A recent poll by Mental Health America found that over fifty percent of American women feel that it is normal to be depressed? Seriously? When did our society shift from dreams and progress to complacency? When did it become o.k. to run from hard work or, in Anna's case, a little sweat? The truth is that it is not normal to be depressed and that any type of progress we desire to make is going to take effort; we are going to have to 'tough it out' and hopefully there will be a teacher, mentor or inspiration who will stick with us and bring us back even if we try to run. The funny thing about any breakthrough is that it is often precipitated by a breakdown.In other words, to truly transcend, we are going to have to get uncomfortable. The wonderful thing about Anna is that even though she wanted to run, she chose not to and in the end received everything she required. In my own life, there have been many times that I wanted to run especially in the early beginnings of free enterprise. I reasoned that it would surely be easier to get a job and work for someone else though in my heart I knew that being my own boss and creating my own life was something I deeply desired to do. Looking back, I see so clearly how simply staying the course led to the breakdowns that eventually became the breakthroughs I needed to get to the next level; this is something I also desire deeply for you. I believe that we are all destined for greatness and that the secret desires of our hearts are meant to be dreams made manifest. I want to encourage you to stay the course and know that your breakthrough is sure to happen especially if you have already had the breakdown. Go for your dreams with passion and enthusiasm and never give up. You are destined to play a big role in this life so go for it...just stay in the 'room.' Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Thu, 2 Feb 2012 16:01:04 -0500 Full article 2_210available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Perhaps the most important word in success and happiness is the word, "ask." Brian Tracy Not long ago I was doing a seminar for six hundred fired up people. At one of the breaks a line formed for people to ask questions and have books signed. One woman came up to me and began to share the story of how broke she was, how she had no money, how her life was so hard; on and on she went for several minutes. Finally I stopped her and with love asked her permission if I could be honest with her. She replied that 'yes' I could be. I said, "you have spent several minutes talking about how what you cannot afford and how bad your life is. As someone who was once homeless herself I am first suggesting that you change your language. Instead of saying, 'I can't afford it, say I am in the process of being able to afford it.' You have the power to change your life by starting to change your words." She looked at me dumbfounded not realizing that I had once been in dire straits. She made a promise to begin to change her words to reclaim her power. The entire episode, one of hundreds I have experienced, caused me to think about the difference between those who are able to transcend their circumstances and those who are not. It comes down to seizing our opportunities. Long ago, when my health, finances and every aspect of my life were in shambles, I made a decision that if I were in the presence of someone who had achieved something I wanted I would not bother them with the drama of my life; I would instead ask them 'how' questions; in other words I would choose to ask them which books and courses they recommended and what they did to create what they had. I was once at Lakewood Church in Houston lining up to have Joel Osteen sign my book. Joel, and his wife Victoria, smiled and graciously greeted person after person; standing for photos and shaking hands. I couldn't help but notice that many people choose the opportunity to be with Joel and Victoria as a time to unload all of their problems as opposed to using it wisely to ask questions on what they could do to transcend. Joel Osteen has written several NY Times bestsellers and in the world of Christianity, he has truly built a massive following in his church that welcomes all denominations. Sharing the stage withChicken Soup for the Soul ™ co-author Mark Victor Hansen; I have again witnessed how people use the opportunity to be in front of a multi-millionaire as a time to share their life story and all of their burdens as opposed to using it to ask questions on how to get to the next level. This makes me wonder - do the majority of people want to change their lives or do they simply want compassion and sympathy? Ultimately, if we want to change our lives we are going to have to change our actions. If we have the opportunity to read something by someone who is successful, listen to an audio by a powerful teacher or be in the presence of someone who had done what we want to do then we should ask the questions that will take us to that next level. Last year I had the opportunity to talk to Dr. Wayne Dyer on the phone. Wayne has not only transcended addictions and illness; he has touched audiences all over the world with his writing, speaking and television appearances. I asked Dr. Dyer what three things he would suggest I do right now to go to the next level in my life. I acted immediately on everything he said. Why? If someone like Wayne Dyer, whom I deeply respect, tells me to do something, I do it; I seize the opportunity. If we truly desire to live a full, rich and abundant life then we have to be willing to let go of the need to tell people what is wrong in our lives and seize the opportunities that are being presented to transcend our current reality. The next time you are in front of someone who has what you desire, be willing to ask them great questions. Whatever they suggest, as long as it is in alignment with your values, act on it and watch what happens in your life. I believe that you have greatness inside you and now is the time to take it to the next level. Go for it! Anyone is always free to ask me questions on my Facebook Fanpage or on Twitter at susan_sly . Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:21:28 -0500 Full article 2_209available at: stepintoyourpower.com "It's always too early to quit." Norman Vincent Peale So here we are with January half over and if you are in the majority of people, you have already begun to soften on your resolution to get healthier this year. That is the funny thing about making declarations - they are much easier said than done. With this in mind and with much love, albeit a bit of tough love, I am writing with my favorite tips to help you keep your resolutions and live into the best body ever. For fifteen years I was a personal trainer to doctors, celebrities and athletes so I do have a few 'tools in the toolbox' so to speak. These tips are not specific to January and in fact they can be used anytime you feel that you are lagging in the motivation department. Remember that your health is the foundation for everything else in your life from your relationships to your career and with that in mind I want you to live a life of extraordinary health. As and MS survivor and mother of four with two companies to run it isn't always easy to make healthy choices however it is a lot easier than trying to get through the day feeling bad. Optimal health does not have to be time consuming but it does require a change of habits. When psychologists suggest that it takes 21 days to create a new habit, they are not kidding. In fact, it has been my experience that it takes most people about 30 days to live into something new. It is no wonder that so many people give up one or two weeks in; they become uncomfortable and the fall-back position is to revert to old, unsupportive behaviors. Often we are on the cusp of creating a new habit and we give up and this is the time when the greatest breakthroughs are happening; we are sleeping better, getting more exercise, the pants are getting loser and all of this positive change actually scares most people. Why? Because we fear we will not be able to maintain it. The solution is simple - one day at a time. There is no magic bullet for success; it is simple daily habits repeated over and over without any attachment to immediate gratification. If you have weight to lose then remember, it didn't happen in one day nor will your results. If you have debt to release remind yourself that it didn't accumulate in 24 hours; it was the result of poor decisions over time. To truly break the cycle of apathy and achieve your goals I urge you to embrace the following tips and make a decision to join me in ridiculous health this year. 5 Tips to Staying On Track With Your Health Goals 1. Keep a Reminder of Why You Want to Change So why do you really want to transform? Who in your life is suffering because you lack energy, health and vitality? What opportunities would reveal themselves to you if you became healthier? Create a health based vision board with images and words that inspire you. Keep it beside your bed so it is the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you see at night. 2. Schedule Your Workouts If you schedule in your workouts you are much more likely to do them. I used to tell my clients that the hardest part of going to the gym was going to the gym. Once you arrive it is fine. Schedule your workouts and let people know that you are unavailable at that time. Whether it is your yoga class, kettle bell workout or whatever; put it in ink so it is a done deal. 3. Get Dressed to Train Sometimes I do not always feel like doing a certain workout. 2-3 days per week I workout twice in one day and the second workout is usually met with some resistance as I can think of a million other things I need to get done. After I finish my first workout, I shower and dress in new workout clothes. This means that I have already set the intention to get it done. In fact, as I write this I am wearing workout clothes for the second workout and will shortly head off to get it done. 4. Get an Accountability Partner or Partners I read about two women doing the 2012 Olympic Marathon trials. They live in Maine, have children and frequently do a ten mile run before their kids are even awake. In snow, sleet and whatever these gals are up and out running. They keep one another motivated. A Gallup study found that people who commit to a healthy lifestyle change with 2 friends are over 60% more likely to achieve their goals. Find some partners to keep you motivated. 5. Enter A Challenge or a Race It is said that a goal is a dream with a deadline. Entering your first 5k or a body transformation challenge is a great way to stay motivated and accountable. Find out if there is a body transformation challenge at your gym or chiropractor's office. One of my favorites is the Isabody Challenge at www.isabodychallenge.com . From motivation to support to cash prizes, this one is fabulous. Lastly, I wish you every success in transforming your health and taking it to the next level this year. From creating a new running PR to going down a dress size, in the end the hard work is all worth it. Sending you much love and heading to workout, Susan Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:28:47 -0500 Full article 2_104available at: stepintoyourpower.com In my years of networking, traditional business, and management I have observed many people seeking balance. They chase a notion that one can truly achieve entrepreneurial "nirvana' where they are able to have it all and produce without effort. They seek some sort of utopia where they are able to simultaneously have time for their children while their home remains spotless, laundry is all done and put away, their bank account grows, they live in perfect health without stress or guilt, and life is seamless. Is it anything more than a fantasy? I can tell you first hand that it is possible however it may not manifest exactly how you would like or on a certain timeline. Balance is a moving target and the truth is that it is not a destination but a state of mind. For years I made the choice to produce results and take responsibility for my income. Instead of going out, watching TV, or dedicating time to mindless pursuit I focused on earning. When the income is there, balance is possible. Money allows you to choose what you want to do and hire people to do what you do not. Until you achieve that level of income you can find balance only by deciding to create it. Until I reached a certain level of income I did my own laundry, I did the grocery shopping, I made the meals, cleaned the house, worked in the day, worked my business at night, and did it all. I can't say that I did it with grace every day but I did it. Instead of saying my life lacked balance, I chose to define what balance meant for me. You will never have balance unless you define it. I created a definition that worked for me and my family and in doing so immediately began to live a balanced life. My definition of balance was taking time every day to exercise, finding time to read daily, taking a day of family time once per week and going on a "hot" date with my husband once per month. Balance also meant taking two weeks off per year and running in at least one race to focus my mind elsewhere. When I did these things I felt calm, rested, and effective. In essence my life, according to me, had balance. If you can create a definition of balance for your own life you can let go of what others are doing. Donald Trump, for example, has a life that is in balance for him even though he works seventeen hours every day. He enjoys producing so much that it is effortless. Additionally, many of his deals are done on golf courses which bring him joy and relaxation. For many, this wouldn't be considered balance but for Donald Trump it is. One iconoclast of this decade is Angelina Jolie. Would you describe an Oscar-winning actress who is also a mother, travels endlessly for her work with the UN, and makes box office mega hits someone with balance? In her line of work she must also look perfect and be careful to say the right things and be informed on trips to New York, Washington, and Geneva. Does she have balance? Look at Oprah. She has a hit syndicated talk show, books, a top magazine, and a charitable foundation. She is one of the wealthiest celebrities and she also makes time to give back. Does she have balance? As you find things that bring you joy you will find balance. When you take time to really look at a successful person's life you will also see a team of people that assist them. Before you can hire your team you will have to create some peace in your present situation. When you build balance into what you have and you appreciate the process, you will get more. I know this to be true from my own experiences. To create a definition of balance make a list of at least ten things that bring you joy. Beside the items mark "d for "daily, "m for "monthly, and "y for "yearly. For example, exercise is something you can do daily while taking an all-inclusive vacation may be something done yearly. Once you have your activities, take out your day planner and schedule them in. Check them off once you complete them. This will give you satisfaction and create a sense of greater well being. We cannot produce all of the time. We require time to gather our thoughts, get perspective and energize. Exercise, rest, vacations, taking time to daydream; these are all things that will assist you in growing your income. You see, entrepreneurs are professional dreamers. Every idea, thought, and notion is seeded in a dream. Every invention, company, and organization was once a thought. All of your greatness is rooted in your ability to carve out daily niches to recharge. That my friend is where the balance lies. When I stopped chasing other people's definitions and created my own, my income grew. I stayed focused by working efficiently within the time frame that I had. As I claimed my balance daily I also dreamed of a life where my laundry got done, my house got cleaned, my children went to the best schools, my donations to charity really made an impact, my time was my own, my relationships were meaningful, and every week my bank account was flooded with money. Let me tell you, life is grand. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:33:26 -0500 Full article 2_207available at: stepintoyourpower.com "The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read." Abraham Lincoln This past year has been remarkable with many new and noteworthy books hitting the shelves. As a voracious reader I have consumed new bestselling books such as Paulo Coelho's - Alephand digested books from a few years ago such as Andy Andrew's - The Traveller's Gift. There have been books that have uplifted my soul such as Joel Osteen's - Everyday a Friday, books that have provoked thought and introspection and books which assisted me in my day-to-day operations such as Tony Hseih's - Delivering Happiness. It has been a very fun reading year. I often 'read' books while I run and, like millions of others I am a huge fan of ITunes. I love to hear the author's voice as it seems to convey more intention than mere words on a page. This list was a labor of love; so many books and so many recommendations. On average I tend to read a few books every month and often simultaneously. I still have a nightstand full of my 'must reads' and am eager to add to those in the coming year. I am, however, only one person and this year I enlisted the assistance of some friends to help with the list. I polled my Facebook fans and Twitter followers to see which books they recommended. This is our first annual Readers Recommend List and I will be also sharing my 'must read' classics which are great books to be savored like fine wine and perhaps revisited. We have included some of the recommended reads and encourage you to visit Susan's fan page or Twitter page to see more. Many of our readers recommended classic works and we love that a few even suggested the Have It All Woman as an essential part of their library. Our Step Into Your Power ™ Senior Vice President of Operations suggested we add a children's section this year too and submitted her top picks. At the end of the day, as we read we expand our minds. In the expansion of our minds we see the world in a different vein and often, in re-reading a book we see the words in a different light. In the spirit of the Holiday season I strongly suggest you add some of these books to both your shopping and your Santa list and on behalf of our Step Into Your Power ™ we wish you 'happy reading.' Susan's Top Books for This Year (selected from books that Susan has read in 2011) Note - not all of these books were released this year and this list only reflects the year in which the books were read. Everyday a Friday by Joel Osteen - Osteen delivers evidence to support that happiness is indeed a choice. A must-read book to keep a positive mindset. Delivering Happiness by Tony Hseih - The founder of Zappos and a mega-millionaire shares his secrets for success. If you own a business then I highly recommend it. Born to Run by Christopher McDougall - This book is turning non-runners into runners as it follows a tribe of superhuman runners in the remotest region of Mexico. This book which is non-fiction also supported my fiction reads as well A Course in Weight Loss by Marianne Williamson - I loved Williamson's sage wisdom on body transformation. If you embrace peaceful transformation and acceptance then this book is for you. The Vortex by Esther and Jerry Hicks - the Hicks are the inspiration for Rhonda Byrne's, The Secret, and they are back with a follow up to their Law of Attraction work with practical wisdom for taking one hundred percent in all relationships including those in business. Onward by Howard Schultz - Not coffee fan? That doesn't matter. Schultz shares how he took back the reins of Starbucks ™ and took that brand back to its famous roots. This is a fabulous book for business owners and those involved in managerial decisions. The Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss - I have it on good authority, by a mutual friend, that Ferriss works more than four hours per week however his tips for multi-tasking and organizing leave even those of us who thrive on great habits in awe. I highly recommend this for those who feel disorganized and downright overwhelmed. Tribes by Seth Godin - Wanting to build a list of followers or be a renegade? Godin's book is for you. It may not be worthy of the Pulitzer however it does come with great, easy to use tips, to enhance any social media experience. Losing My Virginity by Sir Richard Branson - Branson struggled through school, was picked on and bullied and still came out as one of the most innovative and wealthiest people of our time. Unfair Advantage by Robert Kiosaki - Kiosaki's Rich Dad Poor Dad ™ empire continues to grow and so does his wisdom. This book contains some faithful standards found in the initial books and also some new and innovative ideas. A must for anyone wanting to take control of their money. Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life by Dr. Wayne Dyer - I saved my most favorite for last in full confession that, although I listened to this last year, I re-listened twice this year. Dr. Dyer beautifully interprets the Tao Te Ching in a way that is both informative and inspiring. If you are committed to transforming your thinking then this is an absolute must. *Note - Susan's list of all-time must reads will soon be available on the Free Resources section of both www.stepintoyourpower.com and www.susansly.com . The Step Into Your Power ™ Reader Recommends List From our Fans and Followers. We noted the name of the contributor followed by their recommendation. To see more detail please visit Susan's fanpage on Facebook. Debbie Harris Sterling - The Wump World by Bill Peet :) The Compassionate Samurai - Brian Klemmer; The Invitation - Oriah :) Must reads! Chantal Dallaire Stefura - Today Matters by John C Maxwell and The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy Brooke Chambers - Loving What Is by Byron Katie. Kim Players - The 50th Law By Robert Greene and 50 cent Laurie Bowen - Women Who Love Too Much By Robin Norwood. Linda Malloy - Mariel Hemingway's "Healthy Living from the Inside Out" Tara Cooper - the Have it all Woman! The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy, The Slight Edge, by Jeff Olson, Robert Kiyosaki's newest book - Unfair Advantage and his wife Kim's book - Rich Woman!Jeffery Combs book, Psychologically Unemployable. Thuy Dam - The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo. Chelsea Houska Kellis - The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy. Rhinoceros Success by Scott Alexander. You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. Dottie Lessard The Game of Life and How To Play It by Florence Schovel Shinn-amazing Carola Donsig - The Celestine Prophecy. Lara Marjerrison - The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga by Swami Vishnu Devananda. Also: Radical Honesty and Radical Parenting, both by Brad Blanton (everyone must read). And: Green for Life by Victoria Boutenko. Gabriel Gannam - Emptiness Dancing by Asyashanti, A New Earth and Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, Art of dreaming and The active side of infinity by Carlos Castaneda, Living the wisdom of the Tao by Wayne Dyer, Radical Forgiveness by Colin Tipping, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, Influence by Robert Cialdini and Losing my Virginity by Richard Branson (His Bio) Heidi Levesque Vodrup - Jim Rohn~ The 5 Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle. Tracey Mallen - The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch Wendy Elwell Fan Page - I like How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, or The Secret, those are a couple of my favorite books, which really changed my life and business. Improve your Health & Wealth with J'lene - Strategic Acceleration by Tony Jeary....Clarity, Focus, Execution is his message and of course Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill is a must for the list too! Lori Ann - No Matter What by Lisa Nichols Angel Alvaro - Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, Have It All Woman book, The Secret Code of Success by Noah St. John, the 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris. A Few Children's Book Recommendations from the SIYP TEAM Gifts - by Jo Ellen Bogart & Barbara Reid David's Father - Robert Munch A Blessing From Above - Patti Henderson Guess How Much I Love You - Sam McBratney One Winter's Day - M. Christina Butler Something from Nothing - Phoebe Gilman Well Done - Richard Morgan Love You Forever - Robert Munch You Can Do it Sam - Amy Hest The Giving Tree - Shel Silverstein Oh, The Places You'll Go - Dr. Seuss Are You My Mother? - Philip D. Eastman The Little Engine That Could - Watty Piper Wed, 4 Jan 2012 14:13:25 -0500 Full article 2_206available at: stepintoyourpower.com The Holidays can be extremely stressful for even the most 'together' people. There are demands of family, work, friends and finances. People often feel that they get caught up in the perceived obligations often losing sight of the true meaning of the season. Stress and depression are very common at this time of year with coping mechanisms such as alcohol and food indulgence only serving to exacerbate the problem. Men and women will often put their own health to the side sacrificing their workouts and routines in order to buy, what they perceive as more time. This is quite possibly the worst thing to be done as poor health can lead to a poor immune system with increased susceptibility to colds and flus in addition to other side effects of less exercise and low quality eating such as weight gain, poor sleep quality, decreased ability to deal with stress and challenges in managing mood. One USA Today poll found that that average American gains 8.8 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's, essentially creating more and more fat cells that become virtually impossible to lose. Basically increased stress, time demands and poor health tend to be the perfect breeding ground for complete overwhelm and misery during the Holidays. The image of mom at home baking cookies with the kids and family snow ball fights has been replaced with violence erupting at Walmart on Black Friday and copious amounts of people complaining or gritting their teeth due to increased lines in stores, traffic and lack of parking spaces. The truth is that it doesn't have to be this way. As a mother of four, I truly love the Holidays. I love the family time, the baking, Christmas stories, decorating and trimming the tree. With running two companies, finishing a new book, making edits to existing books and a full travel schedule I refuse to let the demands of day to day life stop me from enjoying the season. With this in mind I would like to share some tips for creating a blissful holiday. Please note - I am not Martha Stewart and these tips are truly for those with little time and a heartfelt desire to really enjoy this time of year. Susan's Power Tips for Creating a Blissful Holiday Season 1. Something Is Better Than Nothing: Thinking about skipping out on your workout or your vitamins? Think again. This is the worst time of year to do either. You may not have as much time however studies show that even a little is better than nothing at all. Fitness can be sustained by as little as twenty minutes of cardio five days per week. Twenty minutes of running or powerwalking gets you out in the fresh air, raises endorphins, increases your feel good neurochemicals, decreases appetite and burns off excess calories. Additionally because of Holiday parties and the plethora of tasty foods it is key to get that exercise in no matter what. Also this is not the time to forgo your protein shake and vitamins. Start your day with a healthy meal replacement shake and a multi-vitamin at the very least. As the day goes on there will be more temptations so begin with a healthy foundation to keep yourself on track. 2. Create New Traditions: Are you upset about hosting Christmas for the tenth time? Are you downright bitter about being up until 2:00 a.m. cleaning while everyone else has gone home? If you do not like it, do not do it! Create new traditions. No one says that Christmas dinner has to be in the evening. Hey, it doesn't even have to be on Christmas Day. Host a Holiday Brunch on Boxing Day or be transparent about the financial and time demands of hosting and ask for helpers in advance. Hosting the main Holiday meal is expensive and time consuming and unless you are doing it with love, choose to do it differently or not at all. We do enjoy hosting however we do not enjoy staying up until the wee hours of the morning cleaning up. We have young children and regardless of the time we go to bed, we are up early. This year we are hosting a Boxing Day Brunch which means an earlier start and an earlier clean up time. It's all good. 3. Online is Fine: Do the lines in stores make you crazy? Some people really do enjoy getting out there and being packed in like sardines however if you are not one of them let your fingers do the walking on the keyboard and embrace online shopping. I do about 75% of my Holiday shopping online and I often pay a little bit more to have the gifts wrapped. I used to love wrapping when I was single and had no children however I would much rather be spending time with my kids than hours secretly wrapping gifts after they have gone to bed. At this time of year many online retailers will do free gift wrapping as was the case on www.neimanmarcus.com for Black Friday. It was fabulous. I do love supporting local businesses and think that this is also important. I do attempt to go shopping in non-primetime and encourage you to do so if possible. If you have a job, negotiate with your boss if you can. Take an earlier lunch or offer to stay a bit later in order to get out in the day. If that is not an option, get up early and go out as soon as stores open to avoid the rush. 4. Remember What The Season Is About: Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukah or something else, most holidays are really about the celebration of hope, new beginnings and faith. If you are financially able; contact your local Salvation Army or shelter and ask if you can help sponsor or volunteer at their Christmas dinner. This time of year, as the weather gets colder, many homeless people are without warm clothes or sleeping bags. Find out how you can help. There is nothing more rewarding than contributing to the life of another. We have anonymously sponsored families in need at Christmas, donated warm clothing, toys and money to those in need. Re-connect with the meaning of the season to anchor yourself in what this holiday truly means. 5. Let Go of Perfection: In your mind you may want to bake twenty different types of Christmas cookies and have a tree worthy of the cover of Veranda magazine however at some point, it is time to let go of perfection and step into meaning. Ask yourself - what is the most important thing? Is it the perfectly trimmed tree or the memories of reading a Night Before Christmas under it? Is it a perfectly wrapped gift or of the smile of a child when they open it? Is it the tray of finely appointed Christmas cookies or the family fun that went into baking them? Ultimately, I have learned that it is the experience and not the proverbial appearance that contributes the most to everyone involved. Let go of perfection and choose to enjoy the experience; in doing this you will connect with the things that are most important. On behalf of our Step Into Your Power team, we wish you the best of the season. There are a few more articles to come and some exciting upgrades to our online community. We hope that you are able to truly enjoy the Holidays and come into 2012 in your power. With Love, Susan Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:01:26 -0500 Full article 2_205available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Only those who can truly love can truly understand forgiveness."Paulo Coehlo This week millions of people in America and Americans living abroad will celebrate Thanksgiving. Canadians celebrated in October and many other countries around the world have some sort of harvest based tradition. In its origins, Thanksgiving was meant to symbolize the gratitude of abundance for the harvest; a time to truly be thankful for all of the bounty that had been yielded from laboring in the fields. Families sat down together sharing meals and taking time to reflect on their many blessings. Today Thanksgiving seems to have a slightly different tone. Although many will celebrate with family meals there also appears to be a great deal of stress associated with the Holiday. For some the stress is travel while for others it is financial. Some people have to work and a recent USA Today poll illustrated that approximately nine percent of Americans will be expected to be at their jobs on Thanksgiving though for some, this may provide a welcome respite. There is also the anticipation and dread of Black Friday, the notorious shopping day where people line up at the wee hours of the morning to purchase items on sale. For retailers and businesses, this is their litmus test; the sales of this day will actually be a barometer for the entire US economy. Thanksgiving seems to have morphed into a commercial holiday much like Christmas, Easter and Valentine's Day and that is fine as long as the true heart of the Holiday is not missed; in other words if Thanksgiving is about literally giving thanks, what does that truly mean? Is it as simple as being 'thankful' or can it have a deeper meaning; something that reaches deep within the soul so that regardless of working or not working, travelling or not travelling, stress or no stress, American or not that whatever is happening on Thanksgiving, there is a greater opportunity to reconcile any misalignment in our lives. What if this year, on Thursday, November 24th, regardless of which country we are in or if we are celebrating this Holiday, we could choose to invite in the notion of 'atonement?' One definition for 'atonement' surrounds making amends, apologizing and essentially repairing any wrong doings of the past. Imagine, if you will, taking a few short moments and listing all of the people of whom we have thought negative and judgemental things, all of the dark places of our lives where we have felt unworthy and all of the self-deprecating thoughts we have directed at ourselves. Then imagine going into prayer and asking for atonement for all of these things and then taking it to a higher level and giving thanks for our 'humanness' and the realization that these thoughts and actions only serve to keep us stuck. From this place we can then go beyond forgiveness to true gratitude for the people and situations we feel that have somehow limited us and realize that all people and all circumstances are merely reflecting back to us our own insecurities. If we have thought hurtful, critical things about others then we are hurting ourselves. The fastest way to release our own hurt is to stop this type of thinking as it only continues to come back to us. If we have been openly critical about another human being then it is assuredly also coming back to us. This is one of the most fundamental laws of our world in that whatever we put out does indeed come back. The only way to shift what is coming back is to shift what we are sending out. By taking a few minutes to atone this Thursday will change how the world reflects back to us our inner self. If we truly want to celebrate an abundance of prosperity in our lives then forgiveness and gratitude is essential because if we choose not to step into this higher place of understanding what it means to be truly thankful then we will continue to learn the lessons that eventually will require us to repeatedly stretch and to grow. I encourage you to take time this Thursday to atone. Share this article with friends and family and ask them to join you at a certain time (they can be in separate locations) and do this exercise of atonement. If you truly want to release the negativity in your life then make an effort to call or email people whom you have been critical or judgmental of and take one hundred percent responsibility for your actions. Let them know that you have been judgemental and ask for forgiveness. This last aspect of atonement can be painful however having done this myself I will share that nothing releases the bondage of negativity in our lives faster. The Scriptures say to, 'love thy enemy as thyself,' which can be interpreted in one way as loving those who we feel have transgressed against us allows us to more deeply love ourselves. Go forward, after this Thursday, and choose to live a life of non-judgment. Choose to stop those emotions of self-loathing in their tracks. Choose to operate from a place of revelation that it is not our right to openly be negative to another for this comes back to us a thousand fold. Atone for your past and truly live in a place of 'thanks giving.' Lastly, you have greatness inside you and regardless of what has happened in your life you are capable of so much more. Ignite the light within and go forward making a choice to send nothing but whatever you want to receive into the world. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Thu, 1 Dec 2011 09:14:33 -0500 Full article 2_204available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Only fools try to change the world and it is often the same fools who do." Steve Jobs As I write this I have been travelling alone for the past few days having done an event and working on a new project. During this time I have had ample time to reflect and steal moments on planes, in airports and between meetings to meditate on this particular journey and life in general. It has been interesting to walk namelessly and facelessly through airports, observing people and also observing my mind. In times that I am alone I find solace in my books, prayer, meditation, yoga, running and writing. I ask questions such as - what is important right now, how can I serve so many when I am just one person, how can I best help people see their greatness and how can I stand in compassion and love for those with a critical heart? These are the types of things that pre-occupy my mind and the questions I put before God. I was in the airport lounge, in Houston, waiting for a connecting flight and working on my new book. I lost myself in the writing; losing all sense of time and space. It was just me and the words on the screen. I envisioned the reader and all the while praying silently that this message would assist them in some small way. I meditated on my love of writing and a voice in my head said, 'what makes you think that you are a writer anyway?' For a brief moment I was hurt by this voice; its familiarity, its sarcasm and its challenge. I repeated the same question in my own mind, in my own words, 'Susan - why are you writing?' For a few seconds there was silence and then I was thrust through the bank of memories to Girl Guides, in the early eighties when I was working on my writing badge. I had been writing stories and had used writing as soon as I could create words on a page, as a respite from living with a mentally ill parent. I had written stories about animals, lost lands, unicorns, faeries, princesses and basically anything that I felt interested in. When I learned of poetry, I began writing poems of all kinds. I loved poetry; the musicality of a story in a few lines or many that had become a new way of expressing the stories in my heart. I dreamed of one day being a published author and seeing my name on the sleeve of a book. For my writing badge I had to write a poem. I wrote about a lonely night and a dark street. I barely remember the poem at all now except for one line, 'a whistle, a rattle of a tin.' I was so excited about my poem. I read it to my father and my grandmother. I couldn't wait to take it into our Girl Guide leader. As she read it her face darkened. She began to scowl. On completion she asked me if I knew what 'plagiarism' meant and accused me of copying the poem, demanding that I produce the book from whence it came. I was devastated. I felt so rejected and ostracized. The leader told the other girls I had copied and they giggled at me. I was already 140 pounds and not quite ten years old; the biggest girl in the Guide Troop and my uniform barely fit. In fact, I had to wear a women's shirt and if that wasn't embarrassing enough, the one thing that I did really well, write, was now being criticized. I bit back tears until my father came to pick me up. I cried all the way home knowing that I had written that poem but vowing never to write again unless I had to. In that moment, because of the criticism, I choose to give up my dream. As I sat in the airport lounge, thirty years later, working on a new book; my eyes welled up with tears. I remembered now that I had thrown away my dream because of a critic. I had chosen to let one person's bad day, bad moment, lack of belief or jealously steal my dream. I went on to write when it was required though I never put much effort into it. It wasn't until university that one of my professors demanded I work with an English tutor to develop my writing skills that I obediently obliged. In University, my science degree which I had thought would launch me into med school and then a career as a surgeon; I did not give much thought to writing. I was more focused on biochemistry, anatomy and for fun - economics. I had buried the dream of being a writer deep inside; so far in fact that I had forgotten about it entirely. It is funny how God works because as I entered into adulthood and entrepreneurship I was approached to write; first for magazines such as Oxygen Australia and then Divorce Magazine. I was asked to contribute small pieces for other publications and slowly but surely the dream of writing emerged again. I began writing two weekly online columns and then eventually my first book - The Have It All Woman which was endorsed by NY Times ™ bestselling authors, Jack Canfield and Dr. John Gray which only happened due to my foray into network marketing. I realize now that I am so grateful for my Guide leader, my professor and the people who have criticized my work. It causes me to look very deeply, within my soul, and continuously ask the question - why I do this? Everyone has critics and I have learned that criticism comes from a place of fear masked behind judgment; someone who is being critical essentially is trying to exert power or manipulate. The most loving compassionate people never criticize; they may suggest or guide however it is always done out of love where criticism is done from a place of vengeance. It is important to embrace our critics. Even if their words are unjustified, for no one person can ever truly know the complete inner workings of another, critics allow us to look in the mirror and ask the question, 'how can I improve?' Every person on this planet from Joel Osteen to Dr. Wayne Dyer to the Dalai Lama has critics and at the end of the day anyone who is trying to make this world a more beautiful place will have detractors. We can choose to have compassion for our critics and love them for they cannot truly see how they are being. The most important thing is to choose our responses, if we do respond, with love and detachment knowing that this is our opportunity to truly stand in a place of integrity. Criticism should never deter us from our dreams; instead we should embrace our critics knowing that they force us to hone our craft. I encourage you to embrace your critics because people will always think they earn the right to an opinion about your life. Instead of arguing with your critics simply thank them for 'an interesting point of view,' and move on. The faster we begin to embrace the critics, the faster we dissolve any perceived power we feel they have over us. No matter what anyone does to deter you, go for your dreams and own them. Surround yourself and seek out people who believe and support you. I believe that we all have greatness within and that we should allow no one to keep us from our God given destiny. Go for it. Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:54:31 -0500 Full article 2_203available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful, that's what matters to me." Steve Jobs In 1979 Harvard MBA graduates were asked if they set goals. 3% had written goals. 13% had goals however they were not on paper. 84% reported that they had no clear cut goals whatsoever. Ten years later the same graduating class was surveyed and the results were as follows - the 13% who had set goals and not written them down were making, on average, double what the 84% were making. The 3% who had written down their goals were making over ten times what the remaining 97% were making combined! In other words - goal setting works. The Power Life Planner is designed to help you set goals, write them down and get organized enough to go for what you want. In the initial section you are asked to list one goal that would be an absolute 'game changer' in the various areas of your life. I encourage you to go directly to www.susansly.com or www.stepintoyourpower.com and download this 28 page booklet absolutely free. So many people are focused on what they do not want that they fail to focus their attention on what they do want. It is paramount that we not only take our attention off of what we do not want; we must focus specifically on what we do want. This requires us to have constant reminders in our environment as it is easy to be seduced by a challenging day and lose our focus. Ask yourself - what would change my life if I accomplished it within the next 365 days? Now break that down into individual areas such as your health, finances, relationships, spirituality, fun and contribution. Write the goals in the past tense as though they are already happened. For example, instead of saying 'I want to lose 25 pounds,' say 'I have released 25 pounds and I feel amazing.' Words are powerful and by declaring that the goal has already occurred you begin to send the energy out into the world. This energy will then begin to powerfully attract all that you desire; bringing the people and the circumstances to you for the obtainment of what you want. After you list these goals, take a moment to close your eyes and visualize how incredible your life is having achieved them. How do you feel? What is different? Who else is benefitting from your powerful goal-getting? Our goals really must be front and center so that we can always turn our attention on what we want. I suggest keeping your list on your bedside table and read it every morning when you wake up and the last thing at night before you go to bed. This will start and end your day on a high note. As you progress through the planner you will be asked to eventually list ten goals in every area of your life. Begin to dream. Ask yourself - what would I accomplish if time or money wasn't an obstacle? Lastly, the thing I know for sure is that the most successful people on the planet set goals. Goal setting is free, powerful and a proven technique for getting what we want. Write your goals down today and start attracting the life of your dreams. Did you know that you can keep up with Susan's day-to-day activities on Twitter? Go to www.twitter.com and follow susan_sly. Susan also has a brand new fan page on Facebook. Go to www.susansly.com and become a fan today. Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:43:40 -0500 Full article 2_202available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Extreme remedies are very appropriate for extreme diseases." Hippocrates On a recent trip to Italy, I declared to our travelling companions, that it would be spent without guilt. The risotto with pistachio nuts, the prosecco, the gelato, the shoes, clothes and indulgences that one associates with European travel with be fully succumbed to without that nagging feeling of 'should I or shouldn't I?' Like many things, this was easier said than done however it lead me to wonder how often we, especially women, feel guilty about our decisions and if it is fully possible to go even one day without guilt. Years ago I decided to meditate and harmonize with my relation to guilt. I used to feel guilty about saying 'no' and instead choose to say 'yes' to everyone. This only left me feeling raw and resentful even though I was the one who had made the agreement. I had felt guilty about my former marriage even though I was not the one who had strayed. I felt guilty when I didn't exercise enough, guilty when I ate a cookie, guilty when I didn't spend enough time with my children; ultimately I felt guilty all the time. Guilt, I discovered, was like a cancer in my soul and this decision to divorce from my relationship to guilt was part of the inspiration for my Have It All Woman © book. This is not to say that I am not sometimes seduced into guilt; that tug at the heart that happens especially in relation to my children. When I am sliding toward those feelings I remind myself that my work provides the resources that create the safe home, the education, the travel and support that nurture my kids. I also remind myself that with the exception of a few days every month my children have two parents at home all of the time. This kind of emotion is perhaps not even guilt; it is simply missing someone much loved not unlike a soldier who dutifully goes into the battlefield leaving his or her family at home; working to protect their safety and the safety of a nation. The kind of guilt I am talking about is one that pertains to our relationship with ourselves and aligns with the inner critic who questions every morsel consumed or every email not immediately answered. This kind of guilt basically summarizes the North American culture and other industrialized cultures around the world. Somehow in our striving for perfection we have decided that lingering for two hours over a beautiful meal is something we should feel guilty about. Instead the norm is to sit down, or stand up, fill our faces while we return multiple texts and emails and then run off like a deer suddenly startled in the headlights. It was this kind of guilt that I invited my travelling companions to shed for one week in Italy. For me the first day was especially easy. I had run a half marathon the day before we got on the plane so my body was not 'screaming' for exercise nor was it feeling soft or bloated. In the morning, my usual routine is to do a minimum of a 5k run before starting my day. Often I will do weight training or Bikram yoga as well so inevitably it works out to anywhere from fifty minutes to two hours of exercise unless I am training for a marathon which is an entirely different story. On this particular morning, in my guilt-free week, I simply decided that some movement to shake out the long plane ride and a sauna would be lovely. After ten minutes of the easiest setting on the elliptical and a long hot sauna I felt like I had done enough. We later ventured into the heart of the city with its many delights including Pizza Margherita, bread, gelato, biscotti and a host of culinary wonders. With more starch in one meal that I would normally consume in an entire day I once again decided 'no guilt' and reached for a second roll of crusty, flaky, melt-in-your mouth bread. For my companions it was not so simple. One person downloaded a massive amount of emails eager to 'stay connected' even though this was the first vacation he and his wife had ever taken without children in over fifteen years. Another had to endlessly check in on a friend who did not reciprocate the same degree of interest in the friendship. Another ruminated over finances and all of the problems that waiting for them at home. Even though we all declared a guilt-free week, I could see that my work was cut out for me. The ultimate in letting go of guilt came in the form of a visit to St. Peter's Cathedral at the Vatican. Between the Holy Water, the prayers and the reverence I felt our entire group slip into blissful release of not just guilt but of all past iniquities. By the second day guilt-free became easy. By the end of the week we were all shadows of our former selves; even my friend who had lost his luggage had now lost every line on his face. There can be no guilt when there is only the joy of being in the moment. On the last full day we rented a van and headed south. We had no destination, no plan and therefore no expectations. We were playing 'the perfect game,' meaning that declaring it is all perfect we would simply go on intuition and desire. When one of our group pointed up the Amalfi Coast and said, 'let's go see that town,' a little collection of buildings ensconced into the rock alongside the sea, we headed down the road extending our adventure. Why not? No guilt, no agenda, no expectations. The entire day was spent, just like that - leaning into adventure, lacking planning or forethought; allowing the wondrous enticements of life to simply come to us…all free of guilt. From delicious biscotti to an evening meal with a re-order of perfect pizza and panacotta; it was sublime. Interestingly enough, because I refused to allow guilt to enter my psyche, I did not resist. In releasing the resistance I harmonized with the experiences which, in turn, caused my body to relax. I came home having eaten more and exercises less, not gaining any perceivable weight and feeling refreshed and energized. This experience leads me to see guilt as simply resistance and where there is resistance there can be no harmony. Where there is no harmony there is stagnation and fear; a lack mentality that presupposes that the world is a place without abundance and is created with only finite resources. When we can release guilt, we step into a place of enlightenment and potentiality. We also become more present to the people and circumstances around us. This means that when we are with our children, our minds are not on our careers and vice versa. In being more present, we become more productive; thus creating greater results with minimal effort. A final thought on living without guilt is that it must not be construed with the absolution of acts which violate another person; living without guilt means to truly release the pull and push of those limited notions of what we 'should' be doing and be present to our choices coming from a place of love. If our actions harm another person then it is not guilt that haunts us, it is the disharmony with our true self; a self of love. I encourage you to go forward releasing all guilt over your life. Start fresh today by declaring that the choices you make are done with love and pure intent. Be present to whomever you are with at the moment and on whatever you are doing at the time knowing that when you can release the lack emotion of guilt all circumstances and situations become easier. You are powerful beyond measure and can play a big role in your life. Step into a place of love and presence in true appreciation of your connection to the beautiful world around you. Start by taking one afternoon and declaring it to be 'guilt free.' Release any desire to beat yourself up for the things you feel you should be doing and instead focus on the moment at hand. Release the urge to eat with guilt or call someone out of guilt. Instead look at all tasks as an extension of your true loving self. If there is something you are expected to do, let's say your job for example, release the urge to feel guilt about not being with your children or a loved one and simply focus on being present. Work up to having an entire day without guilt and eventually releasing it all together. As you do this you will find yourself much more happy, productive and fulfilled; the perfect place to attract more into your life. Did you know that you can keep up with Susan's day-to-day activities on Twitter? Go to www.twitter.com and follow susan_sly. Susan also has a brand new fan page on Facebook. Go to www.susansly.com and become a fan today. Wed, 9 Nov 2011 11:02:04 -0500 Full article 2_201available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Lost time is never found again." Benjamin Franklin It seems a little crazy; every marathon these days seems to have a sudden death accompanying it. An otherwise healthy forty something man drops dead on a twenty-six miler leaving everyone scratching their heads in wonder. How can someone who appears to be the exact image of health just die? It doesn't make sense. As a person who runs the odd marathon herself, I can empathize and postulate on possible causes including everything from Co Q10 deficiency to toxicity to poor timing. That doesn't seem to do anything to lessen the two thirty-something year old girls that just passed from breast cancer from my hometown. They were younger than me and in high school at the same time. One gal, I know, left behind two young children and a husband who had been laid off. I am a positive person; ridiculously optimistic most of the time though I sit here wondering are we on borrowed time? What if we knew? What if we knew the exact moment we would die? Would that change anything? Would we make different decisions? Would we go for it with reckless abandon eschewing the notions of what we are supposed to be doing and instead go for what we wanted in life? My cousin was married to the man of her dreams. They met doing mission work and fell deeply, madly in love. After living in Asia and Australia, they came to Canada with small children in tow. Settling into the blissful routine of family life, decent incomes and plans involving savings, travel and day-to-day living they were shaken at the core when an untreatable headache turned into a diagnosis of an inoperable brain tumor when my cousin's husband was in his early thirties. One year later he passed. I have another friend who, at age thirty two, was diagnosed with stage 2 lymphoma. His wife had been massaging his neck and found a rather large lump. Had she not insisted, it could have been fatal. My friend, an avid exerciser and healthy eater, used holistic and conventional treatments to beat cancer. Today, he and his family are making every effort to live their lives to the fullest. Years ago, when I was diagnosed with MS, I was already ill. As the illness progressed I faced mortality; an ugly painful, degenerative death that was in no way beautifully tragic. Instead, it would be expensive, hard on my family and be a constant reminder of the potential genetic inheritance for our children. Through holistic treatments, a wonderful team and the grace of God, I persevered. It is always on my mind that I am on borrowed time and I suppose that is what drives me to live life playing full out. Recently science has been flooded with telomeres; a genetic predictor of death. When the bases at the end of our telomeres hit 5000 we die. It is plain and simple. Stress, smoking, narcotics and other unhealthy behaviors accelerate this telomere base shedding. I imagine that soon everyone will be able to inexpensively test their telomere length and know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, how quickly they are dying. Should we be pre-occupied with our demise? Many are obsessing about December 12, 2012; the date at which the Mayan calendar supposedly ends. As an aside, a friend of mine who is an avid historian, suggested that the calendar doesn't end and that instead it is simply missing either due to the Conquistadors or some other invading group. It would seem that with rising cancer rates, heart attacks and even the healthiest of our species being wiped out that we could be seduced into this macabre preoccupation. Instead of looking at the inevitable, I would like to boldly proclaim that we are all on borrowed time. We do not know when we are going to pass from this Earth and the truth is that we must take care of our health and do everything we can to support our bodies however at the end of the day all we have is this moment right now. I would like to propose that from this moment forward everyone choose to live their lives to the fullest, giving up the trivial and instead focusing on having the most blissful of life experiences. Instead of being petty, judging and jealous; be happy, celebrate the successes of others and invite joy from the seemingly smallest of gestures. Time is finite for all of us so why not make every second count? I encourage you to stop putting off all of those things you want to do. Take control and give up what is not serving you. Invest time in creating residual income so you can have great adventures, create the best relationships and have the most fun. As far as I am concerned, we are all on borrowed time and it is essential that we seize this moment right now. Make a decision to go for it in your life. Play big. Pursue your dreams. Do not put it off any longer and most importantly spend every waking hour living with love in your heart. At the end of the day let us all hope that we have loved and been loved deeply, contributed to and been contributed to, have lived fully and experienced a life worth living. Lastly please remember that you deserve to have it all. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Thu, 3 Nov 2011 16:06:15 -0500 Full article 2_200available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." Buddha I was reading an interview with Brad Pitt this past week. He was detailing his life with his partner, Angelina Jolie, and their tribe of children. He spoke lovingly, and unabashedly adoringly, about her parental skills and ability to take the family around the globe with military precision. The family that we see spattered across every tabloid in the world, led by the former poster girl of Goth and bi-sexuality, creates a dichotomy for those of us who remember Ms. Jolie wearing Billy Bob Thorton's blood in a vile around her neck. It leads me to wonder if we can truly ever escape our past or if regardless of how many children's lives we save, war torn villages we highlight or millions of dollars we donate, if we must always live all of our past incarnations. As I build an online presence I am constantly asking myself - who am I? What do I represent? Can I write this post without fear of ridicule? Can I put myself out there or is it better to be content with keeping myself offline? Perhaps most importantly I ask myself - can people truly see me or will there always be a filter of how they think I am supposed to be? As with anything, it is seductive to outthink ourselves from simply acting and instead stay in our protective box risking nothing and gaining nothing either. In my past lives there have been many incarnations: gym owner, personal trainer, prison guard, nutritionist, network marketer, author, speaker and a myriad of other things. Along the way I had children, divorced, re-married and was diagnosed with MS. Depending upon when someone met me, their view would definitely have been altered by my role in their life and what I was doing at that time. Add to this that in my journey to welcome in more peace, love, compassion and bliss that there were moments that I was challenged; someone meeting me at that time would also have a different view. Going back even further, say to grade school and high school; there were also different physical versions of me. Some would remember 'fat Susan' while others would remember 'healthy weight Susan.' Even now people come up to me and say things like, 'you are not as puffy,' or 'you are so much leaner.' Then there were the other aspects of appearance such as the many hairstyles such as the short Thompson Twins hair, the Madonna hair, the straight red hair and everything in between. Once again, depending upon when someone knew me; there was definitely a perception based on appearances; some might have called me adventurous while others may have deemed me conservative. Like many women on the journey of life, I have made some interesting choices. Looking back on these many incarnations of myself I now realize that they are all, in some variation, the same me. The Susan who lost her business and was diagnosed with MS is the same Susan who runs the odd marathon and co-parents four kids. The Susan who left home at 15 to flee an addicted parent is the same Susan who ensures that her family eats together every night. I suppose that instead of escaping my past I have learned to embrace it; incorporating the lessons learned of how I either want to be or not to be. Part of the desire to escape our past stems from the notion that other people's opinions actually matter. In reality, if we meet a person from high school who remembers us as the girl who got drunk at the school dance and cannot let that go a few decades later, does their limited view of who we are have any bearing? The truth is that we can choose to live our lives full on without caring about what other people think. When we can resist the urge to worry about the critics we become truly liberated; freeing ourselves to step into a new and more powerful incarnation. Recently I spoke for three hundred women entrepreneurs and business executives. I had known some of them in a past life; a life that had witnessed the loss of a business, the MS diagnosis a painful divorce and public humiliation. It was interesting to be a keynote speaker for this group where some of the women had undoubtedly brought past opinions to the present reality, discounting the difference a decade can make. Truthfully, was I not bringing in my own judgements? If I had changed, could they have also? Of course. At the end of the day everyone grows up. If Angelina Jolie can go from wild child to humanitarian; can we not simply look at her current life as opposed to endlessly bringing up that vile of blood? If the former class bully is now a breast cancer survivor advocating for women's health, can we not forget the incident in grade ten? If someone was once having a bad day or challenging moment and operated from a place of fear; taking out their aggression on us - can we not forgive them knowing that we too have our challenging times? We are all on a journey and we are all complex individuals. We have our past joys, hurts, moments of victory and moments of shame. We can never truly escape our past and nor should we; the reality is that our past experiences make us who we are and shape our decisions. Instead of running from our past; the best thing we can do is embrace whom we are; be honest about past choices that may not have served us and move forward in the spirit of non-judgement and compassion that we would want others to have for us. The bottom line message is that we do not have to escape our past; we simply must embrace it. We can choose to incarnate into the next version of ourselves and only truly do so if we release the bonds of our perceptions of the judgments of others. I encourage you to make a decision to play big in your life right now. Embrace every aspect of whom you have been and who you are. Choose to live your life on purpose and go for it. You truly do deserve to have it all. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:51:34 -0500 Full article 2_199available at: stepintoyourpower.com "We are each responsible for all of our experiences." Louise L. Hay Life is such a delicious adventure, full of incredible people who enter and exit our lives leaving some form of residue that we perceive as either 'good' or 'bad.' Those that we label as 'bad' or challenging are often the very souls from whom we can learn the most. It doesn't make dealing with these challenging people easy and human nature is to react; going into our proverbial heads, out thinking the situation, wondering what we have done to deserve such treatment and playing the victim or staying in anger and resentment. In business and life there will always be challenging people. The only aspect of these situations that we can control is how we respond. By taking time to look objectively at these situations we can learn a great deal about ourselves and how we operate in the world. Ultimately challenging people have so many gifts to offer us including the opportunity to grow. With this in mind let's take a look at 7 steps to dealing with challenging people and ideally saving yourself a great deal of stress in the process. Step One - Understand That All Challenging People are Operating out of Fear When someone is being hurtful, they are most certainly hurting themselves. Fears of inadequacy, failure, success, neglect or even authority surface in any times of familiarity. Unwittingly we may be a trigger for the challenging person because something about us reminds them of a past hurt. Take a moment to stand in understanding of the fears of another, as we have all experienced hurt and fear at one time. When we are in fear, we tend to react. These reactions are not always well planned out. In fear we can be aggressive or even hurtful. Ask yourself - is this person consistently challenging? If not, give the same level of compassion that you would like to receive. If the answer is 'yes' then remind yourself that somewhere in this person's past is a deep hurt and that unfortunately you are the target of this unresolved pain. Choose not to react to judgement with condemnation or criticism in return. Take the road of greater understanding and forgive this person, silently asking that somehow their fears and pains are one day released. Step Two - Challenging People are Mirroring Back To Us Something That Is Yet to be Resolved When the actions of another challenge us we must ask ourselves the question - why? While some may find a person charming and funny, you may find their acerbic wit grating. Challenging people are merely mirroring back to us something that requires resolution and that can be a beautiful thing. Think of it much like a part in your car, that requires replacing, causing some sort of odd noise. The noise is simply signalling something that needs repairing. Ask yourself if this person has characteristics of someone else in your life who you also found challenging. Ask yourself if you are being unreasonable in your judgement. Lastly - ask yourself what you are learning from this person. Challenging people are always presenting a gift; helping us reveal something about ourselves where we are perhaps being too rigid and not accepting. Step Three - Change Our Outlook to Change Our Outcome It has been said that our inner world attracts our outer world thus changing how we are being inevitably changes what we are attracting. Begin by releasing all judgements, jealousies and justifications. Let go of your need to validate the world. Allow people to be as they are. It is not our job to change anyone especially without their permission. By practicing acceptance and releasing our desire for righteousness we allow ourselves to be in a place of much greater peace and this is extremely transformative for those around us. Practice greater acceptance and compassion with everyone around you. Instead of asking another person to change, focus instead on the notion that by changing a limited view of how we see someone else we can instead open our hearts and minds in compassion. As we become more compassionate with others; people, in turn, will become more compassionate with us. Step Four - See Yourself Through The Eyes of the Other Person Take a moment to pause and imagine seeing yourself from the vantage point of the other person. Is there some truth to their critical spirit? Are you operating in a way that you would even find challenging? Would you want to spend 24 hours with yourself? Often we become oversensitive to the criticisms of another person because innately you realize that there is some truth to what they are saying. When we let go of how this person is reacting we can focus simply on the message. If there is any truth in what they are saying then silently be grateful that they are reminding you of an area that you require shifting and know that as long as you fail to shift you will continue to attract the same type of challenges from a variety of people and circumstances. Step Five - Tell Yourself Another Story In any challenging situation we will always tell ourselves some sort of story. Usually this story is one that serves a limiting belief. For example a friend that doesn't return an email or a phone call right away we may say that this person doesn't care for us or that we are not important. Often these stories have no grounding in the truth of the situation; they are stories that we fabricate. Instead of telling ourselves a story that causes us to somehow feel bad or unworthy, choose instead to tell another story. For example a challenging person may be having a bad day, be facing their own challenges or maybe they feel threatened or intimidated by us; the reality is that we do not know. Ultimately, if you are going to tell a story anyway, why not tell a really good one? Step Six - Create a God File Sometimes we do not know why we are being challenged; we have people in our lives who behave in ways that do not make sense to us. At times like this it is essential to truly let go. Creating a 'God' file allows you to take the situation and simply leave it up to God, releasing yourself from the notion that you have to control anything. This will provide you with greater peace as you literally let go and leave it up to God. At some point we may know why someone challenged us or we may not. By choosing to release the situation to God we release our need to control which inevitably allows us much greater peace with the other person and ourselves. Step Seven - Create a Positive Boundary People enter and leave our lives. They may be here for a heartbeat or perhaps years however eventually everyone slips away from us. If someone is being abusive or challenging you do not have to live with that angst. It this person is a friend or acquaintance then perhaps it is time to let go and end the relationship. If this person is a family member then ask yourself what you want from the relationship and what you are willing to put up with. We can choose to create healthy boundaries by staying positive and lovingly letting people know when we are available to talk or attend events and when we are not. We also have the right to own our 'sacred cows' by letting the other person know which topics are not open for discussion. Lastly please know that you are such a beautiful gift in this world. Choose to operate with greater compassion and understanding. Allow yourself to silently bless the other person knowing that whatever we send out into the world ultimately comes back to us in an amplified form. When we release the desire to judge another person we step into our true power; a place of absolute peace and bliss where we can simply be on this journey of enjoying our lives instead of resisting them. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:40:51 -0500 Full article 2_198available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Competition has been shown to be useful up to a certain point and no further, but cooperation, which is the thing we must strive for today, begins where competition leaves off." Franklin D. Roosevelt More than a decade ago, after being diagnosed with MS, I decided to stop competing in triathlon. At first it felt like the death of a dear friend. I felt the longing for the exhilaration of race day nerves; the pounding heart and then brief calm felt on the start line. I missed the feeling of pushing myself to the limit on any giving day and the sense of accomplishment I felt by taking the podium. After months and then years passed and I could look at a Triathlete Magazine without feeling a sense of loss I realized that I had inadvertently gone down a path of self-destruction in my pursuit of victory. By pushing myself for all of those years, wanting to compete at the highest levels, I had actually created the perfect mixture of misgivings that lead me to not be able to compete at all. It wasn't only triathlon that brought out the competitive Hydra in me; it was everything from my business endeavors to parenting to my marriage. I realized that my competitive nature was actually sabotaging my success. When I focused on what others were doing, I wasted precious energy. Additionally I realized that if I was only striving to better another then I would never live into the infinite potential that God has designed for all of us. It was only in this realization that I was able to completely release competition and this is when my own results began to increase at rapid speed. In the 66th verse of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu councils: Why is the sea king of a hundred streams? Because it lies below them. Therefore it is the king of a hundred streams. If the sage would guide the people, he must serve with humility. If he would lead them, he must follow behind. In this way when the sage rules, the people will not feel oppressed; When he stands before them, they will not be harmed. The whole world will support him and will not tire of him. Because he does not compete, He does not meet competition. Lao Tzu's words imply that by choosing to be competitive we actually meet opposition. This notion could be construed as 'force versus force.' For example when a person forces themselves to train harder than their opponents they often actually become ill. In business, when we focus only on the competition and forget about personal mastery we waste so much energy that often others surpass us as we spend countless hours judging and justifying what we perceive our competitors to be doing. The fastest path to person success is to release competition and focus on the self. Instead of choosing to compete, we can instead choose to celebrate others who are excelling and learn from them. Does not someone who is masterful in our desired field force us to either perform better or shrink away? Competition also implies a lack mentality. When we decide to compete we declare to the universe that there is a limited amount of abundance available to us. The truth is that God's abundance is unlimited; we can be successful as can others. By releasing the notion that we must compete we also open ourselves to other areas of greatness perhaps even exceeding our potential in the area we were competing in in the first place. An example that comes to mind is Al Gore's unsuccessful bid for presidency in 2000. After this Gore went onto pursue his passions and not only won an Emmy Award ™, a Grammy Award ™, An Academy Award ™ and the Nobel Peace Prize. His best-selling books and activism were the catalyst for change for millions of people and large businesses. By focusing on being his personal best, Al Gore, most likely had a greater positive influence than had he become President of the United States. The Prison of the Mind Competition can also create a prison of the mind. To perceive that we must be number one also brings the burden of responsibility of staying in the top position. Ask any athlete who has won a gold medal or a major sporting event like the Super Bowl and you will find that the answers align; once you have reached the top, people will question how long it will be before you falter. In other words, if we are consumed with first position we must also embrace that there will be many others pursuing us and that can create more stress that causes us to take ourselves away from the task at hand which is to perform at our best - period. A wonderful example of this in the network marketing company that has blessed me greatly. We have made millions of dollars and yet have never reached the number one position. Should I be consumed with where I am positioned or should I instead focus on personal best and allow the numbers to take care of themselves? Instead I focus on daily consistent action and personal mastery. I release all notions that being number one in this company means anything because it doesn't. Should my results put me in a position of being the top income earner then so be it however if that was my only purpose it would be empty as I would be competing against my peers and my own team. Competition is not necessary - results are. The challenge with dissolving our need to compete is not to simply release it; it is also imperative to let go of all notions of unfair advantage. Whether on the playing field or in the realm of business, if we tell ourselves that others have an advantage over us then we are living into the protective ego which loves to insist that we cannot succeed. It does not matter that someone began before you, is 'grandfathered' in a compensation plan, has what perceives to be a more optimal environment for success or has physical advantage; what matters is how we perceive ourselves in the realm of what we are doing. When we can embrace the greatness within ourselves and celebrate the success of others we are then in flow with Lao Tzu's Tao teachings and also God force energy. There is no need to strive for anything other than our personal best. Competition will kill us and take a toll on every aspect of our lives. By choosing the path of personal mastery we are likely to encounter life's podiums as a happy side benefit. Decide today to release your need to compete and pursue personal excellence. Learn from others who are excelling in your field and realize that the power that is within them to soar also lies within you. You are magnificent and there is no one else created just as you are. You are created in God's image in splendor and glory. Play bigger today not because you need to compete; play bigger as an inspiration to others and watch the prosperity and abundance flow to you with ease. Do You Want To Be the Healthiest You Can Be? Join author, trainer and weight management specialist, Susan Sly, certified therapist and registered nurse, Camille Lawson and certified trainer, group exercise instructor and registered nurse Deborah Wright for the 3rdPower Body Weekend. This event will sell out. Click through to www.powerbodyweekend.com to connect your vision to ours today. Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:03:09 -0500 Full article 2_197available at: stepintoyourpower.com On a particular Sunday, while in Hawaii to work on a project, I ran the Maui Half Marathon. I had entered the race very last minute; clicking the 'accept the terms and conditions' only a few days before leaving for the island. My work blesses me with many opportunities to travel and on this occasion I was going to be in Maui for business anyway so I decided to do the race, meet some fantastic people and get a great t-shirt. The race start was 5:30 a.m. which meant a 4:00 a.m. wake-up for me. It hadn't been a restful sleep between anticipation and the countless thoughts running around like wild toddlers in my head. By midnight I asked God to help me release all attachment to the run. I no longer run to race; I run to run and will often use a Sharpie to write 'I run for God and I run for me' on my arm, before a race, to remind me to stay focused on the sheer joy of running. At 5:20 a.m. I took my spot amongst the thousand plus runners soaking in the pre-race excitement. I found my own mind wandering to thoughts of time and placement finishes and much like an untrained puppy, I had to rein my mind in, scold her slightly and remind her that we were here to have fun and to let those things go. As the announcer counted down from ten and I reached the start line in a throng of people, I began to relax into the run letting my body know that she could do whatever she felt like on this particular morning. Being there amongst my fellow runners of all shapes and sizes; alone with my thoughts for the next while, I had time to consider how closely linked life and business are and specifically life and running. One of the reasons I run and do Bikram yoga is that it forces me to go into the gap, a place where we must face our own ego, go beyond physical pain and deal with whatever must be cleared. It isn't necessarily comfortable nor is it appealing however it is conducive with living a life of purpose where we choose to ask more of ourselves than we had previously thought possible. Business is like this too. When we decide that we will be entrepreneurs or embark on a career that requires us to self-promote or sell we must also face challenges. We must allow ourselves to side-step the ego and release our judgements. We must take our businesses one step at a time, much like running a race. During my race I was passed by a man running with a baby jogger. He strode along confidently, sure in his stride, maintaining a brisk pace that would ultimately place him in the top one hundred finishers. Years ago I would have allowed the self-destructive emotion of humiliation to rule my consciousness and on this day I simply smiled in appreciation of the fitness of another. I choose to focus on my own stride and repeat my running mantra of 'light, easy, effortless, 'over and over again. In business, and in our careers, people will pass us. They may surge ahead and we can choose to operate from a place of competition, which is often counterproductive, or we can use their energy and power to be an inspiration as I did with the man and the baby jogger. Competition can be healthy if we are ultimately competing to ask ourselves to perform better; to train harder. If we compete for position or timing the victory may be empty because it implies a lack mentality as if to say that only the people on the podium have worth. Years ago, as an elite athlete, I raced for the glory; that coveted place on the podium where my victories were often like sugar highs. I felt amazing for a split second and then I went onto the next race hoping to recapture the validation and approval I experienced when I was winning. When I was diagnosed with MS in the year 2000 that changed. I made a decision to simply enjoy testing my body, showing up to do the best I could on any given day; to exercise consistently and take victory in the form of showing up and not simply in winning. As a result of how I began to shift my perspective, my business life changed too. Instead of focusing on being the number one person in sales or the top income earner in a company; I focused on doing my personal best. I choose to operate in business as I do in a marathon - one step at a time, recognizing that although some people will pass me; I will also pass some people and neither of these things really matter in the grand scheme of life. In business and racing position puts food on the table in the short term however daily personal best and great habits pay the bills for the long term. In both business and running I have found that how I feel one moment may certainly not dictate how I will feel the next. In a marathon or half marathon I may feel great for one mile and lousy for the subsequent few. Ultimately that doesn't mean anything because I am not attached to feeling bad or feeling good; I am solely focused on the experience of testing my body and quieting my mind, running every mile in deep appreciation of doing my best at that moment. Earlier that morning I had met a man, doing the race using two walking canes; clearly debilitated with a crippling illness. I smiled and wished him well as he undertook 13.1 miles of willpower and belief. He graciously returned my smile and set forth to give his personal best. Because of his challenge he had been permitted to start an hour before everyone else and his drive inspired me as I worked through some kinks during my pre-race warm-up. During the race I encountered him again taking a moment to slow down and tell him to 'stay strong' and that he was doing 'amazing.' He smiled in appreciation and thanked me. This leads me to one of the most integral ways in which running and business align; no matter how badly you are feeling know that there is always someone who is pushing harder just to stay in the race. I may have felt nauseous and going at my top speed based on how I felt but this man was working harder just to take one step. After taking a moment to focus on another human being and take the focus off of myself; I immediately felt uplifted and this is an essential element in business because great relationships are formed when we can take a precious moment to raise the spirit of another. Lastly remember that business is a marathon; it is not a sprint. You will have great times and challenging times. There will be times when you want to give up and throw in the towel and you must never do that because by doing so you are giving up on your dreams. At the end of every race there is a finish line and this is the one true difference with business - there is no finish line. We must continue to soldier on one step at a time knowing that every challenge makes us fitter and that there will always be people who will continue to inspire us. At the end of the day, when we choose to run our own race, we will always feel much more fulfilled. Life is much too short to not experience this fulfillment. Go out there in victory, one step at a time, knowing that we are all meant for greatness whether we fun our race with two canes or pushing the baby jogger. You may be experiencing a tough mile right now and just know that the next one may be easier. Stay in the game. Stay strong and most importantly know that with the power of God all things are possible. Do You Want To Be the Healthiest You Can Be? Join author, trainer and weight management specialist, Susan Sly, certified therapist and registered nurse, Camille Lawson and certified trainer, group exercise instructor and registered nurse Deborah Wright for the 3rdPower Body Weekend. This event will sell out. Click through to www.powerbodyweekend.com to connect your vision to ours today. Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:01:59 -0500 Full article 2_196available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Change before you have to." Jack Welch As I write this week's column I am in a hotel room. It's just after five in the morning and I will soon be heading to the gym and then to the airport to catch my flight to L.A. I went to bed at eleven o'clock; tossing and turning for a while. I have never been the best sleeper in hotel rooms especially traveling alone. By the time I did get to sleep it was the wee hours of the morning and even on very little sleep the thought of missing my workout was unfathomable. Even though I am a bit tired I live for the after effect; that energy and sense of appreciation that comes from moving my body and sweating. Is getting up early and working out always easy? No. Do I always want to do it six days per week? No. The thing I know is that it is a lot easier than living in a body that is overweight and out of shape. In fact, that time of my life was so uncomfortable that with no uncertain terms do I ever want to go back there. For over a decade and a half I worked in the fitness industry. Although people of all shapes and sizes entered the doors of the health club ultimately there were only three personality types that made it far enough to swipe their gym card. The first being the group who detested working out but did it anyway. The second being the group that enjoyed working out and consistently showed up doing the same routine day in and day out regardless of physical transformation yet ensconced in the mental rewards. The third group were those that loved to exercise and lived for it. The other group - people, who detest exercise and do not do it, would never have entered the gym to begin with. The interesting piece is that these four categories of people are apt to classify many other pursuits including starting a business, working on a relationship, seeking the ideal partner and much more. T. Harv Eker, in his NY Times Bestseller - Secrets of the Millionaire Mind insists that 'how we do one thing is how we do everything.' It poses the question - if a person procrastinates on exercise, do they also procrastinate on paying bills, creating more income or deepening their relationships? The answer, far and away, is a resounding 'yes.' In a ground breaking research study conducted at Ohio State University a massive correlation between finances and B.M.I. (body mass index) was discovered after following 7000 people for 15 years. Research scientist, Jay Zagorsky, found that women who were heavier tended to be also more laden with debt and that when those same women brought their B.M.I. down by 10 points their assets increased by more than $11,000. While neither watching our nutritional intake or paying debt is overly pleasant, Dr. Zagorsky's study tells us that when we take action in our health at least, there seems to be a spill over effect in our finances. Ultimately this study supports the idea that when we take action in one area we are more likely to take action in another. When I created the Have It All life pyramid it was to illustrate the notion that when we build a solid base in our lives everything else falls into place. At the base of the pyramid are health, faith/spirituality, and self-love. The reason being that when we are healthy we have a great likelihood of taking action to improve the other areas of our lives because we have more energy, sleep better, have greater mental clarity and feel better about ourselves in general. Exercise and choosing to eat properly for your own body type may not always be pleasant and this is why I encourage you to live into the after effect - how good everything feels once you have built up the sweat, consumed a healthy meal and made choices to not have things that will take you further away from your desires. As I finish this article I am in another hotel, again with very little sleep and am heading to the gym before my flight. On this particular morning, after two nights of sleeplessness, I am not feeling overly enthused about working out yet I am living into the after effect; making a conscious decision that moving my body, getting a good sweat and waking myself up will ultimately feel better than attempting another hour of sleep. I encourage you to step into your power ™ and be a person who doesn't procrastinate. Take action on a healthier body and healthier finances and see how incredible you really are. There are so many people that are fearful of taking action on their dreams, be an example to them; be an inspiration of someone who gets their workout done and leads a healthy life. I promise you - the after effect is worth it. Do You Want To Be the Healthiest You Can Be? Join author, trainer and weight management specialist, Susan Sly, certified therapist and registered nurse, Camille Lawson and certified trainer, group exercise instructor and registered nurse Deborah Wright for the 3rdPower Body Weekend. This event will sell out. Click through to www.powerbodyweekend.com to connect your vision to ours today. Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:53:33 -0500 Full article 2_195available at: stepintoyourpower.com "One secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes." Benjamin Disraeli Physical health and mental agility are critical for our preparation to success. As we anticipate our abundance, there is another key factor to take into account and that is our relationships. Preparing for success means the development of key associations and building our people skills. I have found that the majority of business success stories come to being due to one or more past relationships. A person, from our past or current circle may offer us an opportunity to get involved in a project or make an investment. Perhaps a friend may connect us with a mentor or new business partner. Relationships are critical in your preparation for success and that is why it is always a good idea to develop a strong circle of affiliations. My friends Jim and Kathy Coover are now at the helm of a billion dollar company. Was it sheer luck? Absolutely not, it was preparation and relationship building. Jim and Kathy were in retirement after being involved in several business deals that had yielded them a wonderful cushion. Both fitness and health fanatics, Jim and Kathy were both the picture of health. Avid readers and students of business and personal development their minds were also sharp. One day they received a phone call from an old acquaintance of Jim's. John Anderson was in the process of transforming his existing company and wanted to know if Jima and Kathy wanted to be a part of something new and exciting. Thanks to this old relationship, Jim and Kathy, John and his wife, Cher, went on to found Isagenix ™ which now assists people in cleansing, releasing weight and getting healthy. This never would have happened if not for a relationship started back in the 1980's. You see we never know how old or current relationships may eventually assist us. The objective is to be the best person you can be; standing in integrity and living authentically so people think highly of you. That means not engaging in gossip, judgement, negativity or jealousy. It means mastering your people skills so people remember you and think to connect with you when an opportunity arises. Ultimately we never know how someone may show up in our lives and this is why it is so important not to burn bridges so to speak and treat everyone, as the scriptures say, as we would want to be treated ourselves. One of the reasons I am so passionate about network marketing is because of my friend, Deborah. Deborah was the first person to truly invest in my development as an entrepreneur in direct sales. She encouraged me to read books by leaders such as Tony Robbins and Robert Kiosaki. She took me onto conference calls with industry leaders. She assisted me in developing my skills so that one day I would indeed be prepared. When she called me about my current opportunity, I was ready, even though I wasn't initially open. Thanks to Deborah's persistence and our past relationship I did eventually take a look at what she was offering. This ultimately brought me into the vehicle which I still operate today and one where I have helped a tremendous amount of people. When I first met Deborah in the year 2000, at a very low point in my life, I had no idea that our friendship would eventually change my destiny. Imagine that the relationships you are developing now may eventually turn into massive rewards. Do you know someone who is extremely successful at what they do? If so, take time to get to know them. Ask them great questions such as, 'what have been your greatest challenges?' and 'how did you get over them?' The person who now mentors you may someday be your business partner or eventually connect you to whomever it is you want to meet. Building great relationships is essential to preparing yourself for success. Lastly, I want to encourage you to remember that success is indeed a journey, as I wrote in an earlier part of this article. Your job is to prepare so that when opportunity does indeed knock, you will be ready. In the Bible it tells us that 'many are called and yet few are chosen.' Make a decision that you will be one of the chosen few; ready to respond when it is your time. Commit today to honing your skills, investing in your health and your relationships knowing that one day, maybe even today, you will have your opportunity to rise to the occasion and become everything you were meant to be. Know that you do have greatness within you and that no matter what - you too can achieve the life of your dreams. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:30:50 -0500 Full article 2_194available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune." Jim Rohn By putting your health first now, you will be much more prepared when your big break comes. Choosing to eat a diet that is full of unprocessed foods and drinks, taking high quality vitamins, getting enough sleep, limiting alcohol and caffeine and committing to a regular exercise routine will assist you in being prepared for your success. Most entrepreneurs run at a fast pace their first two to three years in business. They rise early and work late. The number one reason why many 'burn out' is because they are not healthy enough to keep up with the demands of a new business. Adrenal burn out is common in women and heart attacks claim more victims for women than all of the cancers combined in the United States. It is said that our health is our greatest wealth and although most people know how to get healthy, they might not truly understand all of the aspects required to be in excellent shape. Human beings are truly magnificent and in order to operate at our fullest potential we cannot fuel our bodies with junk. Imagine having a brand new Ferarri, worth over $250,000, and putting in low quality oil and gas. Imagine running the car on empty. It would still be a Ferarri but how well would it run if you treated it like that? Science has discovered that the human body, when broken down to all of its base minerals and elements, is worth over $6 million. Do you treat your body as though it is worth millions of dollars or do you fill it with junk hoping to get a different result? In this day and age of technology and cities without sidewalks we need exercise and healthy eating more than ever. If you are not taking care of your health now you will not be ready for the success that is your destiny. Before he passed, I had the honor of sharing the stage with the late Jim Rohn. Jim was a mentor to Tony Robbins, Anne Geddes and many others. In his eighties he still took time to eat healthy, take his vitamins and exercise. What killed Jim? More than likely a combination of environmental toxins that speed up the aging process and a demanding speaking schedule. My understanding is that Mr. Rohn died peacefully at home. What a legacy he created and what an amazing example of success. Barbara Walters, the journalist and media powerhouse is 81 years old. She was born in 1929 and will turn 82 this September 25th. At 81 she is still going strong. Reports are that Miss Walters partakes in regular exercise and additionally keeps her mind highly stimulated. Preparing for success also requires us to constantly be building our mental agility. Reading and watching the news, unless you want to be a reporter for CNN, is very likely to cause you to have a negative outlook. In fact one study showed violent and catastrophic news clips to a test group and found that the participants were depressed, anxious and hopeless for at least twelve hours afterwards. Keeping your mind limber by reading books on your desired industry, interviewing successful people and developing your skills will cause you to be prepared when the opportunity strikes. Look at any billionaire on the planet and you will observe someone who keeps their mind sharp. By the time Donald Trump inherited part of his fortune from his father, Fred, he has already studied real estate and business. Mr. Trump is a graduate of the prestigious Wharton School of business where he graduated with honors. When it was time for Donald Trump to take over the family business, he was ready. He understood the markets, he understood financing and development and most of all his preparation had lead him to become a real estate visionary. Even when Donald Trump millions of dollars he bounced back quickly and became a billionaire because his mind was prepared. (Read next week to find out the third way we can prepare for success) Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Mon, 8 Aug 2011 13:27:05 -0500 Full article 2_193available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other." Abraham Lincoln I once read that the Academy Award ™ winning actor, Hilary Swank, grew up in a trailer park with a dream to be on screen. She practiced, she entered school plays and she honed her craft. Eventually, her mother took her to Hollywood where Swank would audition, shower at a local YMCA and sleep in the car. Eventually the years of preparation paid off and today Swank is one of the highest paid actresses in the world. A young boy once entered local running races and eventually triathlons. He raced his bike around his Texas neighbourhood with his classmates. He played hard and he trained hard. He also raced hard so much so that as he was becoming a burgeoning professional triathlete he eventually was diagnosed with cancer. Not one to be stopped by anything, including a very negative medical report, Lance Armstrong went on to become one of the most celebrated and controversial cyclists in history. Years of preparation eventually made way for his success. As I travel to do seminars and work with people I often hear people in conversation talking about all of the things they are going to do when they become successful. That is when they will take care of their body; that is when they will hire a financial advisor. I hear how fabulous these lives are going to be and interestingly enough I often do not observe any action other than waiting for the magical success bus to arrive and hand deliver millions of dollars. The reality is that success doesn't just show up; it comes to those who are prepared. I was not an overnight success in network marketing. For years, I honed the skills. I practiced three-way calls, presentations, handling objections, calling leads, calling out of the phone book, walking up to strangers and presenting the opportunity, getting shot down by friends, family members and colleagues; all the while developing my abilities. When I was presented with the right company, I was the right person with years of preparation under my belt. Although I still had much to learn, I had been preparing for my success since I started my first business at the age of 11. Success is not a destination; it is a journey. It is not somewhere we arrive at and hope that all of the proverbial pieces fall into place. Success is something we should be preparing for all of the time and that begins by working on the fundamental pieces of our lives now. The first area of preparation is in health. What happens when you receive that lucky break and you do not have the stamina, health or energy to move forward? I have a friend, who became a self-made multi-millionaire in his seventies. When most of his friends were dying and surrendering to what they thought was the inevitable, my friend was taking vitamins and exercising. He was also sharpening his knowledge of nutrition and physiology. What was he doing? He was preparing. When his friend called him about a potential business, my friend was ready. At 74 he was fit, healthy and full of life. In fact he had more energy in his seventies than most people in their twenties. He went on to create massive success and help thousands of people in the process. Joel Osteen, the famous pastor, is another example of preparing for success. As a young man Joel worked behind the scenes as a camera man for his father's ministry. If Joel saw his father do something that worked well on television, he would tell him. Additionally if Joel observed a specific shirt and tie that didn't work well on camera, he would also tell him. Joel positively viewed every aspect of all of his father's sermons, even traveling with him to India and Africa to watch him minister to the people. When Joel's father passed, Joel was asked to step up and pastor the church and take over the ministry. At first he thought he wasn't prepared and even brought in several guest pastors. At the prompting of Joel's wife, Victoria, he eventually stepped out front and center realizing that he had been preparing for this moment for most of his life. Today, Joel Osteen is one of the most watched ministers in the world. On any given Sunday, millions of people tune in to see Joel on television preaching at Lakewood Church. He is the only minister to preach at and sell out Yankee Stadium in New York City. He has even been asked to travel to Israel spreading his message of hope. Joel Osteen is also an avid runner and sports enthusiast. He takes excellent care of himself and also has a family that loves and supports him. When Joel was called, he was ready. He was fit. He was able. He was prepared. Read next week to find out the other ways in which can prepare for our success. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Mon, 8 Aug 2011 13:25:57 -0500 Full article 2_192available at: stepintoyourpower.com "As you become more clear about who you really are, you'll be better able to decide what is best for you - the first time around." Oprah Winfrey Gayle* has struggled with her weight for as long as she can remember. The product of an abusive father and an apathetic mother, she is uses food to suppress her emotions. Gayle choose the route of the 'funny' girl as an adolescent; one that would eventually land her on stage at comedy clubs and television. As an actor, she is already the envy of her peers having worked diligently honing her craft. From all outward appearances, Gayle is the gal that everyone wants to be their best friend. She is loyal, empathetic and the first person to come to the aid of anyone in need.She has gone from relationship to relationship; always serving her partner selflessly somehow rationalizing that all this giving would take away the pain of her past. All of this giving led to years of the emotional roller-coaster of dieting and binging. Today Gayle is overweight, struggling financially and engaging in a day to day battle with herself. Gayle is not alone. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, binge eating affects approximately 4 million American women. Binge eating disorder, unlike bulimia, is not characterized by eating large quantities of food and then inducing vomiting or using laxatives as a compensatory mechanism. Binge eaters tend to eat quickly and beyond fullness, often unaware of the amount of food they are consuming at the time. The result is increased weight which can lead to Type II Diabetes, Heart Disease, Stroke, High Blood Pressure, Depression and more. The binge eating is not the only war Gayle is waging on herself.A 15 year study done at the Ohio State University, on 7000 participants, found a significant correlation between being overweight and being overwrought with debt. When participants lowered their BMI (Body Mass Index) their net worth actually increased. Gayle, like many women are sabotaging their health and their finances simultaneously. Working with women for years, I have met a considerable number who both struggle with finances and weight. Often hiding behind the guise of selflessness, these women tend to give to the point of exhaustion and then compensate with food. At the end of the day, consuming massive amounts of food is both a friend and a means to supplicate the feeling that they are unlovable, not enough and unworthy of happiness though from an outward appearance, many of these women may seem jovial, even strong; all masking the void of despair within. Like many women with the perceived pull and push of the demands of life; there is a constant battle going on within. Women, like Gayle, who sabotage their own successes; panicking when something good happens triggering the need to revert to a comfortable place of discomfort by using food and debt as a pain inducer, can also be highly productive. The sad thing is that this cycle inevitably leads to one place and that is self-destruction through ill health, tampered relationships and often poor finances. Subsequently, not all women in this cycle of abuse are obese; some are only twenty or thirty pounds over their healthy weight. Genetics and day-to-day physical demands can decide just how much weight a person will gain while they are in this state. The question becomes - how does one change? The first and foremost thing is to seek assistance.Find out where these triggers come from.A therapist or coach can often assist in getting at the root cause and then breaking the cycle of pain. At the Power Body Weekend, we help women eat for health and energy as opposed to suppression; we teach them how to express themselves in a healthy way and even make exercise fun. The process of substituting triggering behaviours for overeating such as watching television or speaking with a friend or relative who is quite negative with taking a bath, going for a walk, reading a good book or connecting with a friend who is positive and supportive is also extremely helpful. The key is to break the pattern and create a new habit. Journalling on feelings is also a productive outlet. Letting go of the emotions that are triggering the behaviour is a healthy release which can, in turn, prevent further suppressive behaviours such as overspending or overeating. As long as the emotions can be released in a positive way, the desire to overeat or overspend is lessened. Lastly, know that if you have a tendency toward binge eating or spending you are not alone. Make a decision to break this pattern and move forward into the greatness of your life; end the war of 'you versus you.' You are important. You are special and you are enough. Go out there in victory today knowing that you truly can have it all. Are You Ready To Step Into A Powerful Body? The Power Body Weekend is one of transformation, inspiration and education. Join author, speaker and trainer Susan Sly and her team for the weekend of a lifetime.Tickets are going fast (click here to find out more) Mon, 8 Aug 2011 10:47:25 -0500 Full article 2_191available at: stepintoyourpower.com Owning that business taught me the skills of discipline, management, planning and humility. I learned then that it was better to be respected than to be liked and to this day, many of our former staff members still avoid eye contact if I see them on the street. Really, if someone has never owned a business how can they truly understand? The payment for owning that business was my health and my marriage and to a certain extent my soul. Today I understand that people who criticize are those who are in some way hurting themselves. My heart goes out to those who lost their jobs when we closed however soon after a mega gym chain moved into the area and many of our staff members work there to this day; they landed on their feet and eventually so did we. To this day, I will never forget the sheer embarrassment, heartache and hurt that I felt when we lost the club; it felt as though part of me died although everything I am today stemmed from that experience. I soon left for a new city, took a wonderful job, re-met Chris and discovered network marketing which has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Had I not lost the club, I would have continued to live a delusion and I would not be where I am today. Going into that building was the catalyst for a surfacing of shame and guilt that were ready to be released because they no longer serve me. Instead I am humbled by the experience and thanks to being forced to confront that place I am now more at peace with it than ever before. Even when the now owner of the studio asked me if I was o.k., recognizing me; I was able to smile bravely and take a deep breath in reverie contemplating God's plan for my life. I was meant to go back because it was time to clear; and the timing is always perfect. I would like to encourage you this week to contemplate a place where you might have some memories that seem painful. Is it possible to visit that place and make peace with your memories? If not, can you schedule some time to look at photos of that place or visualize the location and what happened there? Can you come to a level of compassion for yourself in that situation realizing that you have the ability to take all of your hurts and grow from them in beautiful ways? Whatever may be surfacing is something that is desperate to clear so you can go forward and live into the magnificence that you were destined for. At Step Into Your Power ™ we say - whatever you have suppressed is expressed in other ways; some of which are not necessarily positive. Sometimes we repress things which we do not even realize are unresolved and this can be the root for self-destructive behaviors such as overeating, excess drinking and more. In my case, even though I had done a great amount of work on that time in my life and now have a wonderful relationship with my former husband my suppressed emotions had driven me to produce from a place of perfection and anger for my first few years as an entrepreneur. I had perceived myself to be a failure in that business so I resolved to drive myself in everything which only resulted in me getting more ill though did also produce some wonderful financial result. Though I didn't even comprehend the degree of emotions that I had suppressed around the business what I realize today is that the happier I am and the more compassionate I can be with myself and others; the greater the ease at which I produce results. I encourage you to go forward with compassion for yourself. Take some time to stand in appreciation, and not dissociation, of the events from your past which you perceive to be painful. Release your anger, shame and guilt. Remember, that the past is over and all we can do as human beings is move forward learning from the lessons of our personal histories. Know that you do have greatness inside you and you are capable of great things. Life is much too short to live with your judgements of self and others. Stand strong in compassion and watch how quickly you are rewarded with fulfillment, joy and blessings beyond your imagination. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Fri, 5 Aug 2011 08:06:23 -0500 Full article 2_190available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too." Will Smith My throat caught in a sensation only akin to having someone stuff cotton balls down my throat; my chest tightened and I felt as though I was going to vomit. I hadn't expected this considering only a nanosecond ago I had opened the door with such determination and surety that I had even surprised myself. It had been eleven years, three months and two weeks since I had last been here. I had avoided entering however today it could not be helped and as the emotions surfaced I realized that I still had some things to clear. I was standing on the main floor of what now a dance studio was where our five year old was taking a camp, and what had been my business; a health club where I had overseen over forty staff members, fifteen hundred members and run alongside my then husband. The last time I had been on this very floor was the night before the collapse. It was the Thursday before Good Friday and I was closing the gym down knowing that I would be coming back early the next morning to teach a spinning class. There would be no spinning class however because when I arrived on Good Friday morning there was a padlock on the door and a notice which proclaimed that we had been shut down for failure to pay our taxes; something about which I had chosen to be naοve about. Here I was surrounded by ghosts, personal demons, shadows; haunting memories and facing every deep dark sadness that a hundred thousand dollars in personal development had narrowly prepared me for. I gasped for air, keeping a brave face as my second youngest daughter leaped and twirled across the floor for her recital. This was the one place from my pasts that I had avoided, long ago learning to replace contempt with gratitude for my many life lessons acquired from buying a business at age 24; negotiating the final part of the deal while I was in labor for my daughter, Avery now 14. I had told myself that we, meaning my then husband and I, would make it work. We didn't have extra capital. We had drive, determination and experience in athletics and fitness. We were young and idealistic and we were in love or so I thought. We dove into that business headfirst. My first lesson came when a staff member missed a flight and could not teach her kickboxing class. There was no one else to do it except for me. It was Thursday and I had just had my baby a week ago and found myself teaching a high intensity class, bleeding through my tights which thankfully were black. There were long days, waking up at five a.m. and going to bed after midnight. We choose to open and close the club the majority of time ourselves. My husband was supposed to be in charge of the finances. I was the marketing person also responsible for programming. For a while it worked. We were so bloody idealistic. We believed we were unstoppable. In newspaper interviews we were glib, telling people that the competitive club down the street was of little concern. When asked about our lack of experience we extolled the virtues of being elite athletes, my personal training, nutrition and fitness certifications. We almost challenged people to fault us and fault us they did however that was what we had attracted. We caught one of my favourite staff members stealing from us. He was taking cash for memberships and goodness knows how much he stole. We had to let go of a family member, who worked in a management position, for openly disclosing our finances with members over several cocktails one night. We dealt with requests for raises, arguments, dissatisfied members, theft, an overly aggressive landlord with eyes on a more affluent tenant, legal contracts, staffing challenges, daily complaints and a lack of cash flow. After three years I broke down and we broke up. That business represented a time when a massive amount of transformation took place in my life. I raised my daughter there, I was diagnosed with MS while running that club, I was on television and radio, and I was forced to grow up and at 24 years old step into a massive amount of responsibility. My former husband likes to say that the business was too much for our marriage and that is what drove him to look elsewhere for love. I prefer to think now that the business was basically a PhD in life like a rollercoaster ride of truth that penetrates every cell of my being to this day. Read the Continuation of Susan's Clearing (Part 2) in our upcoming July 29 Edition Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:05:40 -0500 Full article 2_189available at: stepintoyourpower.com "One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure." William Feather At dinner, one Friday evening not long ago, we entertained two new friends; a couple with children of similar ages to our own. Over wine and delicious Indian takeaway we recounted various adventures. Our friends, extremely well-travelled, spoke of a broken down car in Indonesia, dodging rebels in Iraq and the perils of the airport in Addis Ababa; one of a few adventures we had shared. Our own travels, although much diminished in comparison to our friends, have been a source of great pleasure, education and enlightenment. From swimming in the wild with a shark in Jamaica to narrowly missing being kidnapped by guerrillas in Guatemala, we have had a great deal of fun. As our dinner progressed, talk turned to the next chapter of our lives. Our friends, obviously people who are not complacent were considering their options. There have been job offers on several continents and there are numerous factors to consider including those miniature humans we call children. This lead me to think about our own next incarnation and what form that could take. It could involve a new city or simply a new home. It could be a new book project (I have two on the go) or a trip somewhere; oddly enough I opened my Sunday NY Times to the feature on Istanbul, a place I have always wanted to travel. I have two friends doing their PhD's and both have encouraged me to go back to school. I also have friends trying to persuade me to do another Ironman Triathlon though I haven't been on a bike in several years. I am not sure that is where my head it at. There are also other offers of fun adventures to have and the choices really are limitless. The question I keep coming back to is what is the next incarnation of me or in other words - who am I becoming and do these adventures fit in with how I see myself? When I am training people there is often debate on what it means to transform. Some wonder if it requires giving themselves up entirely much like entering the witness protection program and creating a new identity. I prefer to think of it as keeping all the good parts and embracing new challenges to form our character. In truth we can transform into a better version of ourselves. It doesn't require money to do so although money really does assist. From celebrities to everyday people, many choose to re-invent themselves as a means to creating a different end. We have friends, a couple, who spent years as police officers before one of them went back to school to become a lawyer. Although the money was great, the hours were terrible and so was the stress. They decided to re-invent themselves as professional network marketers. They now have the same multiple six figure income as they had before however their lives are full of choice. They are still the same people, just a whole lot more relaxed. At my yoga studio we have a new instructor. This gal is a health care professional who went to do the intensive, gruelling Bikram Yoga Certification. She is re-inventing herself to support others in the holistic approach to health and I apologize for the too oft used term however I think she is really 'cool.' Whether you are deciding to go back to school, create a massive residual income from network marketing, go from a coach potato to a marathon runner or take up scuba diving; life is filled with many options for those who have the creative and determined mindset. Every night I tell my children that they can be, do and have anything they dream and I truly believe it in my heart. I know that our Divine Heavenly Father, you may say 'the universe' or your 'guardian angel' or 'spirit' or 'source,' wants us to be happy, wants us to be fulfilled and wants us to live a life of purpose. You have the choice to transform into the next incarnation of you. Go for it today. Apply yourself today. Go out there and pursue your dreams. Life is magical if you choose it to be and we really can have it all. I think I am going to create my clearing to go to Istanbul in celebration of completing my next book and contemplate a PhD on an island somewhere with my husband and my kids. For those of you waiting for me to do another Ironman…stay tuned. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:14:00 -0500 Full article 2_188available at: stepintoyourpower.com As I write this I am waiting to board a flight to Europe, celebrating Avery's graduation and enjoying some time with my oldest daughter. I had written this week's ezine prior to leaving and regardless of how much I edited and reviewed the article, I just knew that it wasn't right.With that in mind I instead shift my focus to the events of the last 24 hours with the inspiration taken from both my personal life and mass media. Yesterday, enroute to the airport, I took some time to connect with a woman I mentor; an actress in L.A. Acting is a tough go and although our culture loves to iconify our megastars, the route to superstardom would challenge the most dedicated of believers. Although I presently do not coach, I still do the odd session with this actress. In the past year we have truly come a long way and she is one voucher away from her coveted SAG card. Last week, through coaching, she attracted a walk-on part on the hit show, Entourage.Although the assistant director was out of vouchers, she gained more screen time. This week we attracted a connection to one of the lead actors on a massive Emmy ™award winning show and my client is using the techniques I have trained her in to continue on the perilous road of following her dreams. Not long before arriving at my destination I connected with my long time friend and uber MLM coach, Jeffery Combs. Jeff just signed a publishing deal for his new book and is about to launch a brand new project. Jeff has overcome addictions to become a self-made millionaire and through his journey continued to believe in himself enough to transcend his self-destructive behavior. I took Avery to the Katy Perry concert before flying off. Ms. Perry has sold out two shows in Toronto and has a career which reportedly earned her $44 million in 2010 alone. A very gracious stage performer, Katy Perry, has continued to believe in herself even breaking away from her ultra-conservative upbringing.I sat mesmerized at both the costume changes and the transformation of this performer thinking how hard it must be for her to defy her parents' beliefs and pursue her dreams. From Katy Perry to Justin Bieber's movie; one which I watched on the plane with Avery.Justin Bieber, born to a teenage mom became a You Tube ™ phenomenon and has gone on to break the hearts of teenage girls all over the world. Kidding aside, Justin Bieber's movie was inspirational in that he had the belief in his dreams from an early age, a belief that took him to sold out shows around the globe. One of the opening quotes in my book, The Have It All Woman, is from Natalie Cole.She says, 'we only see the glory, we don't see the story.' When it comes to fame and fortune it is easy to look at the end result; the money, the glossy photos in People ™ magazine, the lifestyle and the notoriety. What we do not tend to focus on is the journey; the sweat equity, dealing with the people who do not believe in us, the naysayers, the judgers and the numerous times when it would be so easy to quit. You may not have the warm fuzzies for Katy Perry or Justin Bieber however as far as mega best selling performers go, there are very few who make it to the top. Are they more talented that other people out there?Not necessarily. Just ask yourself - where would Carrie Underwood be if not for American Idol? The reality is that to achieve anything there must be a strong belief in ourselves. A few things I have observed on my own journey to success is that every person who has ever accomplished anything had at least one other person who believed in them; whether a mentor, a friend, a family member or even a talent scout - there was at least one living, breathing person who continued to support that individual. Additionally, at the very base of success must be an unwavering faith in the dream.When we find that person who believes in us and we can support our own belief through faith, the magic happens and success becomes immanent. The road to achieving anything is not easy and that is why very few people become millionaires or pop stars. To dare to be at the top of your game means to dare to face ridicule, rejection and the desire to quit. I encourage you to press forward toward your dreams; be unstoppable in your pursuit of what you want. Go for it like never before and always remember that I believe in you. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Wed, 13 Jul 2011 10:42:44 -0500 Full article 2_187available at: stepintoyourpower.com "To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him." Buddha 'He is not responding,' Sophie* lamented. 'I don't know what to do. I have told him that if he doesn't come up with an answer then we are done.' I could tell from Sophie's voice, and the dramatic sigh that followed, that she did not want the relationship to be over. What she really wanted was for the object of her desire to suddenly have a change of heart, jump on a plane and sweep her into his arms like a character from a Harlequin Romance. I also knew that Sophie was choosing to suffer; she had stopped living her life two years ago after a few months of on again, off again romantic dalliance and was now holding out for a man to suddenly break the form of two years of friendly, yet sex-free communication. For the last two years Sophie has lived tormented by her own desires. She has hoped and prayed that this man would suddenly leave his loveless marriage, creating a life with her. Complicating this is the matter of her lover's child. Sophie dreams of a life where Jonathon* will leave his wife, take the child and start a new life with Sophie. Sophie is so attached to this fantasy that she had decided that she will only be happy when she and Jonathon are together; basically she is putting the burden of her happiness on Jonathon's shoulders. Creating contingencies on our own happiness, whether those be for love, money or health, are too much for anyone or anything else to shoulder. The burden of our happiness creates pressure in a situation and this pressure creates physiological resistance in a person and spiritual resistance in all else. I have observed those who choose to live a very sad life, often suffering for years. They have chosen a path whereby their happiness is reliant upon an accomplishment or the obtainment of a person or thing. Such happiness is not very long lived and nor is it real. True happiness comes from within ourselves; it bubbles and flows and creates a magnetic attraction that tends to bring that thing we want into our lives even faster because we are now not attached to acquiring whatever it was that we had decided would make us so happy. Years ago, when I was a single mom, living on my own in Toronto, Canada I could have decided that I had the 'scarlet letter.' I had progressive multiple sclerosis, was deeply in debt due to some poor business decisions and was divorced. From that place it would have been easy to say, 'I will be happy when I am healthy, when I am in a great relationship, and when I have money.' What I choose to do instead was to be happy now. I took time daily to write out gratitude. I read books by over-comers, people such as Tony Robbins, who had once been destitute. I released negative people and if I couldn't find positive people I turned to books and tapes. It didn't take long, I soon attracted my great love, Chris, into my life. In high school I had adored him from afar. Back then I had even said, 'I will be happy if Chris asks me out.' Well, of course it didn't happen in high school; it happened perfectly, when I decided to be happy without a relationship. My health turned around. I attracted an incredible business opportunity and put in tireless hours and built a wonderful income. These things didn't make me happier; they are only a reflection of the happiness within myself. What I have learned is that in order to attract what it is we desire, we much choose to be happy. We must choose gratitude even when it feels that we do not have much to be grateful for. In making a decision to be happy right now, you will begin to attract all of those things that you thought would have made you happy. You may feel more joy when you receive them however you will no longer be putting the burden of your happiness on those things or people. We are all children of God. We all have greatness within us. Go forward this week and choose to be happy now. Watch the miracles unfold. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:03:05 -0500 Full article 2_186available at: stepintoyourpower.com "One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular." Tony Robbins So let me ask you a question. Have you ever lost focus because you were too preoccupied with what someone else was doing? Have you ever been on a path of clarity and certainty only to have doubt creep in when you observed someone else getting the results you wanted using a different method? Basically - are you prone to distraction? I once had a client whom we will call Julia. Julia was the wife of an extremely wealthy entrepreneur and I was her sycophant personal trainer. Julia was about forty pounds overweight though she carried it well on her petite frame. I worked with her three times per week for one hour. My job was to keep her motivated and put her through her paces.The only challenge was this - her will versus mine. As a certified personal trainer and nutritionist I had certain techniques, naturally proven, to transform the body. Julia had certain ideas, not necessarily proven, about how to lose weight. These usually stemmed from a New York Times article on the hottest workout trend or some bizarre detox one of her equally as all knowing friends would undergo.Every day I would show up with a specified workout in mind only to be usurped by the latest and greatest rumoured quick fix. I intended that we would do cardio and weights; that I would look at her eating log and make suggestions. She would decide that we needed to do an hour of hatha yoga after self-diagnosing her own stress levels. As you can imagine, Julia's body did not shift. This was also massively due to her secret affair with full size chocolate bars. While Julia was the victim of distraction, I was the victim of lack of confidence.Together, these two ideologies failed to create any results whatsoever. By the time I decided to grow up and learned to take a posture with my clients, different results ensued. As long as my clients followed their exercise and nutrition programs their bodies transformed. I learned how to keep my clients in a permanent state of tunnel vision; focusing on their goals and celebrating each and every step of progress. Any discussion of fad diets or bizarre exercise rituals were eschewed in favour of tried and true practices. In reality it wasn't that I had attracted better clients than Julia, I had simply learned how to step into my own power ™ and reinforce what I knew to be effective. I also found that the less distracted I became, the greater my focus.I took my tunnel vision approach into my network marketing career also. Instead of getting attached to the latest system promising an easy way to success, I focused on mastering the basics - presenting, closing, 3-way calls, handling objections and generating leads from the warm and cold market. There was plenty of opportunity for distraction yet I knew that chasing fast money or supposed easy methods were no substitute for putting in the work. That translated to millions of dollars of income and more importantly assisting people to also creating six, multiple six and multi-millions of dollars in revenue. I meet many people like Julia. They are looking for the easy way out. Instead of putting on their blinders and having tunnel vision, they seek out the latest fad and are prone to such distraction that they often get results that are on the absolute opposite spectrum to what they are seeking; frequently spending more time, effort and energy chasing quick fixes than they would have spent had they simply focused forward. If you are someone prone to distraction some great questions to ask yourself are the following: How will your life be different when you get the results you are seeking? Imagine releasing the weight, creating the income, having the relationship. Do you have someone in your life who has achieved what you desire? Is this person someone who you can interview or mentor with? What would happen if you committed to one thing for the next two years and did not allow yourself to be swayed into going on tangents?Is there a person or a group that could hold you accountable so that you stay on course? What three daily actions can you take to move you toward your goals? I encourage you to stay focuses and keep your blinders on.There will always be opportunities for distraction; there will always be times when you might deviate from your course.Know that anyone who ever achieves greater health, abundance or more fulfilling relationships did not do so by jumping from one thing to the next or one person to the next; they stayed the course and put in the effort. You have greatness inside you. You were born perfect. Go out there today and focus in like never before, have tunnel vision, and watch the miracle of abundance unfold before you. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:05:30 -0500 Full article 2_185available at: stepintoyourpower.com "You know, beloved, as the whole world knows, how much I have lost in you, how at one wretched stroke of fortune that supreme act of flagrant treachery robbed me of my very self in robbing me of you; and how my sorrow for my loss is nothing compared with what I feel for the manner in which I lost you."Peter Abelard ( 1079-1142 ) The class began with the tossing of Mardi Gras beads. As a science student, anything other than 'open your text books to page such and such,' was novel. The beads, of course, were unexpected and I felt that surge of curiosity one experiences on a rollercoaster wondering what is around the next corner. The class was called 'Death' and I was taking it to bring up my G.P.A. I had heard that it was an easy 'A' and that was why I was there. To say that, at the time, I had a profound interest in theology or philosophy would have been a massive transmutation of the truth; I was there for my easy 'A' plain and simple. Our professor, a man with a wise and kind face framed by a sprinkling of grey hair, launched into the mystery and celebration of death. He painted the picture of death as the ultimate great adventure and over the course of the semester we would go onto to discover the view of death in both ancient and modern civilization; ultimately coming to the conclusion that it is the one certainty that we all share. This particular professor also taught a course called 'Love.' This too, was to be an easy 'A.' Instead of just coasting in the class I actually found myself working hard on the papers and assignments much like I had done in 'Death.' It was in 'Love' that we studied fated French lovers, Abelard and Heloise. It is was in this class that I came to believe that to not experience true love in life was to experience a living death. We can chase many things - money, fame, recognition and the like however all else pales in comparison to loving someone deeply and fully. Grave of Abelard and Heloise - Paris, France The pain of losing someone we love deeply is unlike all other pain. The first boy I ever kissed, Trevor, died when we were fifteen. His life ended in the park across the street from our high school. His death was senseless; the product of teenage stupidity. Although we were not dating at the time, I cried until the very cells of my body felt devoid of water. Trevor's birthday was June 7th, the same as my husband's, and he would have turned 39 this week. A week later, my cousin, died at the age of 19. A well-travelled young man with a talent for windsurfing and music; he wrongly decided that the world was a better place without him and thus he took his own life. Our close-knit Chinese family was devastated. Once again I cried as my whole body quivered in anguish and twice within one week I attended the open casket funeral of two young men. In the Chinese custom a funeral is a celebration. It is not uncommon to take pictures at the service which is inevitably followed by a banquet. The internment is followed by the handing out of sweets because death is bittersweet. The family loves together deeply in the time of death. I have been to several Chinese funerals and take great comfort in our tradition knowing that love and death are not exclusive; they are indeed intertwined. This past week, two people I knew passed. One was my age, also with four children. He died in a terrible plane crash along with three others. I had spoken with this man at a few events. He was an entrepreneur, author and trainer. In his passing, many cried deep tears; the sort that can only be offered by those who love the deceased. This man's passing was a keen reminder to me of our own mortality. He was young and fit. He was passionate. Through bizarre and unfortunate circumstance he died leaving those he left to love him even more. The other person who passed was someone I considered a friend; the kind of friend where time can pass and encounters are familiar and without expectation. This man was someone who always caused me to feel better for being in his presence. He consistently had a kind word or genuine encouragement to offer me. An email from him, only week's old sits in my in-box presently. I rarely have un-cleared email however something would not let me delete or file this particular one from my friend. He died from cancer, a long slow battle; reminding us all that we are mortals. Both men, who are widely missed, loved deeply in their lives. That both passed much too early is obvious however I have no doubt that those left behind are better for knowing them. This brings me to the conclusion that our one massive goal in life should be to love deeply and have passion; to risk our hearts because death is certain and only the timing is what is not. We are already dead if we have not loved, are not loved or are not deeply in love. The pain of a life without love is torture a thousand fold to any form of death. I have lost friends and close family members and know that the people left behind have only their love to cling to as the vividness of the memories begins to fade. Today I encourage you to love fully. Love others and love yourself. Love God. We do not know when our last day will be and whether we are wealthy or in the process of becoming so; the bank account does not define our ability to love. It is said that if we want more of something we must give that thing; giving love is something we are all capable of as no other being on this planet is. To have more love in your life let go of that part of your heart that is hardened and unavailable and allow yourself to love fully. As we all commit to doing this we elevate humanity and in turn create a better world for the future generations who shall indeed carry that love forward even after our deaths. Know that you are magnificent and capable of more love than you can imagine. Go forward from this day forward and give more love. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:07:16 -0500 Full article 2_184available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment." Oprah Winfrey The story begins like this - a group of students meditating with their teacher in Nepal. The teacher invites students to ask the 'big' questions of their lives. One student raises his hand and humbly shares that in a past relationship he experienced tremendous highs. The student raises his hand high above his head to indicate the intensity of the love. With this same woman he also experienced tremendous lows. The student lowers his hand to the ground to exemplify how low he felt. In the student's next relationship he feels 'so - so.' He takes his hand and angles it back and forth. He asks his teacher, 'which is better - to feel enormous highs and lows or to simply settle with something that is only mediocre?' After some deliberation the teacher responds, raising his own hand high above his head, 'the answer is that this is your new so-so. This story was relayed to me this past week by my Bikram instructor, Mandy, who had been in Nepal when the question was asked. She shared the story in relation to how we, as students, were doing in our postures. She said that our 'normal' was so high in relation to the high of other classes she had taught that it was inspiring. This caused me to question how often we settle for a so-so experience instead of raising the bar and committing to creating a new high side of low. How often are we allowing mediocrity and complacency to sneak into our finances, relationships and even our health? What if going to the next level is simply a matter of deciding that our current very best right now will be our new mediocre? Seriously - how cool is that? In this same Bikram class I have a friend who can bend her body with the ease of Gumby. She is long and lithe and has truly mastered the most challenging postures. On this particular day, she was letting out sighs of challenge coming in and out of certain poses. A slight grunt coming out of Standing Bow-Pulling Pose even though it was worthy of a Bikram poster. Afterward she confessed that it was a tough class for her. Even though her poses were unbelievable, my friend has done so much Bikram that even on her challenging days she is able to make it look so easy. Her high side of low is my high side of high! I keep a book of about 3000 goals and gratitude's, inspired by one of my mentors. In the book I have a quote, anonymously written, which reads, 'you know you have achieved success when the things you used to dream about are now the things you complain about.' As I look at my productive life with four children, two businesses and a myriad of other things going on I think to myself that this is what I always wanted. It would be easy to get stuck in complaining about the minutiae of life - shuttling children here and there, dealing with business issues, email, etc. and yet I do not complain because this is the life I dreamed of. Even my lowest days are higher than what I imagined long ago and in fact are much, much higher than my life ten years ago. This week, Chris and I went for a walk and as usual we began it in gratitude. As we began our walk, we passed the part of our fence which was unhinged during a recent storm. For a moment we lamented 'getting around' to fixing it and this turned to other repairs and changes that we 'needed' to make. I stopped and said, 'do you remember when we lived in our first home?' We looked at one another sharing one of those secret exchanges that can only pass between lovers and best friends. That home, only 10 years ago, was on a busy street, had crooked floors, plaster walls, ancient wiring, a moldy flooded basement and bats in the attic. It was about 2000 square feet. From there we moved to another home, a newer one, with plenty of land and nosy neighbors who complained to the municipal government that we were running a home based business. The home we live in today has a beautiful Asian inspired garden, salt water pool, spa, double fenced in yard for the kids to play in and everyone has their own bedroom and I have my dream office. Ten years ago, the house we were now complaining about, was not even a house we were dreaming about. The family we have, the business we have created; these are all things we used to only imagine and now they are the day-to-day reality. Much like the teacher in Nepal who counseled his student to forget 'so-so' and create a relationship where the lowest point was bliss, I encourage you to think very deeply about what it is you have right now and imagine how some day your highest low will be your highest high right now. Think about the most money you have ever made in one week and imagine making that on your lowest day. Imagine the greatest level of romantic ecstasy you have ever experienced with one person being your new 'normal.' Dream your biggest dream and imagine it being your lowest day. You are destined for greatness. Go for it now and begin to create your new lowest high. Do not settle for 'so-so,' you are worth far more than that. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Wed, 8 Jun 2011 12:33:48 -0500 Full article 2_183available at: stepintoyourpower.com "The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is." C. S. Lewis Last Saturday I stared at the grave of Jim Morrison, iconic rocker and lead singer of the Doors. Morrison was 28 when he died and in those short years left an impact large enough to draw fans, from all over the world, to this Paris cemetery to lay fresh flowers or pay homage in some other fashion. Jim, a poet, a showman and a person with a penchant for self-destruction, was massively influential to a generation who desired to break on through to the other side even though his time here was so short. As I stood there, amongst the curious, surrounded by the graves of Oscar Wilde and famed lovers Abelard and Heloise; I thought about time and its value as the one true commodity in our lives. I wondered which is more important - length of time or quantity of impact? Living a long life is no guarantee that we will make a massive impact on the world. I am most certain sectarians and octogenarians have passed without nary a tear. On the other hand we observe one of the most influential people on the planet right now, Mark Zuckerberg, who has created a 500 million plus person community online via Facebook, and will not turn thirty until 2014. Although Malcolm Gladwell tells us in The Outliers that we require 10,000 hours to master anything; I highly doubt that we need to be masterful in order to truly create a lasting influence on the life of another. Interestingly enough we all have the same amount of time. You and Oprah have the same number of seconds (86400 to be precise) in your day. In fact, one could argue that time is the only true universal constant amongst all of us. The variable is what we choose to do with our time. Do we choose to live our life full out with reckless abandon like Jim Morrison or even express ourselves through the artistry of poetry like Toni Morrison? Do we defy the odds like the late Terry Fox and go against the advice of friends, family and physicians and run across Canada on one leg to raise money for cancer? Or, do we sit idly by and let time simply pass? In our house, when we ask our children what special thing they would like to do, the response is always the same - they want our time. Whether we are painting, reading, throwing the football; it is ultimately about the commodity of time. As I look back on my own childhood, some of my fondest memories were simply spending time with my father. There were hours of fishing, or scouring the countryside for giant pumpkins or learning how to master kite flying. These were the mouldings of my youth and indeed made the greatest impact. Research has actually shown that children who sit down for dinner with their family every night have a significantly less likelihood of drug or alcohol abuse. The study did not include what they ate or even what they talked about; simply sitting down together was all that was required. No matter how challenging it is with individual lessons, tutors and the like, we always sit down together as a family for dinner. On the odd night we do not, we feel as though something has been missed. I truly hope that this simple act of spending time together, sharing a meal, will be one of the significant shapers of our children's futures. In my own life, there are always many things I could be doing. There are endless emails to get to and countless people to call. There is writing to do, planning to get done, a home to tend to and an entire host of administrative things that are called 'life.' Although I respect Tim Ferriss immensely, and he does mention families, I wonder if he would have mastered the tango or won the Chinese Kickboxing Championships if he had four children. When it comes to time, it is always a choice. We can choose to do something meaningful; something that will move us toward our dreams or contribute to the life of another or we can choose to simply keep with the status quo. Ultimately it depends on our life goals and our desire to truly impact the world in a positive way. For me personally, I want to leave my children better for me having been their mother. I want to empower people to reach new levels in their finances and health so that they can have the time to sit down with their own children each night. I want to learn languages, run more marathons, travel the world and have juicy experiences with my family. In order to do these things it is more relevant to look at what I choose not to do with the commodity of my time. In order to have more time to do the great stuff I gave up a lot of mediocre stuff. I rarely watch television. If I do then it is something I really want to see. I cannot remember the last time I saw the news and rarely read any newspaper cover to cover. On Sunday's I do read the NY Times but often not the first section. I do not go out with people unless they are positive and uplifting. Needy, negative people are not on my list of time investments. I do not dilly-dally online and I do not do anything that I can outsource. O.K. - I did pull a few weeds in my garden today. In releasing certain things, I am free to do more of what brings me joy. I doubt any of us will ever look back on our lives and wish we had watched more television, spent more time with people who 'just didn't get it' or wasted time thinking about writing that great novel, pursuing our business, becoming a singer or running a marathon as opposed to actually jumping in and doing it. At the end of the day we will have wished we had done more with our time. I encourage you to take a look at how you spend your time. What can you let go of? What isn't serving you? What can you start pursuing now that has been on the 'backburner' for a long time? Life is so short. Get out there and go for it! Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Fri, 20 May 2011 10:50:34 -0500 Full article 2_181available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever." Lance Armstrong This past Monday I awoke to a bright orange moon in the fair city of Boston. Along with 26,999 others, I was there to run the 115th Boston Marathon; the 'Holy Grail' of the 26.2 mile distance. Boston is really not like any other marathon for three main reasons: one - you must qualify to be there unless you are running for a charity and two - the best of the best in the world are there and three - the fans that line the entire course are, in my opinion, second to none. After a short warm-up, that included my personal Starbucks experience, I headed toward Boston Common to board the bus to Hopkinton. Hopkinton is the site of a makeshift athlete's village or rather a holding pen where thousands of athletes wait with nervous anticipation until their wave gingerly begins to head to the starting corrals. As my darling husband accompanied me to the Common, I observed the other runners shifting along some smiling and laughing, others slightly more sombre already reconciling the amount of pain they could potentially endure. There were newly minted adults and more seasoned individuals; somewhere in the mix an octogenarian, two time cancer survivor and war veteran who had taken up running in his seventies. Dick and Ricky Hoyt were also there somewhere. Dick, now almost in his seventies, has pushed his quadriplegic son through marathons and even Ironman triathlons; the latter being a 2.2 mile swim, 112 mile bike and then the icing on the cake - a full 26.2 mile run. In an interview Dick mentioned that he had had hamstring surgery last year and felt he was slowing down now. The Boston Marathon was his version of the 'slowdown.' Amongst the faces from various countries, amidst the energetic anticipation and through the sea of people wearing a hodgepodge of clothing to keep warm on this blustery morning, was me…a thirty eight year old, mother of four who had been diagnosed with MS eleven years earlier. There I was wondering what I am sure everyone from Dick Hoyt to American elite runner, Ryan Hall, was wondering - how will I do today? As I said goodbye to my husband and boarded the bus to Hopkinton, I became engaged in a conversation with two gentlemen. The older had a distinct sparkle in his eye as though he help the secret to some kind of treasure. The younger looked calm and relaxed, simply appearing to bask in the experience of Boston. As our conversation continued I found out that Will, the younger, had been in a mountain bike accident five years earlier. He had become a quadriplegic. Doctors said there wasn't any hope. One doctor believed in Will and began a series of treatments and therapies. Will borrowed on that doctor's belief and five years later was about to run the Boston marathon with his guide (required due to a visual impairment from the accident) who also happened to be his doctor. On this day Dr. Joe, Will and I laughed about training through the winter, the joy and challenge of icy winds whipping their faces and the perils of sleet and snow. I was completely inspired thinking to myself how easy it would have been to discount these two average looking guys as simply two friends running the marathon. A conversation with the gal sitting beside me on the bus revealed that she was a retired professor and had qualified for Boston in her very first marathon. Although she seriously looked only 42, T.J. shared that she was almost 66 and had only started running a year and a half ago. Marathoning was clearly doing wonders for her. She talked about how she had created a new group of running friends with the common goal of qualifying for Boston. She illuminated as she spoke about the training and her new love of racing. She too, would have been easy to discount as simply another runner out there on the course. As we approached Hopkinton and eventually converged on the athlete's village I looked around at the thousands of runners thinking to myself that like Dr. Joe, Will and T.J. they all had a story. I have a natural curiosity about people and could have spent days simply going from person to person discovering their gifts, journeys and challenges. People are truly fascinating and the merit of the human spirit is something unique and marvellous. On that morning I felt so honoured to be able to meet so many people, each one leaving me with a gift. After the start of the race, as I settled in for the next few hours of running, I thought about T.J., Will, Dr. Joe, the 81 year old man and Dick and Ricky Hoyt. I thought about all of the other runners, on their personal journeys, and I thought about my own adventures. Running and training for marathons gives a person much time to think and thru the highs and lows of my 26.2 miles I was able to re-focus on the experiences of my new friends and that gave me fuel to soldier on. As I passed under the finish line, my eyes welled with tears. For me, every race is a gift. Every time I run I defy the odds. On this particular day in Boston I was surrounded by others sharing in the same gift, all with a unique story to tell. At the end of the day it is said that we are all spiritual beings having a human experience. In our humanness we experience pain and challenge. In our 'spiritualness' we experience joy, bliss, love and hope. To finish a marathon is to experience our duality in its fullest form and that is unparalleled by any other experience I have had save for giving birth to my children. Realizing that we all suffer and we all love, we all sorrow and we all celebrate is to know that we are not alone. Taking time to truly discover the beauty of another human being is one of the greatest gifts we can ever give ourselves. I encourage you to be genuinely curious about others and to discover their story. In your greatest times of challenge it may very well be the story of another that propels you to accomplishing something great and it turn it may be that story which helps another to overcome an obstacle in their lives. It is lastly my hope that this story inspires you. Go for it! Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Thu, 19 May 2011 16:12:18 -0500 Full article 2_180available at: stepintoyourpower.com "For me, the most fun is change or growth. There are definitely elements of both that I like. Launching a business is kind of like a motorboat: You can go very quickly and turn fast." Tony Hsieh This past week I was reading the NY Times article on Tony Hsieh, the 37 year old mega mind behind Zappos, and a less significant deal where he pocketed over $200 million. Among other things mentioned about Mr. Hsieh including questions behind his love life or his passion for Tim Ferriss' 4 Hour Body, it was concluded that Tony Hsieh is both unique and most comfortable being himself; an apparently eccentric entrepreneur. The article went on to note that it is tougher to get a job at Zappos than it is to get into Harvard. Parties, personal development and an encouraging atmosphere which fosters passion, purpose and productivity all lure twenty and thirty-something's searching for a coveted job that yields personal satisfaction. Seriously - who wouldn't want that? Mr. Hsieh has been called a visionary and also someone who refuses to yield to conformity. Mr. Hsieh's fellow Harvard alum, Mark Zuckerberg, has also been called a visionary, eccentric, mysterious and a downright genius. Is there something in the water at Harvard or is it simply a matter of raw organic genius? Does Harvard bring out something in students that encourages independent thought and the pursuit of one's passion? In 1997, Harry R. Lewis, Dean of Harvard wrote the following as part of a quasi mission statement for Harvard. "To these ends, the College encourages students to respect ideas and their free expression, and to rejoice in discovery and in critical thought; to pursue excellence in a spirit of productive cooperation; and to assume responsibility for the consequences of personal actions." Ultimately, this says that the student is encouraged to explore free expression; a notion that made another Harvard alum, Bill Gates, a multi-billionaire. Actors Matt Damon and recent Oscar ™ winner, Natalie Portman also attended Harvard. Could it be that the simple notion of free expression and the encouragement to do so is ultimately enough to produce noteworthy success? Could conformity be killing our ability to succeed? When you consider the average wage of the median household wage in the U.S. in 2010 was slightly over $46,000 versus the aforementioned innovators you begin to see that conformity doesn't really pay. Innovators may take longer, or not in Mr. Zuckerberg's case, to achieve success however the payout is much, much larger. An innovator is one who dares to challenge submission to the age old notion that going to school, getting a good job and paying off the mortgage by age 55 is the ultimate goal in life. To innovate means to go against the grain, to make a decision and pursue it beyond all appearing sense and reason. To innovate also requires a thick skin. There will be critics, hoards of them in fact. As an example, last week, Natalie Portman received criticism from a ballerina who said that the actress only actually danced 20% of the time. Seriously, who cares? Ms. Portman won the Oscar ™ and very few people know or remember the name or names of her critics. Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius, once said, 'Pay no attention to what the critics say; no statue has ever been put up to a critic.' The truth is that whether one has paid the Harvard tuition or not, daring to innovate and pursue one's passion is going to come with a sharp degree of criticism. Success thus requires staying true to ourselves, letting go of the critics and embracing our own free expression. Conformity and subservience to our critics will only serve to keep us stuck and in many cases disallow the manifestation of our full potential. A lesson to learn from the Harvard attendees mentioned and others such as John Kennedy, John Lithgow, George W. Bush and others is that the ultimate obtainment of success is to pursue, encourage and foster free expression beyond the face of our harshest critics. It is with this in mind that I look at my own life. Of my modest achievements, all were established by the pursuit of my own passion. To finish the Ironman or the Boston Marathon with MS, to become a millionaire in network marketing, to write books or to assist in the liberation of girls from child sex trafficking all required me to express myself freely. Darn, I should have gone to Harvard! I honestly feel as though I am just getting started. Life is so exhilarating and downright juicy. There is so much to do. In retrospect, my own worry about the perception of others is what always held me back. When I choose to conform, I stayed stuck. I would like one day to consider myself an innovator and I plan on it. One thing I know for certain is that will never happen if I worry about what other people think and conform my expressions to what I perceive is desired by those around me. This week I encourage you to innovate; to express yourself freely without the seduction of conformity. Take a lesson from Harvard and pursue your passions with your own unique characteristics; after all no one is better at being you than you. You are magnificent and could absolutely be the next Tony Hsieh or Natalie Portman. Go for it like never before, dare to be different, challenge yourself to innovate and risk criticism because it is going to happen whether you pursue your dreams or not. Go for it. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:12:54 -0500 Full article 2_179available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present." Jim Rohn This week, as I was dropping my kids off at school, I noticed a woman walking briskly in semi-high heel boots, a knee length skirt and a very fashionable jacket doing arm exercises with a small weight in each hand. I had seen this woman do the same thing on numerous occasions; always in fashion, always doing her arm exercises and so this was not an irregular occurrence. What gave me pause for thought was that on this particular day it was a bone chilling mix of rain and snow and here this dedicated woman was doing her power walk/weight workout anyway. Was it obsessive compulsiveness or simply a matter of perspective? After all, she was walking to work anyway; why not make the most out of it? When it comes to business, health or relationships numerous personal development tomes, experts and even science agrees that perspective counts. One recent study on cancer patients found that a positive outlook was a major indicator in the increased survivability. Another study pointed to decreased divorce rates among people who attended church on a regular basis alluding to the altered perspective of individuals who believe that divorce is negative and that having faith will assist in working through problems. Another study, released recently, followed 3000 heart patients for 15 years. Those who were positive by self-report had a much higher increased rate of survival. Another study followed litigation amongst physicians and found that doctors with excellent bedside manner were sued much less than those who operated with less positive emotion. In my own life it hasn't always been easy to keep a positive perspective. When I was diagnosed with MS, I spent several months feeling sorry for myself until one day I decided that if I was going to have this disease I might as well maintain a positive outlook. It was that outlook that kept me searching for treatments to alleviate my symptoms. That outlook also helped me attract amazing people who would in turn lead me to finding my husband, creating a successful business, writing books and much more. Had I simply buried my head in the sand so to speak I am sure I wouldn't be where I am today. In our lives we have a series of things that we have chosen to do such as raise a family, go to work or run a business, keep our home clean, exercise or even brush our teeth for that matter. If we are doing these things anyway why not choose to have a great perspective? When Jim Rohn was still alive I had the honor of sharing the stage with him on three occasions. Mr. Rohn, the eternal optimist, was as wise as he was knowledgeable. He once taught that if we want to make a million dollars per year then we ought to give million dollar service. Another way to look at this statement is to say that if we want to be successful and abundant then we must contribute success and abundance; how we operate in our day to day lives needs to be a reflection of the income we want to create. Take a look at your life right now and think about all of the things you do on a daily basis. Where could you shift your perspective to one of joy or levity? Where in your life are you only choosing to see the dark lining of the cloud as opposed to the silver one? Could you choose to have a more positive attitude when it comes to your relationships, your career or business or your health? Our lives are full of choices and nothing is permanent; by choosing a powerful shift in perspective and turning your attention to the positives of any situation then you will soon attract, with a magnificent force, the life of your dreams. I encourage you to shift your perspective today and look for the good in all things and all people. It isn't easy and it does take practice. Keeping a daily gratitude journal of at least 10 to 20 things is a good way to start. Additionally, silently blessing the people you encounter every day is a wonderful way to attract back to you positive energy. If someone is being hurtful or negative try to look at things from their perspective and again, silently bless them. Life is much too short to go around negative and feeling sorry for ourselves. Shift your perspective right now and watch how quickly the next wonderful chapter of your life unfolds. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:13:03 -0500 Full article 2_177available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Do all you can to make your dreams come true." Joel Osteen Last Sunday I was faced with the task of running 25 kilometres or about 17 miles in the blustery, sub- zero conditions that have become somewhat the norm this winter. I began the day with my usual prayer, 'Dear God - help me to be the best wife I can be, the best mother I can be. Please help me to touch more and inspire everyone you put in my path. Lord please give me the courage to embrace the tasks at hand. Amen.' As the morning progressed I found many ways to prolong the run. I tidied the house, I surfed the internet for rental properties at the beach, I made 'to do' lists and eventually, when I could relent no more, I knew it was time to face the freezing, icy cold. My wonderful husband accompanied me for the first forty minutes and time went by effortlessly. The next forty minutes went fairly smoothly as I listened to a Joel Osteen podcast and said prayers of gratitude for my life. At an hour and twenty minutes in, my back began to hurt and I was cold. I was losing my desire to continue the run rationalizing that I had just done a half marathon the Sunday before and I could pick up my long run later on in the week. So here I was running in the cold, thinking about my life and why I was out here in the first place; that reason being that I am training for the Boston Marathon and it is only about six weeks away. Boston isn't one of those races that a person can just show up for without training and hope everything goes o.k. The course is technical with four distinct hills, including the notorious Heartbreak Hill, and the last six miles being downhill leaving the quads burning. For marathoners Boston is our Olympics. One must qualify to go or be representing a charity; the latter being my case this year however I have qualified and raced it in the past. To be honest, the entire Boston situation was sprung on me only a few weeks ago. I was asked by Child Help, a wonderful organization that rescues children from sexual and physical abuse, to race and raise money for them. I said 'yes' for obvious reasons and only upon hanging up the phone did the weight of the decision descend upon me; I haven't been training for a marathon and this race in only two months away. You can now see why I would be outside running on a cold, miserable day; I am not only running for myself, I am running for the children and their pain far outweighs my temporary discomfort. Needless to say, cold biting at my cheeks, muscles aching, I was still not overly enthused to continue on the icy unplowed road though it was the thought of the task at hand that took me step after step forward. At the moment when I entertained turning around and calling it quits at about 8 miles God sent me an angel and there is not a doubt in my mind that it was Divine intervention. 'Are you going this year,' a cheery voice asked as I ran by? Knowing he was referring to the Boston Marathon logo on my jacket, I replied, 'yes.' 'Me too,' said the man in jeans, a toque, and a big winter jacket. I stopped. 'How many have you done?' I asked. '16' he smiled. Not only was I curious, I realized that the entire conversation we were about to have was absolutely meant to happen and without me delaying my run, taking a different route or wearing my jacket, it likely would not have occurred. This man, who I would later find out was named Ralph, began to share his same disgust with the overly long winter and how, on days like this, it was tough to run. I began to feel instantly better knowing that I must be a 'real' runner if I was out braving the ridiculous weather. Ralph also shared with me that every marathon was as emotion filled as the last. He told me that he even got shaky in the knees at the start of every race wondering if it would be his last. I shared a similar sensation, weeping at the beginning of every race in sheer gratitude that eleven years after my MS diagnosis I am still running. After our brief conversation, I felt renewed. I went on to finish my workout with absolute ease. It was during the latter part of the run, as an overwhelming sense of calm overtook me, that I knew that God had sent me an angel in the form of Ralph. I knew in my heart that if I had not met Ralph I would not likely have completed my workout only to be disappointed in myself. God had answered my prayer, by sending Ralph. Ralph had unwittingly given me the courage and inspiration to continue on. I began to wonder if we are constantly being sent angels, or essentially those people acting on behalf of the Divine, to give us the answers and revitalize our spirit; people in essence who are delivering exactly what we need, when we need it if we only open our eyes and become present to it. What if all of your prayers hopes and desires are being tended to right now? What if the answers you are seeking are available to you in the book beside your bed that you haven't picked up, the motivational audios that you haven't yet listened to, the unfailingly positive friend who gives you the advice you haven't followed or the teacher/trainer who both encourages and educates you though you haven't taken advantage of their advice? What if your life could be dramatically different if you shifted your perspective to one of knowing that all answers are readily available and the only thing we require to do is to take action? The Bible tells us that 'faith without works is dead.' Simply praying for something is part of the equation, God's part; acting on it is our part. I know a woman who has been praying for physical restoration from a debilitating illness. When presented with a natural treatment that had helped hundreds of others in her condition she flat out refused. It brings to mind the story of the man who was trapped on a roof during a massive flood. As cars, trees and other debris gushed past him in the flowing waters the man kneeled and prayed to God to rescue him. 'Please Lord, rescue me. I promise to be a good citizen. I promise to be a better father, husband and will go to Church every Sunday,' the man promised. A few moments later a boat came by with other survivors. They encouraged him to jump off the roof, into the icy waters and then get in the boat. 'No,' the man replied, 'God will save me.' He dismissed the people and they left to find their own shelter. The man continued to pray. Not long after a police helicopter came and dropped a rope ladder. The man, afraid of heights, sent the police away saying, 'no thanks, God will save me.' An hour later the waters ascended and the man was engulfed by the icy water. He soon drowned. Upon entering Heaven and having his audience with God, the man said, 'I prayed to you for rescue and you didn't come.' The Lord responded, 'I sent a boat full of people and I sent a helicopter. What more did you want?' How many of us are like the man on the roof at times? We are praying or hoping for something; perhaps more money, better health, the ideal partner or healing for a relationship. When the answer arrives we allow our trepidations to take hold and refuse to act only to stay broke, unhealthy or alone? I believe that we are all given the answers to our prayers if we simply open our eyes and have the courage to act. I encourage you to take a good look at your life and see what you are being offered and then take action. What if everything you desire is at hand and all you have to do is have the courage to climb the ladder? Know that I believe in you. Let's make this your best week ever. Go out there and take action. You will never know what you are capable of until you test your limits. It's time to 'get off the roof.' Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Wed, 23 Mar 2011 14:07:41 -0500 Full article 2_176available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are." Marianne Williamson Last week, in my weekly column, I coined the word 'chadult' which has now become a noun, verb and adjective as in, 'he is a chadult,' and 'she is out chadulting,' to lastly, 'they are so chadultish.' A chadult is that sublime mixture of both adult sensibility and a childlike zest for living. In a world where there are many opportunities to be seduced into becoming overly serious and stressed out, we can all stand to be a chadult now and again. This past Sunday, 16000 chadult runners lined a service road outside of Epcot Centre at Walt Disney World. Most wore some kind of costume. Some were young, in their teens, while others were vibrant in their sixties, seventies and beyond. In addition to preparing to tackle 13.1 miles before dawn these women, and a few men, were doing some serious chadulting. Among the thousands of runners and run/walkers, five Have It All Women grads stood in their running skirts and tiaras. For Camille, Christina, Sue, Natasha and Lynn-Raquel it was their first half marathon and an opportunity to test their limits; limits which thanks to their wonderful view on life and their connection through Have It All, have consistently been expanding for the last few years. Our HIAW Sisters - left to right Sue Lebrun, Camille Lawson, Christina Murray, Susan Sly, Natascha Voll, Lynn Raquel Welsh and Belle Kizell For me, the joy of seeing women step into their own power is one of my greatest passions. Regardless of gender, we all have greatness within. Over the course of time it is often easy to allow the negative opinions of others and life's challenges to dampen the ability to see our own power. As Marianne Williamson said so eloquently, 'we are all powerful beyond measure.' This innate power allows us to constantly test our limits and achieve things we had not even before thought possible including doing half marathons or, as one of our Have It All Woman runners did, connect with a part of ourselves that we didn't know existed. The reality is that we do not truly know what our limits are if we never test them. How do you know that you cannot run a marathon, write a bestseller, travel the world, go back to school, build a hospital in a third world country, live into a healthier body, find your soul mate or become a multi-millionaire unless you test yourself. We must never allow our perception of reality to limit our ability to press forward into greatness. As adults, sometimes we require assistance in seeing our own power. Small children, on the other hand, are always testing their limits. It is only the adults in their life who are telling them what is and is not possible. Often our purported 'adult sensibility' is the very thing limiting our ability to achieve more and this is why it is critical that we connect with teachers and trainers who can not only shine a bright light on our gifts but also challenge us to test ourselves. Every single woman, who ran the half marathon, said that she would not have even conceived it to be possible if it were not for the Have It All Women's Project; a project that is dedicated to both teaching women to see their own greatness and giving them the tools with which to take their lives to a new level of power. As you read this article I want to ask you if you know that you are capable of much more in your life? Are you letting days, months or even years go by and not moving forward on your dreams? If the answer to these questions is 'yes' then I encourage you to find a mentor and plug into training that allows you to see your Divine self and test your limits. This life is much too short and every day brings a new opportunity to dare to be magnificent. For those of you considering attending, or sending your special lady to the Have It All Women's Project in April, please note that I am only intending to teach it once this year in North America. Do you want to wait another year to see what you are capable of? Do you want to wait one more year to step into your own power? I encourage you or the special woman in your life to contact us today and commit to creating a life beyond limits. Lastly, know that I believe in you. You have greatness within. You can be, do and have anything you dream. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Tue, 8 Mar 2011 13:16:44 -0500 Full article 2_175available at: stepintoyourpower.com "We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." Walt Disney This coming weekend several of my Have It All Sisters are travelling to Orlando, Florida to participate in the Disney Princess Marathon. In our planning emails talk inevitably has turned to attire (one gal handmade her tutu) and post celebration margaritas. We haven't spoken of time, personal bests and pushing the limit. Instead the focus is on fun, adventure, scouting a good pre-race restaurant and creating a memorable weekend. The reality is that outside of the Have It All Women's Weekend, I cannot remember an entire girl's weekend ever in my life. I mean there have been spa days and the odd movie however I actually believe this is my first real girl's weekend where a network marketing or fitness convention is not involved. Have I been missing something here? Recall Carrie and company in the recent SATC movie - they had an entire girl's week. My girl's weekend may not include so much Dior, if any, however it will definitely include a lot of laughter and if my friend gets her way - a rollercoaster or three. My reality is that I have four children, 2 businesses and a few other things on my plate. A girl's weekend is a luxury only afforded by a loving husband who often expresses, 'happy wife…happy life.' As I work with women all over the world I must confess that at least for North American women, there is some truth in that statement. It would seem that many women, and men too, have forgotten that even though we are adults in body part of ourselves is still comprised of our inner child; when channelled this child in adult body or 'chadult' can absolutely have more fun, create more ease, be more productive and ultimately, as some science would support, get sick less often due to a healthy life perspective. My friend, Camille, our resident therapist at HIAW is my roommate and we have plans for lounging by the pool reading US Weekly and then perhaps a pre-race shopping visit. This weekend, which will not be the tantamount of pure hedonism due to first - moral values and second - the fact that we have to get up at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday to run 13 miles, is ultimately about re-discovery and perhaps channelling our inner princesses. It leads me to wonder how often we travel through our lives and get so caught up in our roles as parents, entrepreneurs, employees, and such thus forgetting to re-connect with our inner child. Susan after finishing the Disney Marathon 2010 Sometimes I still feel like an affable kid inside. Chris and I, on more than one occasion, have broken out in laughter at the thought that here we are in my late thirties and his early forties respectively with four children, including one teenager, wondering how it all happened. Where did the time go? A second or so ago we were in high school dancing at the Much Music Video dance and now we are suddenly adults. It just seems so crazy. One thing I know for certain, having done the Princess Half before is that this weekend I can be as silly and childlike as I wish. In fact those adults, men included, not in some sort of tiara or costume is absolutely frowned upon. Those taking the race too seriously are looked at as though they have some sort of bizarre affliction. If anything, I will be surrounded by about 16,000 other chadults thinking exactly what I am, 'wow - it feels great to be a kid again.' We have a friend, Matt, who is the ultimate chadult. Matt has a full-time job, 2 kids and a wonderful wife and is the kind of person who can seemingly have fun anywhere. Recently, at the funeral of another friend who passed much too young, Matt was able to utilize some self-deprecating humor that managed to bring smiles to our tear streaked faces. Matt can bring Chris to fits of laughter unlike anyone else by recalling their teenage antics. Even at forty, Matt has that childlike enthusiasm for life that could benefit us all and he doesn't require a trip to Disney to find it. Movies like Tom Hank's 'Big' and Jennifer Garner's '13 Going on 30' have chronicled the possibilities of being a child in an adult's body. The joy of jumping on a bed or dancing as though you didn't care what anyone thought is something appealing to the masses that tend to operate in this degree of seriousness that often magnifies the trivialities of adult life. The truth is that adults have to pay bills, create some kind of revenue, find shelter and food; this basically transcends all persons over 21 in our culture. Why then do we often take it so seriously? If it is inevitable why not choose to have fun? One of the things I decided to do this year was have a lot more fun and the Disney Princess girl's weekend is simply a manifestation of this decision. Will I be travelling and doing events? Will I be up at night with a teething toddler? Will I sometimes be running in a sub-zero icy Arctic tundra when I don't want to? Will I have bills? Will I have business deals? The answer is 'yes' to all of these things however if they are going to happen anyway then why not put the fun factor in? After all, like many of you, I am still trying to figure this adult thing out and maybe, just maybe, am not going to bother. Why not just embrace my inner chadult and go with it? Having lost several friends at an early age I can attest that life is indeed very short. We can choose to enjoy our life, be a chadult, and make the most of every day or we can choose to do the things we must anyway with the view that life is drudgery. I choose the latter. For you ladies reading this I want to encourage you to take one of the few remaining spots at the Have It All Women's Weekend and discover yourself again. You will re-connect with your true self and step into your power as a woman. Our students create better relationships, become more productive, and even release the body weight associated with carrying around so much angst and yes; we will be chadults for the entire time. Lastly, as always, know that I believe in you. You can be, do and have anything you dream. Go for it! Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Thu, 3 Mar 2011 14:14:36 -0500 Full article 2_173available at: stepintoyourpower.com "An ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises." Mae West Growing up, I spent time being shuttled on airplanes between my mother's home on the East Coast of Canada and my dad's home in Ontario. Around my neck I wore a badge that said 'U.A.' which stood for unaccompanied minor. As a child I associated my airplane rides with excitement. When I was travelling to my father's home I was joyous as he represented what I felt was as close to normal as I could possibly get with trips to the zoo, a regular bedtime, sit down meals and weekends at the cottage. My mother, on the other hand, loved to make promises. My life with her was not easy. There was abuse and neglect; it wouldn't be until decades later that I would find out that she was schizophrenic. What my mother did do was lure me with promises. She knew how to re-direct my focus. When she and I would speak, while I was with my dad, she would promise me how things would change and there would be shopping trips, gifts waiting, she was going to quit smoking, we were going to take trips and basically anything to pique my interest. Up until I was fourteen, her promises would work every single time. At age fourteen, after the sudden death of my first boyfriend and the suicide of my cousin within one week of one another, I decided to go and live with my mother for good. Studying psychology in university, I truly do believe in repression as a coping strategy because I had allowed myself to conveniently forget my mother's abuse, alcoholism and drug addiction. To me, living with her meant pure hedonism. My mother, once a fundamentalist Christian, would buy me alcohol, write me notes if I wanted to miss school and basically let me stay out for days. I didn't have to answer to anyone and that liberty mixed sharply with guilt as I knew that these behaviours were not befitting a fourteen year old. At the age of fifteen I moved out on my own. I went to school in the day and worked at two jobs so I could pay my rent and bills. My dad implored me to come back to Ontario. Unlike my mother, he did not make a plethora of promises; he simply promised to be my dad and that was it. Eventually I came home to curfews, no underage drinking and routine. My father promised only to love and accept me which was really what I required; nothing more and nothing less. What I learned from my father was the power of promising less. Instead of using promises as a strategy to win favor, my father simply promised what he knew he could deliver. Looking back now I realize that his ability to promise less and deliver more was a critical aspect in my upbringing. I am so grateful for the lessons my parents taught me and hold absolutely no bitterness toward my mother. Recently a friend remarked, 'Susan, being schizophrenic is a full time job.' I am sure my mother did the best she could based on her mental faculties. Today, as a parent, I understand the power of the promise and have learned to promise only what I can deliver. I do not promise Disney until my schedule is clear and the hotel is booked. I do not promise a 'family movie night' unless I know I can be 100 percent present. My kids have learned to trust my word and in turn I expect the same from them. The result is absolute trust. In my businesses I have learned to promise only what I know I can produce. I do not make sweeping promises to potential business partners of how much money they will earn. Instead I let them know what they can earn. I am not responsible for the success of others; I am only responsible to teach them what I know. That is why I do daily trainings and podcasts in my network marketing business. I have done this for three solid years and they are available to everyone. I promise to show up and teach; beyond that I promise nothing. The result is people taking responsibility for their own success which is fantastic. In our lives our promise should be our word. When we commit to something, we must commit. From our life partners to our children to our peers and our clients; our word must be sacred. It is so much better to promise a little and deliver way more than to promise more and deliver less. If you find yourself making promises you cannot live into in order to be more likeable, accepted or lure someone into wanting to do business with you then it is time to ask yourself how you would feel to be in a relationship or doing business with you. I encourage you to look at your life and see who you may be letting down. Is one area of your life suffering because you are making promises that you know you will never keep? Make a decision today to under promise and over deliver. Not only will your productivity rise, your relationships with family, friends and business colleagues will soar. Promise only what you know you can live into and people will respect you more, do more business with you and ultimately consider you an authentic, full of integrity individual. We teach the world how to treat us. The moment we step into a higher level of integrity the world will respond in kind. Be your word today and watch what unfolds. Know that I believe in you. You are magnificent. You can be, do and have anything you dream. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:47:15 -0500 Full article 2_172available at: stepintoyourpower.com "He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." Muhammad Ali Last week at yoga, a friend pulled me aside and asked for some advice. She had recently completed her teacher training and was now faced with the task of actually leading the class. She was in such fear that she barely able to eat, sleep or function at all. What had started as a passion to transition her life into one of guided service was now destroying her. She was even considering not teaching at all. As my friend insisted that she was afraid to be up in front of a room and went into detail that her mouth went dry, she forgot what she wanted to say and that she was awful at instructing, I empathized with her plight; I have observed many people who are nervous to present at the front of the room. I told my friend that she was not alone. In reality the fear of public speaking is not unique to the situation of being in front of a room of people, in fact it is the same fear that causes people to procrastinate in making sales calls or even picking up the phone to ask someone on a date; it is the fear of rejection which is rooted in an even deeper fear. In his book, The Magic Ladder of Success, Napoleon Hill declared that most fears could be traced back to a few fundamental anxieties the foremost being the fear of criticism. Hill said that the fear of public speaking or even the fear of prospecting for new clients or business partners was truly the inherent desire to avoid reproach. The fear of criticism can be rooted in the desire for acceptance, the need for appreciation and acknowledgement, and ultimately issues around abandonment. My friend included, I have witnessed many who are paralysed by their fears; people who would seemingly be confident, adept in skill and knowledge and who are literally paralyzed by the fear of criticism. Upon embarking on a new endeavour they resist venturing beyond their comfort zone. One woman would literally vomit every time she ran a race though in training she would often soar through the miles. When people were watching she became sick with fear; on her own she was fine. Another person began a home based business. Although he was in professional sales and making a six figure income there, he could not close one sale in his network marketing business absolutely due to the fact that the people in his life were critical of direct selling. From racing, to sales to taking the stage, I have watched people choose to suffer physically, mentally and financially as they allowed their fears of criticism to better their abilities. As of this writing my friend has not yet taught that yoga class though she is scheduled to do so in the next few days. To subside fears, I have coached people to overcoming their fears and achieving great success by using the following formula: Step One - Acknowledge the Fear What is the fear really about? Who do you feel is going to judge you? Ultimately you must understand that people are thinking about you much less that you actually believe. Step Two - What Is The Worst Thing That Can Happen? If you make the call, enjoy the race, ask for the sale, teach the class or take the stage - what is the worst thing that can happen? People could hang up the phone, they could laugh, they could 'boo' and they can walk out. Understand that every master was once a disaster and as Wayne Gretzky said, 'you miss one hundred percent of the shots you never take.' Step Three - Let People Know You Are Nervous And Do Not Dwell On It When you make the call let the potential client know that you are a bit nervous because you are transitioning careers. When you take the stage let the audience know that you are overcoming your fear of being at the front of the room. When you have to be in front of large crowds, simply let your friends know that you are nervous and then let it go. By simply acknowledging the nervousness you no longer hold it in your body. People can empathize with your feeling and the need to be perfect will suddenly be gone. Ultimately you will be more relatable; if you are more relatable you are more powerful. Step Four - Act - Repetition Is The Ultimate Confidence Booster We tend to be in fear when it is the first time we have done a particular thing. Think back to your first kiss or perhaps even your first airplane ride. When something is new it is combined with the mystery of the unknown. Once we repeat something over and over again our confidence soars and we soon we forget our fears. If you are still in fear of something, to be differentiated from slight nerves, then you have not done it often enough. Step Five - Have Faith In fear there is no faith. When I am nervous about something I ask God to come in and shift my perspective. I ask Him to fill me with His love. I have learned that ultimately God's love supersedes any of my earthly fears. In faith we are invincible. The deeper our faith, the greater our ability to let go of our human fears. When I am nervous about something I read Mark 11 22-26. This passage calms me and I know that any mountain can be moved. Lastly, know that much of what you fear is not real. Human nature is to exaggerate our fears to the point of allowing them to stop us. Fear versus excitement is simply a matter of perspective. You have the ability to do amazing things with your life and I encourage you to seize this day and each one from now on. You have greatness inside of you. You are a gift from God. I believe in you. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Tue, 15 Feb 2011 10:10:22 -0500 Full article 2_170available at: stepintoyourpower.com The Courage To Put Ourselves First "If we really love ourselves, everything in our life works." Louise L. Hay This past week in my Organize Your Life Class, one of our participants shared that her life was in a state of overwhelm. She is currently living with a health condition that leaves her exhausted, joyless and in tremendous discomfort. She is challenged to find the energy to get organized let alone focus on her new enterprise. My coaching for her was this - you have got to put yourself first and get healthy before you can do anything else. That is the bottom line. No matter where I travel, women and men, lament of their poor health. In a time where obesity, heart disease, cancer, multiple sclerosis, hypothyroidism, diabetes and fibromyalgia are on the rise is it any wonder that people are struggling to get by let alone succeed? When we are in poor health everyone and everything suffers. If we do not have the energy to get through the day, how will we have the energy to be a great parent or a loving partner? The reality is that without our health we cannot ever achieve true wealth. I speak from personal experience. In the year 2000 I was diagnosed with a progressive form of Multiple Sclerosis. The lesions on my brain looked like a well-stocked coy pond. I was told that I would inevitably be in a wheelchair and most likely die very young. At 27 years old that was a lot to deal with and so I did the most obvious thing which was to not deal with it at all. For the next three years I soldiered on, working long days, continuing to train for triathlons and pretending my disease didn't exist. This was all well and good except there was no way I would win the Oscar. I was slurring my speech, dealing with extreme vertigo, pain, lack of bladder control and basically was a mess and I do not mean a 'hot' one. Looking back, I was so embarrassed and humiliated. I had been eating a healthy diet, working out and taking vitamins. How did MS happen to me? I realize now that I had been under a tremendous amount of stress; a marriage that was falling apart, raising a young child, running a business, doing radio, television, teaching at the local college, racing and trying to be everything to everyone. MS happened because my body couldn't take it anymore. It was a cry for help. I had ignored the early signs and pushed through. By the time I was finally diagnosed I proceeded with more testing to find out that my thyroid function was almost completely gone, I had extreme adrenal burnout, my immune system was so low that I got a whopping dose of shingles and my body was beginning to shut down one system at a time. When we do not take care of ourselves our bodies will cry out for help. Our body is merely expressing what we are suppressing. If we are internalizing stress, sabotaging our sleep, eating processed foods, consuming alcohol in large quantities and using over-the-counter or recreational drugs to cope then eventually our body's small cry will start a full-on scream. Louise Hay, author of Heal Your Body, says that all illness is simply 'dis ease' in the body; essentially our spirit is out of balance emotionally and our body is simply expressing that through pain, acne, weight gain and even cancer. Basically anything other than a lean, glowing body is indicative that something is being repressed. I have witnessed many men and women begin to let go of their repressions and ultimately heal their bodies. Women with years of suppressed emotions suddenly release the extra fifty pounds after beginning to put themselves first emotionally and physically. One of the many reasons I began the Have It All Women's Project was to assist other women, like myself, who had for years failed to put themselves first. I envisioned a weekend of sisterhood, a safe environment for letting go, embracing self-love and the joy of womanhood. We have seen women transform from old, sad and joyless to young, vibrant and blissful. It really is beautiful to be a part of that journey. Putting ourselves first takes courage. It is ultimately the most selfless thing we can do. It is more selfish to continue on in pain, obesity, illness and stress for many others are affected and it takes toll on the ones we love. For me it meant truly beginning to love and accept myself. I used the following techniques to embark on the journey of self-love which continues today. How do you begin to put yourself first? I encourage you to write a letter and ask your body for forgiveness for all of the idiotic things you have done to it; from the sleep deprivation, to the alcohol, to the lack of exercise or the over-exercise, to the overeating to the under-eating…anything that you have done to abuse it. After all, would you treat your best friend or child the way you have treated yourself? Next, schedule time daily to exercise and pray. Take time to simply move your body with walking, dancing or anything that causes you to sweat. Sweat is very cleansing. Daily prayer and meditation is important on making peace with your mind. Remember, your body is only expressing what your mind is thinking therefore a healthy, balanced mind will produce a healthy, balanced body. Lastly, move forward. Ultimately you know what to do - drink more water, stop consuming processed foods, sodas, cigarettes and stimulants. Limit your portions. It is all very straightforward. Inherently it is not our knowledge that is lacking - it is our actions. I would encourage you, or the woman you love, to attend the Have It All Women's Weekend on April, 1, 2 and 3rd. It is transformative. Our seating is limited as we create a very intimate setting. I work with the group for 3 days along with therapist, Camille Lawson, and money expert Corinna Smith-Gacke. You really deserve to be there. In closing, it takes courage to put you first. In doubt ask yourself if how you are operating is really working for you? Who is suffering because of your lack of integrity? Know that you have greatness inside you. You truly are a gift from God. You can be, do and have anything you dream and I believe in you. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Thu, 10 Feb 2011 12:08:04 -0500 Full article 2_169available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Everything you want is out there waiting for you to ask. Everything you want also wants you. But you have to take action to get it." Jack Canfield In addition to raising children, running our businesses and our current pre-occupation - NFL playoffs; Chris and I have been extremely productive since the beginning of the year. Before 2011 commenced, we sat down and created some fairly sizable goals for ourselves. Using the Have It All Life Pyramid, we wrote down our goals in the areas of health, spirituality, love, relationships, business/money, giving back and fun. In addition to this (welcome to the hamster wheel of my mind) I decided to write one or more big life goals every evening before bed in my goal book; I am now up to 1805. I read recently that the actress, Angelina Jolie, is constantly writing lists of goals. She was quoted as saying that she wants to be in momentum always in her life; moving forward in a way that is quantifiable. Many have criticized Ms. Jolie for her personal life however the Oscar award winning actress, mother of six and philanthropist, regardless of personal motivation, is consistently progressing forward as her recent Golden Globe nod would indicate. Perhaps her use of goal writing is one of her methods for staying focused. At the beginning of the year I shared the stage with my friend, Mark Victor Hansen, co- author of the famed Chicken Soup for the Soul series. From stage Mark mentioned that his goal book is up to 7000. Two years ago he was at 3000 goals. My first inspired thought was, 'I had better get busy.' Goal writing is not only a wonderful pastime, it costs us nothing and is the great barometer of our lives in that our goals set the mark for where we are headed . As I look back on my goals I see that many have already come to pass or are in the process of being realized. I also see that many of my early goals are representative of my thinking at that time; some are material and although I do still intend on manifesting a 'beautiful red Birkin bag for free of something better,' I no longer feel the need to use possessions as a measure of self-worth. Today my goals are mainly centered on contribution and human empowerment with the odd beach house thrown in. At this time of year I observe many people who have already given up on their goals. They created a set of New Year's resolutions, goals and intentions and have already stopped the workouts, the saving, and the extra effort of creating a secondary income in favour of the comfortable uncomfortability of their current existence. The truth is that if you want to move forward then you have got to move. You cannot be complacent and expect your results to be any different. One of my goals this year was to truly enjoy an upcoming half marathon. I am heading there with a group of our Advanced Leaders from the Have It All Women's project. The race is coming up and where I live, the temperatures are going down. However, because of my goal I braved minus 30 degrees to run 18 k in the 'balmy' Arctic like conditions to move closer to my goal. It wasn't pleasant however it was necessary. Often the pursuit of our goals is met with discomfort; in other words we must face the reality that the way have been operating has not yielded our desired outcome and that a change in actions is required. Pursuing the next level whether it is a leaner, healthier body, an increased bank account or a more fulfilling relationship is going to be met with some level of challenge. Oddly enough, the things that challenge us today are the things, when repeated often enough, that become comfortable tomorrow. When I began my network marketing career I found great challenge when someone said 'no' to me, did not show up for a scheduled appointment or behaved in a way that I found confrontational. Today, those things do not cause me to lose sleep. I have faced them all so many times that it really isn't a big deal. I had to go through much discomfort in the pursuit of becoming a millionaire however it was absolutely worth it. One of my mentors says that 'we must be willing to do today what others won't so we can do tomorrow what others can't.' How telling is that statement? Of course it is easy to set goals, however the getting of goals is another matter. I believe you are capable of great things. I believe that you can live a life on purpose, a life of manifesting your many dreams and desires. I encourage you to pursue your goals with abandon, be willing to be uncomfortable and know that anyone who achieved anything worth achieving embraced the discomfort, grew as a person and did not quit. Go for it. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Wed, 2 Feb 2011 12:12:58 -0500 Full article 2_168available at: stepintoyourpower.com 'Pay no attention to what the critics say; no statue has ever been put up to a critic.' Jean Sibelius When I was pregnant with Baby Em, my friend, Jen, was pregnant with her first child. She had decided to take the requisite pre-natal class to be prepared for labor and birth. One day as we conversed over our mutual late pregnancy discomfort, Jen shared her latest pre-natal class experience; the class where the instructor goes into detail about labor. The instructor had described in vivid detail about how the contractions would feel, the initial sensations akin to menstrual cramps and then the various ways to weather the more intense ( and I use that word lightly!!!) later labor pains. She emphasized each stage of labor and contributed her opinions for the various coping mechanisms. She assured Jen that although it would be painful, she would be just fine. The instructor spoke with such surety that afterward Jen felt the desire to commend her tutelage and asked how many children she had. The instructor replied that she did not have any children. This naturally left Jen wondering if this woman's opinion labor and delivery meant anything at all. I reasoned that perhaps there was no one else to teach the pre-natal class though I questioned how a woman who had never given birth could possibly teach from a place of integrity to a group of swollen women that were about to go into labor at any moment. It truly begs the question - who is entitled to an opinion about our lives? I remember when I first forayed into network marketing, everyone had an opinion. Many people were judgemental and unsupportive. At the time I took it personally and almost allowed the opinions of my friends and family to deter me from what would eventually become a very lucrative pursuit that would also help some of those aforementioned detractors. In retrospect I now realize that the people who tended to be the most opinionated about network marketing had also never participated in network marketing. When it comes to the opinions of others it can be very seductive to become entangled in the push and pull of self-doubt when we fail to ask the simple question - is this person qualified to give an opinion at all? Have they earned the right to contribute due to actual experience or are they qualified due to some sort of professional designation that has relevance to the situation? When it comes to listening to opinions some are well meaning, others can have less than kind intentions. Recently a friend of mine became extremely upset by a very opinionated individual who was making derogatory remarks about her network marketing product. He went on to say his life's mission was to take her company down. Interestingly enough, this person has never even tried her product nor has he participated in direct selling. Upon inspection of his blog it would seem that, in general, this person seemed to have an opinion on everything; almost entirely negative. It is often said that someone who is being hurtful is someone who is hurting themselves and perhaps this is the case. Although we are blessed to live in a society that offers freedom of speech it is also our blessing to discern well intentioned, experiential opinion versus the critical spirit of one who has no right giving an opinion at all. If you truly want to succeed at anything in life then it will be essential to take into account only the opinions of those who have tread on the path we desire to take, speak from a place of experience and have a pure heart. There are many who would happily contribute an opinion to prevent another from moving forward on their dreams with a malevolent spirit however there are also a handful of people who would welcome the opportunity to provide insightful guidance to someone seeking to better their lives. As you move toward all of the beautiful victories you have ahead, I encourage you to take counsel only from those who have genuinely earned the right to have an opinion about your life. You have such greatness within and so much to offer the world; do not allow anyone to deter you from your dreams. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Mon, 24 Jan 2011 09:56:44 -0500 Full article 2_166available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Lost time is never found again." Benjamin Franklin As I write this, it is late and time is something that is definitely on my mind. 24 hours in a day or 1440 minutes or 86,400 seconds. We all have the same amount of time and while some are good stewards others simply are not. What makes a man or woman successful in life is simply their ability to master their time; to squeeze every juicy moment out of a day much like lingering to the last possible moment in a kiss with your true love. Simply spoken - master your time and you master your life. Time is also a commodity more valuable than the rarest gemstone on Earth. When our time with someone seems to be stolen away, we weep for the memories that could have been. When we are in the presence of a great teacher, time seems to move so quickly. In the presence of a task we find daunting, time seems to slow down. Time is indeed a tricky partner. Valuing our time is akin to valuing ourselves. I often ask entrepreneurs to tell me how much their time is worth. I am not necessarily seeking a definitive answer in terms of their present however I am more interested in their perceived value of the time they inhabit. In reality, someone who makes one million dollars per year has a time value of $500/hour. This person knows that every minute is worth $8.33. Thus time wasting activities are costly. Every forwarded email is $50 in time. Every hour spent watching something mind numbing is $500. The most successful people I know have indeed become masters of their time. As we begin to value our time and thus ourselves we become, often, painfully aware of our ability to get sucked into time wasting activities such as gossip, overwhelm - yes, the simple art of doing nothing out of sheer "deer in the headlights" syndrome could be a verb, worrying over nothing, allowing the criticisms of others to paralyze us and so forth all waste our time and much like sand slipping through an hourglass, it is soon gone. Today I went to the wake of a beautiful young woman who had passed at age 29. As I walked the line of devastated family members I thought about how much time had been taken away. Having lost very close family members and friends myself I wonder if they were also thinking about the past and the time that had perhaps not been well utilized. Would they have done something different in the relationship? Would they have savoured some of the moments more deeply knowing it was the last Christmas, the last birthday or the last anything? Having once been extremely ill, I have chosen to create the most out the time I have. Often my days are very full and productive however I make the most out of each moment because I know what it is like to look on the abyss of choice; the choice to reside in the land of the living or to pass on. Sometimes my ability to do something is within a small window of time however I choose to make it special; whether it is taking a few minutes to do our 'high points of the day' at the dinner table or simply taking a moment to write a little love note to my children, it is amazing what a profound effect something can have even if it is done on minimal time. Of one thing I am certain and that is that we all have been given the same amount of time in the day. What we choose to do with it is entirely up to us. I encourage you to make the most out of your life. Let your encounters with others be meaningful. Honor yourself by operating from a place that your time is worth at least $500 per hour or more even if it isn't yet. You have such greatness within and an entire world of possibility. Seize this day and the next one and the one after that. You never know when your time may be cut short so live each second to its fullest. Remember - you can be, do and have anything you dream. You are a winner. Go for it! Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Organize Your Life Teleseries with Susan Sly 4 Week Program - 1 hour per week Starts Tues. Jan. 18 - noon est. all sessions are recorded Do you feel disorganized? Do you often feel overwhelm? Do you lack in focus? Susan is known for her ability to attract with ease. Susan is a busy mother of 4 young children and a self made millionaire. People often wonder how she does it. Learn Susan's tips to organize your life. SRP $499.99 POWER PRICE 97.00* with Coupon code oyl Enter code upon checkout CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE/REGISTER Limited Spaces Remain for this Session Registration closed Jan. 17 at noon est. All Calls are recorded in the event you can not join the live session. Class 1 - Jan. 18 Class 2 - Jan. 25 Class 3 - Feb. 1 Class 4 - Feb. 8 What our Student's Say.... Susan's 'Organize Your Life' class is inspirational, proactive and profitable! Learning how to truly breakdown my daily schedule has been a major breakthrough for production and profit in my Enterprise. I have been inspired to celebrate small daily victories and have attracted like minded Entrepreneurs into my life. Thank you Susan for a exceptional class and a outstanding return on my investment! Kim Players Thu, 20 Jan 2011 09:58:02 -0500 Full article 2_165available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for changes." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe I was watching CNN at the gym while on vacation over the holidays. After polling Americans on Facebook, CNN announced that people's number one goals for 2011 were once again to save more money and get fit. My burning question is this - are these the same people who set the same resolutions last year only to succumb to the seduction of cheeseburgers, lapsed gym memberships and faltering willpower against the marketing machine behind the latest flat screen televisions? Or are these new people; people who have never made a resolution to either get healthy or increase their 401K? Either way, one thing is definite - tightening the belt and the wallet is on the mind of the majority of people. What I do find amusing is that the same person who pledges to save more money and get healthy is often the same person who resists investing money in a nutritional program. For the last seven years I have been affiliated with a nutritional cleansing program that not only guarantees results but is also safe and natural. Oddly enough a person who often forgoes the expenditure is the same person who doesn't think twice about buying another new pair of shoes or larger golf pants. In order to achieve anything our actions must be in alignment with what we say we want. If our declaration is to save more money the logical action would be to set up an automatic contribution plan to our savings or set up a special savings account or visit a financial planner with a proven track record. Another great step would be to attend a course on money such as the Millionaire Mind Intensive with T. Harv Eker or listen to audios on money such as my very own Power to Be Rich Now C.D.'s. When our actions are in tune with our desires - we achieve them. If our actions are dichotomous to our goals then we will constantly be setting the same goals year after year. Our actions must also be consistent; repeated over months and years. Very few short term actions yield the long term desired results we seek. Achieving a goal requires us to change. In order to transform one area of our lives we must often change another. For example, if a person wanted to save more money and their budget was fairly constricted then perhaps they would consider another stream of income. If this were the case then they might start a home based business which would require additional time. This would mean exchanging one activity for another which would in turn require a lifestyle change. Any lifestyle change is often met with initial discomfort in the beginning and this is why people often give up on their goals far too early. Change is not a destination, it is a process and a journey. If you have ever gone to the gym and haven't been there in a long time, it is a change. Initially you may resist going as you anticipate the discomfort and change of routine. Perhaps you have to get up earlier to go for your workout which means no more 1:00 a.m. bedtimes staying up to answer emails and play Farmville. You may feel sore after the first workout however after subsequent workouts your hormones change, your stress levels decrease and you actually begin enjoying exercise. Eventually you welcome an earlier bedtime and an earlier start to your day and love the feeling of a healthier body. The same is true of saving more money. At first there may appear to be sacrifices as you choose to save $100 per month instead of indulge in a new pair of shoes. You may take your lunch to work or drink a healthy protein shake instead of buying a high sodium soup and sandwich for $12 every day. Eventually you prefer your bagged lunch and really enjoy the occasional splurge because you have adjusted your lifestyle and your actions to be in alignment with your goals. The reality is that it may take months or even years for change to finally feel good. I have known many people who took up running, for example, and didn't begin to love it until after their first half marathon which was over two years after they began. Look at new parents with their babies. After the initial 'I am in love with my baby phase' comes the exhaustion of sleepless nights, the myriad of diapers, the tantrums and frustrations. Adjusting to parenthood is also something that can take months or years. When our network marketing business yielded enough residual income for my husband, a professional, to retire; we were instantly jubilant. That however was short lived as we adjusted to the change of us both being together 24 hours per day and the challenge for my husband of how to view himself as a retiree at age 37. It took some getting used to. In fact it took almost four years for us to get into a groove. The process of co-existing to collaborating in all areas was a day-by-day journey. Today, we work well together and are still evolving. I like to think the initial growing pains of change are passed us though I know as we take on new projects and work with new people there will always be opportunities for us to grow. If you want 2011 to be your best year yet, then you will have to make some changes. These changes may be uncomfortable and even scary in the beginning; most change is. As your changes include actions that are in alignment with your goals and you are willing to embrace the process of change for months and even years then yes, you will eventually get to where you want to be. You deserve to have it all. Go for it like never before and commit to the discomfort of change. Susan Sly is a published author of 5 books, has written for Natural Awakenings, Oxygen Magazine Australia and others. She has been interviewed on the CBN, ABC Family and on Australia's Morning Show. Susan is a speaker who is passionate about teaching people to Have It All. She is the mother of four beautiful children and the long-time partner to her best friend and husband, Chris. Thu, 13 Jan 2011 08:28:13 -0500 Full article 2_162available at: stepintoyourpower.com ***** We have heard rumours that the place to witness sex trafficking is a bar called 'T'. Naturally I want to go there urged on by Ray. He was eager to pretend to be Chris' broker. Chris, although somewhat tentative, was open and willing to assist. For Ray, being able to see what is happening in his country and the blatant atrocities being committed against Cambodian and Vietnamese children is invaluable. The things we would see would not normally be shown to someone local and the rare opportunity to use a westerner was definitely going to be seized. Once again we dropped Chris and Ray off and circled the block. The 'T' bar was fairly non-descript, on a corner of two fairly slow streets, backed by a dark ally and not what one would assume to be a virtual smorgasbord for the sex tourist. As Ray and Chris disappeared down the street, our driver circled the block. In my mind I was preparing for much of the same; the girls approaching Chris, men dancing with young girls soliciting them and the same sex trafficking that I had become somewhat accustomed to seeing. Years ago I worked in a maximum security prison as a guard. During that time I had seen horrific crime scene photographs. One in particular is simply blood in the snow. A man had raped a woman, shoved a beer bottle up her vagina, stepped hard onto her pelvis, smashing the bottle and then leaving her to die. The photograph of blood in the snow without a body is because the woman crawled naked in the freezing cold and survived with permanent injuries. The man, incarcerated, was on my unit. I have stared pedophiles, rapists and murderers in the face. I have looked upon one of the most notorious serial killers in Canada. I have seen the worst of humanity, although these men had been caught. In Cambodia, where for enough money a blind eye is turned and pedophiles run rampant there would seem to be little justice. Although prison in Canada is much like a stay at the Super 8 motel complete with a free university degree if you want it; it is still prison. In Cambodia, sex offenders get to do what they want with very little chance of conviction. After circling the block I jumped out of the van. C came along behind me. The guards at the door of the 'T' bar looked bemused and curious. They did allow us in and our bags were searched. I glanced around the entrance of the darkened, cavernous bar. Guards stood in the shadows with guns. Tables were scattered throughout the central area and doors lead to secret places that quite obviously were out of bounds for general tourists. I escorted C to a table, ignoring Chris and Ray as to not blow our cover. I passed a group of American men with young Cambodian and Vietnamese girls at their table. One girl was perched on the lap of a man who appeared to be mid forties, wearing a wedding ring on his left hand. I didn't linger and headed straight to the bar and saddled up next to a burly, American and ordered a shot of tequila. The American said 'hi' and I replied in kind. We began a conversation. He wanted to know if I knew what this bar was. 'Yes,' I said. He asked why I was here. I told him that it was one of my last days in Cambodia and I needed to let off steam. I wanted to get away from the hotel and have a drink. He seemed appeased by that and slowly began to share his story. He was working in Cambodia and had been given honorary citizenship. He had been living in Mexico and had no desire to go back to the U.S. He spoke about political uncertainty and the lack of opportunity. He seemed like a decent enough guy though I knew there were only two possible reasons he was here. One, that he was undercover or two, that he was here to pick up a girl or boy for sex. As we continued to talk he opened up about how his wife had left him. He had married a 19 year old girl from China. That told me that he did like them young. He was 45. He also told me that he was dating the bartender at 'T' however whether he was culpable or not was another story. After my tequila I rejoined C. We had our eyes on the table of American men. I watched as a young girl performed oral sex in what appeared to be a drug induced haze on one of the med. The other guys cheered their friend on as if this was Sunday afternoon football and he had just succeeded in eating the entire bowl of Cheetos. The other girls pretended to be turned on as they were fondled and stroked. If those girls were older than fifteen I would be shocked. The group of Americans wasn't the main attraction though. We soon exited the bar and Ray had tears in his eyes. Chris, Ray and C had witnessed a white man taking a boy of 4 or 5 years old from a broker. This man most likely intended to have sex with this boy or in the very least receive oral sex. As a child, Ray's parents were killed by the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer were responsible for genocide in Cambodia that killed anywhere from 1.7 to 2.4 million women, men, children and babies. As a young boy, Ray was forced to be a child soldier. As his friend, there are parts of it that are too painful to talk about. I can see it in his eyes though - Ray is still a solider, fighting for the safety of Cambodian children. In the van we discussed what we had seen. Ray was on his way to make some calls to other NGO's that deal with brothel raids. For part of the ride we sat in glum sadness. To have stopped that man from taking that boy could have gotten us killed. The armed guards do not take lightly anyone doing undercover work or stopping transactions. We knew that the only thing to do was to alert another NGO and pray that they would do a raid. The challenge with the sex trade in Cambodia is that the answer isn't to simply just raid the brothels. When these children are rescued they often have nowhere to go. Some are there because their families sold them. They do not have a home, nor do they have any money. To buy the freedom of a sex worker means to simply repatriate them to the brothel life. The solution involves both education to prevent the child from entering the sex trade and also supporting projects that provide medical, psychological and critical care combined with substance detoxification and education. The trauma center we fund also provides justice; girls are able to charge their violators and send them to jail. Recently two of our girls sent an American pedophile to jail. This is just a beginning and although satisfying it does not begin to tackle the challenges of trying these offenders; many of whom are wealthy business men able to pay off the right people and even counter sue if they so choose. Putting these criminals behind bars requires money and lot's of it. For Chris and I one of our driving forces outside of our family is to assist these victims of trafficking. We feel so blessed to have such a great life and a strong desire for every child on the planet to live in freedom. If it is on your heart to contribute we would encourage you to click here to donate directly to the Cambodian Trauma Centre. For American residents - we encourage you to click here to learn more about World Vision USA's program. Wed, 5 Jan 2011 15:22:54 -0500 Full article 2_161available at: stepintoyourpower.com The bar isn't open yet so we decide to head to the new notorious prostitution hot spot. It isn't overly safe but as long as we keep our cool, we should be fine. As we drive to the bar, the prostitutes are coming out en masse. Girls sit on plastic lawn chairs in front of cell phone stores and noodle restaurants. These girls are much too done up to be just randomly sitting there. At night, the businesses we have driven past in the day, the one's posing as legitimate establishments, are in full on brothel mode. The 'of age' girls sit out front. Who knows how old the unseen girls are. One of the girls I interviewed in the past shared stories of the older girls sitting out front while the younger children, as young as seven, were kept downstairs on a request only basis. The trafficking of the four and five year olds, often sold off at a premium for their virginity requires a middle man and the willingness to go to at least two or three locations to ensure seriousness and flush out any undercover agents. A few of the girls I have interviewed had heard rumours of animal membranes being sewn into girls so they could be re-sold as virgins. Take a moment to imagine the terror of a young child being offered to a foreigner for sex and then imagine that child having to re-live it. Finding these young children is what a handful of NGO's are committed to. The challenge is that as Cambodia grows and the government attempts legislation to at least hide the overt trafficking, the traffickers become more savvy. The last time I was here, Ray and I, went out to find out how much it would cost to buy a virgin. One and a half years ago the going rate was $1000 for the week. That would get five days of access to the girl and unrestricted visits. The young children, at that time, were supposedly being offered up by the Vietnamese in residential neighbourhoods as to create more discretion. According to NGO workers there are, however, areas in Cambodia where children are offered up on the street willing to do 'yum, yum' which is the term for oral sex, for just a few dollars. Thankfully more press is exposing these human atrocities however do not be fooled - human trafficking is alive and well in Cambodia if you know where to find it. On this particular night we would indeed find it and alas the images that haunt me, Chris and my friends from the NGO. Susan and Child In the Streets of Cambodia Read our Dec. 23, 2010 edition for Susan's concluding article in this amazing series. For Chris and I one of our driving forces outside of our family is to assist these victims of trafficking. We feel so blessed to have such a great life and a strong desire for every child on the planet to live in freedom. If it is on your heart to contribute we would encourage you to click here to donate directly to the Cambodian Trauma Centre. For American residents - we encourage you to click here to learn more about World Vision USA's program. Mon, 20 Dec 2010 09:32:19 -0500 Full article 2_159available at: stepintoyourpower.com Have you ever had a dream so intense that the images haunt you for days? You try to focus on other things; you attempt to let go of the unsettling pictures and just when you think that you have been successful, the impression comes back into your mind leaving you uneasy. This is how I feel on this particular morning at 5:30 a.m. looking to express this unnerving vision which was a stark reality and something I wish was only a dream. As I write this I am home entrenched in my office; my safe place. Before me are the images of my dreams; things that Chris and I will manifest in the near future. My goals are up on the wall. There are awards, drawings from my kids and a little book called, 'Believe,' that Avery gave me for my birthday. I love the magnificent energy in here and yet it isn't even enough to expel this nightmare and so I write perhaps giving you, my wonderful reader, a glimpse into what drives me and compels me to move forward beyond a life of complacency. My dream that wasn't a dream began like this: last Wednesday evening Chris and I downed a cocktail at our hotel in Phnom Penh as we waited for our friend Ray. In the old world luxury of our hotel which has hosted dignitaries and celebrities for decades, including the likes of Jacqueline Kennedy, we sat in the notorious upscale bar mentally preparing for the night ahead. I was keyed up and excited. Chris was a little reticent and perhaps with good reason. In a few minutes we would depart to explore the secondary layer of the sex trade in Cambodia; a layer that requires a modicum of risk, common sense and a strong degree of personal restraint. The latter I will explain later on. At 9:00 p.m. we boarded an unmarked van and headed out trolling for brothels. In Phnom Penh sex trafficking is everywhere if you choose to see it. At our high end hotel, it isn't uncommon to see a beautiful Cambodian or Vietnamese girl skulking out of a foreigner's room at the wee hours of the morning. These are the high end girls and the reality is that one doesn't need to be in Cambodia to witness this except in New York, L.A. or Toronto it isn't exactly as obvious especially when the going rate runs into the multiple four figures per night range. Cambodia is no different. The last time I was here, doing what I do, we found the current rate for oral sex was in the neighbourhood of $15 US dollars; penetration with a condom was $30, without a condom $40. In a country where 70% of people are illiterate and most girls do not finish high school; a country where an uneducated girl has two choices - either work in a factory for $2.5/day or could voluntarily go into a brothel for over $100/day you can guess where the employment line-ups are. That $5000/night call girl in North America only costs a foreigner $100-$200/night. You can see why sex tourism is still alive and well. About two hundred yards from the hotel is a park with a sacred temple, monkeys that scurry around in the daytime and a kindly old man who brings an elephant to take tourists on rides. At night, teenage boys offer themselves up to men or women. These are the street prostitutes and because in Asia, age is deceptive; I couldn't honestly tell you how old they are. My friend, Ray who works for an NGO and deals with at-risk children in Cambodia, says that some are as young at thirteen. This is also a country where human traffickers pray on uneducated young men offering them a promise of a good job, paying $250 US/month, working in Thailand in a factory. While I was in Phnom Penh, an escaped trafficked worker detailed how he unwittingly went to Thailand in hopes of a better life, wanting to support his family. Upon arrival his documents were taken away and he was thrown in a room with about a dozen others. He soon found himself working on a fishing boat being allowed to sleep only 2 hours per night. When people didn't work they were tortured or killed. After he escaped by jumping overboard, this young man was soon arrested. With no papers he was taken to a detention center where he was forced to live in a room that was approximately 40 by 20 feet with 70 men. They slept on top of one another and were forced to urinate and defecate in the same room. To buy his freedom his family had to raise $400 USD, a sum which would bankrupt the average Cambodian family. Upon achieving freedom he went back to the same factory job making $2.50/day while his best friend took a job collecting firewood and stepped on a landmine and is now without a leg. T.I.C. - this is Cambodia and unlike North America where we have a tough time fathoming why a young woman or man would become a prostitute, here it is seen as an opportunity to support one's family and eventually lead a better life. Of course it comes with risks. HIV is rampant and so is drug addiction. In a country where not everyone has a birth certificate, girls and boys go missing either trafficked across a border, sold or killed. Even a street prostitute can make more money than a factory worker. Many Cambodians take pride in supporting their families 'back home.' 'Back home,' often refers to the rural provinces. Most Cambodians do not own cars so even a family who lives three hours outside the city is seen to live far away. People may often work seven days per week. Many of the hotel employees I interviewed live in small rooms with an outdoor latrine and a hot plate. It is common for a Cambodian to share a room with six other people. Most people cannot afford an apartment and even though development is fast and furious, like many other places in the world these developments are for the elite; there is a rich divide of the classes here. As we venture out into the night I ask our driver to take a loop of the park so Ray can show Chris where the prostitutes are. It is still early so there are only a few out. Later on there will be a buzz of activity. The hours between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. in the City are known as the 'getting ready' time. This is when the sex workers are getting dressed, doing drugs and applying make-up; preparing for a night of every kind of sex a person can imagine. The girls and boys that are paraded to Westerners tend to make more money and be more lucrative than those who are intended for locals. Once a girl or boy becomes HIV positive, loses their looks either do to beating or drug use; they are demoted either to a lower class brothel or to the street. Yes, even sex workers have a hierarchy here just like they do in North America, Australia or Europe. The first bar we go to is notorious for sex trafficking. It is a hot spot for Westerners who want to pick up girls. There are about six men in uniform standing outside. Chris and Ray walk down the street ahead of myself and my friend , C, from a Canadian based NGO. Ray wants to see what will happen when he and Chris pretend to troll for girls. Ray pretends to be Chris' broker. Even walking down the street Chris is offered 'to go upstairs and have some fun' by a group of beautiful young girls standing in the opening of, what by day, is a restaurant. This is truly tame, not what we came to see. For Chris and I one of our driving forces outside of our family is to assist these victims of trafficking. We feel so blessed to have such a great life and a strong desire for every child on the planet to live in freedom. If it is on your heart to contribute we would encourage you to click here to donate directly to the Cambodian Trauma Centre. For American residents - we encourage you to click here to learn more about World Vision USA's program. Fri, 17 Dec 2010 09:09:05 -0500 Full article 2_158available at: stepintoyourpower.com As I write this, it is just before six o'clock in the morning in Phnom Penh. This is day three of our trip to Cambodia; my third and Chris' first. Today we are headed outside the City to visit seven of our twenty sponsor children with World Vision. This morning we will journey past the swirling motos loaded with families of three or more, the brothels which by day pose as cell phone shops or noodle restaurants, the children who play barefoot on the filthy street and I will think to myself, 'this is Cambodia.' For some reason, one that I cannot even comprehend myself, I love it here and I love the people. Wherever I travel I see beauty even in, what would seem, the most tragic realities. On Monday, Chris and I, took fifteen girls from the Trauma Centre on a boat cruise on the muddy waters of the Mekong River that transects the city. Despite the pouring rain and the sadness I know lingers in the hearts of these girls, I saw beauty in their smiles; I took joy in the giggles of their laughter. At nine years old, one of these girls, is the youngest rescued prostitute in our centre. Even though she has endured the dreaded weekends where she would have 'serviced' up to ten men per day; this girl's eyes tell a story of both tragedy and hope. Cuddling in to one of the older girls, she smiled shyly when I asked her what her name was and her age. When I asked her what she wanted to be when she was finished school, she replied, 'a teacher.' I told her that I knew she would be a good one. Last year I came to Cambodia and interviewed several of these girls. I heard the horrors of brothel life including how during menses a girl would simply use two tampons and carry on. If she didn't she would be beaten severely or even worse. In a country with a sketchy population registration, where many have no birth certificates, what is one missing girl? Toward the end of our boat ride I asked who among them would be the Prime Minister of Cambodia? The girls looked puzzled and confused. When I asked my friend, Sano, why this was he translated the words of one of our girls. 'No one has ever told us that we could do that. We would never aim so high.' This lead me to think about the possibilities about one day having a woman prime minister here in Cambodia; one who had endured child trafficking and could be a stand for endless number of child sex slaves in this country who are victims to the desires of westerners. Tonight, we will go 'fact finding.' Essentially, our friends who work with an NGO (non-governmental organization), along with Chris and I will journey to some of the brothels fronted as high end bars. I have done this before and born witness to girls, who could be as young as ten, approach foreign men and solicit them; initially for dancing and then perhaps something more. Prostitution in Cambodia is simply economics. There is demand so there is supply. In a country as poor as Cambodia sex work is often seen as a viable opportunity to support one's family or pay off a parent's gambling or drug debts. The girls at our trauma centre were once the girls we will see tonight. Today they have hope for a better future because they have received psychological and medical care. They are also being educated and participating in justice by putting pedophiles in jail. John's Hopkins University in the United States is working in conjunction with the Trauma Centre and depression is down by 30 percent amongst the girls using new non-pharmacological methods. Chris and I are very enthused by this. A famous journalist, one of my favourites, came to Cambodia a few years ago and bought the freedom of a young girl who had been sold into prostitution. He paid $275 American dollars to purchase the girl. A girl in a brothel could work for years and never pay off this sum. Brothel owners charge for their room, board and even feminine hygiene supplies. They inflate the prices so the girls must work, even allowing men to penetrate them without condoms in hopes of one day being able to earn their freedom. The journalist set this girl free. One year later he came back to check on her and she was back in the brothel. Why? Because without support to get these girls off of drugs, provide them with counselling and educate them there are very few options. The liberation of sex trade workers comes not by merely purchasing their freedom; it comes by the tens of thousands of dollars it costs to support this girl in her emotional and physical healing. That is why I am so passionate about what we do. The girls at the Trauma Centre are truly lotus flowers. The lotus flower grows in the mud. Where other plants are challenged to take root or bloom, it is the lotus flower that is able to create a beautiful blossom in the most treacherous of conditions. Why do I come to Cambodia? This is a question I am asked time and again. The reality is that I come to see the lotus flowers. I know that I am helping them bloom. To be completely transparent, this place also offers me a healthy dose of perspective. What we decide is so worth being stressed out about in North America or Australia is actually incomparable to shoving two tampons in one's vagina to have sex with ten men in one day. This is what drives me to inspire others to create more income. The more money people make; the more good they can do in the world. Will Smith, the actor, say's 'money doesn't change a person; it only amplifies what is already there.' You are all good people. Get out there and do more so you can receive more and thus do more good in the world. There are many lotus flowers waiting to bloom. With Love from Cambodia, Susan Thu, 9 Dec 2010 08:09:47 -0500 Full article 2_156available at: stepintoyourpower.com "A true friend is one soul in two bodies."Aristotle Last weekend we celebrated our 9th Have It All Women's Weekend. To say that it was transformational would be a dramatic understatement. Women from California to New York to British Columbia descended on Toronto to train with myself and celebrated collaborators sex therapist and author, Camille Lawson, and financial guru, Corinna Smith-Gatcke. We laughed, we wept tears of joy, we danced and most importantly we celebrated being perfect just as we are; in other words we rejoiced in the true beauty that is unique and special to us as individuals. Over the course of the event one thought dominated all others in my own mind. A question formed that became more of an obsession as I wondered if there is any greater accomplishment than living into the art of being ourselves. In other words how do you live into the art of being you? One of our attendees has lived through terrible tragedy, one that every parent refuses to entertain; outliving our child. This woman came to the event on the heels of the 9 year anniversary of losing her 15 month old in a devastating accident that left her bitter, angry, depressed and in a living coma. As a mother I personally cannot fathom losing one of my babies and no matter how old they become, they are still babies to us. For this participant, my friend, I observed how in process after process she began to let lose her armour and surrender to herself. As the weekend progressed this woman laughed, began to smile and truly let go. By the end of the weekend she even looked different. Gone was the tension in her jaw and the slight furrow in her brow. She looked refreshed and renewed as though the strain of the last decade had been somewhat transformed. When I asked this beautiful woman how she was feeling when Sunday rolled around she said, 'I forgot what is was like to be me.' We hugged one another and I thought to myself, 'this project is really about assisting women in remembering the art of being themselves.' Like my beautiful participant, many women are struggling to remember who they are. Life has dealt some challenges, tragedies, stressors and pain. In these events it is easy to lose sight of the beautiful, powerful, amazing woman we are. Perhaps our pain started as a child; in which case we have years of layers of memories, often skewed by our perceptions, to sift through to find that vibrant spirit of a girl who laughed often, played hard and truly was able to be present in the moment knowing that the most juicy parts of life were found in the simplest things. As women it is easy to forget ourselves in the day-to-day milieu of life as we pay bills, do our jobs, wear our various 'hats' of being mothers, lovers, friends, daughters, sisters, aunts, volunteers and more. We somehow lose track of who we are and get too caught up in the doing of us as opposed to the being of us. What if you could choose to make today a day where you laughed, you were silly, you danced, you sang and let go of how you think the world perceives you? What if you decided that the only thing that mattered today is being you and that you are perfect just as you are? What if, like Scarlet O'Hara in Gone with the Wind, you decided that you didn't 'give a damn,' about life's stresses and you just decided to breathe? I believe that you would somehow re-connect with your inner child and remember, even just for a day, who you really are - a divinely inspired work of art. Know that you are magnificent. You are incredible right now in this moment. You do not need to change; you only need to remember that how you see the world will change everything. Go for it today like never before. I believe in you. Join Susan Sly at the next Have It All Women's Weekend in April 2011. The event is 70% sold out in our General Session. Go to www.stepintoyourpower.com today. "Susan, you have no idea how fulfilled I feel. I came to the seminar to help und support (my friend) and left feeling more powerful than I ever have. I also feel free of the burden of fear of failure. Truly free." - L. From British Columbia Thu, 2 Dec 2010 09:30:08 -0500 Full article 2_155available at: stepintoyourpower.com As I write this I am in the airport lounge in Sydney waiting to board my flight home. To say that I am excited to go home is an understatement; to say that I had an amazing experience would too be a little slightly less than honest. Australia was indeed magical; connecting with old friends and family members and of course teaching the first ever Have It All Woman Power Days. I am extremely blessed. Upon reflection I also observe that I am returning to the final two months of the year. For me this is always a time of both action and reflection. It is a time where I reconnect with my initial goals, set forth last January, and gauge my progress in all of the areas of the life pyramid. People have often referred to me as driven and perhaps that would be accurate. I would suppose that I have been driven to advance my life since that fateful day at age eleven when I first laced up my running shoes and committed to a life of fitness and the shedding of fat from my body. What I realized then, and still do now, is that I had the power to change my life. As a child I discovered that regardless of genetics or perhaps fate, we can all create something more. Travelling the world I have met incredible people who choose to take fate by the hand and defy the odds; diametrically I have also met people who choose to live a life of complacency ruled by the cards that life has dealt them. These same people might argue that fate is fate and that there is nothing you can do about your life; there is no opportunity to change circumstance and that I would argue is a choice. If we were meant to live lives of complacency and justification would humans by their own volition have ceased to exist or would we have been eradicated by sabre tooth tigers? For many progress is a form of self preservation; the need to consistently keep moving forward, measuring advancements in relationships, health and finances to feel alive. Ultimately we all have the ability to achieve more with our lives. We can take any aspect of our life to a new level. We can progress forward in order to contribute more and lead a much more meaningful existence. At home I ask our children to leave every room in a better state than when they entered it. Does this always work? Naturally not however the concept is worthwhile. Imagine how transformative it could be to live a life where we leave every place and every person we encounter in a more progressed state than when we entered. That being said, of course it is not always easy to deal with challenging people and circumstances; sometimes we would rather 'get in the ring' with another person as opposed to thinking about how would could contribute to their life. This, in and of itself, is a worthwhile pursuit - the progressive path to compassion and enlightenment. How does one measure progress outside of the obvious? Perhaps you are healthier than you were in January. Maybe you are now in a relationship or you have grown the one you are in. Perhaps your finances are on track and your portfolio is recording healthier growth. These are all incredible pursuits and worth the time, effort and energy required to consistently advance ourselves. Progress outside of these areas can also be measured in mindset. Has your day to day thinking shifted in the last ten months? Are you living in a place of possibility and contribution or are you stuck in probability and selfish lack? Life is much too short to stay in a state of stagnation. There is so much to pursue, so many lives to contribute to, so many opportunities to advance your family, community, church and even the world. With only two months left in 2010 ask yourself how you can progress. Could you take a personal development course? Could you commit to reading books and listening to audios that are empowering? Could you make the decision to leave every person and every place you encounter in a state of being better off for your presence? Could you ask more of yourself to advance your relationships, your finances and your health? I believe you can. It is easy to get off of our path of progress and languish in the mire of self pity and circumstance; it happens to the most successful people on the planet from time to time and yet they work through it and persist in progress. I encourage you to make these last two months of the year game changers to set yourself up for an incredible 2011. Be willing to ask more of yourself than you have in the first ten months of the year. Join the gym, work on your finances, create time to advance your relationships, commit to personal growth and end this year better off than you began it. Know that I believe in you. Go for it and finish strong. Would You Like to Truly Advance Yourself in the Last Two Months of This Year? Register today for the Have It All Women's Weekend in Toronto. In three days you will receive the courage to advance your life, learn how to collaborate as opposed to compete with other women, push past what holds you back and live a life of balance and integrity. What are you waiting for? You too can have it all. Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:36:47 -0500 Full article 2_153available at: stepintoyourpower.com "At fifteen life had taught me undeniably that surrender, in its place, was as honorable as resistance, especially if one had no choice. "Maya Angelou As I write this I am in Sydney, Australia finishing up a wonderful two week event tour. The people of Australia have been exceptionally warm and welcoming. The events have been filled with fired up people who want to step into their own power. As wonderful as travel is, I often feel out of sync when I am away from my family. This disconnect offers a certain opportunity; one of growth and introspection. I am very much a creature of habit and these very habits are what have yielded my success. When I travel however some of my habits are tossed to the wayside which forces me to either resist or surrender. I have learned, and often trained, that resistance only leads to frustration, health challenges, anger and resentment; surrender however is much more gentle and effective road to gaining knowledge and wisdom. That being said, surrender isn't often easy. I see so many women and men who sadly live their lives in a state of pragmatic resistance. In their attempt to move forward they lie prisoner to their own habits, beliefs and actions; many of which are not overly productive. When the opportunity to grow presents itself these same people often believe that they have nothing to learn from another person and as a result stay stuck. Unfortunately God has a funny way of causing these people to go and learn their lessons over and over again until they either breakthrough or leave this earth. When we surrender amazing things begin to happen. Incredible people show up in our lives. We are presented with opportunities to grow and live into the divine being we are meant to be. It is truly magical. Ten years ago I had a good friend whose name was also Susan. Both she and I moved away from the city we were living in. Over the years I thought about her often. When I tried to find her on Facebook her name did not appear. I even Googled her with no luck. I wondered from time to time how Susan was doing. When I was asked to come to Australia it took a certain degree of surrender. Being away from my family for 17 days, leaving Chris with four children was a huge decision; one both he and I deliberated on. With my husband's blessing I came to do a series of events and press. One of my interviews lead to my friend Susan seeing me on television. We have now reconnected. What does surrender have to do with it? Everything. At some point we must surrender to the opportunities presented to us, as long as they coincide with our values. When we surrender magnificent things begin to happen and we are lead down new pathways which open up doors of wondrous experiences. This trip has also allowed me to reconnect with my spiritual mother. It has been twenty-five years since I last saw her. We are in many ways exactly alike. She moved here after divorcing from my father. We had lost touch because I was confused about their break-up and had left many questions unanswered for decades. Last week we saw one another for the first time in decades and it was pure bliss because I allowed myself to surrender to the experience of first deciding to meet and then actually meeting. I now feel so wonderfully peaceful because of this reconnection. What is it in your life you are resisting? Have you been presented with opportunities that you are not seizing? Have you been offered to do something and you are not taking the chance because you feel it will cause you to change, even in a positive way? Life is too short to be in resistance. Surrender to your beautiful life. There are so many extraordinary adventures to be had, people to meet, relationships to forge and abundance to be had; you need to go for it. Surrender today and be prepared to truly step into your own power. From Australia with Love, Susan Do You Want To Push Past Your Obstacles? There are limited spots remaining for the Have It All Women's Weekend. Spend 3 amazing days being mentored by author, speaker, trainer and self made millionaire Susan Sly. This is an intimate setting which allows for breakthroughs in a nurturing and supportive environment. You deserve to Have It All. Click Here to Register Today. *tickets are a non-refundable purchase. Thu, 28 Oct 2010 09:15:17 -0500 Full article 2_151available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment." Jim Rohn Let me ask you a quick question - do you have unrealized dreams in your heart? Do you secretly dream of running a marathon, being a millionaire, finding your perfect partner, writing a bestselling novel or traveling the world with carefree abandon? Perhaps you have been beaten down so many times that it feels like your dreams are never going to come to pass. Maybe you wonder if there is nothing more to life than sheer survival. Please know that this is the furthest thing from the truth; you are destined for greatness and all it requires is pushing past your obstacles. I have a friend who almost died fourteen years ago from alcoholism. Every day would find him stupefied from a 40 ounce bottle of vodka. On one occasion he drank a gallon of vodka and woke up in the hospital on the verge of death. He had to fight for his life and fight for his sobriety. Day by day, moment by moment, the alcohol taunted him like a long lost lover. The call of it nearly seduced him on many occasions and he had to dig deep to resist. If you or anyone you know has ever been addicted to anything it is an indescribable thirst. I am a child of an schizophrenic alcoholic and I have witnessed firsthand the destruction of not only the life of the addicted but of those who love them. Through my friend's quest for sobriety he embraced personal development. He read hundreds of books, listened to audio cassettes by masters such as Jim Rohn and addressed his anger issues. During this time he became successful in network marketing. He actually became a millionaire and went on to create another multi-million dollar business. Although there were many times he wanted to give up he kept on pushing past the obstacles and now has been sober for the last fourteen plus years. The reason I am sharing this story is because we all have things that taunt us. For some it is people who try to dissuade us from our dreams. For others it is our past hurts, additions and disappointments that keep us stuck. You have heard the saying, 'every master was once a disaster,' which is to say that anyone who accomplishes anything worthwhile must push past their personal challenges. What if you could choose to not let anything hold you back? What if you decided that no matter what you would spend the rest of your life pursuing your dreams? What if you decided that your life had value and that your existence on this planet was about contribution and making it a better place? Yes, it is easy to get frustrated and stuck. It is easy to let go of your dreams and even shrink them. You may often question your ability to weather storms and climb the mountains ahead however you can. Every successful person I know has pushed past obstacles, many of which would have stopped people in their tracks. My friend Erica Davis was the first paraplegic to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro - check out her website www.ericadavis.com . Jack Canfield, who endorsed the Have It All Woman book, was rejected 150 times before Chicken Soup for the Soul was published. My friend, Kathy, had made millions in the industry of network marketing and had her last company close without warning. She was devastated and frustrated. She went on to co-found a billion dollar company. Every famous, successful person has had to overcome challenges. If you want to truly achieve that secret dream in your heart then you too will have to face those obstacles and push past them. At times it may be tough; you may want to give up. The reality is that you are going to have to push past your limits to get to the goal. I know you can and you will. Stay the course. Believe in yourself. Lastly, remember that everyone faces challenges - winners push past them, while everyone else let's go of their dreams. Go for it! Do You Want To Push Past Your Obstacles? There are limited spots remaining for the Have It All Women's Weekend. Spend 3 amazing days being mentored by author, speaker, trainer and self made millionaire Susan Sly. This is an intimate setting which allows for breakthroughs in a nurturing and supportive environment. You deserve to Have It All. Click Here to Register Today. Pay only $100 deposit* to secure your spot. Call 1 866 890 0807 to make you payment plan arrangements. *Balance of fees must be paid in full before Nov. 1/11. Deposits & Tickets are a non-refundable purchase. Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:16:02 -0500 Full article 2_149available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Everyone who achieves success in a great venture, solves each problem as they came to it. They helped themselves. And they were helped through powers known and unknown to them at the time they set out on their voyage. They keep going regardless of the obstacles they met." W. Clement Stone This week I have been preparing to go to Australia to train some incredible events. One event that I am extremely passionate about is the new Organize Your Life 3 Hour Training. I will doing this event in Sydney and also in New Jersey on October 30th (please click here to find out more). As I was working on the content I took pause to contemplate why some people are so productive with their time while others simply are not. Being one who loves to break things down into bite sized morsels I realized that all of our actions basically fall into one of 3 categories: 1. Those things that move us toward our dreams. 2. Those things that take us further away from our dreams. 3. Those things that allow us to dream. When it comes to taking action toward fulfilment very few people actually sit down to think about what they want let alone to categorize those activities which propel them forward toward the health, relationships and financial freedom they secretly long for. Knowing what we desire is about 10% of the battle. The rest can be chalked up to sweat equity and the truth is that people often do not like to sweat, either physically or metaphorically. When I decided to conquer MS, I made the decision that I had the disease and that the disease did not have me. My father taught me that life can yield some incredible hardships however no one can take away our skills or our dreams. With a death sentence that included being wheelchair bound I made the choice to fight for a future that I knew could be possible but that would not happen without my actions, efforts and unbridled tenacity. Warren Buffet says that our habits do not actually weigh that much until the weight of breaking them becomes almost impossible. To break free of the physical and emotional pain I created new habits and took action every single day toward my dream of living in a body that I controlled; one that did not control me. In doing this I also had to give up habits that took me farther away from the healthy body I knew existed. I used to have a once/day diet soda habit and that simply had to go. The Centres for Disease Control in Atlanta lists 96 known side effects of Aspartame and I knew that I was experiencing some of these. Today I never drink or consume anything with artificial sweetener including chewing gum. I also gave up my habit of complaining daily about my symptoms. I knew that whatever I gave my attention to would indeed expand so that had to stop. Lastly, I took time daily on my power walks and runs to dream of my healthy body. I took time to contemplate what my life would be like when I was able to sleep without breathtaking pain and burning in the very cells of my spine. I dreamt of a life where I could once again run races, train and do the things that I wanted to. I dreamt of a day where I could speak clearly, enunciating words with ease in front of thousands of people. My daily dreaming is what gave me the power to take action. When I look back now, feeling more at ease in my body than any other time in my life, I reflect on the choices I made to use every moment. We have 86,400 seconds in every single day; 86,400 opportunities to move toward a more fulfilling, richer, prosperous and abundant life. Can we really afford to waste time? Can we afford to do things that move us away from what we want? There are many time wasters out there. Some, albeit, provide us the opportunity to dream more deeply, relax more fully and thus take greater action. Others, meanwhile, simply take us out of production and cause for wonder on why we aren't moving further ahead. Can we really luxuriate in Farmville and still complain about our finances? Can we afford to watch Glee in Primetime, instead of using TiVo, when we have a business to build, a body to get healthy or relationships to enhance? The answer is of course 'no.' We must choose to do today what others will not so we can do tomorrow what others cannot - that is what my mentor taught me. I am still in the process of squeezing every delicious second out of the day. There is so much I want to accomplish in life. There are so many adventures to be had, people to meet, things to do, victories to be had and juicy moments to savor that I choose not to waste one minute unless it moves me forward or allows me to dream. I encourage you to let go of some major time wasters. I encourage you to take a look at the activities that move you forward toward your goals and do more of them. Lastly, do those things that fill your well and allow you to relax, refresh and re-charge. Life is just too exciting to waste one second. Go for it...there is so much more to be experienced. Organize Your Life With Susan Sly - Sydney, Australia and Fort Lee, New Jersey Sydney, Australia Are you ready to become more efficient with your time? Are you ready to become more productive? More abundant and more fulfilled? Click here to learn more. Fort Lee, New Jersey In New Jersey I will be sharing the stage with my great friend, Jeffrey Combs. Jeff is a masterful trainer and communicator. He will be training on procrastination and I will be training on organization. That is a must attend event. Click here to learn more. Thu, 7 Oct 2010 09:17:34 -0500 Full article 2_147available at: stepintoyourpower.com If you would be so kind as to indulge me for a moment I would love for you to take a moment to recall your life in every aspect at this time last year. How much money were you making? How much did you weigh? How much debt did you have? What was happening in your relationships? What was happening in your business or career? For the vast majority of people not much has changed. This past Sunday I read an article in the Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, chronicling how Americans had started to tighten their purse strings and begin saving again. Although the percentage of income saved is less than it was 20 years ago, it has gone from almost zero to a comparably hearty 5%. This on the heels of a definite recession, staggering job losses and grave economic uncertainty. Perhaps in one area we are learning to be more proactive however that is most certainly not occurring in other areas such as our health or income. The reality is that we continue to get fatter and much deeper into debt. The gluttony that has plagued us, albeit justifiable to those who believe that a weekly trip to McDonalds is perfectly fine, continues to be reflected in our progress. Statistically most people, with the exception of the aforementioned savings, are likely in the same spot they were last year. As a speaker, trainer and entrepreneur my chief role is to inspire people to act; to go against their familiar and cultural norms and take action in the face of ridicule and uncertainty. I have worked with many people who have defied the odds and become the first six figure income earners in their family or the first person to defy genetics and be lean and healthy. To make progress beyond circumstance requires consistent action, a pursuit of a goal until attainment and an unstoppable drive. In her book, Unstoppable, Cynthia Kersey begins with a boy from rural Africa who has a dream of receiving an American education. He leaves his family village without money or a plan and sets out in pursuit of his dream. Naturally the boy encounters delays, challenges and even the seduction of settling for a menial job that earns him much more than anyone in his family has ever made. This boy however continues on, sharing his dream with anyone who will listen. Eventually he lands in America and goes on to receive his PhD. Could this boy have given up? Absolutely. Could he have settled into a life in a large African city making money and leaving his dreams behind? Yes. He didn't quit. He didn't settle. He kept on going to fulfil his dream even though it took years for him to eventually land in America. In this initial chapter, one of many Unstoppable stories, our hero marks his progress year to year; choosing to take action on his dream. Each year he end up further ahead than the year prior. In our own lives we can choose to mark our progress by the same metric. We can strive to have more money saved, be generating more income, be healthier and more fulfilled in our relationships. In order to do this we must take action on our dreams and not settle. There are many opportunities to become complacent and give up on our workouts, our business or even our relationships. In my twenty year career spent motivating and working with people I have seen so many fall into the trap of inertia. I have seen people who are capable and motivated to achieve their goals give up only days, weeks or months into their pursuit thus remaining no further ahead one year later. If you truly want to be successful at something - achieving your ideal weight, generating more income, writing a bestselling novel, finding your dream partner or having a more fulfilling relationship with your current partner then you must take action and be relentless in the pursuit of your goals; in other words you must never give up. Are you further ahead than you were at this time last year or even last month? Only you can answer that. If you are not any more advanced then I would challenge you to ask more of yourself. Where can you be more disciplined? Where can you find a mentor to ask questions of periodically so you can move further ahead? Where can you shift your attitude to one of hope and possibility as opposed to negativity and self defeat? The truth is that if you want different results you have to do something differently and ultimately that responsibility lies within you. You are magnificent beyond measure and you are truly capable of living into a better life. Dare to take action and be relentless in the pursuit of your goals; be the person who defies the odds and advances day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year. What are you waiting for? Get in action today and go for your goals like never before. ­­­Are You Ready For More? Join trainer, author and entrepreneur Susan Sly for 3 transformational days at the Have It All Women's Weekend. Go for overwhelmed to overjoyed. Get clarity on your life. Discover sisterhood, friendship and fun in a safe, loving environment. We want you to join us. You deserve to Have It All. Wed, 29 Sep 2010 09:51:48 -0500 Full article 2_145available at: stepintoyourpower.com "As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives." Henry David Thoreau This past week I wrote the following on FACEBOOK - 'if you are driving your car at 70 miles per hour down a highway and you veer only 1/8th of an inch off, you will eventually end up in the ditch.' You see an 1/8th of an inch does not seem like much at the time however at rapid speeds it eventually catches up with us. It is very easy to be an 1/8th of an inch off in our busy lives; the thing that seems so small and insignificant eventually catches up to us in a momentous, and often devastating, way. Years ago I work in correctional services where one of my clients, the prodigal son of two highly educated executives, had ended up doing a ten year sentence in maximum security prison. Behind the greenish greyish tattoos, often done with unsanitary needles by other inmates, one could indeed see that this man was once a golden boy. As a high school student he had begun smoking marijuana which then lead to hashish. Eventually he tried mushrooms and then cocaine. While many of his friends were also experimenting, this particular individual did not stop and eventually ended up the slave to crack and heroine. One night, in need of a fix, he broke into a neighbour's home to steal money. The family, still there, was bound and gagged. The head of the household happened to be a judge and this young man ended up doing hard time. What had started as a marijuana habit ended up landing him in one of the worst maximum security facilities in the country. An 1/8 of an inch turned into a car wreck. The previous example is extreme. You may not be doing drugs however there are other 1/8th of an inch habits. One person I know could not function unless she had at least two glasses of wine every night. In many countries this may not seem like such a big deal however for this woman it was. It started innocently enough where she was working with a client, helping them through a process and also having a glass of wine. The client had a major breakthrough and thus this woman associated her alcohol induced openness with this transformation. As a life coach and counsellor she would often be sipping on wine while working with clients. In her mind, she was a better coach with a glass of wine however her downfall came with the slow demise of her health which then snowballed into her relationships. One glass of wine lead to two. Every night she would have at least half a bottle and then some. The next day she would be sluggish, irritable and exhausted. At the Have It All Women's Weekend she was able to take control and is now making more money, much healthier and leaving her glass of wine to the weekends. The reality is that it does not take much for us to be an 1/8th of an inch off. It could be our choice not to save 10% of our income every time we get paid. One day that source runs out and we are left without any savings to live on while we restructure. That small 1/8th decision could be a complete game changer. When it comes to our health the same holds true. Imagine exercising and eating a healthy diet but only sleeping 5 hours per night. Despite our ability to justify the lack of sleep because we are doing other things to support our health the truth is that eventually that one thing will profoundly affect our health and our mood which will affect our work and our relationships. There are so many examples of seemingly small things that lead to challenges and catastrophes. Answering text messages while driving has caused tens of thousands of car accidents and even deaths. The partner that fails to remember to say 'I love you' every day comes home to an empty house. I read an article once that said a family that makes time to sit down together for meals ends up with a 70% decreased likelihood of having their child do drugs; it is such an 1/8th of an inch thing. When we are an 1/8th of an inch off we know it so let me ask you this - where are you slightly off course? In your health, your finances or your relationships? Where are you able to create an effective habit or release a destructive one in order to get back on your path? It is easy to lose sight of the small things and only begin to focus when something 'bad' happens and that is why it is imperative to re-connect with people who are achieving results in their lives and surround yourself with like minded individuals. This is why I created the Have It All Women's Weekend. It is a destination experience that allows women to get on course and design their lives. Women make their 1/8th of an inch corrections and achieve greater abundance, health and more fulfilling relationships; it is magical. If you are an 1/8th of an inch off, or a woman in your life is, I encourage you to invest in yourself and register for the Have It All Women's Weekend today. Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:21:22 -0500 Full article 2_142available at: stepintoyourpower.com ``We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle This week the part of our brood resumed school. The return to school in many households marks a return to routine and also a time to re-center and reconnect with our own goals and dreams. As the winds of change signal a new season, the new season signals a time for change. In our home it means a time to re-focus and develop some new habits. This summer has been great. In addition to some relaxing days by the pool, we have travelled to Washington where the kids were enamoured with the megladon at the Smithsonian. We have been in North Carolina where our children made new friends and experienced some wonderful southern hospitality. We have also travelled to California where our son was finally chosen to participate in Jedi training academy; this is a big deal in our house and was worth the repeat visit to Disneyland. We have had a great time and are truly ready for school and some fixed routine. One of my mentors, Jeff Combs, always said that if you want to make a million dollars/year then you have to have million dollar habits. Having embraced this philosophy years ago I am grateful that I do have some wonderful habits. I exercise six days per week no matter what. I eat a healthy diet most of the time. I am a disciplined saver and also have some very good habits when it comes to building businesses. Our habits create our lives. If you see someone who is struggling with their weight or their finances you will almost always find someone who has very poor habits. Whatever we are in the habit of doing will create an outcome that is either desirable or not. For example, if we are in the habit of watching television every night then are we doing anything more than hoping for a different life with greater financial security, a better body or a wonderful relationship? Obviously not. If we are in the habit of working out every day then our health will be a direct reflection of that discipline. Our habits shape our reality plain and simple. The word habit comes from the Latin, habere, which literally translated means 'to be.' Thus one could assume that our habits are literally our being. Whatever we are experiencing is often the direct result of our habits; in other words our habits are our being. Creating new habits is a challenge. Ask anyone who has overcome an addition and they will tell you that it is day by day and moment by moment. Living an addiction by its very nature is a habit and thus not easy to break. Through years of coaching and mentoring people, I have found that the simplest way to create new habits is to first decide, then replace an unsupportive habit with a new supportive one and finally commit. For example, let's say you want to make more money. First you must decide that you want to make more money (you may be thinking - well that's a no brainer) and exactly how much money you want to make in order to live the lifestyle you desire (perhaps not as easy). Once you have made the decision the next step is to find an unsupportive habit that you can replace with a supportive one. In this case you may start a home based business and replace your television watching time with prospecting and connecting for new customers and business partners. Lastly, you would have to commit; habits take time to yield results. In another example, perhaps your goal is to lose weight. You must decide how much weight you want to release in order to be healthy and then choose a supportive habit to replace an old unsupportive one. Perhaps you are in the habit of going to bed late while watching the news; you would give up the news, get up early and spend 45 minutes exercising. Lastly, you would commit to doing this until you met your goal and beyond. I have a friend who recently dropped about 30 pounds. He was feeling old and fat, his words and not mine. He made a decision to drop the weight. Next he decided that he would pack his lunches instead of eating take-out which is often high in sodium and fat. Presto - he lost the weight and committed to bringing his lunch indefinitely. In our lives we have also developed some unsupportive habits. Chris and I will routinely eat our kids` vegan mac and cheese, rice or rice pasta, even though we do not need the carbohydrates at night. That has resulted in Chris and I not being as lean as we could be. I will get up early and work before the kids wake up however I will often go to bed at midnight or later thus sabotaging my sleep and making me unproductive. In essence, although we have million dollar habits we also have some unsupportive ones; habits we want to replace. This fall Chris and I are making a commitment to re-focus our unsupportive habits and create some new powerful, supportive changes that will help us get to the next level. Naturally, deciding to create new habits is easy; it is the smell of the mac and cheese when we are hungry that is tough to resist. The thing I know for sure is that people who live in the 10% (those who make the most money and who are the most successful) have excellent habits. No matter what we want to do in our lives from run a 3:15 marathon to writing a NY Times bestseller to making millions of dollars per year, we have got to have the habits that support our dreams. This week I encourage you to make some decisions of what you want in your life, replace your unsupportive habits and commit to living in the realm of the 10%. You can do more in your life. You can live a life of joy and magnificence. Now is the time to truly live into some great habits and I wish you every success on your journey. Create Better Habits and Live a Life of Magnificence Work with Susan Sly live in Sydney and Perth, Australia or attend the Have It All Women`s Weekend. You deserve to Have It All. Susan will assist you in letting go of the limiting habits and beliefs that hold you back in all areas of your life. You will not want to miss this life changing event. Click here for more information. Thu, 16 Sep 2010 09:24:08 -0500 Full article 2_141available at: stepintoyourpower.com "It's just perseverance. A prospector has to believe there is something out there. Now it's just coming true. I can tell people, 'See, I told you so.' I always believed in it." Shawn Ryan In our last ezine I asked the question - are you a ten percenter? Essentially, are you a person who is willing to do today what others won't so you can do tomorrow what others can't? Are you a person who pursues their goals with abandoned fever? Are you that individual who will not quit until you obtain what you want? The reality is that only about 10% of the world's population are such people and if you truly want to live that is so juicy and blissful that it even shocks you then you will have to step into the realm of 10% meaning that all of that time spent keeping up with Glee (o.k. I like the show too but that is what PVR/TEVO is for), the endless hours spent listening to Aunt Nelly complain about her gout and every time you thought about going to the gym but didn't must be a part of your history and not your everyday reality. Ten percenters are able to truly focus like no one else. When their strongest detractors try to dissuade them from their goals ten percenters focus in even harder. They know that regardless of what anyone else says, they will be successful no matter what. A ten percenter is dialled into their higher power, in my case God, and believes that although others may try to take them off course they will not be deterred. Ten percenters become millionaires. They write NY Times bestsellers. They take care of their health and their relationships. Yes, ten percenters are that echelon of people that many would rather envy as opposed to emulate. If you are done with mediocre and are ready to rise to ten percent then it is time to put on your running shoes, get out the sweatband and focus in. Now is the time to step into the ten percent. The first thing you must be willing to do is let go of the naysayers. Many of your friends and family members will try to keep you from your dreams. Hey, people thought Chris and I were crazy for pursuing network marketing fulltime. These same people have no problem bragging to any other family member, that will listen, about our seven figure success. People have tried to tell me that I am insane for continuing to run ½ marathons and marathons after the MS diagnosis. Well, post MS I have done 5 marathons and about a dozen half marathons and really I am just getting started. You see, the opinions of others fall into two distinct categories: firstly people are well meaning and are just in fear for you. The second category holds those who truly are envious of your potential success. These latter individuals are the very ones who ask you out for Starbucks and buy you an espresso brownie when you are on a diet. Either way both groups have an agenda; they either want to protect you or keep you stuck and if you want to live in the realm of ten percent then the O.P.P. (other people's opinion) shouldn't matter to you! Shawn Ryan recently won the prestigious Prospector of the Year Award in Canada. Mr. Ryan spent years living in a shack in the Yukon convinced that he could find the origin of the gold that had everyone in a frenzy during the Klondike Gold Rush. People thought he was crazy and in fact the only person who believed in him was his wife. Together, in the shack which was only about 365 square feet, they raised two young children. Day after day, Mr. Ryan would go out and take measurements, dig and take more measurements. After years, he found a massive amount of gold and is today a multi-millionaire. (To find out more about Shawn Ryan Google 'Shawn Ryan Canadian Prospector.') I know you have a dream in your heart. Perhaps you deeply desire to do mission work and have the time freedom to do so. Maybe you want to write a best -selling novel. Do you want to be a millionaire or a billionaire? We all have unrealized dreams and if we allow the opinion of others, no matter how well meaning, to affect our actions we will never be successful. Your belief has got to supersede the belief of anyone else if you want to make it. Today decide what it is you want and go for it like never before. Shut out the judgements and criticisms of people and follow your heart. The world needs more people to be successful and if not others, why not you? This week I challenge you to be a ten percenter and never, never give up until you realize your dreams. Do You Want To Have It All? Go from overwhelm to overjoyed in 3 magnificent days. Join Susan Sly in Toronto for the 9th Have It All Woman's Weekend. Discover sisterhood. Unleash your personal power. Step into the realm of possibility. You deserve to Have It All. Act now - tickets are selling out. Register today. Wed, 8 Sep 2010 19:35:48 -0500 Full article 2_137available at: stepintoyourpower.com "A real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken a new action. If there's no action, you haven't truly decided." - Tony Robbins Autumn is quickly approaching, only mere weeks away. For those still basking in the glory of the sunny summer days at the cottage, lounging by the pool or ensconced in the pure hedonism of summer the thoughts of routine and schedule seem hundreds of miles away. Others still experience the odd moment of dreaming about the fall; a time to get into shape, begin to generate more income or perhaps attract the perfect partner. Yes, fall often does that with its deep rooted connection to childhood where autumn days are associated with going back to school, making new friends and establishing a new routine. Are we conditioned to begin new things in fall or do we simply tire of the lazy, hazy days of summer? If you think about it, by the time we graduate high school we have spent approximately 2340 days in school. That is a great deal of conditioning. If you went to university or grad school, then that number increases. I have an acquaintance from school who, at age 39, just finished law school making him somewhat of a career scholar. One could suppose that at least a good two decades of our lives are spent being told what to do and where to be; add work or a career to that and it is easy to understand why we are conditioned to be told what to do. As adults we suddenly become free to make some of our own decisions; after all mom isn't telling us to finish our peas and many fall into the trap of waiting for someone else to tell us what to do. This is why we now associate personal trainers with getting fit; who is disciplined enough to do it alone? We hire relationship coaches to fix us. We have professionals to manage our money. We read self-help books for guidance. We start projects and don't finish them because we are waiting for someone to tell us what to do. It begs the question - are we just giant co-dependents? When I worked in the health club industry, September always brought an insurgence of people purchasing memberships and hiring personal trainers. Statistically, those with a trainer were 90% more likely to use their gym membership. Those without a trainer averaged 3 visits per month; not enough to get lean on. Yup, you heard me - 3 or only 10% of the month! Why is this? In general, even though we are conditioned otherwise, most people are waiting for Mrs. Johnson from grade 1 to show up and tell them to get their coat and boots on and head out to recess and then, when she doesn't show up, we stand there like lost little orphans not knowing what to do. Under the guise of self improvement we continue to start new things like diets, taking classes, reading personal development and starting businesses. I once read that only 10% of people ever finish a book to completion; that speaks volumes right there. Another statistic shows that only 10% of network marketing companies remain after one year in business. Another statistic still shows that only about 10% of Americans make over $100,000/year. What is it with this 10% thing anyway? The reality is that although many are great starters, only 10% are finishers. As fall approaches, I want you to ask yourself this question - am I a ten percenter or a ninety percenter? I know that you are equipped to do more in your life. It will require discipline to achieve the better body, the more fulfilling relationships and the financial freedom and only ten percenters have the kind of discipline it takes to get to the next level. My other question is this - one year from today do you want to be in the same place physically, financially or in your relationships or do you want to move forward? Our innate human desire is to move forward and make progress however without the right determination and habits we will not get far. Over the next 4 weeks I will be writing a series of articles to take you into the realm of 10%. Each week I will have questions and action items for you, proven success tips that work and the opportunity for you to really get to the next level in your life. Put your hand on your heart right now and say, 'I am done with 90% - I want 10%!' Know that I believe in you. We are all champions and have a beautiful ability to be, do and have more than we possibly ever realize. Let's get you where you need to be and get started with this week's action item. Week Number One - Action Item · Write a letter to yourself and date it one year from today. In the letter describe how your life is next year as though it has already happened. Include your health, your relationships and your finances. Do not leave out one detail. Place the letter beside your bed and read it every day. Do you want to break free of 90% habits? Join Susan live for the 9th Have It All Women's Weekend in Toronto or live one day workshops in Australia. The dates and locations of the Australian events are coming soon. Please forward this to any friends and relatives in Australia who deserve to Have It All. November in Toronto is 60% sold out. Click here to register today. Wed, 1 Sep 2010 15:16:18 -0500 Full article 2_136available at: stepintoyourpower.com I have been very blessed to share the stage with both Mark Victor Hansen, featured in this book, and Jack Canfield; both co-authors of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Jack and Mark are phenomenal guys and very wealthy to boot. Early in their career they were both mentored by the famous architect and futurist, Buckminster Fuller. Fuller mentored his students to understand that faith was much more powerful than belief and that God was a verb and not a noun. He was an amazing philosopher; a person who both Jack and Mark credit for shaping their destiny. Jack and Mark have gone on to mentor millions of people with their speaking and writing; people just like me. Mark is one of the most generous people I know. One year we did a speaking engagement in Dallas with Jeff Combs. Afterward, Mark spent an hour mentoring me on my writing career. There may be many authors out there however only one, to my knowledge, has ever had both a fiction and non-fiction work on the NY Times Bestseller list the same week. Mark is that person. Jim Rohn, the late business philosopher who shaped the landscape of personal development, spoke often about his mentor and the lessons he was taught. Jim's mentor shared wisdom such as the importance of providing service equal to the amount of money we wished to receive, labouring six days and resting one and other lessons which assisted Jim in becoming the inspirational teacher he was. Jim was my mentor from the stage; his teachings deeply impacted the person I am today, a person who mentors people on a daily basis through conference calls, audios and writing. Jim also mentored Tony Robbins who would go on to mentor his son, Jairek who is featured in this book. The power of mentorship is that it is always paid forward. There are different forms of mentorship. Initial mentors may come from devouring the pages of empowering books like Robbins famous, 'Awaken the Giant Within.' Jim Rohn taught me that the New Testament, in the Bible, had the greatest mentor of them all - Christ. Learning from mentors in the form of literature is often the first step for someone entering MLM because it is easily accessible to everyone. Another form of mentorship is your pastor, rabbi or worship leader. Over 85% of American networkers would classify themselves as Christians and it would make sense as the initial foray into MLM requires more faith in the unseen than those without spiritual grounding can perhaps realize. Later in this book we will hear form PK Smith, an amazing mentor to couples in trouble and leaders looking to win in MLM. He spent 25 years as a pastor mentoring the leaders in his congregations and their families. You can also find mentorship in your company. Perhaps there are leaders who do mentoring calls or run groups. Find out where you can get the mentoring to take you to the next level. In one company, I had the privilege to be on a weekly mentoring call with the top income earner in that company. I was several levels deep in his organization however he took me under his wing. His mentorship was a critical part of my success. Direct mentorship, or one-on-one mentorship, is powerful though not always free. You may find a mentor to connect with you weekly or monthly one-on-one or perhaps sit down and do a one-time mentoring session. If you are fortunate enough to do this I would urge you to ask great questions. I have done many mentoring sessions and I can usually tell right away who is going to be successful and who isn't. If a person begins by talking about their problems, complaining and spending a great deal of time on what isn't working; I know that they are not likely to see any rewards until they shift their thinking. If a person makes a million dollars per year then their time is worth about $500/hour. If you are blessed to sit down or speak to a millionaire, be respectful of their time. Take them to lunch, offer to pay the bill. Ask great questions and above all else, do not complain. Hiring a great coach is also another form of mentorship. Coaching can run up to $1000/hour or more. Some coaches will offer discounted or free trial sessions. Having had coaches myself, I have a few suggestions. Find a coach who has made it in MLM. Some coaches have never made any money in the industry so do your homework. If possible, go to an event or get on a conference call, where you can hear that coach. If you resonate with his or her message then it will likely be a great fit. There are great coaches featured in this book. I would encourage you to check out their websites and find out more about their programs. Regardless of your budget, find a mentor today. Initially it may be in the form of a book, your worship leader or a group setting. If a successful person offers to mentor you - say 'YES.' I would not be the person I am today without great mentors. Some of my own students have now become amazing mentors themselves and I learn from them. Mentorship is essential to winning in MLM so find your mentor today. Join Susan Sly for her signature work - the Have It All Women's Weekend. Susan has trained thousands of people to step into their power (tm) and you can be next. Limited spots remain so do not delay and register today. You deserve to be there. Mon, 9 Aug 2010 15:10:41 -0500 Full article 2_134available at: stepintoyourpower.com "There are seeds of self-destruction in all of us that will bear only unhappiness if allowed to grow." Dorothea Brande This past week I have done a lot of training on the many ways in which we sabotage our own success. From our health to our finances, many of us are guilty of creating so much chaos in hopes that it will force us to actually do something about it. The truth is that the vast majority of people operate from a place of deliberate self sabotage which ultimately affects everyone else in their lives. Being addicted to chaos means being addicted to pain; being in that place where it is either so normal or so seductive to feel those deep hurts. For years I created my own chaos with my weight and also with my finances. I was the person who would lose weight and then, upon seeing the lower number on the scale, proceed to gorge on carbs and fat to compensate. My poor body became victim to the cycle of progressive abuse. I would work so hard to release the physical pounds and yet because I was so conditioned to feeling bad, I would sabotage my success. I actually felt bad about feeling good. I did the same thing with money. When I had money, I spent it. When I spent money, I spent more than I had so I ended up in debt. I ultimately realized that I was doing this deliberately in hopes that I would back myself into a corner that was so sharp that I would be forced to produce. Whether the chaos stems from money or health, both are interrelated. In a study done at the University of Mainz, in Germany, researchers found that people who were obese were actually 2 ½ times more likely to be in debt. It would seem that our ability to operate in chaos as a means to force ourselves to take action or in hopes of being rescued can actually be a form of attention seeking behaviour. It is said often that how we do one thing is how we do anything. If we are creating chaos in one area of our lives chances are we are doing it in many areas. The person who deliberately sabotages their own success with weight loss is often the person who additionally cries out for attention in other areas. The individual who spends more than they make in an effort to create some kind of situation that will force action is also the person who is entirely uncomfortable without the latest gadget, handbag or perfect hair and make-up. Those of us addicted to chaos and the perception that we need to be rescued ultimately come to one of two conclusions; we either attract people who support our drama or we make a decision to be done with it and take one hundred percent responsibility for our lives. If that later is true and you have a burning desire to break the cycle of chaos then it means you can no longer blame others for your circumstances. You cannot blame your parents for poor genetics, blame your spouse for their spending habits, you cannot blame the economy, your friends, anyone or anything; the person at the root cause of the behaviour is the person in the mirror. Breaking a chaos addiction is not unlike ending any other addictive cycle. First you must own up to it and truthfully, most people have some degree of limiting behaviour going on. Secondly you must choose to take it moment by moment and stop looking externally for reasons why you cannot succeed. The third step is to decide that no one is going to rescue you and that success lies within. Lastly moving forward by connecting with others who have already achieved what you desire to do. As a recovering chaos addict and someone who has observed many who behave in this way, the greatest gift I can share is hope. You can break this cycle and move beyond it. You can stop the self destruction right now and move forward into a better body, a better relationship and better finances. Own up today to your chaos; the liberty in the acknowledgement is worth the price of the years of struggle. Join Susan Sly for her signature work - the Have It All Women's Weekend. Susan has trained thousands of people to step into their power (tm) and you can be next. Limited spots remain so do not delay and register today. You deserve to be there. Fri, 6 Aug 2010 08:01:00 -0500 Full article 2_132available at: stepintoyourpower.com "The components of anxiety, stress, fear, and anger do not exist independently of you in the world. They simply do not exist in the physical world, even though we talk about them as if they do." Wayne Dye Lately John* has been very short tempered with his family. Even the most mundane things, such as his wife forgetting something at the store, set him off. He is forgetful at work and is shirking off many of his responsibilities. John isn't sleeping well and has been having some intermittent anxiety attacks. Every day seems to be a struggle and John simply wishes that people would cut him some slack. From the outside John appears to be a fairly normal, successful guy. He has been married to the same woman for over a decade. They have two children. He volunteers and works with groups; every bit the community leader. What John doesn't think everyone is noticing is that he is barely holding it together. John doesn't know how much longer he can keep on going. The reality is that John is under so much stress, like many people, and instead of dealing with it and recognizing his vulnerability; he is perpetually sweeping it under the rug and putting the blame on others instead of taking responsibility himself. Many people are just like John. They have extremely full lives and have stopped recognizing their physical response to stress. In an effort to keep the status quo, they often sacrifice their own health, dealing with it only when the symptoms beg to be reckoned with. The majority of people around the world are dealing with the stresses of the economy, relationships and time challenges. As I travel and speak at events I encounter person after person who is sitting in a place of exhaustion and emotional bankruptcy; too overwhelmed to move forward. On www.medicinenet.com Dr. Melissa Conrad Stφppler, MD, say's that stress can vary from patient to patient. People can display physical, emotional and behavioural symptoms. On the physical side, headaches, digestive disturbances, muscle aches, sleeplessness and even hormonal imbalances are fairly common. Behaviourally people may become more short tempered toward their loved ones and colleagues. Emotionally the feeling of overwhelm may be prevalent. Stress is not something to be taken lightly. In fact, when stress continues to increase serious health challenges can arise. For years I was a personal trainer, nutritionist and coach. My clients included physicians, professional athletes, actors and C.E.O.'s. What I realized over time was that a person's outlook was far more valuable than their bank balance in dealing with stress. I had clients who would take their Blackberry on holiday, never fully relaxing. I also had extremely busy C.E.O.'s who had a blackout period every day to focus on only on their families, a habit I have also adopted. Regardless of profession or life obligation the biggest thing I have observed is that the people who are the most effective at dealing with stress are those who are able to identify when they are most vulnerable to stress. We all have triggers that induce a stress response. For some it could be a particular person or situation. For example dealing with a negative relative at a family function or having to speak in public could be stress triggers. Some stresses are internal meaning that it is our perception of the event that creates the stress rather than the event itself. Some stresses are external and we choose to internalize them. An example of this may be a project with a shortened deadline and you are the project manager; you have the responsibility to lead the project and complete it however you also have the ability to utilize your team. Either way, it ultimately comes down to how we perceive a situation that creates our stress response. Recognizing our most vulnerable points assists our bodies with dealing more effectively with stress. Common increase in stress vulnerability can come from fatigue, poor eating choices, alcohol or recreational drug use, being in the presence of negative people or familiarity with a situation. If we can recognize our potential vulnerability we can deal with it more effectively. The first step is to recognize your triggers. One of the reasons I rarely have even one glass of wine during the week is that I will ultimately wake up groggy the next morning. When I am not one hundred percent it costs me money and so I have chosen to recognize this point and deal with it. Take a moment right now and list some of your own vulnerability points; ideally anything that amplifies your response to stress. Next, I have provided you with some tried and true tips that I have successfully used with clients over the years. Take the tips that can work for you right now and remember - stress is serious, not dealing with it is even more serious. I am not sure what is going to happen to John however one thing I do know is that the longer he fails to deal with his stress, the greater his risk for a serious life threatening event such as a heart attack. 1. Take all stress seriously. Have a regular physical. Women especially should get their cortisol levels tested annually. If you have experienced heart palpitations, unexplained sweating, pain or tingling in your left arm or headaches especially with a glowing halo effect seek medical assistance immediately. I have lost friends to heart attacks. 2. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. Even a 30 minute walk can lower stress hormones. 3. Eat a diet that is non-processed. Processed food can be toxic to your body and cause an inflammatory response. Excess inflammation in the body can exacerbate aches, pains and create fatigue. 4. Consider meditation. Taking at least five minutes every day to sit in silence is a wonderful practice. You can purchase wonderful meditation audios to assist you. Alternately enrol in a meditation class. 5. Talk about it. People who talk about their stress often feel better. Some people seek out a pastor, priest or spiritual leader. Others may turn to a professional. It may be as simple as connecting with a supportive friend. 6. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol has been shown to enhance anxiety and stress in people. If you are going through a tremendous amount of stress alcohol is not the solution. 7. Breathe. As humans we spend the majority of our day using only the upper portion of our lungs. Our lung capacity is much greater than we generally utilize. A few deep breaths can be very calming. 8. Find a relaxing hobby. If you have always wanted to be a photographer, author or take up pottery now would be a great time. 9. Get a pet. You may think I am kidding however studies show that animals can induce a calming response in people. 10. Learn to say 'no.' If you are under a lot of stress then say 'no' to new obligations. I always say, 'no for now does not mean no forever.' 11. Shut down once per day. You do not need to take your Blackberry to bed. You do not need to answer the phone at mealtime. Shut down for at least 2 hours every day. People can figure things out for themselves. Make sure you let people know when your downtime is so they can be respectful of your boundaries. 12. Let go of your story. The story we tell ourselves about a person or a situation is often more powerful than the actual individual or event. Our story may be our truth however it isn't always the truth. Do not stress yourself out about the unknown. Seek out answers and then choose how you will react. Many of the above are in the realm of common sense. Remember that we are all going to have stressful times in our lives. When we can be proactive, recognize our triggers and deal with them before they exacerbate we will be able to handle our stress with greater ease and live a life that is both beautiful and productive. Lastly, just breathe. Susan Sly is a highly acclaimed author, speaker and trainer. You can see Susan live in NY or by attending the life transforming Have It All Women's Weekend. Click here for more information Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:30:08 -0500 Full article 2_129available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Most people are prisoners, thinking only about the future or living in the past. They are not in the present, and the present is where everything begins." Carlos Santana On a recent Sunday night in Toronto we had the absolute privilege to attend an outdoor concert with Carlos Santana. In the 5000 person intimate venue life seemed to stand still as Carlos and his band belted out hits like Maria Maria and Smooth. As the music vibrated in the molecules of my cells I turned my attention to the observation that Carlos Santana, the namesake of the band, happily turned his stage over to singers, drummers, guitarists and keyboarders without having to take the majority of the attention; he was perfectly happy to allow others the spotlight. Set after set, as Carlos played, sometimes in the foreground and sometimes in the background the music amplified the power of a decades old band. From Woodstock until now, Santana, has been a chart topper in countries all over the world. On stage the man behind the music seems to be both cheerleader and counterpart inspiring his musicians to play their best. It is no wonder that Santana has had such a long run in an industry where musicians, like dictators, come and go. The next day, as I returned home and to the ebb and flow of our life I paused to ask the question: can great leaders have it all without doing it all? Can a truly powerful leader allow others to have the spotlight while he or she is content to look on in admiration as their protege performs at a level equal or better to their own? Do the best leaders on the planet create a space for people to truly shine as opposed to creating an autocratic environment that shines the spotlight only upward instead of outward? I believe the answer is absolutely yes. When it comes to the concept of leadership success, author Robin Sharma comes to mind. In his most recent book, The Leader Who Had No Title, Mr. Sharma uses a parable to illustrate leadership principles which include being the best in the world no matter what job you do, exploring your humanness, treating others with respect and recognizing the strengths of others while only humbly acknowledging one's own. The concept of the book is that some of the most powerful people in the world are those who choose to lead, regardless of title, and utilize the strengths of others to bring everyone along. In the book, Good to Great by Jim Collins, we see the leadership paradigm of the CEO's of some of the most successful companies in the world. Mr. Collins found that corporate executives who lead with humility, were able to openly give praise and truly receive the contribution of their team were not some of the highest paid leaders; they also had the greatest efficacy and longevity. It would seem that leadership efficacy and having it all is really dependent on not being the person who is doing it all. The question is, where are you willing to shine the light on others? Are you able to only focus on what people do right as opposed to what they are doing wrong? Can you look outward when things are going right and inward when things are going wrong? Are you able to lead by not only blazing a trail but by being a great cheerleader? Leadership is one of the greatest pieces of success. Those who fail to step into leadership roles, whether they work in a fast food restaurant or professional sales, often do not move forward. People who try to lead with ego or by dictatorship often tumble as a leader is only as good as the love of their followers. To lead is to truly take responsibility in good times and bad. It is to be able to step back from center stage as your team shines in front of you. To truly lead and have it all means being a little more like Carlos Santana; people can perceive your power however you do not have to prove it to them. In the book of Proverbs it says that 'wisdom shall be known by her children.' As we all grow as leaders think about and meditate on the legacy you are creating and what it says about you as a human being. Allow yourself to shine your bright light on others even if it means taking the spotlight away from yourself. There is tremendous opportunity for you to become incredibly successful in all areas of your life. I encourage you to go for it like never before because you are magnificent. Susan Sly is a highly acclaimed author, speaker and trainer. You can see Susan live in NY or by attending the life transforming Have It All Women's Weekend. Click here for more information Thu, 22 Jul 2010 07:43:45 -0500 Full article 2_127available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Everybody gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense." Gertrude Stein Have you ever had the most blissful holiday planned? A little getaway for you and your partner? Were you excited about the incredible experiences you would have? The relaxation? The 'just the two of us' moments that are required to keep a relationship fresh? That is precisely how I felt plotting out a wonderful mini break in New York with my man. First it started with planning our hotel, a lovely midtown establishment, catering more to the thirty plus crowd with very few, if any, children. Next it was orchestra seating for Wicked. We were very excited to see this highly acclaimed musical. We also made advance reservations at one of our favourite restaurants, one with seating not so easy to come by. Lastly there were plans for relaxation, the American Woman Exhibit at the MET and many other wonderful moments to be had. As the days were counted down and the planning complete I cleared my schedule. I let people know that I would be away. I even turned on the autoresponder; something that is supposedly a faux pas but why not? A little je ne sais quoi to offset a faux pas...c'est la vie. There we were, leaving an hour later than scheduled however we were on vacation. We kissed our babies goodbye sending them into the loving arms of Opa and Grandma for a few days knowing full well that they would be spoiled beyond belief. We were all set and headed into magic of our first real vacation alone, not for work, in several years. It began quite subtly, the third party on our trip making their presence known. At first it was a few innocent phone calls and emails and by hour five in the car, this party was fully in control seizing every opportunity to steal away the intimacy of our trip. I should have given in to my urge to throw this said party from the car however I was a willing participant in this little dalliance and fully to blame for inviting them on the trip. The party in question is of course my Blackberry a.k.a. the Crackberry! In another lifetime I read Tom Robbins books. Mr. Robbins is famous for his breathing of life into inanimate objects such as cutlery and other things. I believe that my Blackberry has a life of its own. It happily buzzes with every new bit of information it receives. Its weight indicates its presence in my handbag. At times, the Blackberry even loves to operate like an inconspicuous two year old throwing a formidable tantrum to get attention. I keep threatening not to take the Crackberry with me from time to time. In the end I justify it. What if I get in an emergency? What if the children need me? If it was only so simple. Could I turn it on and not look at emails or texts? Could I ignore it? Could I simply allow for my relationship to fall into the operative patterning of life before P.D.A.'s and IPads? What a wondrous world that would be? I know I am not alone. I have girlfriends who suffer from the third wheel. They sleep with their IPhones and Blackberries beside their bed. They answer them during waxing, pedicures and even on dates. At business meetings they are secretly texting and emailing with their devices on their laps hoping no one will notice. Much like passing notes in school - it is all well and good until you get caught. Even though I know that I am not alone, it is inexcusable. I am a fully functioning adult capable letting go of my passive aggressive relationship with my Blackberry aren't I? I wonder if gambling and other addictions are so very yesterday? When will there be support groups for slaves of cell phones? I am not making light of any addiction, I am the child of an alcoholic. I am just processing the notion that perhaps, in 2010, our expression of our addictive personalities is the use of our P.D.A. Much like smoking has been banned in many restaurants and public areas, I would like to propose new rules for those of us who are habitual slaves to our P.D.A.'s. Perhaps cell phones should be the new cigarette - no calling within 50 feet of the door, no chatting on your phone or texting in restaurants. What kind of world would it be? In our desire to feel somewhat autonomous and yet feel connected perhaps the pendulum has swung so far that we can no longer simply have a relationship with someone without dragging along the third wheel. It may look so small and harmless however the reality is that we can be so affected by the information we receive. It only takes one email or one text to turn a lovely day into a challenging one. Last Sunday, I violated my own rule about no email on Sunday. I took Avery to see Twilight and of course brought along the Crackberry. Although I didn't check emails in the movie, I did open them up in the car. One in particular was something I did not want to deal with on a Sunday and sure enough I allowed it to change a lovely afternoon with my daughter. My question for you is this - are there three individuals in your relationship? Could you, from time to time, simply let go and be perfectly present to one breathing human being and put down the Crackberry or the IPhone? What would it take to stand up to that piece of metal and throw it in a drawer for a few hours or...horrors - an entire day? For myself, I am proclaiming a return to my original self imposed rules - no Blackberry on Sunday's. Furthermore, I openly declare that my next vacation will indeed be Blackberry free. To my husband and children - you can count on that. Susan Sly is a highly acclaimed author, speaker and trainer. You can see Susan live in NY or by attending the life transforming Have It All Women's Weekend. Click here for more information Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:40:25 -0500 Full article 2_125available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Let freedom reign. The sun never set on so glorious a human achievement." Nelson Mandela On July 4th, 1776, the United States adopted the Declaration of Independence, celebrating their physical separation from Great Britain. Decades later this day is marked with festivities, fireworks and a day off. To the north, July 1st marks Canada Day; a celebration of unity, not separation, as individual regions formed the singular country of Canada. Unity and separation seem to be polar opposites and yet both are cause for national holidays. In this week with two major North American celebrations that symbolize the unity of a nation, it begs the question of liberation - does it require separation or does it require unity and did independence already exist because both nations were free to exercise their option to choose? For years I have taught on success in direct sales. For me and my fellow trainers, the messaging of 'firing your boss, time freedom and passive income,' have been a unifying flag waved through the hotel conference rooms and seminar stages of the world. We have shared our techniques and tips on how to achieve personal freedom knowing that some will indeed experience the bliss of walking away from years of toil, while others will continue to choose struggle. Some will separate from their jobs and toxic environments to attain freedom and ultimately unite under a banner of possibility thinking. I have also observed that freedom truly is in the eye of the beholder. I have known people who absolutely loved their jobs and felt free in their profession. I have also known people who have achieved enough residual income to live a fairly brilliant life and who are gravely unhappy and feel overwhelmed and exhausted. Lastly, I have met the children of poverty and prostitution who feel free with a warm meal and a roof over their heads. Could personal independence be a choice and not a destination? Do we need a physical day to celebration independence or can we merely decide that we are already free because we live in a country that allows us to choose? Last weekend riotous protestors created chaos in the heart of downtown Toronto, also my hometown. I felt so sad to think that the image of my birth city is to many, one of arrests and police in riot gear. Organizers and security alike had created the opportunity for the protestors to gather; in fact they were already free to express their opinions. Some had taken the day off of work to exercise their independence only for the end result to be an eruption of violence. The point is, that despite the existence of the freedom to publicly gather without repute, some choose to believe that the only expression of independence is to create a state of violence. In some countries, public displays of protest are met with execution. China may have hosted the Olympics however the Tiananmen Square massacre was only in 1989, just over twenty years ago. We still live in a world where billions do not have true independence whether it is due to a subjective and totalitarian government or the recklessness of dictators and rebels who cut off aid and food supplies, spend money on war and lasciviousness so that the people suffer. The reality is that by virtue of reading this, you are already independent. You may not like your job, you may be in a relationship that isn't overly positive, your health may not be where you want it to or perhaps you have a business that hasn't truly reached momentum. My honest response is that you already have your freedom. You can choose to be like the rioters in Toronto who behaved like spoiled two year olds tantruming, pounding their fists and expressing obtuse frustration or you can choose to be like Nelson Mandela, who although physically imprisoned was already free in his mind. If you have been educated to read, have food in your stomach and a computer with which to view this then you have indeed created your reality. You can perceive that you are facing strife, struggle and are anything but free however the truth is that as long as you have the freedom to choose, then you have your independence. We are blessed to live in countries where we do have choice, where governments allow peaceful protests, where children are given free education and although, we may have had some setbacks, ultimately we can all achieve a higher level of independence in knowing that we are already free. I encourage you to think deeply about the things you may be complaining about. We all have choices and choice is the expression of freedom. You can lead an extraordinary life by virtue of deciding that although there may be some things you wish to change, your life is already extraordinary. Separation or unification are only a matter of semantics; they are not necessary actions to obtaining independence. You do not have to act to achieve freedom; you can choose for today to be your personal independence day, the day you made the decision to realize that you are already free. Would you like to train with Susan Sly? Susan has two upcoming must attend events. Susan will be doing an upcoming 360 Degree Success Without Sacrifice Workshop in New Jersey with Jeff Combs (Details TBA). Train with Susan at her signature event - The Have It All Women's Weekend in Toronto on November 5th, 6th and 7th - only 20 spots remain and tickets will sell out. Click here for more details. Wed, 7 Jul 2010 13:59:49 -0500 Full article 2_124available at: stepintoyourpower.com "I made a resolve then that I was going to amount to something if I could. And no hours, nor amount of labor, nor amount of money would deter me from giving the best that there was in me. And I have done that ever since, and I win by it. I know." Colonel Sanders When was the last time you drove past Kentucky Fried Chicken? Whether you are in Hong Kong, New York, Toronto or basically anywhere in the world; you most certainly have seen one of the most infamously iconic American branded outlets recently. KFC, as it is known now, is part of Yum brands (including A and W and Taco Bell) which has over 32,500 stores worldwide. Today KFC is recognized by toddlers and octogenarians alike, people of different cultural backgrounds, languages and mores tend to recognize the outline of Colonel Sander's face. Harland Sanders was born in 1890 during a time when people were embracing 'modern technology.' Harland embraced this era and held a variety of jobs from street car conductor to tire salesman. At the age of 40, during the Great Depression, he opened his first small restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky. In 1936, Governor Ruby Laffoon, made Harland an honorary Colonel due to his great Kentucky culinary fare. Apparently Governor Laffoon was a big fan. In 1939 a fire destroyed the restaurant and at the same time the pressure cooker was introduced. Always a man to embrace technology, Colonel Sanders begins to use the cooker to fry chicken using his famous recipe. From there, an idea was born; Colonel Sanders decided to franchise his restaurant so he took his dream on the road. In 1952 he took his cooker and travelled from state to state cooking chicken for people and attempting to generate interest in the franchise concept. In 1952 franchising was considered a sort of pyramid. People were extremely leery of the concept. The sentiment around a franchise was akin to the feelings around the network marketing industry fifteen years ago. What people do not understand, they tend to criticize and it is said that Colonel Sanders was rejected over 2000 times in his quest to franchise his famous Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe. By 1960, after eight years of travelling and frying chicken, there were 190 KFC franchises in America and Colonel Sanders was 70 years old. If 2000 people said 'no' and 190 said 'yes' then that means that Colonel Sanders struck out 90% of the time. It means that he faced rejection and undoubtedly a great degree of apathy making fried chicken day after day. In 1964 he sold the franchise for $2 million. In today's dollars that would be approximately $13,977,281.55. Was it worth all of the hard work and rejection? Many would likely say yes. One of my favourite things to ask people is the following question, 'would you dig ditches for two years non-stop if at the end you would make over one million per year for the rest of your life?' Most people openly say that they would. The reality is that some would quit after the first day, others two days, some might last a week or a month; very few would last for the full two years. It is easy to forget that any great success is going to take hard work and sweat equity. To become financially free you will have to develop a thick skin and excellent habits. You will have to commit to being rejected and hearing the word 'no' over and over again. I find it ironic that people so willingly jump into an opportunity, an exercise program or even a marriage and forget this simple lesson. Often we romanticise our perception of perfection. We idealize a way of being such as retirement, a great partnership and a lean healthy body and forget that no matter what we commit to, we will always have to face challenges. So many people today have a lottery mentality. They want the success however they do not want the work. Saving money, staying faithful, taking care of yourself; it all requires work. Do you not think there will be challenges? Of course there will, and the challenges will come fast and furious. We often look at a person who is successful and tell ourselves about how much we would love a similar outcome however we easily forget how much effort went into getting to the place that many would call 'success.' As a child growing up I was taught to embrace hard work. Today, thanks to my upbringing, I have excellent habits. I do face rejection, criticism, deceit and self deprecation regularly however I know that all successful people are forged as leaders through the challenges they endure. Even though I do not eat meat and am not personally an advocate for fast food, I am a fan of Colonel Sander's tenacity. What would our lives be like if we could have the same fortitude as Harland Sanders? Where would our finances, relationships and health be if we kept on going, day in and day out, regardless of how many people criticized us? The reality is that our lives would be in a much different place. Years ago, when I was very ill, I made a decision to move forward every day. I wanted to get the most out of every single twenty four hours the calendar had to offer. Perhaps, this decision is what drives me; I have been operating like this for so long that I cannot remember exactly when I developed the 'keep moving forward' mentality. The thing I am certain of is that I never forget that all great accomplishments come on the heels of hard work. I invite you to roll up your sleeves and invite in some sweat equity. The next time you drive past a KFC remember that your local fried chicken joint was once a dream born over years of frying chicken and conceived of during hostile times. You have a dream inside of you, perhaps more than one; go for it like never before and have the attitude of Colonel Sanders - keep on going until you realize your dreams. Would you like to train with Susan Sly? Susan has two upcoming must attend events. Susan will be doing an upcoming 360 Degree Success Without Sacrifice Workshop in New Jersey with Jeff Combs (Details TBA). Train with Susan at her signature event - The Have It All Women's Weekend in Toronto on November 5th, 6th and 7th - only 20 spots remain and tickets will sell out. Click here for more details. Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:37:50 -0500 Full article 2_123available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Get mad, then get over it." Colin Powell The other morning I awoke at 4:15 a.m. after a restless, intermittent four hour so-called sleep. I had a 6:30 a.m. flight home from San Francisco and my intention was to get in a quick workout before heading to the airport. My usual routine is to check in for my flight before reaching the airport as this saves time and is one less thing to think about. After downing my Starbucks black coffee I found myself sitting in front of the hotel computer aimlessly pressing buttons to get the check-in site to load. After entering my information for the third time I realized that I required my passport, and not just my credit card number, to check in and oddly enough I could swear that I heard the Jaws theme song playing somewhere in the background. Now, at 4:50, I ran up to my room and came back down passport in hand. Once again I waited an infinitely long time for the site to load. Ten minutes later as I was printing my boarding passes I realized that I was not seat assigned. For virgin travellers out there this often means one thing - the flight is oversold. Much like a wedding where guests RSVP to attend and do not show up, airlines sell tickets to people of which some do not check in. Their solution is to oversell the flight by two or three people to compensate. At 5:00 a.m., with decades of personal development under my belt, I was still able to maintain a positive outlook. Well, the workout was a good idea, however my ten minute check-in had turned into a forty-five minute extravaganza so I opted to shower, always a good idea, and head to the airport. I checked in my one bag with the very friendly agent who graciously put a priority tag on it. After being pregnant last year and not flying as much, I lost my elite status so like everyone in North America have to pay extra for my luggage and forego the lounges until I have enough miles under my belt. This particular agent was sympathetic so with priority tag glimmering like an orange pylon screaming 'keep me safe and expedite me,' I was once again feeling super confident. I asked the agent about my seat and I am sure I saw a glimmer of trepidation pass across his face. He assured me that I would be seat assigned at the gate and to go ahead through security. Airport security has become, for some, a quasi erotic experience with a twist. I really do not see the need for strip clubs when you have dozens of people at one time eagerly removing belts, shoes, jackets and sweaters; they might as well be chanting 'take it off' at the top of their lungs. Through TSA and re-dressed, I headed to the gate. I sauntered up to the counter to ask for my seat assignment only to be informed that yes, the flight was oversold and not by 2-3 people; this United flight was oversold by 20 people. In my previous elite status life, I would automatically go to the top of the list. As people volunteered to take later flights, usually with a business class upgrade, I would be assured of a seat. In this case, I was near the bottom of the list and decided that I would use my magic powers of manifestation to get on that flight. To be honest, I have watched the Secret many times. I have read books on and teach the law of attraction. I have friends that talk about their special powers of manifestation and profess to always get great parking spots, move to the front of the line and seemingly have a horseshoe on their 'you know what!' I may be a speaker, trainer and author of several books and yes, have manifested some incredible things however one thing I can tell you for sure is that if you are not meant to be doing something, the universe who I call God, will do everything to prevent you from doing it. I sat there waiting for people to volunteer their seats and despite repeated announcements, no one approached the podium. Initially, I have to admit, I began to feel frustrated. I was sleep deprived, missing my family like crazy and was yearning for the comfort of my own bed. In addition to that, our friend was flying in to meet me at my home airport and I absolutely needed to be there. The well being, but non English speaking gal behind the counter happily told me that the next flight to Chicago was at 1:00 p.m. which would get me home after 1:00 in the morning. After reviewing my options I decided to fly directly to Toronto and then on to Ottawa. Unfortunately, the flight I was looking at was also full. In addition to this my luggage was already on the plane that was now pulling away from the gate. My calm exterior gave way to overt disgust as a ticket agent, not the woman handling my case, took liberty in lecturing me on why I could not be assigned a seat on a flight that wasn't United for no apparent reason other than her own frustration in dealing with angry customers. As tensions rose, 'United' became the new 'F' word. My pleasant and somewhat incoherent agent also told me that I would have to leave the terminal in order to go onto my next flight, which was within the hour. That would mean leaving through security, going to another terminal and then coming back in through security; all this for a flight that I had no guarantee of getting on. In my efforts to remain calm I allowed logic to take over. Before exiting the terminal I connected with an agent at TSA who informed me that my departing flight was leaving from my current terminal and not to exit. With another potential stressor avoided I went to my new departure gate and took a moment to breathe. I eventually did get on the desired outgoing flight and made it home just one hour later than planned. Although my luggage was lost and would not arrive for two days, at least I was at home. My friend David and I worked for two days on our new program and eventually lack of sleep, a back log of emails, voicemails, school uniforms to have fitted, homework to get done and the usual stuff of life caught up with me. I had reached my personal tipping point; that place where we feel as though we are going to physically explode, volcanic eruptions of frustration and even tears ensue and once released we can continue on though sometimes, like said volcano, we leave a trail of debris in our wake. Fortunately everyone was spared 'Suecular War' because I have learned to recognize the signs that I am reaching my limit. For me, I first feel the tipping point approaching in my body. Everything becomes a physical effort. Next my day to day routine becomes a chore and the things that normally do not bother me become restrictive and burdensome. To feel this way is human, to be able to see the warning signs is truly an indication that you are connected with your very self. It took me years to get here and I am not always perfect however on this occasion I caught myself and took the following steps. When we know that we are reaching a high degree of stress the first thing to do is admit it. Simply let the people around you know that you are stressed and it doesn't have anything to do with them. The second step is to create a planned oasis. This could be a day off, a massage, a walk in silence, reading a fiction book or going to lunch with a friend. Having something to look forward to is essential. Lastly, know that all human beings have a specific carrying capacity for stress. For some, like the Dalai Lama, this capacity may be so large that he never experiences it in this lifetime. For others, like my four year old, it may be so small that the tiniest thing sets her off. As human beings we are able to whether incredible things. When exhausted, undernourished or experiencing the sensation of being alone, it is easy to go into overwhelm or anger as a default mechanism. Recognize when you are heading down that path and follow the steps above. Life is really full of amazing experiences and wonderful opportunities if we simply allow them to happen. Despite my airline fiasco, there have been worse - Cambodia springs to mind, I happily ensconced myself on an Air Canada 747 and enjoyed the luxury of a personal movie screen, watch the chick flick followed by an episode of Sex InThe City and absolutely relaxed. Luggage is replaceable, a couple of hours watching Jennifer Garner and Ashton Kutcher fall in love...priceless. At the end of this week I will be enjoying my hot stone massage, the stress of travel, less than four hours of sleep every night for a week and a deluge of work a distant memory. Susan Sly is an author, trainer, entrepreneur and mom. She believes that we can all achieve 360 degree success without sacrifice. To see Susan live at an upcoming event click here. Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:31:45 -0500 Full article 2_121available at: stepintoyourpower.com "All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better." Ralph Waldo Emerson Last week I attended a seminar for hundreds of fired up people looking to become millionaires. When asked who in the audience was already earning over a million/year only two of us stood up. Naturally people gravitated towards me during the breaks to find out exactly how I have generated over a million annually in passive income. Oddly enough, despite their proclaimed desire of financial freedom, only a small handful truly listened; the others were already citing life's reasons as to why they too could not be financially free. One person's excuse was that she had already 'tried' direct sales however she was remiss to name some of the companies that she had been in. Another already had 'too much on her plate.' Several people, moments after asking me what I did, requested my business card however no one had the audacity to schedule a meeting. It has always been my observation, and also the theme of said seminar, that how someone does one thing is how they do anything. This does not naturally just apply to money and business. For years I worked in health and nutrition. People would often profess a desire to change their body and yet when it came to getting sweaty the excuses began. For others still the number of excuses of why they could not exercise from, 'I do not have time,' to, 'my husband doesn't want me leaving the house,' were not only amusing but also a true expression of the individual's inner victim. The reality is that in order to change anything we must change. In order to change we must stop being victims of circumstance and live in a 'no excuses' world. I have learned that if I say I truly want something then I must be absolutely prepared to go for it. I cannot say that I want to re-qualify for the Boston marathon and not lace up my running shoes and head out the door. I must not profess that I want to inspire millions of people through writing and not write. I cannot say that I want to constantly strive to be the best parent, wife, or person I can be without interviewing and utilizing the strategies of people whom I respect and admire; in other words I choose to be in the driver's seat of my life and not let my life drive me. To truly transcend beyond your current circumstance there are some easy steps to take. Please give yourself at least a solid thirty minutes to do this exercise as it is absolutely worth every precious minute. If you are bold and you seriously wish to proclaim your desires to the world then I suggest you email your answers to info@stepintoyourpower.com so we can share them with our ezine readers. Over the coming months we are going to be re-defining Step Into Your Power and providing more and more free resources so that you and the people you care about can truly live a life that positively impacts the planet so let's get started. Question One - What do you need to achieve within the next six months? I personally do not always find the word 'need' appealing however in this case it does not imply being needy, it implies a strong personal need. For example if your finances are a mess then you absolutely need to get your money situation cleaned up. If your health report is not good then you need to focus on your health. If your relationship is in turmoil then it needs to be a priority. The English word 'priority' comes from the Latin 'prior' and also 'primus.' It implies only one. Thus there can only be one true priority in your life. Running around talking about all of your priorities and not actually prioritizing will get you nowhere. Furthermore, for many people the tendency is to create chaos in their lives by reacting to life as opposed to setting a course and staying with it. Right now I want you to think about what you need to achieve immediately. Do you have to bring in more money to pay your bills? Do you have to get some weight off because it is affecting your ability to work, be a great parent or even your self esteem? Do you have to salvage your relationship because you have stopped communicating and it is affecting your family? Write down your top priority in the next six months. Question Number Two - What other areas of your life is achieving this goal going to affect in a positive way? All life is energy. When we take action, or even when we choose not to take it, other things are affected. If you choose to watch television instead of creating a passive income source then eventually your life will be affected. Many people will outlive their savings and the sad truth is that people are not saving enough. In this realm they say that they want to make more money however their actions do not reflect their desires. When you choose to act, there will be a chain reaction. What other benefits will show up in your life by attaining your priority goal? Question Number Three - Do you have an action plan or a vehicle to achieve this goal? Now that you know what your priority is, do you have a plan? If your priority is to find the perfect partner then have you scheduled in time to go and connect with people? If you want to generate more income do you have a vehicle to do so? If you want to improve your health, do you have a strategy? Whatever our priority is, we must have a plan. Jack Canfield say's that when we fail to plan we plan to fail. Not only do you have to have dedicated time to undertake the pursuit of your goal, you must have a strategy. I strongly suggest you interview people who have what you want. So few people actually do this; instead they try to come up with the answers on their own which is the path of greatest resistance and least efficacy. If you want to meet your ideal partner then interview people who have great relationships. Ask them how they met their partner, what they do to keep their relationship fresh and most importantly what they suggest you do. If you want to make millions in passive income, interview someone who already does. If you want to get healthy then interview someone you know who has become healthy and had a starting point like yours. You may be saying, 'Susan, I do not know any successful people in the area I am focusing on.' My answer is that you probably do and that you most likely have to ask other people who they know, who has achieved success in your area of focus and then have the audacity to call them and set up a short interview. One observation I have made is that people who become successful are not afraid to ask 'how' questions. People who fall prey victim to life never ask 'how' questions they always ask 'why' questions. There is a massive difference in asking, 'how can I overcome this situation,' as opposed to asking, 'why am I in this situation?' It is written, in Matthew 7:7 'seek and ye shall find, ask and it is given.' The interpretation is that we will always receive the answer to our question however we must ask the right question. Question Number Four - What are you willing to give up temporarily to achieve it? When Chris and I were financially challenged I decided to give up television during the week in order to build my network marketing business. I also gave up idle conversations on the phone and chose to surround myself with only positive people. I gave up anger, judgement and resentment. The later took the longest however it was the most worthwhile. There are no sacrifices in the pursuit of success that is in alignment with your life's purpose. We all have habits that do not serve us from watching television to eating late at night. What habits are you willing to give up in order to pursue your goal? Lastly Just get started. Stop making excuses and start living. Procrastination, blame and judgement will never allow you to live into the beautiful life you were destined to have. The road you require to travel to attain your goal may be tough however the destination will be glorious. I have seen people achieve financial freedom in mere months, people find their soul mate within days of making a decision that it was a priority and others transform their health dramatically in only a few short months. Life is much too short to live small. Get out there and be an achiever and an inspiration to others; your life is waiting for you to harness it and not the other way around. Susan Sly is passionate about inspiring women to achieve 360 degree success. She wants you to become a better lover, friend, business woman, contributor and receiver. Her signature work is the Have It All Women's Weekend. Over two and a half days you will begin to release limiting beliefs, live into an authentic version of your true self, become inspired and empowered and begin to be that woman you were destined to be. Limited spots remain so you have to act now. Susan restricts the number of participants to create a more intimate setting. Click here to learn more and reserve your spot today. Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:14:07 -0500 Full article 2_120available at: stepintoyourpower.com "People say I make strange choices, but they're not strange for me. My sickness is that I'm fascinated by human behavior, by what's underneath the surface, by the worlds inside people." Johnny Depp When it comes right down to it the crushing news for everyone on the planet is that the life they are living right now is due to the choices they have made. From the mundane, such as what you are wearing right now, to the impactful, such as the decision to eat that espresso brownie every day; all of our decisions are beyond a shadow of a doubt creating mini shifts changing the course of our current path. What if one decision could alter your destiny? What if you woke up tomorrow morning and created a shift in your routine that forever transformed you? What if the current routine decisions you are making every single day are taking you far away from your dreams? What if one slight shift in a choice was all it took to positively change your life right now? The answer is very simple, a slight shift in our usual choice can lead to an extraordinary occurrence and transcendence of destiny. One night Donald Trump was invited to go to a very exclusive party. He was at an extremely low point in his life. His real estate empire was crumbling, the economy was in chaos and every banker in town was calling in their loans, including Mr. Trump's. On this particular night Donald Trump was not in any mood to go to a party however, at the last minute, he decided to attend. As fate would have it, he was seated beside a banker to whom he owed money and despite Mr. Trump's desire to turn around he sat down at his designated seat. After an evening of connecting from a place of truth and integrity, the banker extended Mr. Trump's loan. This one act enabled Donald Trump to work his way out of debt and go on to become a billionaire. Had Mr. Trump not chosen to attend the party, we might not know him today for his hit show - The Apprentice, or his famous Trump Towers hotels and condominiums. This one choice provided an opportunity for Mr. Trump to plot a different course. For years I have been mentoring and training people in the network marketing industry. One of the overriding themes of the ongoing lessons is that the people who you are meant to collaborate with are often either the people you know or the people they know. While you have to make the effort, the truth is that the choice to do something a little bit new or slightly uncomfortable will often assist you in finding your next best leader. That is precisely what happened to me several years ago. I had joined a network marketing company with a passion for co-creating health and financial abundance. I made a list and immediately felt that discomfort in my stomach as I thought about calling the people whose names I had written down. I choose to begin making the calls. My friend agreed to look at my website. I did not hear back from her for several days and I choose to call her. Naturally, back then I was nervous about rejection or judgement so I procrastinated on making the follow-up call. When I did connect with her she was excited to give the program a try. Today my friend is a network marketing millionaire and has helped a lot of other people. If I had not chosen to call her, what would the outcome have been? The choice to take a certain action or to do something in spite of nerves, fear or judgement can ultimately be liberating. When we make a decision to act in a way that is outside of our comfort zone inevitably we will get a different result. I connected with a woman who is reading my Have It All Woman book. She described to me how she wants to make millions of dollars and eventually climb Mt. Kilamonjaro. She shared how she wants to get healthy, meet her dream partner and live life on her own terms and yet when I presented her with options she went on to detail all of the television she watched in the past week. This woman shared how she puts her daughter to bed and proceeds to watch at least two hours of television every night. She asked if I had seen the finale of Lost or watched the Bachelor. I could so clearly see that this woman's choices were not in alignment with what she supposedly desired and I felt compassion for her. The reality is that if she wants to lead a different life then she will have to make some different choices. I want you to imagine that the life you dream of is closer than you may actually realize. In order to attain it you will have to make some different choices. Some may be as simple as turning off the television and starting a home based business. Others may require some greater authenticity where you have conversations with people that you wouldn't normally engage in. Your choice may involve simply having the courage to connect with someone and share what it is you are so passionate about. Ultimately we live into our choices and my question for you is this - what will you choose to do today that would not have considered in the past? Susan Sly is passionate about inspiring women to achieve 360 degree success. She wants you to become a better lover, friend, business woman, contributor and receiver. Her signature work is the Have It All Women's Weekend. Over two and a half days you will begin to release limiting beliefs, live into an authentic version of your true self, become inspired and empowered and begin to be that woman you were destined to be. Limited spots remain so you have to act now. Susan restricts the number of participants to create a more intimate setting. Click here to learn more and reserve your spot today. Wed, 9 Jun 2010 15:50:37 -0500 Full article 2_117available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Don't wish it were easier, wish you were better. "Jim Rohn For three years in a row I had the privilege of speaking at an event with the late Jim Rohn. Mr. Rohn's tag line was 'America's Business Philosopher.' For decades he nurtured the budding careers of people such as personal development guru Tony Robbins and the highly successful commercial photographer Anne Geddes. Jim Rohn's philosophies, many based on the New Testament, empowered audiences from Australia to Brazil to Singapore to the U.S.A. Although the vast majority of his teachings were based on living a life of integrity, reaching beyond fear, hard work, sweat equity and faith; it was one thing he said, in a short moment one year, that has reverberated through my own walls of consciousness for years. One particular year, Mr. Rohn was discussing the virtues of achieving success in the face of one's detractors. He likened it to the pleasure of driving your brand new sports car over the freshly manicured lawn of your greatest foe. He said that ultimately what you say matters very little when in fact your success is the best revenge. Many of us face critics. When we are going for a new goal such as releasing weight, getting ahead in our career or business, or perhaps finding or enhancing a relationship the critics and cynics seem to descend upon us like a plague. Oddly enough, the more effort we put into our desired goal, the more we tend to face those who would seemingly keep us stuck. Our detractors tend to be people who are either jealous of our success or threatened by it. Either way, dealing with these sometimes, supposed well-meaning people is neither joyful nor productive and that is why Jim Rohn's teaching is so important; if we want to get revenge then we must become successful. Years ago, when Chris and I re-met, in Toronto we fell head over heels in love. We had known one another in high school and had a long history of interconnection with both of our father's also attending the same high school at the same time. On our fated second date we moved in together and became an instant family as I was a single mother with a small daughter. At first some of Chris's friends and family were not supportive. They thought he could do better. They supposed, quite openly, that we were just rebounding freshly out of broken relationships. Some of our greatest critics were people we actually spent holidays with. My own father was not entirely positive about Chris and I and despite our vocal protests and our open displays of affection we could not 'win the crowd.' It is said that success is not measured with one single act. For example an actor who wins an Academy Award is the best in that category, in that moment, however a string of poor movies can leave that same actor with the label of 'washed up.' An athlete who wins a gold medal at the Olympics is famous for that moment and one misstep, such as public drug use, can tarnish a career that was supposedly successful. On the other hand, a person, who is consistent in their wins, their ethics and their efforts is deemed, over time, to be highly successful. Imagine how we would view legendary investor, Warren Buffet, if he had only had one good year of returns. How would we view the success of a rock band such as U2 if they had only had one good song? What would you think about someone who taught the skills of direct selling if they had only achieved one good month? Success, the kind that can silence the worst detractors, is achieved over years and not in one simple victory. The people who criticized my relationship with Chris are still out there, and sometimes at our dinner table, however after over a decade together they are starting to get the point. Another great example of success as revenge is the famed pastor Joel Osteen. For years people told him that he would never make it. They said that he wasn't as talented as his late father, John Osteen. People criticized his message as being too positive and too full of personal development and they even tried to prevent him from turning the Compaq Centre into a mega church in Houston. Now, more than a decade later, Joel Osteen is a NY Times bestselling author, owns the Compaq Centre and between television viewers and live audiences preaches to millions of people every single week. The success of Joel Osteen was not won on one singular sermon; it was achieved over years of consistent results. You see, in your life, there will always be detractors. They will try to bring you down, keep you stuck and take you off of your path. You may want to shout at them, fight with them or even cut them out of your life. This is really too much wasted energy when the reality is that vengeance is sweet especially when you allow the success of your actions to do your fighting for you. You do not have to 'get in the ring' with anyone. Instead choose the path of compassion, feel sorry for people who have nothing better to do than criticize someone who is trying to get ahead. You are destined for greatness and do not allow anyone to tell you otherwise. Your day will come when you can proverb ally 'drive your car over the lawn' of your greatest detractor and that day will be sweet. Do not spend your time trying to get even or prove someone wrong, instead go for your dreams with passion and enthusiasm and know that your continued success will be all that it takes to silence some of your critics and perhaps even inspire them. Susan Sly is an author, speaker and trainer with a passion for helping people achieve 360 degree success. Susan is available for conference calls and speaking engagements and is booking into 2011. You can join Susan live at the Have It All Women's Weekend. Click here to find out more. Wed, 26 May 2010 08:59:07 -0500 Full article 2_116available at: stepintoyourpower.com "If you want to reach a goal, you must "see the reaching" in your own mind before you actually arrive at your goal." Zig Ziglar This past week I was at an event in Phoenix. The early Sunday morning sunlight found its way streaming sublimely through the filtered window of the workout center at the hotel. Through said filtered glass, I caught a glimpse of a grandmother and two small children headed toward the pool as I slogged my way through a four mile run after a minimal amount of sleep. The little girl, in a bright yellow bikini, relinquished her grandmother's grip and took off running toward the pool. In one simple movement she leapt in without hesitation, immersed herself and quickly surfaced with the stretched lips and clenched jaw of one who finds the water a tad overly chilly. In an instant the little girl transferred herself from the pool to the adjacent hot tub only long enough to subdue the goose bumps before jumping right back into the unpleasantly cold pool. As I ran, I thought about how this particular girl was a wonderful representation of anyone who achieves success; she leapt in, found it slightly uncomfortable, reset herself and then got right back in. In life, and in business, the same technique would prove useful. Imagine how incredible your life could be if you choose to embrace the opportunities that were presented instead of analyzing every aspect of each situation. Many people choose to 'test the water' first and upon finding it slightly chilly will instead either procrastinate or not go in at all. Human nature is inherent to preservation; in other words we tend to protect ourselves from any form of discomfort. Unfortunately most success comes on the other side of a modicum of uneasiness. Consider a top athlete; their physique, drive and desire to win. Any athlete who achieves success will tell you that some workouts are painful. Some training leaves them breathless, aching and unsettled however the repetition of discomfort eventually leads to a higher level of tolerance which then in turn allows the athlete to win, pushing past the pain. The success I have achieved in network marketing, or anything at all for that matter, has been about embracing the unknown, getting uncomfortable and diving in. Personally, I do not want to take years and years to get to the next level; I want to get there yesterday and often that means getting through the unpleasantness of learning and developing myself as a leader. There have been many times where being uncomfortable has made me want to run and literally get out of the pool. Who wants to face rejection, deception, apathy and attrition? Who wants to be criticized? In all honesty, this is life and all of these things come with doing business, being in relationships or going for any goal. I didn't choose to run, I choose to face these things and stay the course and in doing so continue to achieve success in many areas of my life. Like the little girl, in the pool, we all have the opportunity to get out for a minute to re-set before diving right back in. For many successful people meditation, exercise, reading personal development books or listening to audios for a few minutes is all it takes to get back in the game. We all require a moment or two to re-set ourselves and highly successful people get right back in the fray of things because they love the action and excitement. The little girl in the yellow bathing suit symbolizes that the most fun happens when we are the most uncomfortable; her splashing around and chasing her brother in the big pool are symbolic of how we can choose to operate. Yes, it may be uncomfortable at first but the sooner we dive in and get going the better the results are going to be. I encourage you to just get in the pool. Do not wait any longer. Let go of procrastination and just get started. The life of your dreams is waiting for you and the more time you take to 'test the water' the more elusive your goals. Just jump in! Susan Sly is a loving mother to her four children ages 10 months to 13 years and devoted partner to her husband Chris. She has written five books including the highly acclaimed Have It All Woman. Susan has a passion for liberating families, women and children all over the world. Susan's signature program is the Have It All Women's Weekend. Spaces are filling up. To find out more click here. Wed, 26 May 2010 08:18:20 -0500 Full article 2_114available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game. " Michael Jordan The other morning, a blissfully sunny spring day, I stepped outside for a five mile run. On any given run, the first few minutes are a time to loosen up, let go of the kinks and ease into my body. On this day, I faced mile repeaters; essentially going hard and fast for one mile, easing off for a couple of minutes and repeating again. As the warm up continued, my body actually began to tighten with the anticipation of the hard part of the workout and I had to check in as to why I was even doing these repeaters in the first place. After a bit of deliberation, I realized that I was taking this workout way too seriously. For starters, I am no longer an elite athlete. I had a couple of seasons with my elite card for triathlon and duathlon and, at present, those days are over a decade ago. Now I run for therapy and supposedly fun. Why I choose to get myself worked up is another thing all together. On this run I realized that it is not just running where I take myself too seriously; it is in a lot of areas. In business I can lose sight of ease at times especially when I am sleep deprived. In parenting I can forget the 'giggle' factor and take my day-to-day role as a mother of four in a pretty straight-laced fashion. I have come to the conclusion that fun is what I am not having when I take myself too seriously in every area of my life. Generally my days are scheduled down to the minute. There are times for writing, exercising, picking up kids, taking them to lessons, running a million plus dollar network marketing business, doing speaking events, training and spending time with Chris and the kids. To say I am organized is a true understatement. The reality is that my organization has paid great dividends in many areas however there could be a lot more fun. Even though I have travelled to parts of the third world, held children who are starving to death, hugged people dying of AIDS and visited projects where the only reason someone would run fast is to get away from danger; the truth is that it is sometimes easy to lose perspective. In those moments where I take myself too seriously I forget that I have so many choices. There are people who would love to have a washer and dryer to do their laundry in, or clothes to wash for that matter. There are people who would literally cut off one arm if it meant thrice weekly trips to the grocery store without a budget. There are people who cannot even have children or have a child who is sick who would gladly trade places with me and my brood. Even though 99% of the time I am so grateful for the life we have, there are those rare moments like my run the other day, where I forget how blessed we are to have the life we do. I keep a quote in my goal book by 'anonymous' which say's 'you know you have become successful when the things you used to dream about are the things you now complain about.' When I was really ill with multiple sclerosis I dreamed of a day where I could go and do mile repeaters or even speak coherently for that matter. When I was a single mother, having lost basically everything, I dreamed of a having a home, a family and a husband who was committed, faithful and a partner in every way. When we were living on a household income of $32,000/year I dreamed of being a six figure earner once more and then a millionaire. On the heels of faith and sweat equity all of these things came true. Looking back at the times in my life where I achieved the most significant of things such as getting up the nerve to ask my now husband, and best friend, on a date, giving birth, achieving a seven figure annual income in network marketing and qualifying for the Boston Marathon; I realize that even though I was focused on the goal, success remained elusive until I let go a little bit and allowed God and the fun factor to take over. When I was too serious, everything I wanted always seemed just out of reach and the harder I tried and the more intensely I focussed the more intangible things became. The reality is that no matter how bad things may look for us at any moment, there are others who would envy our position. We may not feel that way all the time and the key is to remember that regardless of what is happening we have the ability to choose how we respond to it. Do not take yourself so seriously, you may actually be creating a delay in the outcome or a lesser than desired outcome by choosing to ignore the fun factor. The question is - are you having fun living your life? If not then choose to have fun. The laundry, the day-to-day chores, your careers, your family, and everything in your life is all about your choice on how to approach it. Make a decision to invite more fun into your day. Laugh with your kids, turn off your computer or phone for a bit, put on some great music when you do the laundry or even pay your bills, find something to laugh about every day and watch what begins to unfold. The life you desire is waiting for you - invite the fun and let that life in. Wed, 19 May 2010 13:49:20 -0500 Full article 2_112available at: stepintoyourpower.com 'The other night, I was cleaning the dining room in the dark,' one of my Organize Your Life Students proclaimed. 'My husband reminded me that we could now use the light switch.' This student is part of a group of twenty highly motivated people learning how to clean up their clutter and get on with their lives. This particular student had spent almost a decade with a dining room so poorly wired that the family had to hit the wall to get the light to come on. After two weeks in the course she was inspired to clear up anything that ranged from mildly to extremely annoying. In her case, this dining room situation had reached the end of its days and she had it repaired. Despite the repair, my student had become so accustomed to cleaning her dining room in the dark that even though it was fixed - she continued on as though nothing had changed. Although the story is true, it could also be a parable for the life that many lead; living as though nothing has changed when in fact, much has. Many people walk around in day to day existence operating from a place that is indicative of what has been and not what is; this only serves to send a conflicting message to the world which says that they are not ready for the goodness which they have been granted and instead operate as though they are stuck in their original paradigm. How many women do you know, who have lost weight, continue to shop for and hold onto clothes in their original size? How many people, when they begin making an extra $500/month in a home based business continue to come from a lack mentality? The answer is that the vast majority of people are living as though nothing has changed and all this does is create a reflection back that they are not indeed ready to shift. Do you realize that over 90% of lottery winners spend all of their winnings within a few short years? Do you know that over 90% of dieters regain all of their lost weight and more? As a society we will often choose to stay comfortably uncomfortable and revert to our old, ineffective ways of being. The reality is that whatever habits got us into a place of poor financial judgement, bad health or a destructive relationship will surely get us there again unless we change within ourselves. Dr. Wayne Dyer says that 'we attract who we are.' His meaning, I would ascertain, is that until we shift that within us which is negative and unproductive we will continue to attract negative and unproductive circumstances. In essence, we will continue to clean the dining room in the dark even though the lights are now operating. So how does one shift? The most imperative thing is that you celebrate and stand in gratitude for all milestones. If you have increased your household income by even an extra $100/month then celebrate that extra $1200/year. If your body has shifted to be leaner then you must stand in gratitude. Until you recognize the change that is occurring you will never hold onto it. I have seen thousands of people who make progress only to self sabotage and go back into circumstances that are either on par or worse than they were before. Standing in gratitude or celebrating does not equal complacency; it simply sends a signal that you appreciate and accept what is happening. When something changes for the better make a decision to change with it. When I went from a women's size 14 to a four, I got rid of all of the size 8-14 clothes. This sent a message that I was done with that part of my life and ready to move on. When Chris and I became self made millionaires in network marketing, we hired accountants and lawyers. We learned about the industry. We worked with a financial planner and yes, we also stood in gratitude for every dollar more than we had made previously. As a result, our income continues to grow and more importantly, so do the number of people who have created financial freedom as a result of our decision to build a business. You may be in a place right now where you have done a bit of backsliding and are like my student, cleaning in the dark when the light works perfectly well. If this is the case then celebrate anyway. Choose to stand in gratitude that you are equipped to maintain and grow all positive change that is coming your way. You are magnificent beyond measure and there is no need to spend one moment further agonizing about the past. You can choose your tomorrows and make a decision to be grateful for every step forward you make toward the life of your dreams. Susan Sly is an author, speaker, self made millionaire and mother to four beautiful children. She and her husband Chris spend time contributing to projects that enhance the lives of women and children around the globe. Susan can be contacted via www.stepintoyourpower.com Thu, 13 May 2010 13:40:51 -0500 Full article 2_110available at: stepintoyourpower.com "The first wealth is health." Ralph Waldo Emerson Health is indeed our greatest asset. Without it little else matters. Health enables us to live into richer relationships, increase our wealth and live a much more fulfilling life. Ask anyone who has come back from cancer, heart disease, or any severe illness at all and they will likely report that it changes their perspective. Ultimately our health must be a priority and this week we will be focusing on cleaning it up. Let's start with a few questions. How have you been feeling lately? How is your energy? How are your stress levels? How is your body feeling? Are you suffering with some chronic aches and pains? Do you start to sniffle when you see someone with a cold on t.v.? Does your skin feel tight on your body? Are you carrying too many extra pounds? How is your mood? Innately we all know when we are feeling our best however for the vast majority of people, feeling less than stellar does not often lead to action. Many people choose to ignore their body's distress signals and 'sweep them under the rug' so to speak until it is too late and something more serious ensues. Any discomfort or illness is your body speaking loud and clear and this week we are going to get in action around our health. The first area of focus is exercise. Are you creating time to do it? Exercise is a wonderful stress release, helps to regulate metabolism, increases bone density and much more. In a survey by USA Today, Americans were asked what they would do with an extra hour every day. Over 70% responded that they would exercise. With obesity on the rise, now is the time to commit. 30 minutes of activity daily will not necessarily change your body composition but it can get your heart healthy. Make exercise a priority. Studies also show that people who exercise in the morning have a greater likelihood of adherence. Waking up early and getting that exercise in will set you up for a much better day. If you have children and are at home, buy or rent some exercise DVD's. Join a learn to run group or hire a personal trainer. It may take several weeks to be fully consistent however once you start living into that healthy, fit body - you will not want to stop. The second area to clean up is your eating. Many natural health practitioners recommend doing a good cleanse in the spring. Detoxification is as old as time. For thousands of years people have used herbs and other natural ingredients to cleanse. Cleansing can boost your system, increase your energy, vitality, help you release body fat, remove cravings for unhealthy foods and even have a more restful sleep. Personally, we use the Isagenix cleansing system because it is so complete. Cleaning up your health also involves choosing foods that are whole, natural, unprocessed and organic. Studies around the world illustrate that many health conditions from diabetes to stroke to cancer are nutritionally linked. As a society we are eating too much, the wrong foods and that combined with a sedentary lifestyle is causing disease. Eat as close to nature as possible and you will begin to feel better immediately. The third step is to book your physical or check up if you haven't had one. Many people resist going to the doctor for routine blood work, an annual physical or simply to be assessed. Let's face it, these annual physicals are the farthest thing from fun on the planet however it needs to get done...period. If you have been feeling off, having your blood work done is essential. In addition to iron, cholesterol and thyroid, many more physicians are testing additional hormone levels. Book a complete physical today. The fourth step is to assess your health team. Do you have a dentist, chiropractor, massage therapist, naturopath or homeopath, acupuncturist, etc? Do you take yoga or meditate? These are also integral in your creating optimal health. Your body is complex and having a team to work with will help you feel and look your best. Finding a good practitioner is often done through word of mouth and once you find someone good - keep them. Lastly, it is on my heart to tell you that achieving great health is going to require effort. It isn't easy to make healthy choices or commit to regular exercise and that is why so many people are grossly unhealthy. Make a decision to clean up your health right now. Your best days are not behind you - they are right in front of you. Your health is the key to everything you desire from greater wealth to happier relationships and now is the time to live into the best you there has ever been. Congratulations to everyone for completing our 30 day challenge. From throwing out junk to taking charge of finances we have heard tremendous success stories. One of our students even attracted $15,000 when she cleared out her clutter. We want to hear your stories of de-cluttering success at info@stepintoyourpower.com - mark your subject line "CLEAN UP". Thu, 6 May 2010 07:29:13 -0500 Full article 2_108available at: stepintoyourpower.com "An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind." Buddha One of the most frequent questions I get in interviews is this, 'how do you get the toxic people out of your life?' Truthfully, the answer is simply to let them go and yet the weight of guilt associated with 'cherry picking' in our relationships is enough to put up with the disappointments, disagreements, lack of trust and inauthenticity. If clutter can weigh you down, so can your toxic relationships and this week we are going to turn our focus there and clean them up. In the realm of personal development it is said that a person's income tends to be within 20% of the 5 people they spend the most time with outside of their immediate family. I would like to propose that our attitude also is a direct reflection of these five same people. The obvious conclusion would be that if you want to attract more money, more abundance and joy into your life then changing your social circle should be at the top of your list. Successful people definitely think differently. Their attitude, when confronted with a challenge, is 'how do I fix this?' Someone who is just getting by will tend to ask 'why is this happening to me?' There is a significant difference. At Step Into Your Power we want you to have an abundance mentality. We want you to thrive and not just survive. Your attitude is truly your latitude and your friends may be holding you back from the beautiful life you dream of. The first part of this week's challenge centers on the attitudes of your friends. Do your friends complain? Are they critical? Do they talk about others behind their backs? Are they acting like victims of circumstance? If you answered 'yes' to any of the above questions then it is time to select yourself out of this group. If you want to go further and live a life of abundance, spending too much time with people who are negative will definitely drag you down. A few years ago I helped a friend release over one hundred pounds. She looked great and she felt terrific. Her husband loved her new healthy body and she was a role model for her children. Unfortunately this woman's friends were not supportive. They criticized her weight loss. They told her that it was unhealthy. They spoke about her behind her back. The most vocal friend was a woman who, herself, was overweight. This supposed friend was so negative and would often bring my friend to tears. One day my friend had enough and said to this negative friend, 'you were not so worried about me when I was one hundred pounds overweight, you were not worried about my heart or my cholesterol. You were fine as long as we were able to sit around the pool and have cocktails and now I have decided to get healthy and you are concerned. Perhaps you are jealous.' Needless to say, my friend began spending less time with this woman and found a new group of friends that included other health minded women. Today, three years later, she has maintained her weight loss and looks fantastic. She is surrounded by people who support her healthy lifestyle. Breaking up with your friends can be really challenging. Waves of emotions ranging from guilt to anger to sadness often come with letting go. Deciding to discontinue a friendship does not have to be something permanent; in fact it can be a temporary parting of ways that becomes mutually beneficial. If the friendship has some value, or you are in some sort of business relationship or committee with a friend where you must continue to work together then having a clearing conversation can be very healthy. Going into the conversation be clear on your intention; decide that no matter what you are seeing the positives in the other person regardless of what is going on. Secondly take responsibility if you have had any part to play in the negativity. For example, perhaps you have a friend who gossips, which bothers you now but in the past you also played the part of the rumourmonger. Now, you have decided to have a more positive outlook and attract greater opportunities into your life and you are no longer willing to berate others behind their backs. Go into the conversation and let your friend know that you are sorry for your part in the behaviour and you are now in the process of change. Let this friend know that you no longer feel comfortable in the presence of these types of conversations and that your friendship is still important. Years ago I belonged to a group of women that met for dinner occasionally. After the idle chitchat talk would eventually turn to others. One night, after a few glasses of wine, one woman began to openly criticise another woman whom we all knew. Uncomfortable with the situation I suggested we change the conversation as it was not appropriate to talk about others without them there. Most of the women appreciated the change in direction of the conversation because in reality - if we are gossiping or having a critical spirit against someone else then it is being done tenfold to us. Whether your friends are gossips, critical, negative or victims this is the week to clean those friendships up. Decide what kind of person you want to be and look for new people to connect with who serve this different point of view. Let your friends know what types of behaviour you are willing and unwilling to participate in; you never know, they may have been feeling the same way. Great, supportive, uplifting friendships are rare and when you find them, they are important to nurture. Whether you are letting go or doing a course correct with your friends this week, I wish you the absolute best with this process. You are destined for greatness and a few good friends who support your goals and dreams will be that veritable wind beneath your wings. Thu, 29 Apr 2010 07:12:21 -0500 Full article 2_106available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Rule No.1: Never lose money. Rule No.2: Never forget rule No.1." Warren Buffet This past week one of our Step Into Your Power clients confessed that she had not filed her taxes for the last two years. Not only was she ashamed, she felt scared to tackle the foreboding task. This client is not alone, I know several single women who simply feel so intimidated by the tax process that they do not file. One woman went over five years without submitting her income tax. Penalties for not filing range from paying interest on back taxes owing to even jail. That being said, not filing is not an option for the empowered person so let's get this cleaned up and take a look at your system for dealing with your finances. Cleaning out the garage is a piece of cake compared to looking at your money and on this day, which is the deadline for filing in the United States, we want you to have hope, stop procrastinating and clean this up. Money is truly an interesting thing. When we do not have enough, we want more; when we have more we spend tremendous amounts of time trying to figure out how to keep what we have. For many people, more money is associated with greater responsibility and can also create a situation that involves a tremendous amount of self sabotage. Many modern families simply do not talk about money as if it is a dirty little secret and thus produce children who grow up without any concept of how to manage, attract and produce more income. Corinna Smith-Gatcke, certified Mortgage Broker, Financial Specialist and money coach with Step Into Your Power, suggests you be transparent with your finances. Have family meetings regarding the money flowing through your family. Create open communication and teach your children that living in abundance is a choice no matter what you have in the bank. Your current reality is a direct result of what you did before not what you are doing now. An abundant life is available to all of us if we chose to live it. The ultimate reality is that you cannot avoid dealing with your money and the faster you get it organized the more peace you will call into your reality. One of my favourite sayings is that perfection leads to procrastination and, in the case of your money, diving in with two feet is the best thing to do. It does not have to be perfect but it does have to get done. The first and foremost thing to look at is creating an awareness. What do you do with your receipts? Are you keeping them? Do you know what your monthly expenditures are? If you have a home based business, are you fully aware of what you can write off? If you do not have the income to support a bookkeeper then you will have to take this on yourself and now is the best time to do it. The first suggestion is to use an accordion file with labels for separate expense areas. If you have a home based business you will want to create tabs that categorize according to your tax return. When you receive receipts and bills file them immediately, after they are paid, under the appropriate category. At the end of each month input the receipts into a spreadsheet such as Microsoft Excel, to make it easier for whomever is doing your taxes. Personal expenses should also be filed and accounted for. You need to know your monthly, non-deductible, expenses. It may not be something you want to truly examine but it is essential that you know exactly how much money is going out, where you can reduce spending and what is being allocated to which area. A recent poll, in Canada, found that the average Canadian would have only 2 weeks of living expenses if they lost their job today. In the current economy, that is a frightening statistic. On the flip side, people can be wealthier than they realize if they organize their receipts, take full advantage of tax strategies and get a clear picture of what is happening financially. At the end of the day you want to have a minimum of six months living expenses in savings that are easily accessible; the last recession will not be the last recession. I also recommend a home based business because it allows you to take advantage of tax deductions year round. Cell phones, internet, certain home improvements and other day to day expenditures that are allocated to your business will increase savings at tax time. You definitely want to connect with an accountant who is familiar with home based business tax savings. The majority of home based business owners do not take full advantage of legitimate tax deductions and therefore may be paying more tax than is necessary. You can also go on government websites to find out what does and does not qualify. Your financial situation may not be pretty however it is the unknown that is ultimately more scary than the known. Work with a financial planner, debt strategist, accountant, take a course, read books such as Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiosaki and Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker and you will be on your way to financial bliss. For those of you who really want to take your financial I.Q. to the next level we invite you to register for Corinna Smith Gackne's teleclass - Building Your Financial Fortress. It begins on April 21st and has yielded rave reviews by confused, chaotic money confounded people all over North America. Our Challenge for You Is Clean Up Your Finances This Week Get an accordion file for your receipts. Monthly enter them into a spread sheet. If you have a home based business, get a list of legitimate tax write-offs. Sit down with your family and create a budget. Great resources include Susan's Power To Be Rich Now C.D. Series and Corinna Smith Gatcke's Building Your Financial Fortress Telecourse Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:17:35 -0500 Full article 2_103available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Like almost everyone who uses e-mail, I receive a ton of spam every day. Much of it offers to help me get out of debt or get rich quick. It would be funny if it weren't so exciting." Bill Gates Last week I received some great emails from people who are indeed clearing out the clutter. Clutter is something that weighs us down, it numbs the senses and truthfully looking for those dang car keys for five minutes is a complete waste of time. In the spirit of the challenge I tackled some nasty paperwork and even dove into the deluge of production associated with doing three events in the three coming weekends ahead. Sigh...it feels really good to be slightly more organized. To digress for a moment I am often perplexed by the mysterious mountain of chatzka that is associated with parenting. I don't know who I am kidding, purchasing Architectural Digest every month when in reality my decorating looks like it has come from Today's Parent. Ghad! There is a playpen in my living room alongside the bouncy gym and the vibrating swing. In fact every room has been touched by one of our small wunderkinds. No matter how much clutter we remove from our home, more appears. It is akin to the law of the dryer, the proverbial black hole of missing socks; often two go in and one comes out. Whenever we donate toys, baby gear or anything related to the children one bag goes out and two come back in. It is very perplexing and perhaps Myth Busters can investigate. Regardless, Chris and I have even more motivation to keep up with decluttering the house; if we didn't, we would be buried beneath a mass of debris. In fact last week I was exhibiting a massive case of 'D.E.' or Dumpster Envy. Our friends had rented a dumpster for their bathroom reno and my goodness I am sure I said extra prayers to ask for forgiveness against coveting. No, God did not say anything about coveting dumpsters however coveting in general is very bad and I am grateful that temptation was resisted and no I did not sneak over to our neighbours in the middle of the night with arm loads of junk. Keeping up with our brood of four is both fun and challenging. As a former and sometimes athlete I do love a challenge and even more taxing than the inundation of kid gear is dealing with technology. The technological part of my day includes over 300 emails, two Tweets, one Facebook post and, on occasion, updating my blog. This does not include last minute requests for articles, phone calls, creating programs, training and all other income producing activities. In the spirit of our 30 Day Challenge this week we are going to tackle cleaning up our technology. According to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation American teens spend at least half of their waking day online. A report from The Media Audit found American adults spending approximately 4 hours per day online. In both cases the daily time online is increasing. I can remember L.B.B. (Life Before Blackberry). It was a magical time. I wasn't late for appointments because I was simultaneously answering emails and talking on the phone on my way to a meeting, I wasn't in the middle of Disney doing business and most of all I actually had moments of time when I wasn't accessible. In fact, as an aside, I am leaving the Crackberry in the trunk lately when I am out with the kids or running a personal errand. You know what? I actually don't miss it. The truth is that technology was supposed to liberate us however many of my friends confess that they feel overwhelmed by the endless emails, Facebook messages and other social media that is being thrust upon us at breakneck speed. Even though I choose not to do business on Sunday or answer emails, even personal one's, I will confess that Monday is tough with the extra email to attend to. In the spirit of our 30 Day Challenge, I too am cleaning up my technology. The first and foremost thing is emailing. Isn't it time to create some boundaries? Let's think about something for a moment. If you want to be a millionaire then your time is worth $500/hour. If you want to make $3 million/year then your time is worth $1500/hour. When you read an email and choose to answer it, addressing all of the queries; it may take as much as ten minutes per email. That means that email better be worth close to $100!!! Creating email boundaries is essential. Years ago I decided to delete all forwarded chain emails. I do not think God will bless me more if I forward an email to ten friends. Interestingly enough, people rarely send them now. Other email boundaries include making a decision on priorities. You obviously want to answer business emails first and choose to delegate a certain amount of time each day for personal emailing. Choosing to be concise in your emails is also key. Get to the point, keep your correspondence to a minimum and be succinct. Extremely busy people tend to scan emails so if your most important point is not in the first line or two you are very unlikely to get the response you desire. Additionally, many highly productive people do not even read emails that are overly lengthy so if you want to be heard, keep it short and sweet. The second piece is to create email folders which pertain to your work, family, interests, etc. When an email comes in that pertains to a future event, I file it. For example I have a folder called 'business travel.' This folder contains airline and hotel reservations which may be booked for over a year in advance in some cases. I have another folder for gratitude emails from people; these I like to keep for those wall kicking moments. When emails come in they are either replied to, filed or deleted; this leads to greater productivity and a less full in-box. A recent study found that when people attempt to focus on a project with their email box open that it takes on average fifteen extra minutes for the brain to return to the original task if the individual is going back and forth between emails. The third tip is to designate specific time in the day purely for emailing and let people know when you will be available online. If your boss requires you to be at his or her beck and call then another solution is to have a specific auditory indicator assigned on your PDA when an email comes in from the hierarchy. This will allow you to focus and be more productive. If you have a home based business, emailing is very seductive. It is easy to think we are being productive by answering a multitude of emails when in fact we are likely wasting time. To save yourself excess emails ensure that your team members know where else they can get the answers they are seeking. Additionally be clear about the types of emails that you are willing to answer. If, for example, you are in a health based company with wonderful resources, why are you answering product questions? Be specific with your boundaries and direct people to alternate sources. Lastly, Facebook, Twitter and other social media can be both productive and time wasting. Designate time to hop on and hop off. Additionally, if you are using social media for building a business then be congruent in your posting and commit to a certain number of posts each day. Many social media experts agree that although you want to have a social media presence, if you are posting a dozen times per day about your product or service people will eventually just tune you out. Like email, be succinct, get to the point and keep it interesting. This week in our challenge, I encourage you to look at how much time you are really spending online, emailing and in social media. Ask yourself how much of that time is productive versus how much of it is a diversion and an excuse to procrastinate. Ask yourself if this is affecting any of your relationships; are you surfing instead of going out and tossing a football with your children? Set some boundaries for yourself and create a decision about what you are and are not willing to do. It is amazing how much additional time we find we have when we are not online. Life is too short to be glued to a screen for half of it. You may feel challenged this week but I encourage you to work through this and get out of your technology stupor; the best experiences in your life are just that - real and may not involve looking at a screen. Have a blessed week, you can do anything you put your mind to. Susan Susan Sly is an author, speaker, trainer and successful entrepreneur. She and her husband Chris have four children ages 9 months to 13 years. Susan is booking speaking events into 2011. To book Susan for a conference call or an event email info@stepintoyourpower.com Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:46:23 -0500 Full article 2_100available at: stepintoyourpower.com At Step Into Your Power we are embarking on a 30 day challenge to organize our lives based on the teachings of Susan's Have It All Woman book. Whether you are a woman or man, this challenge is definitely something to have fun with and embrace. We want to hear from you so follow us on Twitter and keep us posted on your efforts. Susan will be providing weekly challenge tips for the next 30 days. Enjoy. Last week my friend, Sarah*, and I were planning a couples date night. As we discussed the restaurant options, babysitting dilemmas, and laughed about how early we would have to be home at Sarah also let me know that she was preparing her home for Passover. As part of the process she was swapping out her dishes and doing a general tidy up of the home. Unlike her own mother and mother-in-law who are 'hardcore' about Passover, going as far as to wipe out cupboards and basically scrub the entire house from top to bottom; my friend chooses to do 'light' Passover. Of course one does not need to be Jewish to make a decision to clean the house. In reality we can make a decision to get organized anytime we so desire. Most of us would agree that having surroundings which are clean, free of clutter and well ordered allow us to be more productive in all areas of our life. If you have children then you can possibly relate to that chaotic scene where you are trying to get everyone out the door so you can get Johnny to soccer practice and cannot find his cleats or your car keys for that matter. Do you have closets with clothes that range in size from 'lean and fit' to 'stuffed turkey?' Are you holding onto that vase from Aunt Mildred that is so heinous in a cute if you were into toy poodles jumping merrily with kittens on neon green glass kind of way? Do you have junk drawers that are so over stuffed they can no longer be closed and potentially could have winning lottery tickets in them from 1984? Yes, even the most organized of my friends, especially those with children, have at least a purse, closet or garage in high need of some organization and purging. O.K., even I have multiple areas in dire need of clearing. The other day I was going through my closet and there was still a maternity shirt in there; I mean really, that is no longer necessary. Chris and I have contributed to the longevity of the human race. And speaking of that - Baby Em is busting out of her 12 month clothes and she is only 8 months so seriously - that is another area to purge. On Sunday evenings, our entire family selects five things to donate or get rid of. Everything from old coloring books to toys with missing pieces goes. Despite the weekly clearing, we still have too much stuff. We have moved 4 times in seven years and every single time I donate boxes and boxes of things and regardless we accrue boxes and boxes of things. Getting rid of excess is truly therapeutic and many people, myself included, believe that when we purge things it creates a clearing for abundance to flow into our lives; this clutter is actually deflecting everything from money to healthy relationships. Even though I have heard many stories that would validate this notion, and whether you choose to believe it or not, think about how your stuff can benefit others in need. Perhaps your local women's shelter can used that winter coat you no longer wear, maybe you old dishes can go to a teen mom starting out; there are endless possibilities to recycle your 'stuff' so let's get on with it shall we? For our challenge this week I would like you to identify two areas in your abode, car or workspace which totally bother you. Perhaps there is a dent in your wall that needs fixing, maybe your call looks like a tornado hit the inside, maybe you have an overflowing handbag or briefcase, or could it be that your spare room looks like a refuge for everything that was castaway from every garage sale within a hundred mile radius? Choose 2 places and write them down. The next step is to schedule in time this week to simply go at it. Could you enlist the help of your children, partner or friends? Is there a student who could use some extra money? You do not have to do this alone. Schedule the time and enlist some troops. Thirdly, create three piles for your things. Mark the first pile 'toss,' and the second pile 'donate,' and third pile can either be allocated to a garage sale or family members. Personally, I do not do garage sales as they take so much time and effort for such small returns however if you are committed and looking to make some extra cash then go for it. If your area of focus is to do with a home repair then book some time to get it done or make the call to a qualified professional. In our home, we have this one little dent that I see every time I go up the stairs and I choose to allow it to make me insane!!! In integrity, that dent is so out of here this week. I encourage you to embrace the 30 Day Get Organized Challenge. You may not feel that the excess clutter is slowing you down and you will not know until you get it out the door. In my book, the Have It All Woman, I have more tips for clearing clutter in the first chapter. If you have a copy of the book I encourage you to pick it up and follow the steps. We also want to hear about your progress. Follow us on Twitter and let us know how it is going this week. Let's have a lot of fun and clean it up! Can Women Have It All? We believe so. Would you love to take your life to the next level and discover how amazing you truly are? Would you like to be lifted up in sisterhood, connect with like-minded, positive women and step into your power? We invite you to the 8th Have It All Women's Weekend. Click here for more details Mon, 5 Apr 2010 08:54:22 -0500 Full article 2_98available at: stepintoyourpower.com "If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much" Jim Rohn Did you ever have a bully? Was there that special someone who never failed to torment you in school? Were you teased? Picked on? Were you ever unfairly scrutinized? Did you ever have one of those days when you wanted to avoid going to school or work at all costs? If so then this article is just for you. My personal bully's name was Jack*. Despite his cherubic exterior, I surmised that Jack's heart was rife with pure unadulterated evil. Oddly enough Jack had a special spot in his dark heart for me. I was like kryptonite for him and upon my arrival to school and, until the moment I left, Jack tormented me. In grade five I was fat. I was at least forty pounds heavier than the other kids at school. I did not fit into regular clothes and to top it all off, I was one of three students out of hundreds who was a visible minority. In the early eighties, in small town Eastern Ontario, my odds of fitting in were very slim and my personal bully sought to point out everything different. The first phrase Jack coined was 'Bubba Sue.' As soon as I got to school in the morning, a time of day that I dreaded, 'Bubba Sue,' was chanted not only by Jack but by his local sycophants. A rousing chorus of 'Bubba Sue,' combined with 'me Chinese, me play flute, me go pee-pee in my soup, was how I began my days at Commonwealth Public School. That in and of itself, filled me with dread and I made every effort to get to school moments before the bell to avoid Jack and his friends. Recess was another challenging time. Often, I had no one to play with. That also meant no defenders against my personal bully and his crew. If the teachers knew, they turned a blind eye. Perhaps they didn't see it. I often cried on my way home from school, thinking to myself that it couldn't get much worse. It is said that children learn more modelling from their peers than from their parents and it was not long before my personal bully became the gold standard in school bullying. Not long after that two girls decided that I would be the target of their rage. I was chased home, punched, kicked and ostracized. At one point I was even called a 'nigger.' Yes, the 'n' word. In my school, and in my homogeneous town, anyone of darker skin was automatically assumed to be black. If the kids couldn't figure me out, I couldn't figure myself out. I cried many nights at home looking in the mirror, at times punching my stomach until I left marks. I sought some way to fit in and worked on being one of the 'smart kids,' so I could do Chess Club and get out of recess. Everyone has their tipping point and mine came on one frosty winter day. My personal bully decided to hurl an ice ball at my head and I thought to myself, 'what have I got to lose?' Supernatural dexterity overtook me and I picked up the ice ball and fired it at Jack's head. It nailed him in the ear. He winced and suggested he was now deaf. Gleefully I walked up to him and slapped him, Scarlett O'Hara style, leaving a mark on his cheek. I said, 'don't you ever touch me again,' with such ferocity that I surprised myself. My personal bully looked stunned and cowered as a group of onlookers gathered in the proverbial school yard circle, watching and not knowing what was to come. I choose to simply turn around and walk toward the school. I had slain my Goliath and would face any consequences of which, yes, there were sum. My personal bully left me alone after that and so did the other kids for the most part. Eventually, I did get a group of friends, and was often chosen third or fourth for softball as opposed to last. In my life, there were always more bullies however my triumph over Jack stayed with me for years. The interesting thing about bullies is that they may get older but their critical spirit often remains. Instead of openly calling someone names, they cowardly talk about them behind their back. Instead of having the guts to say something to someone's face or even let something go, they choose to find others to bring on their crusade of unfortunate name calling. The sad truth is that we are all guilty at one time or another of talking about others behind their back and often with a critical spirit. If we partake in this behaviour, we are no different than those school bullies who tormented us. At the recent Power Body Weekend in Los Angeles, I suggested that we ask ourselves a bold questions; would we talk about a person in the same way if that person were in the room? The answer is usually 'no.' Make a decision not to stand up for yourself and create social change. Let go of your own critical spirit and move on. If you have something negative to say about another, either say it to their face or let it go. If you have friends who like to gossip, excuse yourself from the conversation as ultimately if they are gossiping about someone else - they are gossiping about you. To fast forward time, I would like to let Jack know that I am now a size four, married to my best friend and oh yes - could probably still fling an ice ball. Before his death, I had the privilege of sharing the stage with Jim Rohn; Jim was considered America's Business Philosopher. Jim said that there will always be bullies and that sometimes the best revenge may be driving your car back and forth on their lawn. Ultimately the best revenge for the bullies in your life is living well. I am grateful for all of the bullies in my life because they inspired me to try harder, work smarter and live well. My bullies have been the fuel of my fire, and even today if someone has a criticism about me I do look in the mirror and make a decision to course correct or let it go. Thank you to all of my bullies, you have helped me achieve success. Make a choice today to let go of your critical spirit. Make a choice today to live well and go for your dreams. We will always have detractors and they can serve to help us surge forward toward an abundant life. At the end of the day, it may also be time to give a proverbial slap to your bully by confronting them and slay that Goliath. *name has been changed. Can Women Have It All? We believe so. Would you love to take your life to the next level and discover how amazing you truly are? Would you like to be lifted up in sisterhood, connect with like-minded, positive women and step into your power? We invite you to the 8th Have It All Women's Weekend. Click here for more details Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:30:34 -0500 Full article 2_95available at: stepintoyourpower.com "All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." Pablo Picasso Last Sunday we finished thirty days of travelling. My suitcases have visited Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando, Durham, Baltimore and Kingston, NY. In that period of travel Chris and I had a 36 hour pit stop at our home to do laundry and load up our children for the second part of our adventure. Our children are now 13, 7, 4 and 8 months old; travelling with them is an amazing blessing and we learn so many things through their eyes. Being a business owner comes with its own set of tasks and challenges; adding kids into the mix changes the dynamic and either forces us to become more flexible or lose it all together. Admittedly, I tend to schedule things in groups which definitely emanates from my training in triathlon. My rationale is that booking events together gives me long stretches at home with the kids. Whenever possible we travel with our kids and this trip was a combination of play and production. On the schedule we had several days at Disney and three events on the East Coast on three consecutive nights. Combining family and business may not be ideal for everyone involved but in our nuclear unit it works. Our kids get to spend time with us on vacation and then visit their friends in the cities we are do events. It ends up being a win-win and we love that our kids get this diverse experience. Chris and I are constantly learning from our children and have discovered that they exceed us in our ability to gain perspective. Children have a remarkable ability to see the world in a way that is extraordinarily simple. If a child is hungry - they say 'I'm hungry.' They do not ruminate for hours about certain 'good foods, bad foods,' or consider calories or trans fats. If a child is tired, he or she tends to just fall asleep on the spot. At a dinner, last Friday night, my friend Monica's son just put his head on the table and went to sleep - he was done. Children have a wonderful spontaneity about them. They do not tend to worry about what others think until they are a little bit older; if a five year old wants to dance down the aisle of the grocery store - she does it. As adults we are sometimes frustrated with our children's natural pure Id tendencies however I think that sometimes we can be in awe of them. As adults we can often lose our way. We forget how to dance, to sing, to finger paint or simply say what we feel. We push ourselves by trying to please others, are concerned with what the world thinks about us and work so hard to exude perfection at times. Children, on the other hand, are able to be expressive in emotions, thoughts and feelings in a way that is so simple that perhaps we can all learn from. Chris and I are constantly learning from Avery, A.J., Sarai and Emery. They are our children and they are our teachers. This column has evolved into a place of writing with transparency and providing techniques to truly step into our own power in all areas of our lives. This week I wish to share some lessons we have learned from our children, on this recent trip, that can be applied to any aspect of your life. Enjoy! Lessons Learned From Our Children Lesson One - Admit Your Mistake and Change Course While driving down the road, A.J. announced that Sarai had licked the cashews and put them back in the bag. I asked Sarai what her take on it was and she sheepishly let us know that she had indeed licked the cashews and put them back in the bag. After apologizing, she announced that her name was now Cashew and requested we all address her as such. Sarai didn't deny that what she had done was wrong and she actually did something quite brilliant - she changed course. To take the attention away from what she had done, she made a game of it and so instead of us focusing on the cashew incident, we were now living a new incarnation of it. Where in your life have you recently erred, could admit it and change course? Lesson Two - Create Calm in Chaos Our son, A.J., is blessed to be the only boy and has three very strong willed sisters. If you follow me on Facebook, you may have seen the video I posted from the commercial called 'Herding Cats.' Basically, getting our children to go anywhere can be like that. The girls, even the baby, all require their hair to be done. Sarai cannot stand having it brushed and Avery is now of the age that she likes to have her hair looking a certain way before going out. The baby is blessed to have a full head of hair that if left down goes in her eyes. The hair alone is enough to require an extra hour but then it is the clothes. Sarai is a girly girl who chooses to wear her shoes on the opposite feet, will not wear tights unless forced and would be happy in dresses and flip flops even in the snow. Sarai also likes to dress in princess costumes whenever possible which is also spontaneous and fun. Avery has her own style and has reached the age that if she is looking to wear a certain pair of jeans then nothing else will be quite right. Her prep time has increased now which adds to the mix. Emery is the baby and for those of you who have had babies you will recall the days of how you just get them dressed and they have an accident or you want to leave to get out the door and there is some kind of diaper emergency. Baby Em is pretty laid back but if she is hungry then look out. Amidst the hair, the clothes, the looking for the perfect accessory sits our son. A.J. is totally happy to wear shorts and a Star Wars t-shirt. He doesn't like anyone fussing with his hair and is super easy to brush his teeth and get ready in general. While his sisters are prepping, primping and sometimes creating challenges, A.J. is content to grab some Lego dudes and sit in a corner until the girls are ready. He has found a way to create calm amidst the chaos. This is a lesson we can all learn from. Where in your life can you call in some calm? Do you have some soothing music or a great fiction book that you can read or listen to while you are waiting in line or grabbing a moment in the mid afternoon. There is always a way to find some calm in chaos. Lesson Three - Did You Do Your Best? On this trip I had decided to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon. It has been over two years since I have done a race and have only been running a few days per week for the last three months. I was very nervous because it is tough for me to just do a race for fun. Having been a competitive athlete in the past there is part of me that chooses to always show up with the notion to get a PR or finish top 10. As fate would have it, I ended up in the slowest started chute because the race director designated based on results for the past two years. I had intended to run the entire race and I was surrounded by people who were walking. At first I was a little bit discouraged but it gave me the opportunity to be around some amazing people who were relaxed and not worried about PR's or much else other than having fun. The starting temperature was in the high thirties in Fahrenheit; we were all chilled to the bone which did not bode well for loose, limber muscles. In the end I ran my race, pushed through some discomfort, had to work my way past the 10,000 people who got to start ahead of me and ended up finishing 180 out of 10921 in a time of 1:45. At the time I was both elated and frustrated. I had wanted to go faster but knew I was not properly trained and also in the last chute. When I returned to the hotel room I shared some of my wins and my challenges. Avery said, 'mommy - did you do your best based on what you were able to do today?' I told her that I had. She then said, 'Mommy, not everyone can go run a half marathon and you did. If you did your best then that's all that matters,' and returned to writing her story. In our lives it is very seductive to get caught up in our past victories and forget that our current circumstances may be different. It is easy to lose sight of all of the positives in our lives. If you are doing this right now in some aspect of your life - your health, your relationships or your business, then stop! Ask yourself if you are doing the best you can given everything that is going on, are you focusing on the positives? If the answer is 'yes' then run your own race and focus on what you can do as opposed to what you cannot do. Are You Feeling Overwhelmed? Many women report overwhelm and fatigue. They struggle with balancing work, life, family and sense of self. At the Have It All Women's Weekend we help you find ...you. Our goal is personal empowerment that leaves you feeling uplifted and energized. We want you to live into your own magnificence and this coming Have It All Women's Weekend will be our very best yet. The weekend includes workshop style exercises, learning the art of self love, emotional mastery, learning how to ask for what you want and so much more. You will receive sisterhood, energy and many tools to help you in your health, relationships and finances. We believe that all of your dreams are waiting for you to just let them in. There are 6 spots remaining to our April event. You will be so glad you came. Click here to find out more. Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:45:37 -0500 Full article 2_93available at: stepintoyourpower.com Have you ever been in a place where you were anxious to connect with someone? Perhaps you had a scheduled appointment; maybe you had an urgent question or request and regardless of email and phone attempts said person is nowhere to be found. In frustration you tell yourself a story that you are unimportant in this person's life, you decide that this person has abandoned you; the reality is that perhaps neither is true, maybe said person has other things going on. Before you decide that this person is no longer on your Christmas card list, read on. The other day was one of those particular days falling in the middle of one of those particular months. Chris and I had been on the road for 13 days. We flew to Las Vegas to do a training for a group of fired up network marketers and then headed from there to Los Angeles to present the awesome second annual Power Body Weekend. Travel in and of itself can provide a host of challenges and the fact that Baby Em goes everywhere with us simply adds to the mix. Needless to say, between presenting, planning, organizing, tracking down the nutrition text books, taking care of baby and squeezing in time to workout we were definitely in a place where our 'to do' list exceeded available time. Baby Em decided that sleep was only for the weakest of beings and being an East Coast girl she simply refused to sleep through the night. We were up with our beautiful baby girl at 1:00 a.m., 3:00 a.m. and then she was up for the day at 4:30 a.m. Not only did we feel like we had been run over by Mack trucks we looked it. Thank goodness we take care of ourselves nutritionally or there is no way we could keep up with the pace. On this part of the junket our time for email and phone was very limited. I had our team with us and thus emails and voicemails abound. Did I leave a voicemail indicating I was away? Absolutely yes. Did I turn on my auto responder? That would be 'yes' again. Did I indicate in my ezines that I would be away? Yes, yes and yes. The reality is that regardless of letting everyone know, life does happen and Chris and I are committed to helping people get to the next level in all areas of their lives. Doing my best, in between trainings, to catch up I was still left with many emails and voicemails to return. To be truthful I felt as though I was letting people down to a certain extent. I may be a have it all woman but I am not a do it all woman. We returned home late on a Monday night to our 3 other happy, smiling children. We were so happy to be home snuggled in our beds. The next morning our oldest daughter, Avery, celebrated her 13th birthday and thankfully only wanted traditional Indian takeout for her birthday dinner. God Bless Avery!! What I did not mention is that not only were we happy to be home, we were only home for 24 hours. For Avery's landmark birthday a trip to Disney was planned and we were putting our entire brood in the car for a 24 hour drive to Orlando. By the time we return home we will have been travelling for almost 30 days with only 24 hours at home. It may seem crazy, but it is our life and we do love it. Do things often happen with the best laid plans? You better believe it. On the eve before our departure I was running around doing errands. I had scheduled 3 hours to do errands and return about one hundred emails. While out and about I called home to check in. Chris let me know that the dishwasher was on fire (someone had put a paintbrush in it which fell down and got caught in the motor) and that Baby Em had peed all over the bed. I rushed home to help my man, opening the door to the smell of a burning motor. I took the baby, laid out the food and somehow we managed to have a family meal. My best laid plans of getting through all of the emails and voicemails were put aside. After the children were snuggled in their beds it was off to do back to back training calls. That night Baby Em woke up screaming. Our last flight had re-burst her ear drum so our plans to leave for Florida were pushed to later in the day after a visit to the hospital. 8 hours later than our original departure we were on the road to Florida and as the kids slept I silently thanked God for the Blackberry, of which I had two with me, simultaneously on one phone and returning emails on the other while Chris drove. Our life is really good. Our children are healthy and happy. We have an amazing business. We love the Lord and yes, sometimes the dishwasher does catch on fire. If you are an entrepreneur with children then you can absolutely relate and deserve a wide berth of grace. The next time you are wanting to connect with someone and they are not prompt in their reply do not tell yourself a story of why they may not be getting back to you. Who knows - their dishwasher may be on fire. Lives Will Be Transformed After the Power Body Event in Los Angeles, the feedback was amazing. Lives were transformed and women stepped into a greater level of understanding, compassion and certainty with their bodies and their minds. It is an amazing blessing to behold an individual who commits to embarking on the journey of self love and self acceptance and Power Body was a wonderful catalyst of empowerment. Lives will be transformed at the Have It All Women's Weekend in Toronto on April 9, 10 and 11th. We invite you to join us and be a significant part of history...the history of the evolution of you!!! In 3 transformative days we will give you the tools to become more powerful in your business, relationships, finances, health and learn to ask for what you want in life. On top of this it is the ultimate girl's weekend filled with laughter, sisterhood and most importantly - fun. Do not miss out. Click here to find out more and register today. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:33:00 -0500 Full article 2_92available at: stepintoyourpower.com "I want to set an example that will never be forgotten." Terry Fox* As the Olympics came to a close on Sunday with the nail biting final show off between Team Canada and Team USA, two nations held their breath unified in their individual patriotism and a desire for victory. In the third period, Team USA In sudden death Canada scored the game winning goal and a nation was brought to tears of sheer joy proud to live under the maple leaf. pulled their goalie and with a six on five man advantage managed to tie the game and force an overtime. To even participate in the Olympics requires more than skill, it requires discipline and commitment. To train and compete day after day through the frustrations, joys and sometimes aches and pains requires a high level of focus and dedication. Although every athlete wants to win a gold medal or cross the finish line first ultimately only one team or one individual can ever win any singular event; an achievement that requires commitment. This Olympics also featured a story so heartbreaking and full of emotion that I had a tough time hearing this athlete's name without tearing up. Joannie Rochette, from Canada, exemplified incredible commitment when her mother died on Sunday morning, 48 hours before her daughter was set to compete. The Rochettes arrived from Quebec on Saturday to watch their daughter represent Canada in women's figure skating and despite, what must have been, shock and horror at her mother's sudden death, Rochette committed to her sport and took home the bronze medal. In my life I have been challenged to call on commitment in many things, including sport. There have been races where my muscles burned and I felt incredibly challenged and yet my commitment to finish strong yielded top finishes back in the day. Even now, having just completed the Power Body Weekend where Baby Em was up every 2-3 hours, it was my sheer commitment to the women and the process that kept me going on so little sleep. Commitment is such a strong word and yet something that appears to be so often abused. Many committed people get married and over half of them will be divorced. Many people commit to an exercise program only to yield their will weeks later. People commit to saving more money, working at their business or their career and when the first challenge comes, they let go of the commitment and go back to a lacklustre form of supposed desire. To commit to anything requires a minimum of at least one test of that commitment. If you speak to any athlete they will tell you that there have been tough training days. Look at Lance Armstrong, he battled cancer as a test of his dedication to sport. A millionaire will tell you that she or he had at least one significant test of resolve and that their success was on the other side of adversity. I have a friend, with a business worth millions, that has overcome being sued, the death of his father, personal health challenges, family differences and a ten year process to realize his latest invention that almost put him in ruin. Most people would have given up yet my friend stayed committed to the process and most recently received a buyout offer over $50 million. In my career in network marketing I have seen many people who start with a company and never fully commit. What ultimately happens is that these people either quit the company, make very little and create a story that somehow their lack of success was due to something other than their apparent lack of commitment. In any industry our success will be evidenced by our level of commitment. Right now I want to ask you where you can call a greater level of commitment into your life. Is your eating or exercise program in greater need of commitment? Are your finances lacking in a focus on savings and debt repayment? Do you require a good look at your relationships? Ultimately, we reap what we sow. If we commit to any area of our life we will be rewarded. Like Lance Armstrong or even my friend, sometimes the reward are not immediate and ultimately fall on the heels of at least one challenge. You can be successful in all areas of your life and now is the time to stay committed or re-commit to something which you know will ultimately get you to where you want to be. Will there be challenges? Absolutely. There can never be commitment without a test and the merit of your victory will be measured by how you overcame the challenges on your way to the top. Go forward with a heart of victory and a solid commitment. Everything you want in life is out there and the time is now for you to go for your dreams and commit. The journey may feel tough at times however the view from the podium will last a lifetime. Terry Fox Exemplified Commitment *On April 12, 1980, Terry Fox, of Port Coquitlam, BC, set out with little fanfare from St. John's, NL, on an ambitious - and at that time unheard of - cross-country run to help raise funds for cancer research. The image of him running with a prosthetic leg, the result of a bone cancer diagnosis and amputation at age 18, made a deep and emotional impact on Canadians as he ran on his Marathon of Hope and they opened their hearts and their wallets for his cause. After running 143 days and 5,373 kilometres through Atlantic Canada, Quebec and much of Ontario, his journey was cut short outside of Thunder Bay, ON, on September 1, 1980 when cancer appeared in his lungs. He passed away at the age 22 on June 28, 1981 but his dream lives on with annual Terry Fox Runs throughout Canada and internationally. To date, close to $500 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research in his name and his journey has inspired others to follow in his footsteps. From www.terryfox.org Lives Will Be Transformed After the Power Body Event in Los Angeles, the feedback was amazing. Lives were transformed and women stepped into a greater level of understanding, compassion and certainty with their bodies and their minds. It is an amazing blessing to behold an individual who commits to embarking on the journey of self love and self acceptance and Power Body was a wonderful catalyst of empowerment. Lives will be transformed at the Have It All Women's Weekend in Toronto on April 9, 10 and 11th. We invite you to join us and be a significant part of history...the history of the evolution of you!!! In 3 transformative days we will give you the tools to become more powerful in your business, relationships, finances, health and learn to ask for what you want in life. On top of this it is the ultimate girl's weekend filled with laughter, sisterhood and most importantly - fun. Do not miss out. Click here to find out more and register today. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:37:52 -0500 Full article 2_90available at: stepintoyourpower.com "I also think stress is related to control. When you're in charge of your life, you tend to not care about losing control of things that don't really matter like traffic jams." Marilu Henner This week we are on the road, literally, in Los Angeles preparing for the second annual Power Body Weekend. It is going to be fabulous and the entire team is looking forward to helping women from all over North America fall in love with themselves physically and spiritually while giving them the tools to win with all aspects of their health. Travel, especially with a baby, isn't always easy. Baby Em doesn't particularly understand pacific time. She is an East Coast girl and wakes up every morning at 4:30 a.m. It doesn't matter what time Chris and I go to bed, Baby Em is up bright eyed and ready to go before dawn. Through our groggy state and hazy reality it can be challenging to stay centered. On a trip where I am speaking and running a major event there is enough to think about let alone the nursing schedule. To say that life as an entrepreneurial mom can be overwhelming would be an understatement. Truthfully I do not even allow myself to go 'there.' Overwhelm can be a slippery slope of self deprecation and guilt so instead I choose to find ways to center myself; creating a little oasis in the fray of activity that is our life. A recent article by the American Psychological Association found that Americans are 42% more stressed than one year ago. The economy and personal financial security is at the top of the list of potential stressors and coping mechanisms include everything from overeating to alcohol to prescription drugs to narcotics. As a society, somewhere along the line, we have forgotten that we are naturally equipped to handle stress. We are evolved from the same DNA as the hominoid running from the sabre tooth tiger. If being something's lunch is not a stress then I do not know what is. Stress is our body's natural response to self preservation. It was never meant to be numbed down. It was created so we would survive. With so many things to be stressed about in today's society it is no wonder that we have taken self preservation to a new extreme. In my own life I will honestly admit that sometimes I do have a great deal of stress. I have been giving conference calls when my child started screaming or doing a presentation when I started lactating. There have been times of unusual stress in dealing with certain aspects of business that are not my favourite and many opportunities to forget how simple it is to cope with stress. I have had worry, doubt, feeling of guilt, anger and regret. Despite all of these things, we have managed to become successful and continue to move forward. The only thing worse than overwhelm for me is complacency and that is an even slipperier slope. Believe me, I have had my share of massages, facials, de-stress teas, yoga and a host of other methods to deal with stress and center myself however my go to fail safe method is the following technique. It works for me and it is my hope that it can assist you. As much as I would like to take your stress away and even though it can feel as though we are being chased by a sabre tooth tiger, I can promise you that life is always going to give us more opportunities to feel stress. You are in the driver's seat and can absolutely take control of how you handle what comes your way. Yes, you can invest in the spa or even the Ben and Jerry's but these things are just a band-aid. Facing up to what irks you is the only way to clear out the stress. Asking yourself some key questions will certainly help you gain some perspective and often a little perspective is just the thing to get you back in action and centered. Remember - we are all equipped. We have been given the resources to handle life's most challenging situations. Whatever you are going through remember to focus on what you are going to. Tips for Centering Yourself and Dealing With Stress 1. Take 3 deep breaths. Deep breathing is shown to lower stress hormones. 2. Write down 10 items of gratitude. Before I tackle any stressors I take a minute to remind myself about the blessings in my life. 3. Take a 50,000 foot view of the situation. I like to take myself out of the equation for a minute. We can often find ourselves too emotionally linked to come up with an effective solution. 4. Write down a list of options. We always have options. Not all are feasible however make a list. There are always more alternatives than you think. 5. Take 100% responsibility. Being a victim is never going to serve you. If you are in a mess then it is your responsibility to clean it up. Do not play the 'blame game.' Own your situation and move forward. 6. Remember that this is part of the process. Often the things we want the most are on the other side of some of the most challenging lessons and situations. Keep focussed on where you want to be and not where you are right now. 7. Forgive yourself. It is easy to be angry at yourself when you are not happy and stressed out. Give yourself some grace. Would you judge others as harshly as you are judging yourself right now? 8. Act. The longer you let a situation fester the more stressful it becomes. Take action tackle the challenge at hand. If you are unsure of the best course ask for the assistance of a mentor. Do You Have a Great Have It All Story? Have you triumphed in some area of your life? Perhaps you have liberated yourself from a destructive situation. Maybe you have become healthier. Have you done something that has helped you overcome a fear or challenge? We want to hear from you. Susan Sly's highly acclaimed book, the Have It All Woman, has been read in several countries around the world including Cambodia, Hong Kong, Australia, Canada and the USA. We have almost completely sold out. Susan is currently updating the book to include more practical applications, stories of inspiration and tips for personal empowerment. We would love your stories. Please send your 300-400 word story to info@stepintoyourpower.com . Please include a jpg photo, your phone number and best email address. Your story may be in print. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 08:25:36 -0500 Full article 2_89available at: stepintoyourpower.com "A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work" (General Colin Powell) This coming Saturday I will be training a group of entrepreneurs in Las Vegas on the art of discipline. We will be working on the nuances surrounding the habits that create a seven figure residual income. Although making millions requires several factors including a product or service, the right attitude and a degree of skill; at the top of my list of pre-requisites is discipline. To be successful at anything from weight loss to a loving relationship to financial freedom there is a necessity for discipline. At the start of my entrepreneurial career I worked in the fitness industry. I taught aerobics, I did personal training and I also created nutrition programs. Even though many people exercise and try to eat a healthy diet, my observation was that only the most disciplined of people actually transformed their bodies. Pick up any fitness magazine from Oxygen to Muscle and Fitness and you will find the dieting secrets of the pros. Although many would envy the physiques, only a few will ever achieve them. Living a highly disciplined lifestyle which includes a regime of chicken breasts, steamed broccoli, protein shakes, oatmeal, egg whites and tuna is often too restrictive for the average person. Perhaps this is why the average person, in America, is also 30 pounds overweight. A poll in U.S.A. Today asked Americans what they would do with an extra hour each day. The highest ranking answer, coming in at 75%, was exercise; the average American would exercise if they had more time. The disciplined person would say, create more time. Anyone I know, who has children and owns a business or has a career, has a challenge finding time to exercise however the most disciplined of our friends makes the time to exercise and thus happen to be the healthiest people we know. Is discipline the answer to health? It would seem the answer is a resounding 'yes'. The majority of North Americans have already given up on their New Year's resolutions and truthfully have returned to their undisciplined ways. A recent study conducted over 15 years and on 7000 people, at Ohio State University, found that weight and debt are connected. In fact, the more out of control the weight, the more likely the individual was to have a great deal of debt. The average participant who lost weight also increased their net worth. It would seem that discipline and finances are also linked. It is always tempting to come up with excuses for why we cannot save money or exercise. There are always distractions and truthfully, it is often harder to get the workout in or save 10%. Discipline means being able to act despite all else. If you truly believe, like I do, that you are destined for greater things then the answer that bridges the gap of where you are right now and where you want to be is discipline. Many years ago Lance Armstrong had the dream of being a professional athlete. He was a very good triathlete and cyclist when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer on October 2nd, 1996. Although the medical report was grim, Lance focussed on getting well. He had the dream of one day winning the Tour De France. Through chemotherapy and radiation, Lance continued to focus on his goals. When he was finished his treatments he got back on his bike. At first it was challenging and even painful however his discipline kept him going and he went on to win 7 Tour De France cycling races. Discipline kept Lance Armstrong going and it can keep you going too. You may have received a prognosis that is not very positive, you may be going through financial challenges, perhaps your relationship is not everything you want it to be; the answer to all things is to stay the course and call in discipline. If discipline is the answer to what you desire then it can also be said that lack of discipline is the undoing of the majority of the world. Look at any celebrity that falls from grace. Usually a torrid affair, drug use or driving while impaired is the cause for the scandal. At the root of any of these things is lack of discipline. The truth is that we do not arrive on the door of physical or financial ruin overnight; it is day after day of undisciplined actions that take us there. Ask any person who has ever achieved success and they will not speak of massive action; they will talk about the simple daily disciplines. In my own life, if discipline has helped me achieve results it has been times where I lacked discipline that caused me to falter. When I weighed 200 pounds I felt ashamed however the truth was that I did that to myself. I ate too much. I didn't exercise enough. I called that into my reality. When, at the age of 24, I was worth a million dollars on paper I lacked discipline with money. I purchased a business, my head full of ideas, and yet I didn't have the discipline to manage that business in the way it deserved. As a result we lost the business and I felt emotionally bankrupt, public humiliation and scorn. People lost jobs as a result of my lack of discipline. If I look back on my life, the greatest triumphs came on the heels of well executed daily disciplines. The results we have achieved so far are not due to special skills or secret talents; I have simply learned to operate with enough discipline to get the job done. This weekend I will be sharing tips on how to call more discipline into the lives of the people in the audience. I will teach them how to operate with laser focus so that they can achieve the success they have dreamed of in their hearts. I know that you can also be successful in every area of your life. If you want to create more income, get healthier or have the relationship of your dreams; it can all be yours if you choose to operate with more discipline and let go of the distractions that not only prevent you from your greatness but also affect those you love and care for. Where in your life can you be more disciplined? Can you get up 30 minutes earlier to exercise? Can you limit your junk food to just one day each week? Can you save 10% of your income? Can you schedule in time each week for your children, your partner or your friends? We can all go to the next level in our lives. It isn't always going to be easy however the freedom that comes on the back end of discipline is worth every bead of sweat and every furrowed brow of determination. I encourage you to go for it like never before and call in more discipline into all areas of your life. It's Not Too Late Would you like to be personally trained and mentored by Susan Sly? Tickets are going fast for the Power Body Weekend in Los Angeles on February 26, 27 and 28th. Come learn how to be more disciplined with your health? Release negative habits? Let go of the constraints of emotions that cause you to abuse your body. You will love every second. Click here to take one of the remaining spots in L.A. It will be the best decision of your life. Sun, 21 Feb 2010 16:01:02 -0500 Full article 2_86available at: stepintoyourpower.com "The season of failure is the best time for sowing the seeds of success." Paramahansa Yogananda As I write this, Chris and I have been awake for five days in a row. We are not looking for sympathy, we are not shopping for pity; it is really just a fact - five days of being awake with brief periods of 'alert rest.' Baby Emery, a naturally sweet and content child, has decided that night is no longer for her and thus, no longer for us either. Any parent, grandparent or person who has become nocturnal by force can relate and in the end, regardless of how it feels in the moment, it truly is only for a season. Chris and I have coined the term, 'sleep drunk' in our home. It is when one feels as though they have consumed an entire bottle of Patron, without the reckless abandon one may have felt at the time of the actual imbibing. Sleep drunk makes us irritable, causes us to lose focus and oh yes, there is no worry of a fifth child (we are not planning one) because that would require immaculate conception. Last Sunday, after night number five, I forced myself out the door for a run. In my head I imagined a couple of miles just to clear my mind. Five miles later, feeling much better, I reasoned that Emery's decision not to sleep was only for a season. After this, we would be in another season and like so many things, following a season of toil often comes the season of harvest. Many things happen only for a season. The recent recession, for example, was a season of financial adversity which had happened on the heels of a season of financial prosperity. Those who stayed the course during the recession experienced, not only a recovery in their portfolio, they received the reward of a season of financial gain. People often experience a season, or two, of ill health. A friend of mine, an athlete, was diagnosed with cancer. After a season of sickness, he went on to triumph which opened doors of greater opportunity for him. Another friend recently went through a season of stomach flu which swept through her home. It lasted only for a short period of time and on the other side, everyone was just as healthy as before; the season of illness was naturally followed by a season of wellness. This past Sunday marked Super Bowl 44. Football happens in seasons and two lucky teams get to advance for the coveted battle to determine the Super Bowl champion, much like modern day gladiators with the exception of physical death although defeat may feel very much so. During the regular season, players and their teams give it all they have and in the end there is only one winner. For a football player, it takes years of training and development to get to the NFL. Children start at a young age, they progress on to high school ball and then, if they have enough talent and are lucky enough to be scouted head to university. There, further selection occurs and ultimately only a chosen few get to suit up on any given Sunday. Once a player achieves pro status, years of preparation yield to a good couple of seasons. In our lives we all face seasons of victory and seasons where we feel defeated. There are times when we wonder if our personal winter will ever give way to the birth of a new spring full of hope. You may be feeling frustration in your business or finances. You may be wondering if your relationship is ever going to improve or your health is ever going to take a turn for the better. Know, that ultimately, everything is only for a season and that you are equipped to weather any storm. Much like the football players, who in the off season, are working out and training, you can choose to use your personal off season to better yourself. Is there a book you have been putting off reading that will help you grow in your skills? Is there a conversation you need to have with your partner so you can be on the same page? Is there a person you need to forgive or perhaps someone you need to acknowledge? Is it time to actually get out there and join the gym or start that exercise program? It is easy to feel gracious in a season of victory and easy to forget all of the struggle that proceeds any triumph. Any football player will talk to you about intense practices and mental hurdles that must be overcome to get to the big game. Any millionaire will share their stories of personal growth that were necessary in order to become successful. Any happily married couple will let you know that they did have arguments. Ultimately, anyone who achieves victory knows that the season of growth, struggle, challenge and sometimes pain is essential in order to enjoy the season of victory. Whatever challenge you are facing please know that it is only for a season. There is light at the end of that tunnel. Perhaps you have felt stuck for years; know that your day is coming and your season of harvest is just around the corner. You may be wondering how I could possibly understand your struggles. Although I cannot walk in your shoes I can share that when I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, lost my marriage, my home and all of my income I experiences a season of despair. I cried at night and wondered how I would ever overcome my challenges. I didn't see the hope around the corner, all I saw was my personal misery. It was not until I decided to change my attitude and come to the conclusion that my current situation was not a definition of who I was, it was only a definition of where I was, that things began to change. It was only one year later that I re-met Chris, fell in love and began the road to a new life. Three years after that we were successful entrepreneurs and I was getting healthy. Today, I feel so blessed to be living in a season of both prosperity and growth and that means a life of continual harvest. I understand that you may be frustrated in your life. Your bank account may not be providing you with security. You may feel out of shape or even battling a negative health report. Please remember that all things are for a season. You can change your attitude right now and take on the notion that the season of abundance is just around the corner. All struggles must end at some point and above all else know that your season of increase is at hand. P.S. - It was an awesome football game last Sunday!! Tickets are Going Fast Spend time with master trainer, author and speaker Susan Sly in beautiful Los Angeles, California. The Power Body Weekend is 3 days of inspiration, transformation and motivation. Learn how your body works, how to eat for pleasure and not out of pain, discover the best exercise techniques for your body type and much more. You do not want to miss it. The weekend includes healthy, gourmet meals, workouts, guest trainers and more. Register today. The people in your life deserve for you to be the healthiest version of you imaginable. Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:56:25 -0500 Full article 2_85available at: stepintoyourpower.com "We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive." C. S. Lewis Two weeks ago I was in Arizona for a function arriving shortly before the airport was shut down due to torrential rains and flash flooding. Several hundred people were forced to change their plans. Some choose to forgo the event, others choose to wait for the next available flight while others still took flights to neighbouring airports, rented cars and drove to Phoenix. The latter group choose to keep their destination and re-chart their course. Life can often throw us some curves. We can be focused on a goal, set a plan as to how we are going to achieve it and then something happens that forces us to re-evaluate. Success lies not in the giving up, but in keeping the goal at the forefront and coming up with another strategy to get there. The fastest route may not necessarily be the one that gets us there and the learning that results from the new course is often more valuable than anything else. This past week an old friend Facebooked me. His last six years had been full of tragedy. He is a personal trainer and fitness specialist, his wife is a chiropractor. Their young daughter was diagnosed with cancer and they had spent two years and hundreds of thousands of dollars getting her well. During that time my friend had to shut down his personal training studio and re-chart his course. As a result of all of the connections he and his wife made through the outpouring of support he has a new business and it is even more successful than his studio. My friend had a goal of owning a business and achieving success. The universe, who I call 'God' had other plans. My friend still achieved his desired outcome however he had to take a different route and grew tremendously because of it. He is stronger in his attitude, faith and desire. He has a different appreciation of life. Often we choose a goal, such as getting healthier, and we join a gym, start a diet program and let people know that we are making a change. Inevitably life happens; we get busy, we are tired and it becomes very easy to lose sight of the goal. Instead of letting go of our success we can choose to embrace that we may need to re-chart our course. Instead of going to the gym five days every week, we could take 2-3 of those days and powerwalk from our front door or do an exercise video at home so we can capitalize on time. There are always many paths that lead to the same destination. Years ago I wanted to be a millionaire. I had hoped to be a professional triathlete, win raises, get endorsements and build a brand. God had different plans for me and in the year 2000 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and was too sick to race. Four years and much suffering later I was introduced to a network marketing company and low and behold, as the by-product of helping people, became a millionaire there. I wasn't meant to be a professional athlete, I was meant to be another kind of professional. Had I been successful in triathlon, I would have only helped myself. In network marketing, my writings and trainings, I am blessed to help tens of thousands of people. I had the same outcome and had to choose a different course. The result has been even greater than I could have imagined. In the last six years I have learned so much, grown tremendously and continue to grow. Lance Armstrong is a great example of the power of re-charting. Lance too wanted to be a professional triathlete and he was pretty good. After a successful victory over cancer, Lance went on to win 7 Tour De France cycling races. He arrived at his destination of success and because of his re-charting the results were even better than he imagined. There is a joke about a man and a woman who arrive at a raging river. The man starts sawing down trees and building a bridge. The woman pulls out a map, hikes 2 miles upstream and waves to the man from the other side. In life so many of us are like the man who spends a great deal of time, effort and energy building a bridge instead of pulling out a map and looking for a better solution. We have the opportunity to 'invite the easy in' by looking for innovative ways to get to our goals even if it means going out of the way. You may be looking at a goal that seems so far out of reach. Perhaps you are wondering if you will ever be fit and health, if you will ever find your soulmate or get out of debt; maybe the solution is re-charting your course to get the result and that means doing something a little bit different. A woman I know wanted to find her great love. After a series of blind dates and set-ups she was no further ahead. She decided to re-chart her course and do something different. She used an online dating service and booked 5 coffee dates per week. In six weeks she met and fell in love with her now husband. They have been together happily for ten years. This woman realized that her course wasn't working so she re-charted and ended up with great success. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Are you hoping for your dreams to come true but going about them in the same fashion as always? If your current course is not working, re-chart it, and try something innovative and new. Keep your goal at the forefront but do not be afraid to get out there and be creative. The worst thing we can ever do is give up on our dreams. Chances are, whatever you are dreaming of, will positively affect other people. When you give up on your goals, others lose too. You are often so much closer than you think and, like the woman in the joke, may just need to pull out the map and choose something different. In the short term it may seem that the new course requires more work and may even scare you a bit but the end result may be better than you have imagined. This week I invite you to take a breath, re-visit your goals and dreams and chart a new course if that is what you require. You may need to take a course, hire a consultant or coach or attend a seminar to get some new and innovative ideas on how to proceed but in the end your success will cause you to step into a level of power that will inspire others for years to come. Tickets are Going Fast Spend time with master trainer, author and speaker Susan Sly in beautiful Los Angeles, California. The Power Body Weekend is 3 days of inspiration, transformation and motivation. Learn how your body works, how to eat for pleasure and not out of pain, discover the best exercise techniques for your body type and much more. You do not want to miss it. The weekend includes healthy, gourmet meals, workouts, guest trainers and more. Register today. The people in your life deserve for you to be the healthiest version of you imaginable. Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:42:36 -0500 Full article 2_82available at: stepintoyourpower.com "A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." Christopher Reeve So often we attend events, listen to a motivating audio or read an inspirational book with the absolute intention of taking action in our lives and forging ahead with our dreams. The sad part is that once we encounter the first challenge human nature is to give up and return to a life of complacency. Giving up further yields to a sense of remorse and from there stems self deprecation. Let's take, for example, the story of Bill*. Bill is in a network marketing company that has produced many millionaires and has products that are highly regarded. When his company announced a contest that would reward recruiting and assisting people in getting paid, Bill got very excited. He made a declaration that he would participate and even win. Soon after the contest began, Bill was faced with his first challenge. After reviewing his list of prospects he realized that he would need to go and find some more people. As Bill was adding to his list a family tragedy set him back and after a few weeks away from his business he returned with renewed vigour, more determined than ever. Unfortunately it was Bill's third challenge that took him out of the running; he could get out there and prospect and soar beyond the passing of a close family member however he could not surpass the mental hurdles that eventually conquered his resolve. Bill recently shared that at the company's celebratory event; he felt a twinge of remorse. As the winners marched across the stage with their giant checks, Bill realized that he had allowed his mental negative chatter to be victorious over his actions. Bill is not alone, for many people the chatter of the mind paralyzes them from getting started on their dreams or, in Bill's case, realizing a dream they are indeed capable of. The mind is a powerful tool. It can lift us up or it can defeat us. In both cases it is merely the act of allowing the mind to control our actions that either sets us up for victory or for failure. In the very same contest, Sarah*, faced similar challenges. Not fully understanding the contest she decided to leap in with both feet and learn as she went. During the same period, her mother passed, and she too had to work through grief and the litany of paperwork afterward. Sarah's mind stayed in victory and even though she was focused elsewhere for over six weeks, she came back and ended up adding extra money to her bank account in the contest. The fact of life is that we will always face challenges. We will always have life events which we can allow to steal our dreams. The truth is that we do not have to surrender our victories at every opportunity, instead we can train our mind to focus on the 'win' even when all else seems lost. When we approach our lives with a victory mindset, we become people who not only take action toward our dreams, we become people who are victorious in our dreams. There will always be life events, it is our choice to continue on no matter what. Years ago, I had a dream to write a book that would be endorsed by both Jack Canfield and Dr. John Gray. At the time I didn't know either bestselling author and I hadn't put one word on paper. When I decided to write the Have It All Woman and applied myself in getting 3000 words per day on the computer, no matter what, things began to happen. Before the first printing we had Dr. Gray's endorsement and soon after received rave reviews from Jack Canfield. After I decided to pursue my dream and focused on action, everything else came into place. Did I have distractions while I wrote the book? Absolutely. Would it have been easier some days to not write? You better believe it. Could I have given up on the dream? Yes. Did I? No. Instead of being a person who allowed my mental chatter to get the best of me, I focused on the dream and took action. In reality, we are all much closer to our dreams than we think. The hardest part is getting started, the second hardest part is staying the course and keeping a victorious mind no matter what. This week I challenge you to be extraordinary and make a decision to go for it. Know that there will be distractions and set backs however staying the course will eventually lead to your wins. Just think - it took Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen hundreds of rejections before someone published Chicken Soup for the Soul books. It took Colonel Sanders thousands of 'no's before his secret fried chicken recipe became a success. Lance Armstrong beat cancer to win the Tour De France. There are so many examples of people defying the odds to become victorious. It wasn't easy for them and it may not be easy for you however the only way you will ever know is to get started now and go for it. Do not quit, no matter what and you too will be a victor in your own life. Know that the mental chatter will always be there - it is in your power to turn down the volume. Tickets are Going Fast Spend time with master trainer, author and speaker Susan Sly in beautiful Los Angeles, California. The Power Body Weekend is 3 days of inspiration, transformation and motivation. Learn how your body works, how to eat for pleasure and not out of pain, discover the best exercise techniques for your body type and much more. You do not want to miss it. The weekend includes healthy, gourmet meals, workouts, guest trainers and more. Register today. The people in your life deserve for you to be the healthiest version of you imaginable. Thu, 4 Feb 2010 07:23:53 -0500 Full article 2_80available at: stepintoyourpower.com Every week I write from inspiration that happens in my day-to-day life. This week I was inspired by two separate conversations: one with a girlfriend I have known since we were newly minted teenagers and the other from a coaching session. It is my hope that you will read this, forward it to your girlfriends, and make a decision to go beyond the life you are currently living and step into your own power in your relationships, health and finances. I write with love and a heart of service. Enjoy. Once upon a time we were all powerful beyond measure. We were born with infinite potential utilizing our resources to let the world know precisely what we wanted. Our cries, in most cases, brought us nourishment, a clean diaper and a snuggle. Our happy cooing most likely yielding a mirrored response. In most likelihood we were the masters of our small universe with our caregivers bending to our will. As we began to grow the shift of power occurred. We began to learn the difference between right and wrong. We were reprimanded for bad behaviour and sometimes acknowledged for good. It was at this point in time that we realized that we were not in control and that ultimately we could have a tantrum, scream at the top of our lungs and even stomp our feet and not have others bend to our will. It was then that we decided that we were not powerful and we decided that the pursuit of goals meant allowing others to determine the importance of those goals. As we grew into later childhood and other children 'trained' us on our worth we learned to self judge. Questions such as, 'do I fit in,' and 'why doesn't she like me' plagued our existence. We discovered that there were certain societal standards, that if met, would result in acceptance and at this point we decided to either alter our true self and yield to pressure or completely rebel telling ourselves that it didn't matter. Even if we managed to 'fit in' at times we felt different and secretly kept that to ourselves. As teenagers we often felt frightened and alone; uncertain the people really understood us at all. We questioned ourselves. We wondered if anyone else experienced the same thoughts and emotions; we were afraid to find out. We thought about rebelling and sometimes we acted on it. We tested our limits, sometimes openly and other times in secret. Our hurts were deep and our elation magnificent. As we grew into young women we took on responsibility. There were greater expectations. We realized that most of the things we worried about in our adolescence were not as relevant now and that some of the challenges remained. Did we fit in? Do people like us? Do I matter? When should I settle down? We knew we had time to make the big decisions. Sometimes there was pressure from family and friends. Sometimes we felt as though there was pressure to do certain things. We still continued to secretly rebel, suppressing our urges to take another path. We felt the weight of adulthood and also the gift of time. People still considered us 'young,' they gave only a modicum of consideration to our youthful opinions. And then one day, we woke up to find ourselves as full fledged adults. Our lives were full of responsibilities; there were bills to pay, people to please, perhaps children to care for, perhaps parents to tend to. It happened almost overnight with a gush of speed and we wondered about the glimmer of our youth. We began to regret decisions, re-think our choices and once again question if we were the only one's who felt like this. At times we felt as though we were playing house; standing in the kitchen making dinner, doing homework and cleaning up. One part of our brain, the child, couldn't understand why this was happening. When our own children were having tantrums, we wanted to join them. When our children were rebelling, we wanted to rebel alongside them. Looking in the mirror, at the face once youthful and full of promise, we somehow decided to put ourselves last. We stopped caring for ourselves. We were sometimes angry and frustrated. We allowed people to disappoint us and at some point decided that we were not important. We stopped asking for what we wanted, we stopped going for our goals with passion, we enabled people who were negative and critical and ultimately gave away our power. The child who was repeatedly told 'no' succumbed and suppressed her desires with food, or wine, or exercise and perhaps lack thereof, sex or the withholding of sex, with self-loathing, and going out of her way to make people like her. We pushed down our belief that we were powerful. We, instead, conformed and secretly resented women who dared to pursue their goals telling ourselves that they were the selfish one's when in reality, we were selfish for suppressing our gifts. Our reality is that we are all powerful, extraordinary, brilliant and beautiful beyond what we have even tested regardless of what we have achieved in this life. God only creates magnificence, what we do with it is entirely up to us. Isn't it time that we re-claim our power so we can express, instead of repress, our gifts? When we come to the end of our lives, we will not look back and say, 'I wish I would have spent more time punishing myself for my perceived flaws.' We will not wish we had been more critical of the women who dared to push the envelope. We will not wish we had been more judgemental of those who challenged us to be better. Instead, we will wish that we had used our time more wisely and impacted more people. You are magnificent. You are a gift. You are incredible. Decide right now that this is your time to step into your own power and dare to be that woman that others secretly wish they could be. Know that I believe in you. The road may not be easy, however the destination is infinitely magnificent. Go for it. Tickets are Going Fast Spend time with master trainer, author and speaker Susan Sly in beautiful Los Angeles, California. The Power Body Weekend is 3 days of inspiration, transformation and motivation. Learn how your body works, how to eat for pleasure and not out of pain, discover the best exercise techniques for your body type and much more. You do not want to miss it. The weekend includes healthy, gourmet meals, workouts, guest trainers and more. Register today. The people in your life deserve for you to be the healthiest version of you imaginable. Thu, 28 Jan 2010 07:08:13 -0500 Full article 2_78available at: stepintoyourpower.com According to noted trainer and author, Jack Canfield, the vast majority of people have already given up on their New Year's resolutions. All of the goals, dreams and aspirations that they manufactured with hope on January 1st have already fallen apart. The top two resolutions in America this year are to save more money and lose weight. The challenge isn't that these resolutions are too big or the dreams to grand, the simple truth is that the journey to accomplishing anything whatsoever is going to require consistent effort and determination mixed in with enough knowledge to get to the next level of success. The true issue with most people is that they give up too soon on their goals. As a society we tend to be one of instant gratification. In an era of PVR where we can skip past commercials on our 1000 channels of television, 24/7 communication where we can choose our level of availability and social networking we have become conditioned to merely 'turn off' anything that is difficult or unwanted. Interestingly enough, merely staying the course is often all that is required to attain a goal. Our natural human tendency is to withdraw from the uncomfortable and yet the reality is that the uncomfortable is often where we attain the results we desire. A study done by the MDRC, a non-profit government organization co-founded by the Ford Foundation, found that 9th graders in Chicago who missed less than five days per semester were 90% more likely to graduate high school. Those students who missed 5-9 days per semester were only 63% as likely to graduate whereas missing 10-14 days dropped the potential graduation to only 41%. The correlation is one where the more days missed the less likelihood a child will graduate. Basically, what this study shows is that by merely showing up a student increases their success. What can we learn from this? If you have ever hit the 'snooze' button on the alarm when your intentions had been to go to the gym early in the morning then you know exactly where I am going. Simply getting up and heading to the gym, which is the most challenging part of the workout, on a consistent basis would be enough to yield body transformation. The evidence actually supports that those who exercise in the morning tend to be more successful with their resolve. Dr. Cedric Bryant, chief exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise, say's that 'morning exercisers tend to stick with their habit.' Again, we know that consistency is the key to achieving any goal and the morning exercisers tend to lose more weight than those who exercise at other times of the day. The other truth, according to a feature on CNN, is that 7 out of 10 Americans do not exercise on a regular basis. People with graduate degrees have a higher tendency to workout consistently while those with a high school education or less are very unlikely to participate in regular exercise. This correlates with the obesity epidemic in the United States where the less education is inversely correlated to greater levels of obesity. Many studies have linked physical health with financial health. One study found that people with higher B.M.I.'s (body mass indices) tended to also incur high debt and save very little. Savings are at an all time low in America according to the banks. Very few Americans save money and a reported 22% have absolutely nothing left after they are paid. Imagine if financial literacy was taught in schools. Those same students who simply showed up would likely be saving money also. If we go back to the MDRC study, it would seem that people who can simply show up and be disciplined enough to create the regular habits that allow them to graduate from high school would also have the resolve to exercise on a consistent basis. Showing up in reality is half the battle. The toughest part of doing anything is just getting started; once we show up our mind expands and once the mind is expanded change ultimately occurs. The late Jim Rohn and his friend Zig Ziglar had a decade's long argument. The friendly debate centered on education versus motivation. They pondered the question as to whether success in achieving any goal was due to the individual being educated enough to find solutions or motivated enough to get past the obstacles. My answer is really 'both.' Once a person simply shows up for the education, their mind expands, and the motivation is essential to carry out the application of the education and turn it into tangible results. Ultimately, it would seem that showing up is the most essential factor to anything. Whether the goal is around money or health, showing up does yield a certain level of growth. Ultimately, when we show up for something, whether it is the gym or attending a seminar on savings, eventually the information seeps in and affects our actions. The actions may not change overnight however there is merit in the notion that our mere attendance may affect our decision making ability and yield the discipline required to attain a desired outcome. My question for you is this: what do you need to show up for? In a month we will host our second annual Power Body Weekend in Los Angeles. There, participants will be educated on holistic nutrition, hormones, specific supplements for specific health issues, how to eat for pleasure and not out of pain, how to read a nutrition log and a food label and additionally how to be self motivated to attain the best body ever. If showing up is the key to success I would highly encourage you to take advantage of this weekend. We will feed you healthy meals, you will learn different types of exercise from Zumba to resistance training with bands and ultimately expand your mind for change. I believe that this can truly be your year and that showing up is the first step. Unlock The Secret to the Healthiest You Ever Join Susan Sly at the 2nd Annual Power Body Weekend in Los Angeles. Spaces are filling up quickly. You will learn how to eat for your body type, the difference between carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Find out how to customize your own nutritional program, get over your fear of food, and learn how to live into the best body you have ever had. Click here to register. Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:30:46 -0500 Full article 2_74available at: stepintoyourpower.com When it comes to success, you may wonder if it is entirely random i.e. due to the luck of swimming at the right end of the gene pool or if it could be that it is entirely predictable. Could it be that success is reliant upon having the right family name, going to an Ivy League school, attending the opera and visiting the latest installation at your local museum or gallery? According to economists Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt, authors of Freakonomics, success, it would seem is somewhat predictable. Dubner and Levitt, economists, pulled data from thousands of students in Chicago during a time of public school integration. The sum of the data confirmed some interesting correlations. For example, a child living in a home with books was more likely to achieve higher grades than one without books. Whether books hold some kind of mysterious cache or if the factor was merely due to the likelihood that educated parents would read more and take a keener interest in their child's upbringing remains to be seen. Either way, books were indeed a factor. Levitt and Dubner also found that children who were more highly motivated had a greater likelihood of academic success. This would seem undisputable on the forefront, however I would wonder whether a child who is motivated to win a video game would receive the same academic excellence as a child who is motivated to make the debate team. Interestingly enough the economists found that watching television did not factor into academic success and neither did reading to children despite the presence of books in the house. In the wonderful world of quantification and data Levitt and Dubner are not alone in their quest to discover what makes a successful individual tick. Malcolm Gladwell, in his book The Outliers, studied some of the most successful and wealthy people in the world. He found that time spent at one's craft and a certain amount of inherent luck factored greatly in determining success. Gladwell proposed that people like Bill Gates and Tiger Woods are not born geniuses with a high degree of talent, it is simply due to repetition and lucky circumstances that both became so successful though the later was his own worst enemy in his self destruction. Not only have the economists been crunching data to see what makes a person success, authors like Jim Collins, in his book Good to Great, have studied companies and their C.E.O.'s to understand what makes an individual outperform his or her peers. Interesting, in Collins' research it was found that C.E.O.'s who had high egos and arrogance tended to be the demise of a good company while their counterparts with high motivation and a modicum of humility tended to take a company to the stratasphere. Think about the brilliance of Sam Walton who, despite his millions, continued to drive an old Ford pick-up truck or Warren Buffet who openly admitted to his shareholders that he had made some mistakes in 2008 and 2009. Collins also found that the great C.E.O.'s put the good of the company or organization before the good of the individual. Success, it would seem, does have some cues. Over the course of the last two decades I have been privileged to meet, study and collaborate with many multi-millionaires. Some were born to wealth while others made their own way. What the majority had in common was that their initial circumstance, that is whatever financial position they were in as they entered adulthood, was bettered as they developed themselves. In looking at these people in retrospect it is easy to see why they seemingly soared to a higher level of success. There are five key principle keys to achieving the success that has been placed within you. I believe you are destined for greatness; you have already had that million dollar idea, have started a business, have an extra stream of income, are working towards your health goals, and believing for that relationship which will fill your heart. To test one's metal, is to test their resolve. I have come up with the acronym M.E.T.A.L. to assist you in solidifying your success in 2010. I encourage you to go for your dreams with passion, enthusiasm and faith; you are magnificent and now is the time to go for your best year ever. The Five Key Elements to Success - M.E.T.A.L. Motivation Successful people are highly motivated. In Napoleon Hill's Book, The Magic Ladder of Success, he identified the key factor to achieving wealth as motivation. Whether it is wealth, health or a better relationship, you have got to be highly motivated to get something done. There will be times when your motivation is tested, these are always opportunities to grow and truly test your resolve. Think about someone who is working toward releasing 30 pounds. Once that decision is made and the motivation is there, inevitably that will be the time when a slew of dinner party invitations and colleagues bringing brownies to work will occur. Get super clear on your motivation. Why do you want to succeed? How long have you wanted to achieve this goal? Who else benefits when you become successful? Motivation is the key to staying on the journey. Make sure your motivation is strong enough to keep you going in challenging times. Education Accomplishing anything worthwhile requires education. By 'education' I do not refer to degrees or doctorates, I am referring to practical and experiential education in the form of books, seminars, audio programs and the like. Education is essential to achieving anything. Education provides the blueprint to success. It is rumoured that noted personal empowerment trainer, Tony Robbins, read 800 books before starting his seminar business. Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul books, reports reading at least one book per week. A good friend of mine, with a high school education, earns over $2 million/year in network marketing. He has read hundreds of books on the subject and is one of the most giving, authentic individuals I know. Leaders are readers. I encourage you to read biographies, books on success, 'how to' books and also attend seminars and listen to audio trainings. Time It takes time to achieve success in anything. Whether you want to release body fat or make millions of dollars per year, it will take time. Noted economist and author, Malcolm Gladwell, suggests it takes the application of one's craft over time to be highly successful. Gladwell studied some of the most successful, affluent people on the planet and found that genius was born after 10,000 hours of practical application. In a society of instant gratification it is no wonder that people tend to give up too early on their goals. If you want to succeed, it is going to take some time. Give yourself years to achieve you goal and you will be pleasantly surprised at the rate at which it occurs. In my last business venture, I gave myself 7 years to become a millionaire and did it in 3 ½. The reason for this was indeed motivation, education and the being patient enough with myself to become more skilled which took time. Anyone who becomes good at anything does so on the heels of being bad enough at it to know what 'good' feels like. If you speak another language or play an instrument, remember when you first tried. Likely you were not that good. Over time, with practice, you became better until you got to a place where it felt very fluid. Repetition over time is a wonderful master teacher. Attitude The attitude of success is one that is unfailingly positive and has a heart of gratitude. This means that all challenges are thought to be the footstones on the path to the ultimate outcome of the desired goal. It is easy to feel great when things are going well, it is a true test of one's attitude when things are not going well. To be successful you must celebrate every victory no matter how small, you must also be positive in times of duress. No, it is not easy to do either of these things however the person who is highly motivated will forge ahead with a smile on their face no matter what. Leadership The last aspect of success is leadership. To lead means to face scrutiny, doubt and uncertainty. It also means to put the goal ahead of the individual. For example, I have a friend who was grossly overweight to the point of being unhealthy. To reach her healthy weight, she would have to release 100 pounds. At her highest weight she was at risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, asthma and much more. At this time her friends continued to offer her food, cocktails in the middle of the afternoon and basically enable her. When my friend decided she was motivated to lose the weight, she then educated herself though reading and being coached by me. As she began to release the weight over time her friends became critical. My friend turned down the mid afternoon cocktails in favour of a powerwalk. She eschewed high fat and high sugar foods for healthier options and began to consume natural protein shakes and cleanse her body. The result was a weight loss of over 100 pounds in 8 months and a woman who was both confident, healthy and self assured. It took a lot of leadership for my friend to put the goal ahead of the judgement of others. Their judgement was really just jealousy. For the last three years my friend has kept the weight off and she has attracted some great new friends who support her healthy lifestyle. When you are motivated to succeed you will have to put the goal ahead of the people who are judging you. You will also have to look at the goal as an entity which must be nurtured and supported. You will also have to draw on courage to see it through. Lastly, know that I am believing for your success. The universe, who I call God, has destined you for greatness. You must do the work and have the strength to follow though however the end result is the success you have always wanted in every aspect of your life. Unlock The Secret to the Healthiest You Ever Join Susan Sly at the 2nd Annual Power Body Weekend in Los Angeles. Spaces are filling up quickly. You will learn how to eat for your body type, the difference between carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Find out how to customize your own nutritional program, get over your fear of food, and learn how to live into the best body you have ever had. Click here to register. Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:05:28 -0500 Full article 2_59available at: stepintoyourpower.com The Icy Puddle with Susan Sly "You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement."Steve Prefontaine Last week it rained; one of those torrential downpours that begins with ominous grey clouds which yield to gusts of wind and finally, with much anticipation, sheets of rain surged from the sky. With the rain and the wind came a small amount of flooding. It was of no surprise the following morning that, while running on my favourite path, that I came upon a giant icy puddle. The puddle engulfed the path, the field to the left and a person's lawn to the right. My only options were to turn around or run right through those four inches of icy cold, muddy water and continue on. The people closest to me will tell you that I am a determined person. I have done the Ironman triathlon for goodness sake and yet on this cloudy morning the anticipation of frozen, wet feet for another four miles was not looking overly inviting. As I am not the type of person to turn back, I decided to run through as fast as I could. When the first shards of icy water sopped past my socks and made contact with my skin I thought about business and how some of the decisions we make are met with a similar sensation. In business, it is often tempting to turn back in the face of adversity; it is seductive to avoid the pain of rejection, apathy and judgement. It is much easier, in reality, to turn around and head back to where it is safe even if our goal is on the other side of temporary discomfort. As I ran on, feet wet and cold, my body began to compensate. With every step my feet became accustomed to the damp, squishy shoes and my stride actually increased keeping pace to Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer." I continued to think about how many times I had been faced with challenges in my business life. There have been so many icy puddle moments; situations that I knew I would have to go through in order to reach my target. In business we all face adversity; it is par for the course. A friend of mine has been working on a project for seven years. During this time he has been sued, invested all of his savings, faced doubt and ridicule from family and friends and yet has still persisted. He has had many icy puddle moments and because he has chosen to forge ahead he was recently rewarded with a buyout offer of over $60 million. He turned it down because his business is worth more than that. Either way at $60 million he profits over 6000 times his initial investment however my friend is willing to have a few more icy puddles in order to achieve his desired outcome. This friend is also a runner. He and I have run in snow, sleet, freezing rain and even on the morning after a couple of bottles of wine. He has a keen business focus. He and his wife were at our home the other night and I asked him what he does when people criticize or judge him. He replied, 'I am the Teflon man.' Basically, things slide off of him. He then shared that in order to be successful in business we all have to have Teflon skin. I have made millions in network marketing and there have been many icy puddle moments. There have been numerous occasions where it would have been easier, though not as financially rewarding, to turn back instead of getting my feet wet. In the end I choose to keep running and that is where the success came from. The interesting thing about puddles is that eventually they dry up. The next day, on my run, the puddle had decreased in volume and frozen so now it was a new challenge. This time I slowed my pace and kept moving forward until I reached the other side. In business the people and situations that challenge us may morph into something different. The client who one day is extremely irrational and angry can be emotional and apologetic the next. A lack of income can transform into a challenging tax situation; ultimately our challenges never go away, they simply change shape. If we want to be successful we cannot stop moving forward, we may have to change our pace or even deal with temporary discomfort however on the other side is our goal. The reason successful people become successful people is because they never cease moving forward regardless of how the challenge appears, they may modify their approach however they continue to push on. This morning, Chris and I ran and the puddle was gone. The sun was shining and the air was crisp. It was a wonderful way to begin the day. Even though the run was effortless I know that the puddle will likely be back and I am fine with it. I continue to move forward just like my friend with the Teflon skin. I encourage you to surge through your icy puddles this week. My mentor taught me to do today what others won't so I can do tomorrow what others can't. Most people will not go through the icy puddle, they will turn around. Don't turn around - just go through it, you will be so happy you did. There Are A Limited Amount of Tickets Left for The Power Body Weekend in Los Angeles. How would you like to truly understand how your body works? How would you like to live into the healthiest, sexiest, leanest body ever at any age? Would you like to learn how to rule your hormones instead of having your hormones rule you? Would you like to break the mental bonds of self criticism and learn how to fall madly in love with yourself? You deserve to join celebrated trainer and author Susan Sly for 3 incredible days. We will feed you gourmet healthy meals. Enjoy different exercise modalities including the new craze - Zumba. Learn how to get a complete workout anytime, anywhere. Join our exercise specialist and registered nurse Deborah Wright. Learn about hormones and anti-aging from registered nurse, educator, trainer and sex therapist Camille Lawson. You will be so happy you joined us. Click Here to Register Use coupon code POWER and receive an additional $200.00 savings. Offer expires Dec. 15 Wed, 6 Jan 2010 16:57:50 -0500 Full article 2_72available at: stepintoyourpower.com Although research varies from source to source, over sixty percent of Americans will set a New Year's Resolution on January 1st. According to a recent poll of 1000 participants, Fidelity Investments found that approximately 43% of Americans are likely to create a resolution about finances in 2010. Weight loss, a hot topic, is likely to remain consistent with at least fifty percent of American women setting a resolution to lose weight. In both segments, the resounding majority of people report a need for help with their goal. The truth is that while men tend to be more consistent in achieving their resolution, the vast majority of people will give up before they reach their target. You may wonder why bother setting a resolution at all if the likelihood of failure is imminent. The truth is that all goals are attainable though what tends to be vastly underestimated is the amount of discipline required in achieving the goal. With this in mind I would like to share my top tips for keeping your resolution this year. I encourage you to set the goal and follow the steps below. My theme for 2010 is to be 'born again.' From this perspective, it doesn't matter how many attempts you have had, if your perception is one of failure or if you doubt your capacity to achieve what you have resolved to do. This is a brand new year, a new decade and new opportunity to achieve exactly what you want so let's go for it and make 2010 the year you discovered just how magnificent you truly are. Step One Set the goal. Create a goal that is measurable, emotional and meaningful. Instead of saying 'I want to lose weight,' instead say, 'I am easily releasing fifty pounds so that I can chase after my children, be a true role model and live into the beautiful body I am meant to have.' Step Two Interview people who have achieved what you are resolving to do. Do you want to quit smoking? Interview people who have done it. Do you want to make six figures this year? Interview people who have created residual income of six figures or more. Ask them how they did it. Find out what steps they took. Ask them what books they read, what courses they attend, how they set their schedule and what they did to overcome self doubt. Step Three Create a vision board around the resolution. If you want to lose weight then cut out pictures of how your healthy body will look. If you want to make more money then cut out pictures of what that lifestyle will be like. A great place to put your vision board is in your bathroom according to Kevin and Pam Barnum. Why? It is the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you see at night. Step Four Schedule for your goal. If you want to lose weight then schedule in time to exercise and make healthy meals. If you want to make more money then set aside time to develop an extra stream of income. As an aside, I created an extra $10,000/month on 2 hours/night six years ago. That turned into a seven figure income. Creating the time is key. Chris and I have all of our workouts scheduled so they do not conflict with the kids' lessons and homework. Yes, it takes some work but it is worth it. Step Five Develop a plan and build a team. At some point we all need help. Do you need a financial planner? Do you need a coach? Do you need a support system for quitting a bad habit? Create a plan and get your team in place. Your team can also include good friends and loved ones. Let them know your goal, why it is important and tell them exactly what they can do to support you. You can also find likeminded people through www.meetup.com and other social networking sites. Where there is a desire, there is support. Step Six Stay in the game. Often, our goals allude us because we quit too early. Not one millionaire I know gave up after the first challenge. Not one person, who has ever released weight and kept it off, gave up after they plateaued. Stay in the game. Your success is often on the other side of a challenge. My mentor taught me that the only way to fail is to quit. Don't quit...period. Step Seven Be grateful for every small step forward. If your goal is to make an extra $50,000 this year then be grateful for every $1 extra you create. If your goal is to release 100 pounds then be grateful for every pound. Your gratitude is your latitude. The more grateful you are the faster the victories come your way. Take time to be grateful every single day, write down your gratitude list and watch how fast your resolution manifests. Finally know that I believe in all of you. You are capable of keeping your resolutions this year. Know that you are magnificent and in achieving your goals you will be a role model of excellence for everyone around you and inspire people to be more in their own lives. Go for it and remember that at Step Into Your Power we are cheering for you. There Are A Limited Amount of Tickets Left for The Power Body Weekend in Los Angeles. How would you like to truly understand how your body works? How would you like to live into the healthiest, sexiest, leanest body ever at any age? Would you like to learn how to rule your hormones instead of having your hormones rule you? Would you like to break the mental bonds of self criticism and learn how to fall madly in love with yourself? You deserve to join celebrated trainer and author Susan Sly for 3 incredible days. We will feed you gourmet healthy meals. Enjoy different exercise modalities including the new craze - Zumba. Learn how to get a complete workout anytime, anywhere. Join our exercise specialist and registered nurse Deborah Wright. Learn about hormones and anti-aging from registered nurse, educator, trainer and sex therapist Camille Lawson. You will be so happy you joined us. Click Here to Register Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:38:54 -0500 Full article 2_71available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude." Denis Waitley A few moments ago, I was racing through the door with Sarai, our four year old. "Mommy, I really have to go pee," reverberated through every cell in my being. Much like an animal being pursued, fear in its large mournful eyes; I felt the adrenaline of determination mixed with terror. Only a parent or a teacher can truly understand this experience; the child rushing to get to the bathroom, the adult scrambling through slow motion simultaneously ushering the child into the facilities whilst tugging at clothing. Fortunately we made it this time. As I sit down to write this I can hear my middle daughter singing away. We have just returned from Disney's Princess and the Frog. Our home is warm, the fireplace alit, stockings hung on the mantle and my husband is feeding Emery some eagerly anticipated mashed organic carrots. Sigh, yes at this moment our house is a peaceful oasis away from the mealy of the throngs of people shopping for that last minute gift and my heart is full of gratitude for this life which includes our companies, our family, changing diapers and yes, bathroom emergencies. Appreciation stems from dichotomy. I can appreciate our home, our healthy children and even the welcome flush toilet because I have experienced what it is like for people who do not have such things. This past year Sandy and I journeyed again to Cambodia and Africa. We cradled sobbing girls who had been sold into sex slavery, we visited villages ravaged by malaria and interviewed young women who had been raped and tortured. Ultimately the third world provides an often much needed reflection of how fortunate we truly are in the developed world. This past year also continued our partnership with Sistering, a drop in centre in downtown Toronto. There, women receive shelter from the cold, a warm meal, counselling, education and a friendly smile. The Have It All Women's project has raised thousands for Sistering and we are grateful to partner with such an amazing facility. A visit to Sistering is a wonderful reminder of how much we truly have and how close we are to being one or two steps away from a life where we must rely on the kindness of others. The Have It All Woman's project has helped hundreds of women achieve greater balance and fulfilment in all areas of their lives. The October event was particularly powerful. Our advanced leaders took on projects which helped them discover how incredible they truly are. One highlight in particular was our very own Lynn-Raquel who discovered that sexy can begin during the 'grandma years.' The first ever Power Body event was a huge success with women attending from Texas, Michigan, California and other parts of Canada. There we learned holistic nutrition, how to exercise for our body type, how to deal with the emotions that lead to suppressive eating and drinking and much more. On Sunday every woman received a breakthrough and it was awe inspiring. We were so blessed to have noted sex therapist and registered nurse, Camille Lawson train at the event and also grateful to Deborah Wright, also a registered nurse, who made us sweat twice every day. Our entire team will be in Los Angeles in February for the first U.S. event. Tisha and Sandy have been instrumental in making these weekends powerful. Tisha has an incredible intuition. She knows every woman by their name, face, heart and spirit. We are so grateful to have her there laughing and yes, sometimes, crying along with every woman. Sandy and Kaity outdid themselves in October, creating an Advanced Leader challenge that had us laughing until it hurt. It is one of the all time highlights of the Have It All Women's Weekend and believe me, we will do it again. I am so grateful to have a team of honest, selfless, hard working, integrity driven people who create events that are transformational and do it for all of the right reasons. On a sad note, we lost one of our Have It All Women. Christine's body passed after a short but heroic battle to cancer. Her spirit lives on with us. I will always remember Christine as everyone's biggest cheerleader. She had an exceptional heart of service. We will miss her terribly and have created a scholarship in her name. Her dear friend, Catherine, another Have It All Woman, has also created a scholarship with the Canadian Chiropractic College. We want to ensure that other women are blessed in honor of Christine. We are all grateful to have known Christine, she was a blessing to our lives. Another major point of gratitude is the work that P.K. is doing with relationships. We know of several marriages that have been helped by his coaching. He has also transformed people into becoming exceptional leaders. One of his students has created a six figure residual income in six months. It is a testament to P.K. and his tireless service and dedication and we are grateful for everything he does. I am grateful to P.K. for how he makes me laugh. Our work in Africa can be emotional to say the least. P.K. is able to bring me to tears of laughter with his East Coast impersonations reminiscent of the area of rural Nova Scotia where we are both lay claim to ancestry. This laughter is welcome after a day in the villages or working with children who are the victim of third world autocracy. This year our Step Into Your Power family also welcome two new babies. Our financial coach, Corinna and her husband Jeff, became parents to baby Alexander; he is their second child. Chris and I had baby Emery in July and feel so grateful to have a healthy little girl to join her two older sisters and big brother. Our talented coaches helped people transform their physical, financial and emotional health. Kim Sauve, the Cold Call Queen, assisted people in mastering their phone skills and getting out of their comfort zone. Kim recently completed her Life Coach certification and we wish her big congratulations. Our coaching team was also rounded out to include the talented Maura Lustig, a certified coach and incredible artist. We are so grateful for this brilliant team. When we started Step Into Your Power four years ago it was with the intent to assist people in all areas of their lives. Our vision was to have participants who were living the life of their dreams in their health, relationships, finances and philanthropy. We dreamed of people who left our events and classes returning to their communities and becoming better mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons and people of the highest moral integrity. Our dream is becoming a reality and we are so grateful to all of you. As we go into 2010 know that there will be more on the horizon. This community was born from a desire to empower others. As we go into the future know that we are deeply grateful for every stride you have made in your life as a result of reading our ezine or books, listening to our c.d.'s, attending one of our seminars or working with our coaches. The world is a beautiful place with you in it. We encourage you to go for your dreams this year with wild enthusiasm. Know that we believe in you. On behalf of myself and my family, we wish you every blessing imaginable and even more that you haven't imagined yet. Susan Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:48:31 -0500 Full article 2_69available at: stepintoyourpower.com Three Questions to Ask Yourself Right Now with Susan Sly "Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you ready or not, to put this plan into action." Napoleon Hill Here we are in the home stretch of 2009. With two weeks left to go there are many things left to do and also many things to think about. In our house there is the constant milieu of activity. The children are in their last week of school, we have shopping to do, events to attend, special snacks to send in for class parties, cards yet to mail and even grading for karate belts. Even if we were not entrepreneurs, there would be more things to get done than there is time. With so much distraction it would be easy to let go of production and simply melt into holiday mode. As a professional or business owner you know that goal setting and goal getting is second nature; for us, achievement is the name of the game. Can we really have it all? Can we enjoy the festivities and go for what we want without losing our minds? Absolutely. As you read this we have about 315 hours left in the year; 18,900 minutes remaining to accomplish something worthy of putting a stamp on an entire 365 days of our life. In reality, so many incredible things can happen in a shard of time. A new life can be created, a life can end, we can win a promotion or get a new client or lose one, we can pull in the courage to connect with someone who ends up being a new friend, partner or business associate. Ultimately lives can change course in one hour or even a minute. Taking a few moments to anchor yourself with a deep breath and some self reflection at this time will not only benefit you physically, it will also set you up for an incredible 2010. In the hustle and bustle of the season I invite you to journal on these three key questions. 1. As you look back over 2009, what high points would you like to re-live and how can you re-capture the energy of the moment? What was it about these moments that was so special? Was it the energy, the excitement, family, friends or perhaps personal gain? Write out as many key points as you can and then describe, in detail, how they made you feel. Although you can never re-live any one moment in time, you can re-capture a feeling or sensation. For example, in our house we welcomed a new baby. That was a very exciting time. Our entire family was so happy. Although we have no plans to have another child, we can choose to re-capture that type of energy by planning Emery's first birthday and making it a true family celebration. 2. What goals did you set for yourself this year and what can you still do to move yourself forward in that area? Perhaps you had a goal to release weight. Maybe you wanted to save more money or release debt. The universe, who I call God, looks at the actions and not necessarily results. If you are not at your goal weight yet do not wait until January to begin exercising, get out there now - even if it is for twenty minutes every day. If you haven't begun saving yet, start a savings account with ten dollars. Instead of going for a coffee, take that money and apply it to your debt. Show the world that you are working toward your goals, even if the actions seem small, and you will be rewarded. 3. What goals do you have for 2010 and are you set up to achieve them? If you have a goal of making more money do you have books to read, seminars to attend, another stream of income in place or a financial coach? If your goal is to enrich your current relationship do you have special time set aside with your partner? Do not set a goal without creating a plan to fulfill that goal. As a parent, I can tell you that time moves quickly. The other day I was looking at photographs from Sarai's first year and I cannot believe how fast the last three years have gone. Time is something we cannot yet change however we can change how we operate in time. Do not wait to begin your life and do not let go of the remaining year. There are many more joys to be had and many more opportunities to move yourself forward. I encourage you to go for your dreams with passion and enthusiasm and seize this moment...yes, this one...right now. There Are A Limited Amount of Tickets Left for The Power Body Weekend in Los Angeles. How would you like to truly understand how your body works? How would you like to live into the healthiest, sexiest, leanest body ever at any age? Would you like to learn how to rule your hormones instead of having your hormones rule you? Would you like to break the mental bonds of self criticism and learn how to fall madly in love with yourself? You deserve to join celebrated trainer and author Susan Sly for 3 incredible days. We will feed you gourmet healthy meals. Enjoy different exercise modalities including the new craze - Zumba. Learn how to get a complete workout anytime, anywhere. Join our exercise specialist and registered nurse Deborah Wright. Learn about hormones and anti-aging from registered nurse, educator, trainer and sex therapist Camille Lawson. You will be so happy you joined us. Click Here to Register Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:40:38 -0500 Full article 2_57available at: stepintoyourpower.com Sometimes We Have Got to Be Broken Down to Be Built Up "Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down." Oprah Winfrey Last week I overheard a conversation at my Bikram yoga studio. One of the participants was embarking on 200 classes in 100 days. Bikram is hot yoga, done in a room of approximately 114 degrees. Participants report detoxification, increased flexibility, better breathing and a host of other benefits. The sequence is 26 poses, repeated twice. This practice can be intense. Advocates suggest four classes per week to really see gains. As I packed up my things I listened as my fellow student shared how she planned to celebrate after the 200 classes. At night she was still aching but it wasn't as bad. She also shared that she felt as though her body had been completely broken down and put back together again with proper alignment; she felt as though she was brand new. Many years ago my own life, and my body for that matter, broke down. In the span of 4 months I was diagnosed with MS, lost my business, my marriage and became a single mom. With over $100,000 in debt and no job I truly felt as though my world had exploded into millions of shards of what was once a semblance of existence. One of the few things that got me through was standing in a place of faith where I had to believe that being this broken would ultimately mean I was being prepared to be re-built as a person who was stronger, more confident, had greater skills and would ultimately lead a richer life. Did I also have an emotional breakdown? Absolutely. There were times where I kept hoping that I was living in a nightmare and that I would wake up, like some movie character, only to realize that the whole thing had been a hellish dream. There were other times when the emotional pain was so great that it created physical, wrenching pain in my body. I would wake up feeling as though my spine was on fire and my legs tingled, unable to move. Somewhere deep within my being I knew that much like the butterfly, I was the caterpillar in the chrysalis. I was transforming, becoming different; an expression of my true self. The journey was long and often painful and eventually I did come out of that cocoon emerging as a strong, capable woman. I had to go through a complete breakdown in order to be re-built. Life is often like that. In order to go to the next level we must often suffer to the extent of at least knowing exactly what we do not want and get to the point that to go on at our current state is too painful. We must transcend the place of comfortably uncomfortable and rebuild. The great opportunity in this re-building phase is that we can choose to keep what we love about ourselves and let go of anything that does not serve us. In my case it meant letting go of a toxic marriage, moving to a new city and temporarily becoming an employee as opposed to a business owner. On the other side of my breakdown came a fulfilling, loving relationship, self love, a beautiful family, health and becoming a millionaire. The funny thing about breaking something down is that it gives us time to reflect upon what truly matters. When we can look objectively at the pieces of our lives we can decide what is important and what we can let go of. The initial pain of the breakdown is temporary in relative terms if we really stand in a place of knowing that the outcome can be a life better than previously imagined. A dear friend of mine lost her husband at age 38. He left behind three young children, 2 boys and a little girl. I remember receiving the phone call and the mixture of shock and disbelief paired with anger in my friend's voice. What would happen? What would she do next? Suddenly she was a single mom and, as I like to say, 'the only game in town.' Even in her deep pain, my friend made a decision to design a new life. She focused on what kind of parent her children deserved for her to be. She focused on what kind of life she wanted. She made a choice that, in going forward, things were going to be better, magnificent perhaps. Today my friend is happy. She is healthy. Her children, who recently spent time with us, are balanced and connected. In order for my friend to live into the next level of her life, she first suffered a major tragedy. Not all breakdowns are invited. In fact some of them seem to come out of left field, like my friend becoming a widow at age 38 or getting diagnosed with MS and losing everything. Some breakdowns are well planned, like making a decision to change one's career or take time off to reflect. Ultimately, at the end of the day, that next level for all of us is going to require going to a place of dissatisfaction with our current existence and making a decision to go through the process of building something new. You may decide to do 200 Bikram classes in 100 days or perhaps it is a matter of connecting with a coach or mentor to individually dissect all areas of your life to see where you break some things down in order to create that magnificent version of you which is capable of achieving success. Every millionaire and multi-millionaire I know has suffered at least one breakdown, bankruptcy or failure before reaching that next level of success; in fact most of us have had more than one. From our breakdown we were able to build something even better and that is what took us to the next level. Wherever you are at right now know that you have an opportunity to build something new with your life. This something new can be an incarnation of your current reality; a richer relationship, a leaner body, or the next level in your career or business. It can also mean the decision to go in a bolder, new direction and discover a talent or ability you didn't even realize was yours. Ultimately breakdowns are inevitable and only you can decide what to do with the pieces. Power Question What is your life worthy of right now? What may have to be broken down in order for you to achieve it? Tickets are Going Fast Spend time with master trainer, author and speaker Susan Sly in beautiful Los Angeles, California. The Power Body Weekend is 3 days of inspiration, transformation and motivation. Learn how your body works, how to eat for pleasure and not out of pain, discover the best exercise techniques for your body type and much more. You don't want to miss it. The weekend includes healthy, gourmet meals, workouts, guest trainers and more. Register today. The people in your life deserve for you to be the healthiest version of you imaginable. Use coupon code POWER and save an additional $200.00. Coupon valid until Dec. 15, 2010. Mon, 7 Dec 2009 14:59:25 -0500 Full article 2_52available at: stepintoyourpower.com The Docking Station by Susan Sly In the land of technology the docking station is a place where devices such as iPods go to be recharged. As they hobble along, yellow caution light on, they are snuggled into their docking station to be restored and renewed; able to go out and play again. Without a docking station, any piece of interconnected technology would be lost; no music to download, no movies to watch in transit. In fact, after one use the device would cease to function. This week my Executive Assistant, Sandy, arrived at my home carrying a sad little iPod. It had completely run out of juice. Sandy, who usually has her daughter take care of said iPod, was unsure of how to re-charge it. I grabbed my docking station and plunked in the iPod. Within a short period of time it was ready to play at 100%. In life we all require a personal docking station; a place where we too can re-charge in order to go full force into our day and our week. For me, my docking station is one of the sofas in the living room. On Sunday's after a run, Joel Osteen and some sort of outdoor activity, you can find me there watching the NFL snuggling with one or more of the kids. Sunday's are also a day for reflection and for writing. Unless I am in transit, I write on Sunday mornings before the kids get up. I also usually avoid emails as they can sometimes take the 'charge' out of me. Instead, I focus on complete relaxation with my family so that I can move forward into the week and maintain a pace that is on par with the fastest electronic gadget out there. People often ask me how I do it all. The answer is very simple - I allow myself to re-charge in my personal docking station so I can take on the week. When the week comes I am ready. I have already laid out the plans, reviewed my objectives and organized myself so I can keep up with four children, two businesses and life in general. My question for you is this: what is your docking station? What do you do to totally renew yourself? Do you have a piece of time carved out to simply be? Do you allow yourself to set aside life's obligations, even for a few hours to re-charge? If not, then I strongly urge you to make this commitment. Jack Canfield, mega best-selling author and multi-millionaires, carves out 15 minutes every afternoon to simply re-fuel. He puts his feet up, shuts his phone and computer down and rests. My grandmother, a self made millionaire, did the same thing. Every afternoon at 2:00 p.m. she took a nap. My Popo was a force to be reckoned with. She began every day at 5:00 a.m. and didn't stop until 11:00 p.m. Her docking station ritual allowed her to maintain a healthy pace until her nineties. Another friend of mine, Gary, has been the general manager of some of the most luxurious resorts in the world. Gary, a man of wealth and influence calls people such as Bono and Robin Williams friends. Monday thru Saturday Gary can be found working with teams of people and creating an award winning experience for his guests. On Sundays, Gary is in one of his personal docking stations; either his ocean fairing speed boat or his private plane. Gary has occasionally been known to seek comfort on the sofa in front of his favourite NFL team too. Every one of us, much like the iPod, has only a limited surge life. We must refuel and we must recharge. I encourage you to find your personal docking station and make a habit of fuelling up for the week ahead so you can live into your full potential. Do you feel as though something is missing in your health? Are you unsure about how to fortify your body? Do you seek comfort in your own skin? If you answered 'yes' to any of these then join us as the Power Body Weekend in Los Angeles. For 3 powerful days you will learn holistic nutrition, how to eat for your body, what kinds of exercise work for different body types, how to have maximum health on minimal time and how to fall deeply and madly in love with you. This event is over 50% sold out and the clock is ticking. Click here to join us. This event will not happen again in 2010. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:15:03 -0500 Full article 2_50available at: stepintoyourpower.com You May Not Want To Hear This with Susan Sly I am writing this having just returned from the gym and actually still in my workout clothes. When inspiration hits I have got to write so it is in this moment that I have something heavy on my heart to share; if you really want to have more money, a lean body or the relationship of your dreams it is going to take work. This work may be greatly assisted by affirmations, visualization and setting intentions however at the end of the day it is not what you say you are going to do, it is what you have done that truly moves you forward. I have known my husband since I was thirteen and he was sixteen. Back in those days he was my secret crush. Just seeing him in the hallway of our high school was enough to make me go weak in the knees. I was a lanky runner, he was a well built introspective guy and although little known to either of us, we had both been heavy as children. Two and a half decades later he is just as gorgeous to me as he was then and I will tell you he absolutely works at it. We both do at least six workouts every week, eat a fairly clean diet (last night I had steamed green beans, tofu and salad with a protein shake before bed), and take care of ourselves. Yes, we could be doing many other things but the ultimate truth is that we workout for our health, vitality and to stay youthful. Regardless of what you think you see in someone else, how effortless a person makes it look, the truth is that behind every perfect body, great relationship or abundant bank account there is time, effort and energy. I also find that the more someone has to work for something the more likely they are to keep it. Sometimes I think that if Chris and I hadn't been heavy as kids, we wouldn't be so diligent in our workouts. We both have the 'fat' gene so we are also conscious that our kids get plenty of play time, physical activity, and eat healthy foods aplenty and junk food in moderation. Chris and I may sweat it out six days per week to the best of our ability with four kids however thanks to fourteen years as a personal trainer, nutrition specialist, and group exercise instructor I have also learned some great tricks to maximize workouts on a limited schedule. With the holiday's coming I encourage you to really think deeply about making a commitment to yourself. Your health is the secret key to everything you want; the energy to build a business, the self-esteem to be in a wonderful relationship, the power to overcome anything - it is all tied to your physical health. I believe that your body is an absolute miracle. It can turn disease on and it can turn it off if given the right tools. As I shed these last few inches of post baby body I invite you to come along with me and make 2010 the year you stepped into the best body of your life. Ultimately the thing that many people do not want to hear is that everything worthwhile requires at least a modicum of sweat equity. Susan's Top 3 Tips for Staying and Getting Lean 1. Schedule Your Workouts. If you do not have a plan - you plan to fail. Whether it is thirty minutes or an hour and thirty minute, schedule that workout time in and make it sacred. Thanks to the power of network marketing Chris and I have the ability to have 'date' workouts and go to the gym or Bikram together. This is a wonderful way for us to re-connect and also get some quality time together. 2. Keep a Log. Research has shown that people who keep an eating and exercise log are over 70% more effective in achieving their goals. 3. Eat Clean Six Days Per Week. When you choose healthy foods on a consistent basis and limit your 'cheat' foods to one day per week your body will be lean and healthy. The occasion cheat meal or week will actually rev up your metabolism. Susan Sly has over two decades of experience in health and wellness. She is an author, speaker and trainer. Susan has written for Oxygen Magazine Australia, Natural Awakenings and many other publications. She has appeared on ABC Television and also on numerous radio and podcasts. Susan is the mother of four children and specializes in transforming the lives of women and men to assist them in being more fulfilled in the areas of health, relationships and finances. Susan believes that we can have it all. During 3 transformative days Susan and her team will teach holistic nutrition, life balance, self love and much more. You deserve to be at the Power Body Weekend in Los Angeles. This event will sell out so do not delay. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:08:14 -0500 Full article 2_48available at: stepintoyourpower.com The Weight of Your Mind by Susan Sly "As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives." Henry David Thoreau For thirty years I struggled with my weight. I was the fat kid in school; the one that was made fun of. The torment was amplified by my darker skin and buck teeth. I was called names, I was chased home, I was laughed at and perhaps the most daunting thing was that I soon began to believe everything they said about me. In my mind I became ugly, fat and different; I was the ugly duckling though I wasn't convinced that I would ever be a swan. When I looked in the mirror I saw only the repulsive visage of a half Chinese, half mongrel, obese, stringy hair girl in serious need of orthodontic care. Could I be any further from the iconic creamy skinned, blonde haired, blue eyed slender girl that was portrayed in every television ad, show, text book, movie, poster, doll and embodied in my homogeneous town? To compensate I spent time looking in the mirror and punching myself in the stomach until I left marks, there was a comfort in the pain. The pain served as a punishment for how different I was from everyone else. Torture also came in the form of disappointment from my family. I could see the embarrassment in my grandmother's eyes. I was a secret party to the whisperings of aunties and cousins who laughed behind my back. I could see the struggle my father felt in trying to help me and acquiesced to the various dietary changes that prevailed from week to week. As I watched my friends drink soda, I withheld because I was only permitted one soft drink on weekends. When my friends had chips, I politely declined because the words, 'it is not on my diet,' were such an automatic response to every offer of food. Regardless of the changes, the weight stayed on. The solution became sports and I was poured into Lycra skating suits, swim suits and gymnastics leotards. This was a wonderful way to showcase my rolls of fat and my ample thighs. Every practice was a further reminder of how different I was from everyone else. In the 1970's only 3.6 % of children were obese. According to the Centers for Disease Control 16% of American children between the ages of 6-19 are now obese. If I were an obese child today I would not be as different however that does not mean the torment is lessened. As a child grows through certain age markers their risk of becoming an obese adult increases. In fact a child who is still obese between the ages of 12 and 15 has an 80% likelihood of becoming an obese adult. Fortunately for me, I decided to take control of my own health at the age of 11. I was watching the Olympics and I saw the beautiful forms of the sleek runners and I knew that I wanted to be just like them; more importantly I believed that I could and very early one morning when no one else was out, I attempted to run. At first I struggled, I felt as though I was being suffocated from within. Eventually the pain and frustration turned to joy and freedom. Much like Forest Gump, I kept on running and have been for the last twenty-six years. Initially the running trimmed the pounds and my body became leaner. I was still tormented, whispered about and chased home from school and thus I continued to struggle. Even though I was running the pounds began creeping back so I turned to new measures preferring to subsist on Diet Cokes, 3 saltine crackers and a bowl of plain lettuce. Once again, I lost weight and once again little changed. By the time high school came around I was getting pretty good at running and other sports. I had a group of friends and oddly enough they appeared to eat whatever they wanted and still maintain tiny bodies. High school was a lonely time. I felt as though I did not fit in. My family wasn't rich enough or normal enough. The weight began to come back. The ups and downs yielded to more ups and by the time I was twenty I weighed 197 pounds. I was a women's size 16 if I was lucky, but generally an 18. I was in complete denial. It wasn't until I saw a photo of myself with a triple chin and five stomach rolls that I realized I had a problem. Even though I had been exercising and eating a healthy, balanced calorie wise diet I continued to gain weight. At some point in our lives we can either stay on the roller coaster or choose to get off. It wouldn't be until I reached thirty, was divorced and a single mother that I decided to stop the ups and downs and finally get to the root of the issue. The truth was that I could diet and exercise all I wanted however unless I changed my thinking, my body would continue to reach a certain weight and never get below. The first thing I did was to declare self love. No, it wasn't easy. The temptation was there every single day to look in the mirror and find fault. Instead of thinking about how big my thighs were or how flabby my stomach was I made a concerted effort to find something good. I began to celebrate my creamy brown skin, my almond shaped eyes, even my hands which had once been called 'witch hands' were now long and lovely. In the morning I pronounced my unconditional acceptance for what I saw. This didn't mean that there were areas that I could not improve upon however I choose to focus on what I could do with what I had as opposed to wanting something else. As I also began to eat for my own body type slowly but surely the weight came off. My body began to transform. Instead of thinking that everything I ate would make me fat, I had changed my thinking to 'I can eat whatever I want and still be a size four.' It took a great degree of discipline and daily affirmations to change however today I can eat whatever I want. My friend and Step Into Your Power financial specialist, Corinna, tells me that I can eat like a trucker and it is true. Where once I feared food, today I eat for nourishment knowing that my body is exactly as it is supposed to be and that conditioning my mind for self love and self acceptance is more powerful than any form of exercise out there. I also realize that as a mother of three daughters, I owe it to my girls to teach them how to have self love. After having written books and trained thousands of people I realize that self love is not something that happens overnight. It is a process; a treacherous journey to the place of unshakable belief and peace within one`s own body. Is everyday perfect? Absolutely not. I do have my moments however the seduction of self flagellation is not great enough for me to want to return to a size 18 and be that girl who hated everything about herself; instead when I feel that tug of insecurity I seek out something right about me. It may be something small and seemingly insignificant such as a well shaped eyebrow or some muscular definition. The more I focus on what is right, the more my mind yields to harmonious calm and that is such a better place to dwell. You are all beautiful and powerful beyond measure. I encourage you to step forward into this day and focus on at least one thing that is right about you. You are perfect just as you are. The weight of your mind is the greatest weight you carry. To change the weight of your body you will have to change your mind. Are you ready to transform your mind and your body? Would you like to learn how to eat for pleasure and not for pain? Would you like to truly wake up one morning and love yourself? Would you like to know how to find the perfect foods and nutrition to take your body to the next level? You deserve to attend the Power Body Weekend in Los Angeles, California on February 26, 27, and 28th. We will feed you healthy, gourmet meals. You will experience different forms of exercise that accommodate all levels. You will learn about healthy hormones and how to look and feel your best at any age. You will also learn holistic nutrition. If you are in the wellness business this course is tax deductible. Sign up today as spaces are limited. We offer a 4 month payment program to ensure that you are able to attend. Call 1 866 890 0807 to secure your space. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:52:30 -0500 Full article 2_26available at: stepintoyourpower.com "Education comes from within; you get it by struggle and effort and thought." Napoleon Hill Inner Knowingwith Susan Sly In five weeks I will take women through the life changing Have It All Women's Weekend. There women will discover their personal power, learn how to ask for what they want, become more confident in business, health and relationships and set goals in all areas of their life. At the event, we do processes which help women discover what they are really made of. Everything is done in an environment of love, support and safety so women feel able to be vulnerable and let go of what is holding them back. I absolutely love this event and am passionate about these transformations. At the event we also have advanced leadership. These women have come through the Have It All Women's event and come back to go train at a higher level. For the last three weeks I have been thinking about what I could do with these advanced leaders that would really assist them in making a major impact in the world. Although I had many ideas, nothing was really resonating. This past Sunday I decided to try a different approach - I choose to simply pose the question. I asked, 'how can I empower these women to make a quantum leap in their lives?' Within thirty minutes, as we were packing up to go out on the boat, the answer came. I immediately wrote it down and am so excited about what is going to transpire. We all have the ability to call on our 'inner voice;' that place within where intuition and knowing lies. In this place we have clarity and purpose; we know exactly what to do at all times. Our inner knowing is really a higher voice; some may choose to call this voice 'the universe' and I choose to call this voice 'God.' Whatever you choose to say, know that it is available to us at all times. If we simply ask the question the answer will come. It may not be immediate, it may take some time. This is why taking a few minutes every day to simply be silent, meditate or dream is so important. Because this inspired thought can occur at any time day or evening I keep post-it notes and pens all over the place. I keep them in my cars, beside the bed, in the kitchen, in my gym bag, my purse, the diaper bag - I kid you not...everywhere! When I get an idea or an answer I write it down immediately because life happens and I may forget. Some of the best ideas and inspirations have been gifted to me in the middle of the night or while driving and when these happen, I write them down and act upon them right away. Two years ago I was coaching a client. A few moments into our call I intuitively felt that I had to tell her to take her husband for an MRI. I told her that I felt silly even saying it and that no, I am not psychic but he just had to go. My client said that her husband was in good health and had just had a physical and yet she trusted me and got off the phone right away to call the doctor. The result of the MRI was an aneurism. If my client's husband had gone a few more weeks he would have died. I did feel ridiculous telling her to take her husband to the hospital but my intuition told me that it was critical. Today we thank God that her husband is alive and also feel so grateful that I had the sense to trust that voice and urge her to go to the hospital. When Rhonda Byrne was creating the Secret she was almost bankrupt. She felt hopeless and frustrated with many aspects of her life. Her daughter gave her a book on the law of attraction and Rhonda's life was transformed. Her inner guide told her to take the message to the world. She didn't know how she would do it but she trusted in her intuition and acted upon it. One thing lead to another and today Rhonda Byrne is wealthy beyond measure and has helped millions of people. You can find out more at www.thesecret.tv . We all have the ability to call on our intuition at any time. You can pray, as I choose to do, meditate or simply pose a question and sit silently allowing the answer to come. When you have a gut feeling about something - act on it. If a person's name keeps repeating in your head - call them. If you are told to stay on course - then do it. If you have a sense that you are going down a bad path then veer away. The bottom line is this - intuitively you do have the answers. Simply pose the question, be prepared to take note and allow the answer to come. Your inner voice is your power and you can greatly amplify your results by allowing yourself to trust that voice. A final thought is that your inner guidance system can be overridden by fatigue, ego, hormones, anger and embarrassment. When you feel like running perhaps you need to stay the course. When you feel like yelling at someone, perhaps you need to allow them to simply be. If you truly ask your deep wisdom to guide you - it will. That inner knowing is a power much higher than any human emotion. Trust in it and you will transcend beyond your current reality no matter what that is. Join Susan Sly for 3 transformative days at the Have It All Women's Weekend in Toronto. You will learn to trust and love yourself and step into a new level of personal power in all areas of your life. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE. Mon, 9 Nov 2009 18:42:33 -0500 Full article 2_1available at: stepintoyourpower.com A Day In The Life Of A Millionaire Mom with Susan Sly Dear fabulous women and for the men who love us, this week's article is for you. In celebration of Mother's Day I welcome you to take a glimpse into a day in my life. People often ask how I do what I do; today you can jump into my head and find out what I am thinking as I go through the day. Enjoy!!! 5:30 a.m. That darn woodpecker. Am wondering if they have a cactuspecker in Arizona. If so - some insane bird pecking at a cactus won't make this much noise. Every day that bird is my alarm clock. Wondering if I can sleep for one more hour as I went to bed at 12:30 in the morning. Grab my eye mask, the one that I garnered from business class on my last flight. Just like on the flight, it blocks out the light but not the noise. Decide to lay in bed and pray that we will hear back on the offer we put in on the house in Arizona. In 24 days we are homeless. Yikes. 6:30 a.m. O.K. - there is no procrastinating now, it is time to get out of bed. See a rather round woman in the mirror - gasp - right - that is me at 8 months pregnant. Right - remember to find out the name of the OB in the U.S. today - add that to the list of one million things. Read two pages in John Maxwell's book on influence. Head downstairs and am last one up. Avery, God bless her, is already in her school uniform. A.J. and Sarai are still in their pajamas. All kids, thanks to my wonderful husband are already drinking their protein shakes and have their individual piles of vitamins. Everything looks under control. Have cuddles with kids, Chris, grab my one cup of steaming, organic, black Starbucks and head into my office to check on multiple streams of income and return some emails. 7:00 a.m. Very happy, with markets overnight and also income. All is good. Can see the bottom of my email box and check my agenda for the day. As long as I can duplicate myself, I should manage to get it all done. 7:45 a.m. Am still reminding A.J. to finish up. He is still in his pajamas. I head upstairs to get on my workout clothes. Wardrobe selection is minimal at this point and am sticking to the rather monochromatic wardrobe of black, black and more black!!! 8:00 a.m. My angel Sandy arrives and takes over with Sarai. Chris is already in his workout clothes and I am herding children. A.J., shirt untucked, hair askew and smiling is finally ready to brush his teeth and head out the door. I think how much I will miss school uniforms in Arizona. Sigh…. 8:15 a.m. We are on the road for our usual six mile drive to school. Kids are happy and chatty. I drop them off, walk them in and turn on the Secret, as I do every day. Hey - Jack Canfield probably doesn't realize that he accompanies me to the gym Monday thru Friday. 8:20 a.m. Connect with Tisha to go over strategy. Leave my 'Crackberry' in the car and head into the gym. All I have time for is 30 minutes on the elliptical. I alternate channels between CNN and Baby Story. Today is a water birth - very interesting though at this point I do not even have a place to give birth. 9:20 a.m. Am back home and in full swing. Meeting with Sandy, discussing accounting, events, going over schedules and oh yes - that moving thing. Make my own protein shake, swallow a bunch of vitamins, have a quick shower and go into my office. My wonderful, hot, amazing husband has surprised me with a dozen roses. I am a lucky girl. No details about the note - t.m.i. people. 10:00 a.m. Every morning, from Monday thru Friday, I do a daily call. Today I am blessed to have my good friend David Wood on the call with me. Dave rocks for so many reasons. He was the top trainer or Peak Potentials and T. Harv Eker's Millionaire Mind Intensive. He is just a super cool guy. 11:00 a.m. Am simultaneously answering emails and yes - being so pregnant, making regular trips between my office and the powder room. I have a great mentoring session with my friend and business partner. Answer ten more emails in five minutes and wonder what i s happening with our house. 12:00 p.m. Still have 4 articles to write. 2 online magazines are waiting for bylines, about 45 emails to answer and no word on the house. Decide to email my realtor to see what's up. 12:10 to 2:50 p.m. Back to back calls and yes can see the bottom of the email. Am delighted to see the TSX go above 10,000 points and the Dow climb. Green is good!!! Decide to log on and see how my stocks are doing. Yikes - have to run out the door to get my nails done - yes a girl has got to do what a girl has got to do. Grab both my Blackberries and head out. 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Nails and catching up with my friend Jen who is due the week after me. We discus weird pregnancy things, how we love our OB and I feel sad that he won't be delivering this baby. My nails and eyebrows now look great which is a blessing because lately I have just foregone make-up or any hairstyles more elaborate than a ponytail. 4:05 p.m. Pick up Avery and her friend, Chelsea. Off to riding. Yikes - low fuel light comes on. Detour to gas station. Magically Avery is in her riding pants and boots by the time we arrive at the barn. 4:40 p.m. Head back home and mentally go through all of the things I can get done. Call Chris and let him know I am enroute. He is starting dinner. Return call to my friend Kirk. We catch up on my 20 minute drive. Kirk and his family are moving close to Vale, Colorado. We make plans to get the families together. 5:00 p.m. Come running in the door and scarf down rice crackers, hummus and soy cheese. Give Chris a kiss and head up to the play room to hug Sarai, A.J. and say 'hi' to A.J.'s friend Sebastian. Catch up about the day, find out about homework and come into the office to handle more emails. Still have 4 articles to write. Connect with my friend, Mar about our upcoming spa trip - yeah!! Connect with our realtor and we commiserate on why the U.S. banks are in so much trouble. Doesn't anyone want to sell a million dollar home to millionaires? 5:50 p.m. Head out the door to pick up Avery from riding. Call Chris, yes this is silly, to fill him in on my discussion with Chuck our realtor. Arrive at barn to fetch one 'horse smelling girl' and horse girl's b.f.f. Head to the gaming store to pick up a gift card for a friend's birthday, trade in D.S. games spend two minutes visiting with A.J.'s teacher, who is on maternity leave and her cute baby Emma. Yikes - we are going to have another one of those soon. Wow - were they always so small? Get confirmation email from friends Kevin, Di and Candy on our new G.P. in Arizona. Yeah - this is good news. Will not have to deliver the baby myself though my friend Andrea is a midwife. The back-up plan was that Andrea would deliver the baby and Chris and Reggie would drink wine - may come to that yet. 6:30 p.m. Arrive at home. Chris has dinner almost done. Wash hands and dish out vegan mac and cheese, turkey burgers and raw veggies. Grace and dinner as a family with two friends. In a gesture of finishing his meal, one of the boys sends a glass of organic juice flying across the room. Alas - 'Applejuicegate' ensues. Chris and I mop, wipe and clean up while kids finish their meals. Mass exodous from the table as I look at the clock and realize that I am so behind for my S.I.Y.P article. 7:45 p.m. Continue writing article, kids doing their homework, apple juice is cleaned up and Avery has a wall kicking moment. Drop everything, hug my girl and come up with a solution. Meanwhile Chris is 'herding cats' i.e. Chris is getting the little kids ready for bed. Get a call from the parents of the children at our house - they are stuck in Montreal - SLEEPOVER!!! When you have 3 and a ½ kids - what's an extra 2? Hope they like shakes for breakfast. 8:30 p.m. Kids are in bed and I am on the phone. Articles not written, 40 emails to go and my desk looks like a tornado. Have great connecting conversations. 11:30 p.m. Finish on the phone. Finish this article. Kiss my husband - he is a good man!!! Not packed for leaving in the a.m., desk still a mess, take a moment to drink my liquid calcium supplement and breathe. 11:41 p.m. Clean up desk. Figure out how much revenue we generated today, write my 10 itemsof gratitude, shutdown computer and tell my husband how incredible he is. The baby is kicking. We still have not yet closed on our new home. Have had a productive day, our kids are happily sleeping, we have one another and although it may seem like a crazy life - it is ours and we love it. Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:21:23 -0500 Full article 2_25available at: stepintoyourpower.com "He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life."Muhammad Ali Risk Nothing Achieve Nothing with Susan Sly This past week I was doing some coaching with a woman who is new to the industry of direct sales. She is an athlete and her business is nutritional supplementation. Her challenge was that she had 'run out of' her warm market and basically felt that there was no one left to talk to. In other words she was limiting her perspective on the opportunities in front of her and thus had already decided that she was without people to connect with. Does this story sound familiar? Have you ever felt as though there was no one left to buy your product, get started in your business, become your new client or even listen to what you have to say? Perhaps you have felt as though all of your avenues are exhausted. Maybe you have started to believe that the people you know think your product is too expensive, that your opportunity won't work or that you are not credible. The likelihood is that the more you believe your own self-defeating thoughts the more your perceived limitations become your reality. Eight years ago I attended a network marketing company's convention in Shreveport, Louisiana. I was new to the company and had not yet achieved any sort of notable rank. I took in the sights and sounds of the excited distributors and listened intently to the top leaders share their secrets of success. One gentleman's story particularly caught my attention. From the stage he shared how a happy circumstance had turned his limitations into a sea of possibilities. One day Huey Sloane was at home wondering who to call about his opportunity. He had presented his business to his friends and family. Some of them had come in while others had simply turned him down. On this particular day while Huey pondered the next phone call, his wife Belinda asked him to clean out the closet. Initially Huey was a little bit upset. Cleaning out the closet was not an income producing activity. What was Belinda thinking? They had a business to build. On the other hand, Huey was a dedicated husband and father. He knew that a happy wife meant a happy home so he complied with his wife. After an hour or so of cleaning Huey found a business card on the floor of the closet. He could not remember ever meeting this person and he also saw that their office was in Puerto Rico. Huey decided to take a risk and call the gentleman on the card. He was nervous about calling and unsure exactly about what he would say. When the man on the other end of the phone answered Huey shared how he had found the card and although he could not remember him did want to catch up and let him know about his business. The man became intrigued and ended up signing up with Huey. The irony was that Huey's company had just opened in Puerto Rico. This man became one of Huey's top producers. By calling this man Huey risked rejection and humiliation. In the end his risk yielded a great gain. The truth is that even if the man had not signed up Huey would have had a 'win' because every time we make a phone call to recruit a new person or make a sale we learn something about ourselves; we find out where our ego intersects with our desire to achieve. I have taken many risks in my own life. Flying to Malaysia in 2001 with a fractured pelvis to do the Ironman Triathlon was a risk. In the end, through the law of attraction, I found a doctor who froze my pelvis so I could do the race. Even though my family and friends begged me not to go I went and as a result placed 8th in the pro division and met many incredible people. There are risks I take in business. Some pay off and others do not. Sometimes I will work with a contractor or advertiser and the result is less than hoped for. Each time I learn how to make tougher decisions and ask for precisely what I want. Some risks cost me money which ultimately teach me more lessons than an MBA. Other risks simply cost effort and require overcoming fear or intimidation and these are valuable life lessons. At the end of the day, every risk I have ever taken has taught me more about myself than anything else. Will I take more risks? Absolutely. Will some of them yield less than desirable results? Yes. Will I continue to move forward and create more revenue and larger businesses? Yes. That is the difference between winners and those who constantly find challenge - a winner takes more risks. Here is a list of risks worth taking · Going to the gym despite what you may think about your appearance. · Calling someone on your 'chicken list.' · Asking a successful entrepreneur if you can interview them for 15 minutes. · Learning something new. · Finding multiple streams of income - the recession is evidence of that. · Speaking the truth even if you know it isn't what the other person wants to hear. · Asking for the sale. · Staying positive when everyone around you is being negative. · Travelling to new places. · Learning about other cultures. · Spending an extra hour of quality time each week with your family. · Getting a full physical and getting honest with your health. · Asking someone out on a date - even if it is your partner. · Painting a picture - even if you think you can't. · Speaking in public. · Saying 'yes' to something new even though it scares you. · Taking full responsibility in all areas of your life and letting go of blaming anyone else for your weight, finances, relationships or success. Know that at the end of the day, a great leader is judged not by what they say but by what they do. Every great leader takes risks. One only need look at Barrack Obama's decision to run for President as an example of risk taking. He went from the underdog to the leader of America and that involved a great deal of acting in spite of history, competition and experience; in other words he took a lot of risks. Life is too short to constantly play it safe. If you want to be the next Oprah, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, Jack Canfield or be a millionaire, an award winning actor, best selling author or even run a marathon then you will have to take some risks even if they scare you. Make a List of 3 Risks You Will Take This Week Risk Why This Scares Me Date Completed 1. 2. 3. Join master trainer, author and transformational coach Susan Sly for the Have It All Women's Weekend. Susan will assist you in getting out of your comfort zone and taking more risks in a safe environment. Spots are limited. Click here for more information. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:44:01 -0500 Full article 2_24available at: stepintoyourpower.com It's Easier Said Than Done...Or Is it? with Susan SlyHave you felt the change in the air yet? Has the gentle nuzzle of crisp autumn wind evervessed into the lull of the brilliant summer heat? Are you starting to feel the urge of change calling softly to you? Does your mind wander to new and exciting projects, re-decorating your home, taking a course, expanding your business or perhaps even getting healthier? Yes, that season is upon us. The time when children head back to school and adults head back to the gym, the concrete playground also known as the office and back into some sort of fathomable routine. Autumn is a time, much like the New Year, when people tend to resolve to make changes, acquire more ambition and vow to do more. It could rightly be said that we humans are programmed to dedicate ourselves to change and routine in the fall. We begin school or even pre-school at the tender age of 3-5. We condition ourselves to acclimate to a schedule, study and pursue greater knowledge in the fall. We also condition ourselves to breathe a hearty sigh of relief when June arrives and the final bell rings signalling another year of passage. Perhaps you have goals this fall. Maybe you have decided to lose those final ten pounds, get rid of debt and even save money. Possibly you have made a resolution to make more money, increase your production, go for a promotion or grow your business. Yes, the autumn generally marks a period when we set our mind to being task oriented after those 'lazy, hazy' days of summer. Interestingly enough our declarations may indeed have wonderful intent however their physical outcome may be long on the desirability list. You see for the vast majority of people the spoken word is little more than a wish. They feel that crisp fall air and suddenly expound upon all of the things they intend to accomplish. Oddly enough, these tend to be things that have been said before. Science has shown that we have thousands of thoughts every day and that 80% of the same thoughts we have had previously. The same is true of your declarations; they may very well be things you have said you were doing before. How many times have you said that you were going to lose weight, pay off debt, build your business, go to the next level and live your dreams? How many times have you started something only to quit or give up? Who in your life has heard these proclamations? Who has observed you start yet another new thing only to give up a few weeks or months later? Have you wondered what message you are sending? When you tell people that you are going to do something and then do not follow through you send a message that you are not in a place of power in your own life. People also learn not to believe you. That being said, when you go and approach people with a new idea or business opportunity they are less inclined to join you because you have already set a standard that you are a person of talk and little action. You see it is easy to say we are going to do something. It is tougher to actually do what we say we are going to do. It is harder still to go back and make the same statement again to the same people we have told before. In reality it is much easier to be like the Nike ad and 'just do it.' When you get into action you set yourself up for even greater success because the drive will be more internal. Additionally you will not have others judging your progress. The most successful people in the world simply act. They only state their goals if they are already well on their way to achieving them. The wealthiest business people, the most successful athletes and the most powerful leaders on the planet would rather be judged by their actions and not by their words. They know that if they say something and do not follow through it is much harder to justify their apparent failure than to act, succeed and be judged only by that success. To frame this in think about a politician who makes a campaign promise only to not follow through and then has to back-pedal to justify his or her lack of accomplishment. Is that someone you would want to vote for? Is that someone who you would want to lead you? Ofcourse not! Additionally, with this same politician think about how you would feel about their credibility, their integrity and their next promises. Would you believe their empty words or would you wait and see if their actions justified a renewed trust. Chances are that you would wait and see. The same is true of you. It is so easy to say something and not do it. It is easier still to do something, say nothing and therefore set yourself up to succeed without judgement as opposed to having your lack of action be a repetitive theme in your life. The hardest thing to do is to validate your lack of action after making a proclamation of your goals. Today I invite you to ask yourself how you want to be seen. Do you want to be seen as someone who accomplishes things, is successful and gets the job done? Do you want to be known as a person of integrity who doesn't have to go back and justify their lack of action? I am sure the answer is a resounding 'yes' to both questions. Take a moment to write down your top three life goals. Ask yourself what daily/weekly actions you can take to achieve these goals. List out exactly when you will know that the goal is actually being achieved. Make a decision to only share what you are doing at the point at which you know you are on your way to success. Explain why sharing with this person or these people is important. Example One My life goal is to release 35 pounds. To achieve this I will exercise for thirty minutes daily, drink 10 glasses of water, take my vitamins and eat a healthy balanced diet. I will know that I am on the way to success when I have been diligent for three weeks and have released the first ten pounds. At this point I will choose to share my success with my family because I want to be a positive role model for my children. Example Two My life goal is to build a six figure residual income. To achieve this I will connect with three new people every day, commit to my daily mentoring call and do one presentation at my house every week. I will know that I am on my way to success after one month of consistent action and when I sponsor my first two people. At this point I will share my success with my sister whom I would love to have in my business. You can choose to be an example of success as opposed to speaking empty words. Allow yourself to get started on your goals today. Decide how much consistent action will mark the period at which point you are on your way to succeeding. Decide who you will share this with. Remember, the world is always watching you and your actions are dictating what the world chooses to see. Every woman deserves to attend a Have It All Women's Weekend. In three life transforming days we will assist women in learning how to decide what it is they truly desire, find balance, fulfillment and peace. Women create lasting relationships, sisterhood and experience breakthroughs in an environment of trust. Women who come through our program have healed marriages, created more income, released addiction and weight; women live into the dreams they have deep within.I invite you to join me at the next Have It All Women's Weekend, Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:42:55 -0500 Full article 2_23available at: stepintoyourpower.com "In the end, you're measured not by how much you undertake but by what you finally accomplish." Donald Trump Small Actions With Maximum Impact with Susan Sly I often hear the phrase, 'massive action,' associated with propelling oneself toward a goal. 'Massive action,' is usually defined by intense focus for a period of time with little or no attention paid to anything else while the goal is pursued. In reality, massive action can often yield a great result however the outcome is often short lasting as the application of such concentrated energy is not sustainable especially if a person has a family, a job or indeed a life. Jack Canfield, writes in his book - The Success Principles, of his quest to get The Chicken Soup for the Soul book published. He and Mark Victor Hansen printed 'review copies' and dedicated themselves to five actions every day in pursuit of their goal. Mark and Jack, whom I have share the stage with, are phenomenal guys and great businessmen. At the time of Chicken Soup for the Soul both were also seminar speakers and had other business interests. To take massive action in only focusing on Chicken Soup for the Soul would have caused them to put their other ventures aside and may very well have cost them income and resources. Eventually, by sending out five copies five days every week and connecting with five people every day Jack and Mark inked a deal that in turn caused them to become mega best-selling authors and create a massive fortune. Chicken Soup books are published in dozens of languages the world over. Jack and Mark have turned small daily actions into a money-making machine and in the meantime have inspired over one hundred million readers. Ultimately it was the small action of sending out five copies of their book and doing five follow-ups that made them multi-millionaires and not massive action at the expense of all else. Donald Trump, the billionaire real estate tycoon, speaks of his father, Fred, with admiration and respect. When Donald was at boarding school his father would mail him a motivational quote every single week. These quotes by great leaders and thinkers such as Socrates, Plato and even Napoleon Bonaparte inspired a young Donald Trump to think of himself alongside these brilliant minds. It was Fred Trump's seemingly small action that had a massive effect on his son. In reality, consistent small daily actions will yield exciting and brilliant results. When I wrote the Have It All Woman I was also helming a million dollar network marketing business, had three children, was travelling for our philanthropic projects and much more. Instead of pushing everything to the side I wrote 3000 words every morning before anyone else was awake. I did this six days every week. The results from our initial review copies have been life changing and now, like Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, we are taking small consistent action to find a publisher who shares our values and passion. It was not massive action that resulted in a book. I have now written five books and will write many more. Writing is a passion and a wonderful outlet for creativity. If writing is a dream of yours then start by writing 1000-2000 words every day. You will be amazed at how quickly your 'dream book' becomes a reality. You may be wondering about small consistent actions in other areas of your life. The truth is that this applies to every area where you seek to improve. If you want to lose weight then it is not one day of eating clean and one trip to the gym that creates a better body; it is five to six trips to the gym every week and six days of eating clean that will transform your physique. For fourteen years I was a personal trainer and the clients that exercised five to six times every week were the healthiest without question. When it comes to success in business and financial rewards it is really the consistent actions that will supersede the short-term massive action. To generate more clients or distributors a person must apply themselves to making three connections every day. Over the course of a year this is over one thousand contacts. If ninety percent say 'no' then that leaves the individual with one hundred new clients or associates. It really is that simple. Unfortunately people tend to do things in short bursts. Many individuals will spend one or two days talking to people about their product or service and then give up. It could be the person they would have spoken to on the third day who could have been their best client. The same is true of exercise; the vast majority of people give up on their healthy eating or exercise program before they see results and wonder why it isn't working. The answer in both cases is merely a matter of daily consistency. For three years I had the honor of sharing the stage with Jim Rohn. Jim is an amazing business philosopher, author and trainer. He has launched the careers of many famous people including the photographer Anne Geddes and the master trainer Tony Robbins. Jim is wise, brilliant and also an astute businessman. Jim says that if we simply follow the guidelines of six days of consistent effort and one day of rest we will eventually get to our goals. If we can produce consistently with a positive attitude and constantly look for ways to refine these small daily actions we will we get to that desired result even faster. Ultimately it is our small daily actions that will create maximum impact. My question for you is this - what do you want in your life in all areas? What daily actions are you willing to take to achieve these goals? Could you do at least one thing daily to improve your health, relationships, finances, business and move toward your dreams? I know you can. This week I encourage you to schedule your time to be more efficient with your small daily actions and take your life to the next level of power. Do you want to move ahead in all areas of your life and learn how to Have It All with ease? You deserve to attend the Have It All Women's Weekend in Toronto and be personally mentored by master trainer and change specialist Susan Sly. We have a limited number of spaces available in our general session. Click here for more information. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:41:22 -0500 Full article 2_22available at: stepintoyourpower.com "God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame." Elizabeth Barrett Browning Acknowledge Your Victories with Susan Sly Do you realize that right now you are already victorious in your life? You have accomplished things that others dream of. You have impacted the lives of other people on the planet. You have already achieved things that others are vehemently pursuing. As you read this you may be questioning my insight. You may be saying, 'Susan, I am a financial disaster,' or, 'I am one hundred pounds over my healthy weight.' Yes, you may be going through a divorce or downsizing at your job, you may not be where you truly desire to be in life and chances are that you have lost some of your perspective. To truly live into what we are destined to be it is essential that we acknowledge what we have already achieved. We must stand in a place of knowing that we have already been victorious in some aspects of our lives. Perhaps these are not areas that we deem important however recognizing that to another it may be their life's quest is truly cathartic and creates a clearing for us to transcend our current circumstances and move forward into something greater. A wonderful example is being a parent. Perhaps you have a child. Maybe this child doesn't get straight 'A's or clean up their room. Maybe your child doesn't eat their vegetable and doesn't listen all the time. Know that there are people out there right now spending tens of thousands of dollars on fertility treatments in order to get pregnant. In my coaching and health practice I have worked with women whose eyes well up with tears as they dream of being pregnant and holding a beautiful baby in their arms. Every month they live in hope and are often heart broken when the pregnancy test comes up negative. In my most recent pregnancy I was careful not to complain about nausea, fatigue or sometimes feeling challenged. Why? Because I realize that what I take for granted, or even complain about is something others only dream of. In reality the vast majority of people take at least part of their life for granted and do not see the victories they have already achieved. Pastor Joel Osteen says that people will leave a marriage where they are getting 80% of what they want for a relationship that is giving them the missing 20%. They end up in that relationship longing for the missing 80%. They have taken for granted the victory they have - a relationship with 80% of what they want and only focused on what they do not have. The same can be said in business. I will see people who are creating a residual income of $5,000/year quit. To make $5,000/year in residual income one would have to have $250,000 at 2% interest in the bank. These people do not acknowledge their victories. This week I heard the story of a relative of a friend who invested in commodity futures. His fortune went from $400 million to $200 million. Most people would be devastated by that kind of loss however this man said that he was grateful for the lesson he had learned and also for still having $200 million in the bank. No doubt he will recapture his fortune because he understands that what would appear to be failures are often lessons and therefore victories in disguise. From travelling to places such as Africa, Cambodia and Guatemala I can share that the very things we take for granted are the things that hundreds of millions of people dream of. Perhaps you have a high school education and haven't counted that as a victory - know that in third world countries this is just a dream for the majority of the population. If you live in a home with running water and electricity then you are living the life that over 15% of the world's population simply dreams of. In that you are already victorious. At dinner every night we share our 'high points' for the day. Our children, even Sarai the three year old, know that there is always something to be grateful for. They have also learned that when they share a victory, even a seemingly small one, they are sending a message to God who you may call the Universe, that they are open to receiving more. Our children know that there are always victories in their day. In your life you do have victories. All it takes is to gain some perspective. What you have already done is what others only dream of. Where can you step into a higher level of victory today? If you have saved even a dollar, ever helped another human being, said something to cheer someone up, had a child, received an education, have a job, have a roof over your head, participated in a class, had the guts to start a business, volunteered, received a promotion, been acknowledged by a successful individual or done something out of your comfort zone then you have been victorious. I encourage you to write one victory every single day in your journal. Silently acknowledge yourself for achieving this victory. Allow it to sink in. Send the message to God, the Universe, your Spirit, or whatever you acknowledge that you are indeed grateful for your victories and ready for more. Are You Ready for More? Join success coach, entrepreneur, author and speaker Susan Sly in an intimate three day life changing experience - the Have It All Women's Weekend. We guarantee transformation, inspiration and motivation. Call us today to arrange a payment plan or click here to take advantage of our special Step Into Your Power price. You deserve to Have It All. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:40:25 -0500 Full article 2_21available at: stepintoyourpower.com What Are Your Non-Negotiables? By Millionaire Mom Susan Sly Alright at times life may be overwhelming and you may be wondering if you are really getting ahead. Your 401K may have been reduced to a 201K and you may not yet have found your soulmate. You may be thinking, 'is this as good as it gets?' You might be wondering, 'is this all there is for me?' My message is that you do not have to settle. You are destined for greater things, promotion, increase, great relationships, a healthy body and you can truly 'have it all.' The missing factor for you may be defining your non-negotiables. Non-negotiables are essentially values that you place in such a high regard that you will not compromise or bend. These may be qualities, activities, standards, morals or ideals that you declare to be unwavering. These non-negotiables set the standard for what you feel you deserve. When you live into them you raise the bar in all areas of your life including relationships, finances, health, giving back, love, faith and fun. I have a number of great single girlfriends. These gals are smart, beautiful and independent financially. They are not 'cougars' or looking for a 'sugar daddy,' they are simply looking for Mr. Right. Their notion of Mr. Right may be akin to 'Big' from Sex and the City, however barring Chris Noth becoming single, they are not resolved to a cookie cutter image or the notorious tall, dark and handsome somewhat bad boy who eventually makes it to the alter with Carrie. My friends would simply like someone who has common interests and is good looking. In reality the message they are putting out there is that looks are more important than say commitment, honesty, integrity, health, fidelity, faith and openness. The message that they are sending to the Universe is that they would rather compromise what they truly deserve to have simple companionship. Is it really worth it? From experience I can say -absolutely not. A decade ago before I re-met Chris I was a single, working girl in the city of Toronto. In addition to being a single mom, I was also a triathlete and a workaholic who churned out 60 hour work weeks and 20 hour training weeks. I am not proud of that moment in time however it taught me a great number of skills including multi-tasking and a certain level of functionality on very few hours of sleep. I had been through a horrible divorce and the heart breaking end to my dream, or so I thought, of 'happily ever after.' I wondered about whether or not I was meant to meet my Prince Charming, have more children, become financially free and fulfill my dream of helping women. Basically I questioned my role on planet Earth. In my past marriage and also in my career I constantly felt as though I was giving away my power. I sought to please others and in doing so often experienced feelings of sadness as I realized that I was operating from a place that didn't resonate with my core values. In sum, I would serve others with no regard to my own time, resources or self preservation. If someone wanted to meet with me at 6:00 in the morning I did it. If my former husband wanted to take off on a three week mountain bike trip by himself I didn't question it. I did whatever I could to put the satisfaction of others ahead of my own. As a result I ended up losing the marriage, the business, my health and my bank account. In retrospect I created exactly what I thought I deserved. In addition to being in a management role, I was also training clients. My clients tended to be highly successful, high achievers in their late thirties, forties and fifties. I had been blessed over the years to train professional athletes, award winning rock stars, multi-millionaires and people who knew what it took to achieve what they wanted. Interestingly enough the answer to my query about my ability to have more was staring me in the face and had been served up on the silver platter of experience with high achievers. The difference between these people and myself was that they set non-negotiables and I did not. These people had specific items in their life that were absolutely unbendable which allowed them to produce at a high level and also achieve much more than the average person. In essence their non-negotiables set the bar for what these high achievers thought themselves worthy of. Non-negotiables for my clients included things like taking time to exercise, creating exceptional customer service, setting and sticking to hours of operation, family time, getting up early to seize the day and in some cases their religion. Within their success were a set of requirements that basically never bended. For example, I had a client who arose every day at 4:00 a.m. He left the house by 4:30 a.m. and had worked out and showered by 6:00 a.m. and was in his office producing. The early wake up and daily workout were simply not negotiable. He was able to achieve more by 9:00 a.m. than most people achieved their entire day. He was also the head of a company worth tens of millions of dollars. My clients with successful marriages had non-negotiables there also. If they had a 'date night' it was absolutely written in stone. Family time and attending their children's events was also non-negotiable. If someone wanted to do business with them during one of these times it was out of the question. As a result these clients had a happy home life. Over these years I learned that I too needed to create a list of non-negotiables in all areas of my own life. In the area of relationships my non-negotiables included having a partner who loved my daughter as his own, who took care of his health, who was committed to the relationship, who loved me as I was and who was open to growth. Soon after this I re-met Chris and we have been together from our second date. In the area of finance my non-negotiables included tithing, saving and releasing debt. To this day, my 'first fruits' are donated and take a portion of all income I receive and set it aside in savings. With money, these are my non-negotiables. With my health my non-negotiables include putting excellent nutrition into my body, drinking a minimum of 4 liters of water every day and exercising six days per week. If someone wants to do a call or have a meeting when I have scheduled my exercise I simply say 'no' as this time is non-negotiable. On Tuesday night I hosted a call for future millionaire women. One of the things I shared was that in order to become a millionaire you have to develop millionaire habits. In addition to that it is about making a decision to be successful. The same holds true with your non-negotiables - you must simply make a decision about what you value and be unyielding in your commitment to holding a space for that value. We can all take our lives to a higher level. Decide what your non-negotiables are in all areas of your life. Seek out people who share your values. In doing so you will find great business partners, your ideal romantic partner if that is what you are seeking, the people to assist you in your finances, health and whatever else you desire. When you become crystal clear on what matters most the universe, who I call God, creates the opportunity to have exactly what you have been seeking. Do You Want To Learn How To Live A Life Worthy Of Who You Truly Are? Join master trainer, author, speaker and successful entrepreneur Susan Sly for 3 transformative days at the Have It All Women's Weekend. We promise growth, acceptance, breakthroughs, sisterhood and living into your true life's purpose. You deserve to be there. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:39:04 -0500 Full article 2_20available at: stepintoyourpower.com Point A to Point Z - Letting Go of the Inner Control Freak with Susan Sly What a difference one week can make. Last week at this time we were 'homeless' and this week we are living in a great new home and loving it. If you had told me one year ago that we would be living in a new city, expecting a baby any moment with gender as yet to be determined, and changing the course of our lives I would have thought you were crazy. Why? The inner control freak in me would never allow for such surrender. In the day of scheduled c-sections, 25 year plans, online task managers and information on demand it is tough to imagine a time, not that long ago, that we didn't know when a baby would arrive, what tomorrow would bring or a television that we had to get up and physically change the channel on. Last week a big splash was made in the world of control with the IntelliGender test, available at every major drug store in the United States. For about $29.99 a woman can pee in a cup, as early as 10 weeks and find out the gender, with about 80% accuracy, of her baby. Forget Botox parties…think pee parties instead. I have to admit that I was rather envious. Envy, is an emotion I generally do not participate in, however being 38 weeks pregnant and not knowing the gender of our fourth child is kind of making me crazy. With all of the change in our lives, a little certainty would be amazing. I decided instead to live vicariously though my friend, Jenny*. When I heard about IntelliGender, I emailed her right away. Jenny is just shy of 12 weeks pregnant. I think I heard the screech of car wheels and the burning of rubber as Jenny headed out the door to Walgreens. Jenny offered to Fed-Ex me an IntelliGender of my own however it apparently doesn't work for women beyond 34 weeks. According to the test, Jenny is having a boy. She didn't care either way however just knowing is giving her a great sense of peace. What can I say? At some point over the next few weeks we are going to find out and in the mean time the nursery is not ready and truthfully neither are we. This leads me to wonder if the past month of our lives has been a big practical joke. I have always been a person who likes to keep my life in control. O.K. - I admit that I like control a lot. I write lists of my lists, I plan my day, week, month and year in advance. If I give my word I keep it and honestly I like routine. I often joke that the only reason I got into triathlon and marathon running was because I am like a husky dog - put a harness on me and I will move forward. I do not worry about controlling others. Have you ever tried to potty train a toddler? Kate Goselin, of Jon and Kate Plus Eight, I am not. In reality, my control issues are all about me. Control has allowed me to become a millionaire. Control has what has created great habits. Losing control is also what stresses me out and that is why I married a chartered accountant - someone else who loves routine and control, not to mention the fact that I loved him from the first time I set eyes on him…sigh. What I have learned to let go of recently is planning and control. As we were walking around our new neighborhood, which has everything on our wish list, I thought about how we ended up in our incredible new home. In reality, it was not control that got us the fabulous house in the great area - it was surrender. By surrendering the past few weeks Chris and I got everything we wanted and didn't end up going far to get it. Jack Canfield, who endorsed my Have It All Woman Book, shares a great analogy about control in the movie the Secret. He talks about driving from New York to L.A. in the dark and you can only see a few hundred feet in front of you at one time. You can get from A to Z one letter at a time. The inner control freak wants to know all about what happens at 'Z'. For the blessed people who simply surrender, they are able to focus on enjoying going from 'A' to 'B' and so on. Yesterday I was coaching a gal who has been challenged with this very dilemma. The control part of her wants to know exactly what happens every step of the way as opposed to trusting the process and ultimately trusting herself in the process. She is learning to simply focus on the next step and not try to plan every aspect of the journey. As a result she is learning to enjoy her business much more. What would happen if we all let go of control? Could you just focus enjoying each part of the journey a few hundred feet at time trusting that you will know what to do next when the time is right? How liberating would that be? How attractive would you be to others if you simply allowed that to happen? What would that do for your business, your relationships and your life? Would that make you not want to pee in a cup to find out 'boy' or 'girl'? Not necessarily however it would absolutely allow you to produce with more ease and be less self critical. That in and of itself would help you to grow in all areas of your life with greater speed and ease. This week I encourage you to let go of your inner control freak. Send him or her to a 'time out.' Trust yourself to know the next step as it happens. As with Chris and myself, you may just get something even better than you could have planned for. Susan is an author, speaker and entrepreneur. She is known as the 'Millionaire Mom' for her success in the industry of direct sales. Susan can be reached for interviews via info@stepintoyourpower.com . Be mentored by Susan!!! The October Have It All Women's Weekend is filling up quickly. This event changes lives. Spend 3 days with a group of like-minded, positive women and embrace stepping into your own power. We guarantee fun, friendship and growth. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:37:38 -0500 Full article 2_19available at: stepintoyourpower.com If You Want Success - Stay in the Game by Susan Sly This past week I was copied on an email to a friend who is a six figure income earner in network marketing. Her team member had decided to put her business down after twelve weeks of 'focus' so she could put her attention elsewhere. In reading the email my first thought was really that the business couldn't be 'put down' because it had never been picked up in the first place. Twelve weeks of supposed focus is not enough to grow a business; twelve months of focus doesn't even cut it. My husband, Chris, used to work on Bay Street which is Canada's version of Wall Street. As a chartered accountant he used to do valuations on owner managed businesses including those worth hundreds of millions. The common ground with every successful business Chris looked at was that years of sweat and determination combined with unwavering focus had eventually paid off. The truth is that a successful business does not grow overnight, it is a culmination of learning, re-assessing, application and drive. Ultimately no one is going to be successful if they put a business down in twelve weeks, twelve months and perhaps twelve years. The majority of people out there lack the focus to stay with something long enough to see it succeed. Many people prefer to be the 'arm chair' critic or observer as opposed to getting in the game. What would have happened if Tiger Woods quit golf after a few bad days on the course? What if Bill Gates hadn't designed the Microsoft operating system after a couple of failures? The current President or Secretary of State wouldn't be in office if they had given up after the first, second or third critical newspaper article. Guess what - to be successful also requires a thick skin. When I first got started in network marketing I faced a great deal of criticism, not only from prospects but also from close friends and family members. They questioned the legitimacy of the industry, my judgement, the products and my ability to be successful. After I became a millionaire they commended my business decision. The irony is that it took me several years to find my groove, to understand network marketing, to develop my people skills, to let go of perfection and put myself out there. Now our family and friends think Chris and I are sharp entrepreneurs. They were quick to judge us and very slow to acknowledge our success. After having worked in sales and marketing for the past 20 plus years the thing that stands out for me the most is seeing people quit long before they have even started. I have been blessed to know many multi-millionaires and in observing their work ethic and dedication it was apparent that these two things came long before the financial rewards. I know a family who grew a very successful company. The father had come to Canada with only the proverbial shirt on his back. He started by working and buying a bucket of coal which he sold for a profit. He then bought another and then another. Eventually he saved enough to buy a truck and began delivering coal. From there he developed a heating and cooling business. Today his grandchildren run different divisions of the company and they are all millionaires. One of them, Josh*, get`s up at 4:00 in the a.m. to workout and is producing in his office by 5:00 a.m. He gets more done by 9:00 a.m. than most people do in a full work day. In my own life, Chris and I are extremely disciplined in our production. Family is of utmost importance so we also create time to be one hundred percent present to our children. Our day does not begin without exercise which provides mental clarity and energy. This discipline combined with vision, focus and diligence is what lead us to success. There were many times when we could have come up with excuses or even quit however we didn`t. We choose to stay the course. As an entrepreneur or sales professional you are going to face challenges. Every successful person does. What will create the monetary rewards you are seeking is to make a commitment to never give up until you get to your goal. Focus in, take daily action and do not let anyone or anything steer you away from what you desire. From experience I can promise you that your biggest detractors will become your biggest cheerleaders. I also know that no one ever achieved anything spectacular in life by quitting in the first few years. Commit to your business, your career, your relationship, your health and your success today. Every obstacle, challenge or set-back is there to teach you something. I know that by staying the course you will be an `overnight` success.Susan is the author of the best selling book the Have It All Woman, Co-author of MLM Woman and of the new book The Ultimate Guide to Power Prospecting. Susan can be reached for print, radio and television interviews via info@stepintoyourpower.com."Susan Sly is an incredible entrepreneur with a passion for assisting women. The Have It All Woman is inspirational for anyone looking to achieve balance and fulfillment in their lives."Dr. John Gray - author Men are From Mars Women are From Venus Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:35:36 -0500 Full article 2_18available at: stepintoyourpower.com So What Happens When the 'Have It All Woman' Doesn't Get What She Thinks She Wants? With Susan Sly For those of you who read my weekly column, it is my intention to provide you with hope, perspective and a good laugh. I would encourage you to forward this to your friends who struggle with goal setting and goal getting and anyone in your life who has had a setback or disappointment. As the Rolling Stones sang, 'you can't always get what you want but if you try sometimes…you get what you need.' That is the theme of my weekly column…enjoy with a smile. For the last few years, Chris and I have dreamed of moving to Arizona. We have romanticized the Sonoran Desert sunsets, the easy way of life, the opportunities for our family and the year round sunshine. Being an author, speaker and success coach I will tell you that I just didn't dream of it, I visualized it daily. I had photos on my multiple vision boards. I 'acted as if' it was already true. In fact I believed we were going to live there. After a more than enough cold winters, dressing the kids in multiple layers and working on the perfect margarita, we filled out our paperwork and set our intentions on going. We sold our home. We told everyone we were leaving. We made arrangements to move even though we were leaving our businesses in Canada. We planned to spend the school year in sunny Arizona. Sigh…all of the last few years of becoming self made millionaires had paid off in that we had choice. Our advisors told us we could go. We believed them though Chris had a nagging feeling that we needed another opinion so for the last week before we departed we worked on getting through to the person who could assist. 24 hours before we planned to leave we connected with the lawyer who specialized in direct sales. He agreed to take a look at one of our businesses and voila - less than an hour before we were set to leave he informed us of the true value of our business. If we did leave, we would be subject to capital gains because - who knew that my once small side business was now worth a small fortune. Our kids are in the car. Our home is sold. Our friends are waiting for us in Arizona and our family has shed their tears. In one phone call our years of planning were swept to the side and our family was homeless. We later found out that an area we would have been driving through had serious tornadoes on the day and at the time we would have been there. There were numerous other events that happened in those two hours that would have additionally delayed or prevented our departure. When it first happened we were shocked, disappointed and upset. How could our initial advisors have been wrong? How could we have acted so quickly on our dream without doing enough due diligence? What was the lesson in all of this? My thoughts turned to the fatal plane crash a few months ago in Buffalo. I remember seeing a woman being interviewed on CNN. She was trying to make that flight. Despite her desire to get home to Buffalo, no matter what she tried, she could not get on that plane. Everyone died and yet she remained with the living because the universe, who I call God, would not allow her to be a passenger on that plane. Chris and I do not know if we were spared from a fatal accident on our week long drive to Arizona or if there was something else. We may never know. Sometimes we go through things in our lives that appear to be great disappointments which end up being great blessings. In that moment we are angry, frustrated and upset only to find out hours, days or only years later that we were spared a greater failure. In fact it is often our challenges which set us up for the greatness we live in to. In my book, the Have It All Woman, I wrote about the demise of my former marriage. I had asked my then husband to never hurt me and he eventually did. At the time of the betrayal I felt so enraged, embarrassed and heartbroken. I felt like a failure. I never imagined myself divorced and a single mother in my twenties. How could that happen to me? At the time I didn't realize that there was a greater plan for my life. All of my challenges were creating an appreciation for the person that would come into my life - my incredible husband, Chris. If I hadn't experienced my former marriage I would truly not appreciate what I have now. The same is true of many aspects of my own life. If I was not at one time almost 200 pounds I would not appreciate the feeling of a lean, healthy body. If I had not, at one time, been $100,000 in debt and homeless I would not appreciate financial choice and being a millionaire. I have read many books by authors who only write about always getting everything they want, whenever they want; essentially they only share the 'good stuff.' They do not write about failed marriages, money woes and personal challenge. To be candid, life will bring challenges. It will bring them at times when you are so close to your goals that it causes you to question the possibility of ever achieving what you want. Do I have challenges - heck yes. Do I move through them? Absolutely. In all of its imperfection, my life is absolutely perfect and through the challenges of the last two weeks I know I am equipped to handle it all. P.K. and I teach a course called Boot Camp. In that course we teach a skill that helps people deal with any challenging person or situation that comes their way. When we received that phone call letting us know that we needed to stay put, I was able to use that skill to keep my perspective and in doing so now see all of the great opportunities in this situation. Sometimes we 'dodge a bullet.' At other times we realize that what we thought we wanted wasn't the best thing for us. The beauty of life and leadership is that to be successful you must always put yourself out there, let go of being afraid to fail and learn from the experience. Every successful person on this planet has faced challenge and struggle. The difference between winners and losers is that winners go through the struggle, learn from it, are not afraid to admit it and continue to move forward. As members of the Step Into Your Power community I know you are all winners and you are all equipped. I know that you can achieve more in your life. Perhaps you are having some setbacks. Perhaps life is taking you down a different path than you envisioned. Ask yourself what is the lesson for you right now? Ask yourself which goals are ultimately so important to you that no matter what, you will move forward. Search deep within yourself to discover what will take you to a higher level in your life. For Chris, the kids and I - we are moving to that next level. It may not be in the location we had envisioned however that doesn't mean that we are not ultimately meant to be there. It simply means we have more to achieve where we are at. Thomas Edison had 6000 attempts at improving the light bulb and eventually achieved his goal. The lessons he learned over those 6000 trials resulted in the long lasting light bulb we know today. JK Rowling started writing as a girl. She eventually wrote two books for adults that were never published. She then envisioned a boy wizard named Harry Potter. She was rejected by an initial agent, a second agent asked to see the rest of the book and then a third agent agreed to look for a publisher. It took him one year and numerous rejections until someone agreed to publish Harry Potter. JK Rowling is now one of the wealthiest women in the world. The bottom line is that no matter what happens you must continue to focus on your grand obsession. You will likely face challenges. You will likely face rejection. At the end of the day your dream may not happen in the way you imagine. It may occur in another location, with another idea or with the help of an amazing person you have not even met. Regardless of what life hands us we are all equipped to be and live more. If we keep our dreams at the forefront and let go of how they will happen we can face any challenge, disappointment and setback. Although I am currently not enjoying a dessert sunset, I have my family. I also have the ability to continue to live into my passion of co-creating wealth even if the view is not entirely different than it was before. So the question is this - did I not get what I wanted or was it simply a matter of getting exactly what I need? Susan Sly is a mother, author, speaker, trainer and coach. She has shared the stage with Mark Victor Hansen, Jack Canfield and more. Susan has appeared in print media, on radio and television. Susan is available for interviews via info@stepintoyourpower.com Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:34:39 -0500 Full article 2_17available at: stepintoyourpower.com Here Ya Go Mama…by Susan Sly The other day our youngest child, Sarai, handed me the wrapper of her organic snack bar. She had devoured the bar and was clearly done with the rest of it. Instead of seeking out the garbage can herself, her three year old mind thought it best to give me the wrapper with a simple, 'here ya go Mama,' as if handing me her trash was the most obvious solution. This straightforward act of giving me the garbage, so normal in any household, lead me to question how often we unwittingly take on the trash of others. In the case of my daughter, I suggested she seek out the garbage can and she happily obliged. In reality, people of all ages are constantly attempted to give us their trash to deal with. How often has someone come to you in a state of drama and wanted to 'suck you in' to their chaos? When was the last time a person asked you to do something they clearly did not want to do and no - you were not on their payroll? Truthfully this happens in our day-to-day lives; people have a tendency to discharge their waste on to others which prevents them from taking responsibility in their own lives. When Chris and I decided to have children, we signed the 'contract.' What this means is that we agreed to deal with the waste of these little people until they were old enough to do it themselves. Yes, we have changed diapers, dealt with spitting up, chewing gum, unwanted food, messes, spills and everything that goes along with being a parent. We did this voluntarily. In fact as a parent, these messes are sometimes considered cute. While watching Baby Story the other day, a dad delightedly changed his newborn's diaper. That loses its luster in a hurry however this guy was clearly enamored with his daughter's ability to saturate her Pampers. The bottom line is that, as parents, we choose to be waste management experts. When it comes to business, I observe many of my clients voluntarily cleaning up the messes of others. I worked with a person, who was building a network marketing business, who would go in and change the autoships of everyone on her team, coach all of the people and essentially was getting burned out because she was taking on everyone else's responsibility. Hey, in the past, I have been guilty of this myself. Often, the desire, to clean up the messes of others comes from our own fear of abandonment. If we don't do it, people will leave us. The truth is that if you continue to clean up everyone else's mess and take on their baggage you will attract more and more people who continue to complain, judge and lack responsibility in their own life. How fun is that? Not at all. In order to stop the insanity of being the 'here ya go Mama' to anyone other than your children, you have got to embrace the word, 'no.' Children have zero problem saying it and somehow, as adults, we lose our ability. Jack Canfield teaches that the most successful people in the world are able to say, 'no.' That would beg the conclusion that in order to be successful, 'no,' must become a part of your vocabulary. 'No,' is truly liberating. Instead of ruminating, getting ticked off and stewing about an issue when it comes about - choose instead not to take it on simply by saying, 'no.' When I learned to say 'no' and let go of guilt it was incredibly liberating. I do not worry about how it is received, I understand that I have my limits and my priorities and therefore can operate with a higher degree of peace. Saying 'no' also forces your employees, colleagues, team members and others to take more responsibility in their own lives to seek out solutions. This can actually be extremely empowering. The next time someone comes to you expecting you to take on their trash, simply say ,'no' and ask them how they would like to handle it. You can empower them to a higher level by not solving their problems and instead teach them how to solve it for themselves. I realized long ago that I am not the 'Salvation Army,' there is only so much I am willing to do. By saying, 'no' you also create space to do more of what you choose to, be with the people you want to be with and focus on the activities that produce more income. How liberating is that? I encourage you to take a close look at your life and uncover where you might be taking on the trash of others. Can you let go of some of these burdens? What is the 'win' in it if you do? What are the possible benefits? What is the worst thing that can happen? Saying 'no' now does not mean forever. The beautiful thing about life is that there is always a choice. For more tips on saying 'no' and prioritizing your life without guilt we suggest you read Susan's highly acclaimed book - the Have It All Woman. Click here to order right now. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:26:07 -0500 Full article 2_16available at: stepintoyourpower.com Wanting Versus Doingwith Susan Sly "I'm a type A person, or as some of my friends call me, type A++. Basically, I'm one of those people who has to do everything I do to the fullest extent of my ability, as fast as I can.". Dara Torres Alright, here we are heading toward the end of April, the first month of the second quarter of 2009, 17 weeks into the year. We have 35 weeks remaining to do what we set out to at the beginning of the year. Perhaps the intention was a leaner body, to exercise, to eat healthier, to save more money, to make more money, to take more time for ourselves; whatever those goals were they were things we decided we wanted. The big question is - how are you doing at this point? Are you on your way? As I have been coaching people this week and teaching classes the emerging theme has been, 'so you say you want it - are you doing the work?' The reality is that many people say they want something and their actions do not meet their supposed level of desire. Wanting something is not enough, it is the first step. Taking that want to a level of desire that is so deep we know that our life will be incredibly better because of the experience is the next piece. That desire must then consume us so we are compelled to act. It is only then that we can step over our fears and into our power. This week I am reading Dara Torre's autobiography, Age is Just a Number. Torres is the 41 year old mom who won five medals at the Beijing Olympics. She writes on her on again, off again obsession with the pool, her retirements from swimming, her intention to put her swimsuit and goggles away for good and then the re-emergence of a dream that begins with a simple notion of possibility. For Torres that 'what if' took her from giving birth at age 38 to two years of training and qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team. What if Dara Torres had simply wanted to go to the Olympics? Would it have been enough? Absolutely not. To go through endless laps of the pool, sore muscles, exhaustion, hours of training and have a toddler in tow - this can only be accomplished with a deep seated desire. As a mother of three and seven and a half months pregnant for baby four I can tell you that anything I have accomplished since having kids has been done so by connecting to a sense of desire so deep and pure that despite fatigue, scheduling, doubters, judgment, criticism and ridicule I did it anyway. For Torres she faced critics who said she was too old. She also faced her peers who, like Michael Phelps, called her 'mom.' She dug deep within and looked into the eyes of her daughter wrestling with the idea that perhaps she could be a mom and an Olympic medalist again. Dara Torres got to work. Because of her schedule she trained more efficiently than ever before. She kept her attitude in check. She surrounded herself with people who believed in her and most importantly she didn't take herself too seriously. Years ago when I declared that I wanted to earn seven figures annually I didn't buy lottery tickets and merely hope for it. I made the declaration, got it to a deep level of desire and I got to work. I didn't allow myself to be distracted by other opportunities or listen to people who told me that I could never have it all. I went for it and focused in. Today, when I am interviewed people often say, 'gee, I could never have what you have.' The truth is that they could if their desire was strong enough that they could focus in until they achieved the goal. You can all achieve anything you desire. You do not have to settle for an unhealthy body, toxic financial situation or unfulfilling relationship. You can have anything and everything you want if you are willing to do the work. Dara Torres trained consistently every day. She didn't start training and stop a few months in. The goal had become too important to her; living her life without trying and creating possibility for other women was too burdensome to even consider. When your goals consume you like that you must act, to not becomes unthinkable. Whatever you have dreamed of doing is worth going for if it enriches the life of at least one other person on the planet. Go for your dreams. Get in touch with a deeper level of desire and focus in like never before. As you read this the people, opportunities and situations are on their way to you and all you have to do is the work. Susan Sly is the author of the highly acclaimed Have It All Woman and a self made millionaire. She has been featured on the CBN, ABC Family and done over 100 radio interviews. Recently Susan was quoted in Forbes Magazine. Susan is a mother of 3, and soon to be 4 children, and a loving partner to her husband Chris. Susan writes on wealth, relationships, health and prosperity. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:24:16 -0500 Full article 2_15available at: stepintoyourpower.com I Surrender!!! by Susan Sly "Success depends on getting good at saying no without feeling guilty. You cannot get ahead with your own goals if you are always saying yes to someone else's projects. You can only get ahead with your desired lifestyle if you are focused on the things that will produce that lifestyle." (Jack Canfield) So you have a goal, you have a focus and oh right - that little thing called life gets in the way. Suddenly all of your best intentions go to the wayside while you delve into the abyss of chaos. Should you have time to come up for air the glass of merlot is looking more enticing than picking up the phone and connecting with a new client, going to the gym or getting that bookkeeping done. Life happens to everyone and what sets apart the successful people from those who do not achieve abundance is that successful people are able to compartmentalize. Compartmentalization is the ability to focus on one thing for a period of time without allowing distractions to interfere. It is fast becoming a lost art as people rarely are able to do anything without simultaneously twittering, IM'ing, updating Facebook, emailing or whatever else they do. One more email leads to another and another and very soon that gym trip is so limited that it doesn't seem worth the while. If you are indeed one of those people who lacks focus chances are you may not be as productive as you could. Read on as there is hope. In my day-to-day existence there is always a lot going on. If you have read my blogs - www.susansly.wordpress.com or have been a regular reader to my weekly column on www.stepintoyourpower.com you will know that we have 3 Ύ children (am very pregnant right now), are re-locating to the U.S., run several ventures, I write, workout, attend dance recitals, school plays, do homework, travel to the third world and manage to co-create with some fabulous people. I am often asked how I do it all. The truth is that I follow my own advice, the very stuff I wrote about in The Have It All Woman, and choose to compartmentalize every part of my life. When life happens, and it always does, I am able to stay on task and deal with one thing at a time. Last week I am sure my husband thought I had Prozac running through my veins - no I do not take it however I do have a diligent program of phenomenal nutrition that keeps me calm and exercise contributes to my ability to be the 'handle it all woman.' In the spirit of production here are my top tips for staying focused when life hands you a set of challenges. 1. Create and Stick to a Schedule - if you are always running around without direction or focus you are sending a clear message that your life is chaos. The top producers in the world have a schedule. Make one. It works. My schedule includes time to workout, do homework, be with the kids, be in the office and oh yes - the date night. This week it is the season finally of Gray's Anatomy - a girl has to do what a girl has to do. 2. Start Your Day In Advance - at night I always write out the next day in advance in a notebook. I write out all of my appointments and my intentions for the day. I never have more than eight items on my 'to-do' list because it isn't realistic. I also prioritize the items from most important to least and indicate how much time will be required for each. 3. Delegate - we all have things that we think we can do better than anyone else, well it may be time to let go and delegate. I ask myself - 'how important is it that I complete this?' 'Can someone do it faster or more effectively?' 4. Say 'No' - if you are over your head chances are you have said 'yes' to too much. 'No' is one of the most powerful words you can use. Children have zero guilt around the word 'no' and nor should you. 5. Create a List of P.I.P.'s - in my highly acclaimed c.d. series - Step Into Your Power - I talk about P.I.P.'s or people in potential. These are people who can enrich your life, contribute to you and co-share energy. When I have 150 emails to respond to the P.I.P.'s get the highest priority. People who are negative, needy or complaining get the lowest priority. You get the idea. 6. Keep Your Goals In Front of Your Face - literally!!! I have created a set of index cards with my goals on them. Each goal has a picture either from a magazine, the internet or that I have drawn. I read these 3X every day and also take them with me everywhere I go. When you have your goals in your mind always, you are more likely to act on them. 7. Do Not Be Afraid of Surrender - yes at times we must just surrender. We have fought a good fight, we are staying focused and something comes up that really does deserve our full attention. When this happens, and it will, let go and surrender to what needs to be done. This way you will get it done faster and be able to re-focus. Susan Sly is known as the Millionaire Mom. She is the President and CEO of Step Into Your Power Productions and the author of The Have It All Woman. Susan is available for teleconferences and speaking events. What Chicken Soup for the Soul author, Jack Canfield, say's about Susan Sly: "Susan Sly is an inspiration to women. From overall health, to finance to relationships - The Have It All Woman is an amazing guide to achieving the life of your dreams." Jack Canfield Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:23:03 -0500 Full article 2_14available at: stepintoyourpower.com Be Like The Xerophyte by Susan Sly In two weeks we are re-locating to the sunny desert state of Arizona. Among many attributes such as a wonderful climate, great people and an abundance of opportunity; it is simply where Chris and I have desired to live for the past several years. People have asked us why we are moving there and truthfully, the answer is simply because we can and we want to. Just like we have loved our current home province, we will love wherever we are because life is truly what you make of it. Arizona is also home to some of the toughest species of plants in North America. When one thinks about Arizona and the Sonoran Desert images of cacti are conjured, along with long arid summers. The cactus is actually a xerophyte, meaning that it has gone through several evolutionary adaptations in order to survive long and hostile periods. Xerophytes are able to subsist on the smallest amounts of moisture when many other plants would simply wither and die. The recent worldwide economic woes have very much been desert periods. While some have chosen to complain, wither and decline others are adapting, much like the cactus and thriving in the desert environment. Life is in constant motion, much like the desert. At times it may seem dry and desolate however beneath the surface there is much going on. Like a xerophyte, you can either choose to adapt to the current environment and go on to thrive or you can stick with a non-productive way of being and hope that the environment is going to turn in your favor, adapt to you and not you to it. Truthfully, this is a different time than has ever been experienced before in our history. The world is truly smaller. Information travels in seconds from one continent to the next. People are connected through technology. A friend in Australia and video conference themselves to the birthday party of another friend in Denmark and sing 'Happy Birthday' in real time along with the rest of the group. By the same token a sleep deprived mother of a pre-maturely born baby can find support of other mothers online and get some much needed re-assurance. Additionally, an entrepreneurial individual can go on-line, research a home based business and get started with improving their future in a few short clicks. Much like the other desert loving species, the palm tree, you can easily connect your roots with others and choose to thrive instead of survive any climate. The past few weeks have been truly brilliant for people in a home based business. In Canada, an article in the Globe and Mail, pointed to an increase in the direct selling force and how many were turning to this industry to create a second stream of income. Last Thursday, USA Today, ran a similar article also highlighting people who had taken their part-time home based business to a full-time venture. Programs like Mad Money have also showcased the benefits of a home-based business. With so much media attention, many people are actually looking at this industry as something legitimate and viable. Like the xerophytes they are looking for ways to adapt. Worldwide revenue for direct selling was over $62 billion in 2008 according to the Direct Selling Association. This has almost doubled in the last 10 years. For people who are serious about acclimatizing to the current state of the world, now is the time to either get involved or re-commit. If you think these times are temporary, think again. If you think that the world is going to soon go back to giving mortgages to people who cannot afford them, dole out credit or be a place where everyone gets a full pension and job security regardless of performance then think again. Those days are over. This is the global economy. This is the information age. This is also the time for you to either apply yourself like never before to your existing home based business or find one. You need only turn to the USA Today article to look at some of their top, legitimate picks. Selecting a business is extremely simple. Having myself, generated $40 million in sales in the last six years in this industry and witnessed companies come and go, I can share some great questions to ask when considering a business. Do you have a product that will be appealing to baby boomers? Baby boomers are the biggest consumers and have the most wealth. Anti-aging, weight loss, overall health and appearance driven products are all key. Does the company have a proven track record? The majority of companies fail before their second birthday. Look for a company that has experienced profitable growth.Does anyone in management have experience in the field? Do they truly understand how to distribute products at the distributor level?Is there a consumable product? Consumables are the leaders in all business. The wealthiest companies in the world are those that have some sort of regular consumption. For example the pharmaceutical industry is driven by repeat prescriptions which account for the majority of its sales.Are people making money? Are their millionaires in the company?Does the product have visible results? The success of cosmetics direct sellers such as Avon and Mary Kay for example (neither of which am I involved in) has been due to visible results. Is the company compliant? Is the company making medical claims about curing cancer, fibromyalgia or other diseases? If so, they are at risk of law suits and even closure. Is the compensation plan fair? For example can people make money regardless of where they are positioned? Can a person still make money if they let their membership lag for a month or two and then come back or are they 'flushed' from the organization? Like the xerophytes, there are great companies out there who are adapting. Some companies are failing to alter their practices for the current environment. I strongly urge you to do your research and get involved in the industry of direct selling. Although I am an optimist I will tell you this - once we recover fully from this economic downturn there will be another. If you do not make a change, nothing will change. The desert drought will come again and a home based business is a wonderful way to prepare for that season. About Susan Sly In addition to having achieved great success in the industry of direct sales, Susan is a mother, loving wife, author and speaker. Susan has been in professional and direct sales for over two decades. To find out more about Susan or to purchase her training materials visit the Power Store section at www.stepintoyourpower.com Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:21:49 -0500 Full article 2_13available at: stepintoyourpower.com If It Were Easy...by Susan Sly This past week it finally hit me - we are moving our family to a new country and in the process leaving the town we grew up in, friends with whom we have shared many adventures and uprooting our children from their home. When I was in university we studied stress. Of the major stressors in human existence moving is right up there with divorce. For all comparisons moving is somewhat like a divorce in that one must redefine themselves outside of the existing relationship. In day-to-day conversation, where do you live is one of the most commonly asked questions. For my family, right now, the answer is - a hotel. I suppose I could say something more grandiose however in reality we will reside at a hotel with a baby due in a few weeks and a mission to find a home. Yes, there is the adventure of the situation and that is never far from our minds however the reality is that between this moment and our actual ensconcement in our new abode there is much to do and a great deal of uncertainty. Let's face it - we all face uncertainty. We set goals, go for them and when they start to happen, life throws us some curve balls to test our resolve. In fact with every person I have coached, and myself included, it is undeniable that the best things that happen in life come with a series of challenges that either build our character or take us out of the game. In preparing for our move, something we have long desired, we have definitely faced some challenges and the great news is that we are getting stronger and learning about ourselves in the process. When you think about a great success story, does it have any resonance if the victor accomplished the goal with ease? Do we gravitate toward the person who seemingly gets everything handed to them on the proverbial silver platter? The answer is a resounding, 'no.' Naturally as humans we love to read about the hero or heroine conquering the villain, or the person who, like Lance Armstrong conquers a life threatening illness and goes on to win several Tour De France races. We want to be inspired by how people overcome hardship because that, in turn, gives us permission to keep going on our quest for personal accomplishment. This past week Dara Torres shattered the world 50 meter butterfly record at 42 years old. For those of you who have followed my weekly column, you are familiar with the then 41 year old mother who medaled at this past Olympics in Beijing. The funny thing about Torres' victory is that she hasn't competed in the butterfly since 2000. The other amusing piece is that she is defying the odds and her heart is taking her into territory that is completely uncharted. She has definitely had her challenges on the path to her incredible comeback with the passing of her father, the severe illness of her coach, ridicule by the media and competitors and yet here she is making swimming history. In building my direct sales business the odds were really stacked against me. I lived in a small town, had a fulltime job, a husband who worked insane hours and two young kids. We faced a great deal of criticism and despite my constant goal setting and planning we also experienced many challenges along the way. It was facing those challenges and continuing to focus on the goal that made us stronger. You don't just fall into $40 million in generated sales in 6 years, you work for it. This past weekend, Helio Castroneves won the Indy 500. Recently he has faced legal battles and even the threat of deportation. I think we can all agree that he has experienced some challenges. Mr. Castroneves not only won the legendary car race, he did so freshly on the heels of his court battle. Just think that while he was training and dreaming of winning, he was also facing tough scrutiny and a massive threat to his dream. Much like hardcore swimmer, D.T., Helio Castroneves stayed focused on his goal and didn't allow anything to stop him. When it comes to success, not one winner ever got there without a challenge. In fact every person on the planet could be successful at something if they didn't give up when the first obstacle appeared. Everything worth fighting for has at least one road block. How you operate under these times will define your ability to be victorious or to simply be that person who sinks into victim mode. If it were easy to stay focused on a goal, then everyone would do something amazing and we would live in a world free from disease, war, turmoil and famine. The truth is that it isn't easy and once you accept that then you can move forward with the sense of peace that comes from knowing that anything you desire is yours if you will stay focused, tune out the detractors, keep yourself in the game and embrace the challenges that arise - because they will come and the blessing is that these challenges will be woven into your story of victory. Do you deserve to spend a weekend having your life transformed by Susan? There are limited spaces available for the October 2009 Have It All Women's Weekend. Women undergo transformation in all areas of their lives. Our graduates go on to achieve quantum leaps in their financial, physical and relationship health. Click Here to find our more about this amazing weekend. This is the last Have It All Women's Weekend of 2009 . Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:19:15 -0500 Full article 2_12available at: stepintoyourpower.com Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone Into the Freedom Zone - Redefining The Familyby Susan Sly 'The Millionaire Mom' Last week we were blessed to welcome our fourth child, Emery, into our home. She is an absolute angel and we are all completely enamoured with her. By all intensive purposes Emery is a gift. If it were not for the financial freedom we enjoy from residual income we would never have fathomed having another child. In an age where the majority of parents must both work outside of the home, Chris and I are able to collaborate together from the comfort of our own home. In this we are truly the minority if you look at the numbers. As of 2007 the majority of American families were subsiding on less than $40,000/year with 12.5 % of all Americans living on less than $19,000/year. With the recession and joblessness reaching the highest levels of the past decade many people are re-thinking their future. A recent article in Fortune magazine highlighted working Americans who were re-thinking retirement and looking at extending their stay in the workplace by ten years. What this means to families who are still 'holding it together' is that the higher paying jobs are not going to be as readily available for the thirty and forty year olds, or people in their prime family years, as those holding the jobs choose to retain them due to sharp declines in their retirement savings. Seven years ago, when Chris and I had our new son and our five year old daughter, we were the 'average family.' Despite having university educations and professional designations we had been forced to 'downsize' our life due to my illness. With two children our household income was approximately $30,000 after tax. We had a mortgage, car payments, daycare, insurance, groceries and all of the regular cost-of-living expenses one might expect. Any surprises including the dreaded child's birthday invitation, sent us into extreme levels of stress. We lived on a tight budget and any extras went on our line of credit and the proverbial credit cards. We had gone from a life of no debt and a six figure household to the absolute minimal existence. Respectfully, some may romanticize such simplicity however there is nothing romantic about arguing about money or wondering how we are going to pay for swimming lessons. There is nothing glamorous in checking out at the grocery aisle and praying there is enough money in the account to buy food. We didn't have a lot of hope, we didn't have any extras and it certainly affected our family. When we were offered another network marketing business, there were many reasons to turn it down. We didn't have the extra money to get started. We were already exhausted. We barely had time for one another let alone 'dialing for dollars.' In the end we knew that the truth was that we were 'uncomfortably comfortable.' Even though we were struggling, it was predictable. The pain of survival had become a constant numbing sensation in our lives. It was as though we were too exhausted to do anything different and too complacent to hope for more. It was this very reason why we decided to get out of this zone of comfortable discomfort and actually get more uncomfortable and take another shot at MLM. We had been in other companies. We had even been building when our company was closed due to claims. There had been leads, ads, home presentations, warm market, cold market, three way calls and initial time that exceeded the payout. We knew what it took to build and one could say that we were the right people going through the wrong time who needed the right company. The biggest asset Chris and I had is that we believed then and do still that network marketing is the key to liberating the family. We believe that people can 'have it all.' They can make significant income from home, be with their children, get out of debt, save money and enjoy their lives. We believe that through financial freedom families can not only be re-defined, they can be saved. We believe that network marketing is still the best kept secret to financial recovery, we have lived it. When we found the right company for us we put that initial product order on our credit card. We signed up as distributors. We took our product experience seriously and we documented our story. We researched the compensation plan, we asked questions, we built a schedule and we committed. It was never 'one toe in the water,' that is only a licence to fail. We took ourselves even further out of our 'comfort zone,' and we honed our skills. We also shared our passion for re-defining the family. Today, that leap of faith has made us millions. We have liberated families. We have re-defined our own family and helped tens of thousands of people in the process. It is cathartic to look at our sleeping infant daughter and know that if it wasn't for network marketing, we would never have dreamed of having her. If we couldn't promise a loving, safe home, nutritious food, time and a solid education we would not have brought her into this world. In fact we choose to have our second youngest for the same reason. We choose our family because we have the freedom to do so. As you read this article I want you to think about what freedom means to you. What would it do for your family? What would it do for your relationship? What would it mean for the lives of others? Freedom, in the free world, is a choice. The interesting thing is that true freedom always lies on the other side of discomfort. If you are struggling in any area of your life chances are that you need to get more uncomfortable and put yourself out there. Perhaps it is making more calls, elevating your presentation skills, getting healthier, working harder at having a more positive attitude, asking more, being more grateful...whatever it is for you know that you do have a choice and that suffering is completely optional. Yes, getting out of complacency is a lot of work however take it from a woman who just gave birth without drugs or an epideural; the most wonderful things sit on the other side of discomfort. This week I encourage you to get uncomfortable. Put yourself out there like never before. Dare to be the minority and not the majority. Set an example of what is possible and not what is probable and in the words of Albert Einstein,"everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom." Do you truly want to get out of your comfort zone and into your freedom zone? Register for the life transforming Have It All Women's Weekend today. You deserve to take your life to the next level in a safe, supportive environment. Susan believes that you can have it all. Isn't now the time to become everything you know you can be? Click here to register today. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:16:12 -0500 Full article 2_11available at: stepintoyourpower.com New Beginnings -The Courage to Changewith Susan Sly "What we think determines what happens to us, so if we want to change our lives, we need to stretch our minds." Wayne Dyer Is there something you want in your life right now? Is there something that has been on your heart and yet seems so far from where you are at this moment? Do you have a secret, burning dream inside you that you have suppressed because of the heavy weight of what appears to be your reality? If so, you are not alone. Millions upon millions of people never live into their destiny and you do not have to be one of them. When I was in Cambodia, I had the privilege of speaking to the entire staff of the World Vision national office. There were well over one hundred people in the room from a multitude of backgrounds working in some of the toughest conditions on the planet. In their day to day lives these incredible people deal with AIDS, sex trafficking, starvation, land mine victims and much more. They dedicate their existence to helping others and on this day I was asked to come and inspire the people who inspire me. I had just come from the trauma center where I had been holding a girl whose parents had been killed by the Khmer Rouge when she was six. She had been sold into a brothel at the age of 8 and her virginity was brutally raped from her by a customer whose face she refuses to remember. This beautiful girl, who we will call 'Elizabeth,' told me that I reminded her of her mother. We both began to cry. I looked at the clock and I was already late for my talk. With tears streaming down my face I said my 'good byes' and was shuttled to the World Vision offices. I entered the room of expectant faces not really knowing what to say. I took a deep breath, asked for guidance and just began to talk about goals. I talked about staying the course no matter what happens and about how I had just come from interviewing girls like Elizabeth who were still full of hope despite having been trafficked. One man stood up and asked a question. He said that he had wanted to be a doctor and his father had told him that he had to become an economist. He was also in an arranged marriage. He went on to ask, 'what if I have dreams and yet feel no control in my life?' It was a great question and I paused for a moment before responding. I then said, 'the first step is making a decision to change.' My friend Heidi added, 'you then have to have the courage to live with the consequences of your decision.' The man was so grateful and as he was leaving told me that he would be making some changes. In our lives it is easy to get caught up in the reasons we cannot be successful. The economy is too bad, we do not have support, we do not have time, we are not capable, we are not smart enough…the list goes on. The truth is that, as Napoleon Hill say's, you would not have even conceived of the dream lest you were capable and so therefore having had the dream or goal, you can achieve it. To achieve anything is going to require you to change how you are thinking and being. Change is sometimes terrifying. Unfortunately if you are not changing you are not growing. If you are not growing then your life is not growing either. This week I shared with a group of entrepreneurs that they are only as strong as their weakest thoughts. In order to change you have to put on your mental armor and take responsibility for the consequences of your decision to move forward in your life. For the next few weeks I will be dedicating my weekly writing to new beginnings and change. In the coming weeks I will share the proven techniques for changing your negative thoughts, beliefs, actions and having the courage to live into your destiny. I encourage you to dig deep and find those hidden dreams. Write them down and think about how your life will be different when you achieve them. Look within and dream big. Next week we will begin the process of transformation so you can be everything God and the Universe has destined you for. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:14:49 -0500 Full article 2_10available at: stepintoyourpower.com Follow Your Heart with Susan Sly As you read this I am on a plane to Hong Kong enroute to Cambodia. From there I will head to Malawai and then home. As the stock market tumbles, people fear for jobs and the news provides ample ammunition for those who choose to believe that things are only going to get worse I choose to stand in possibility and live in hope. Yes the market is reaching record lows and unemployment at an all time high however, like the message President Obama conveys - we can choose to live in optimism, work hard and separate ourselves from the mistakes of the past. How we choose to perceive the world is simply that - a choice. We can look at how the world is and decide to be victims or we can choose to forge ahead and be victors. One of the reasons I travel and write about the lives of girls and women in third world countries is that it provides much needed perspective on our lives in an industrialized, free country with as much opportunity as we choose to believe is there. Last week, Chris and I were at a recognition ceremony for Child Help. Child Help is an organization dedicated to ending child abuse in the United States and Canada. Sara Ramirez, who represents this incredible organization shared that statistically, when the economy suffers - child abuse rises. The number of children, in the United States, that die every day from child abuse is staggering. As we close factories here and overseas the death toll rises as children suffer from the anger and frustration of adults who do unforgivable acts. When an American company suffers and closes a factory in a country like Cambodia women and children lose jobs. Many of these women and children end up in the sex trade which unfortunately has not been hit by the recession. This is one of many reasons why I find myself travelling to Cambodia. We tend to think of ourselves as somewhat insular. There is a belief that girls suffering in Cambodia have little to do with our lives here in North America. The truth is that these girls are prostituting themselves to North American men who find sick gratification in taking advantage of underage girls and boys. These men return to North America having been exposed to S.T.D.s and drugs and in turn bring their particular form of sickness into their families and communities. They portray themselves as upstanding citizens only to violate children abroad. Hundreds of thousands of children are trafficked every year. North American and Europeans account for the highest consumers in the sex trade. This particular trip takes me to interview Thea*, a girl so impoverished she sold her virginity to a foreigner to feed her family. Thea is one of many girls globally who sell their virginity as a commodity. The recent Oscar winning movie, Slumdog Millionaire, portrayed the showcasing of a virgin girl to a variety of bidders. The selling of virginity is not simply a third world phenomenon; there are American girls selling their virginity on the internet. The question I keep asking myself is when stock markets are falling and people are losing jobs - who is bidding? Who are the buyers? What is the disgusting fascination with the violation of a young girl? The research for my next book will take me to the very far reaches of humanity where virgin girls and boys as young as five are sold to the highest bidder. As I follow my heart in helping these children and exposing the disgusting trend of online virginity bidding I encourage you to follow your own heart and pursue your passion even in these uncertain times. What I know, for sure, is that if you follow your heart and that path is for good you will not go wrong. I also know that nothing lasts forever and as possibility thinkers we must find light in the darkest places, hope in the greatest tragedy and life in what appears to be death. If you can choose to be hopeful and share hope even now you will change many lives. That person who you assist may be the person who chooses not to hit their child because of your kindness. That financial responsibility you take with your life right now may be the money that funds organizations that end the greatest challenges of our lifetime. I encourage you to follow your heart. Do not play small. Go for your dreams and goals and in doing so, you will impact the lives of so many others. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:13:49 -0500 Full article 2_9available at: stepintoyourpower.com Tips for Mastering Your Boundaries By Susan SlyFor years I sought approval. I was a perfectionist. Whatever I focused on became my obsession with the end result being the all-or-nothing approach to life. I also built a wall around myself refusing to be vulnerable and refusing to seek help. When my very own 'annus horriblus' occurred and I was diagnosed with MS, lost my business, ended my marriage and ended up over $100,000 in debt I knew something had to give. The uber woman I thought I was had been living a life of deception and I knew that if I didn't make some serious changes I would end up dead. I made a decision to claim my life and stop living it to impress others. I also decided that people would like and accept me as I was and that I didn't have to impress anyone. It took a few years to 'get my head on straight' however eventually it happened and now, I have the privilege of teaching women from all over the world how to rediscover themselves and take a stand for their lives. Working mothers from all over the globe are feeling the guilt of what has become a much used phrase in every home, 'where's mommy?' These days women are working harder, longer and taking on more roles in an effort to establish respect and live into what has become the societal norm of being all things to all people. In 2002 a study done by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau in the United States found that 64% of mothers with children under the age of six worked outside the home and 78% of mothers with children over six and under eighteen worked outside the home. When you factor in commuting, grocery shopping, home care, volunteer work, banking and technology it is no wonder that women are more stressed out than ever before. While the percentage of women in the work force climbs so does overall obesity rates in both adults and children. Is there a correlation? Perhaps. People are reaching for foods of convenience, instant gratification and turning to food, drugs and alcohol to calm them down. Is it any wonder that while the children are asking, 'where is Mommy?' that Mommy herself is wondering what in the world ever happened to her? Take hope men and women. You can reclaim your life and find yourself again. I did it and God willing continue to do so. Sure, I have my moments, anyone who say's they live in perfect harmony all the time needs to be given a Sainthood, however I also have coping strategies that have served me and thousands of women and men who have partnered with Step Into Your Power. Enjoy the journey. Tips for Mastering Your Boundaries Decide what you really want. Why are you on this treadmill anyway? Knowing what you truly want will assist you in letting go of what does not serve you. Establish your core and family values. In the Have It All Woman book I share how to create your life pyramid and achieve greater results with less effort. Follow the principles by putting your values at the forefront.Learn to say 'no'. If you are doing it for someone else and it doesn't align with your core and family values then say 'no.'Accept yourself for who you are right now. True validation and self-acceptance come from within. Create a schedule that includes family time, time for self care and time to connect with your partner. I read that Madonna schedules play time with her kids and this is sacred. Whether true or not - I do this myself and it works!!Get control of your finances. If you feel like you are spiraling out of control and taking on a second job just to pay the bills then you need to sit down with a financial planner and get organized. Understanding your financial position puts you in control.Take one day completely off every week. This is tough to do however you need that day to be rested for your week. On this day, play with your children, connect with friends or just do nothing. It is written in the Scriptures - 6 days labor, 1 day rest. Take time every day for true gratitude. Regardless of your situation there is someone in the world who has needs greater than your own. I have seen children starving to death with my own eyes. It is heartbreaking. No matter how big you believe your challenges to be, you are indeed truly blessed. When you can be grateful now the world becomes a much more beautiful place indeed. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:12:36 -0500 Full article 2_8available at: stepintoyourpower.com We Are All Professional SalespeopleBy Susan Sly "The fact is, everyone is in sales. Whatever area you work in, you do have clients and you do need to sell." Jay Abraham For the last 20 years I have been teaching people how to sell. Initially it was high end clothing and then it became health club memberships, supplements and personal training packages. The last few years, I have had a focus on empowering people to learn how to sell the most important thing - themselves. I know that some of you are thinking, 'I am not in sales. Why would I have to sell myself?' The reality is that, from the moment we are born, we are born salespeople. Embracing this reality will get you better relationships, greater wealth and essentially all that you desire. In summary, we all sell. When a baby comes out of the womb the child learns quickly that when she cries, someone comes to her aid. When she smiles, people smile back. Either way, to get what she wants she must 'sell' the other person on the idea that placating her is the best solution. Sales, it would seem is rather innate. As we grow into our childhoods we begin to sell our parents on our wants and desires. Sometimes we are successful and other times we are shunned. One study illustrated that by the time we are five years old we have heard the word 'no' over 6000 times. It is no wonder that we grow into adolescence lacking in confidence and doubting our abilities to ask for what we want. When we come into adulthood we are confronted with daily opportunities to sell ourselves to prospective employers, clients, patients, potential lovers, friends and even to our families. We are always selling the notion that we are good enough, lovable enough, desirable enough, useful enough and that we have enough knowledge to convey our ideas. Why is it then, if we are always selling, that so many people feel negative about the mere mention of the word 'sales?' It is simply because we have an adverse reaction to the notion of being 'sold.' If you are in a relationship, have a job, have ever joined a club, purchased something online, bought a pizza based on a commercial or aligned yourself with an idea or social more then you have been sold so accept it - sales makes our world go round. When I was doing research for my upcoming 3 C.D. series, The Power To Be Rich Now, I discovered that sales is the highest paid profession in the world. In fact, I am writing this article on my desktop which was sold to me by an astute specialist at Staples. I am wearing Lululemon yoga wear that was sold to me by a fellow yoga loving salesperson at the store of the same name. I can hear my children playing and they have sold me on the idea that we are going to go outside and hunt for our echoes after my next call. In fact, if it were not for sales I couldn't even crawl under my duvet, sold to me at a fine bedding store, on my ergonomic mattress, up sold to me at the mattress store, in my bedroom which is in my home which was sold to us by the realtor. What it comes down to is that we are all in sales. We are all selling something to someone. By embracing this knowledge and looking inward to better yourself you will find that your day-to-day selling experiences will be more rewarding and that you are able to connect at a deeper level. When I am assisting people in becoming the best they can be, the first thing I ask them to do is make a list of their strengths. What is it that they bring to the table in all of their relationships? Are you passionate? Positive? Strong? Empathetic? A leader? Knowledgeable in your field? Optimistic? Trustworthy? Full of integrity? What are the five things you carry with you in all of the roles of your life? I encourage you to make a list of your five strengths and keep it with you. When you are being challenged know that you are an incredible, unique and gifted being. Know what you contribute to others and be certain. This will improve your connecting, your relationships, your friendships, negotiations and every aspect of your life that involves sales.The Power to Be RIch (3 disk package) is scheduled for an early spring release. (details to follow) Register for Our Weekly E-Zine to be sure to receive great articles, tips and access to motivating training calls that will enhance your business and life experiences. Get Coached weekly by Susan Sly and great leaders who are making it happen. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:11:13 -0500 Full article 2_7available at: stepintoyourpower.com You Are The Sum of the Books You Have ReadBy Susan Sly "How am I going to live today in order to create the tomorrow I'm committed to?" Anthony Robbins This past week I found myself at a large bookstore, strolling from aisle to aisle in a state of bliss, absolutely exhilarated by the sweet aroma of new books with a mixture of freshly brewed gourmet coffee. As I stood in the business section, my children playing under the watchful eye of their father in the area designated for the young of body and heart, my eyes scanned the titles looking for the latest object of my desire, a new book entitled Rich Like Them by Ryan D'agostino. As I searched for this tome, I found myself next to a kindly looking gentleman perusing a book on the economy. We smiled at one another. I somehow felt obliged to tell him about the book I was looking for. In return he shared his love of books, that he was retired and that this particular bookstore was his version of the library. As we conversed it brought forth the question, 'is the modern big boxed bookstore the new library?' In reality, I think it is better. Regardless of the budget you have, the bookstore is completely liberating. With comfortable chairs, coffee and clean washrooms, not only can you read books for free; you can make noise and not have the proverbial grey haired library doyenne glare at you through her wire rimmed spectacles. In Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw declares her love of library books. I say, 'Carrie, honey, clearly you have not been to the bookstore lately.' Books, themselves are pure pleasure. They are an escape to a different world and a device by which we can enter the greatest minds of all time. Books hold an appeal to me that is so great, I often tote 3 of them on any trip and buy several others as I run through airports. My husband knows that the bookstore is my ultimate paramour. It requests nothing and gives everything. Fortunately my husband chooses not to compete and instead has become a voyageur in the great landscape of reading. All the multi-millionaires we know are also avid readers and lovers of the bookstore. They all have massive libraries and choose to purchase books because a good book, like a wonderful vacation, is a destination often worth repeating. When I found out that Jack Canfield, co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books and endorser of the Have It all Woman, reads one book a week, I decided that I too would aspire to that level of book devouring. Jack is worth tens of millions of dollars and he is not the only wealthy individual who reads one book every week. Donald Trump, Oprah Winfrey, Seymour Shulich, and even Madonna all are reported to read one book every week and I am sure they do not have 'Harlequin' printed at the top. Reading one book a week requires choice. Could you give up Dancing With the Stars or C.S.I. in order to absorb the thoughts and musings of the wealthy? What would this do for your own bank account? I read that Tony Robbins read 700 books in one year. He went from doing dishes in his bathtub to becoming a millionaire that year. Yes, it took discipline and mental fortitude however was it worth it for Mr. Robbins, someone who now attracts tens of millions of dollars to his bank account annually and can sell out a stadium? I would think that it is worth the effort. Charlie Tremendous Jones, the entrepreneur and multi millionaire, say's that we are the sum of the books we have read and the people we have met. In that light I would say that the more we read, the greater the chance of success. The more wisdom, ideas and powerful thoughts that fill our mind, the greater the ability to act on the opportunities that present themselves. As you read this I am finished Mr. D'agostino's book and am on to my next conquest. I would encourage you to challenge yourself to read one book every week this year. Your mind will grow and so will your bank account. Remember, C.S.I. is available on D.V.D. and you will be able to buy lot's of those when you are a multi-millionaire. Susan Sly is the author of the highly acclaimed Have It All Woman. You can work with Susan live and in person at the Power Body Weekend. Spaces are limited.Click Here to Register for our Weekly SIYP POWER EZINE. Receive great articles, tips and access to motivating training calls that will enhance your business and life experiences. Get coached weekly by Susan Sly and great leaders who are making it happen. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:08:45 -0500 Full article 2_6available at: stepintoyourpower.com Change Begins With Your Thoughts with Susan Sly "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much." Mother Teresa Would you consider yourself a possibility or a probability thinker? Do you feel that no matter what, you are in control or do you feel that no matter what actions you take the outcome will be the same? Do you wake up in the morning feeling an abundance of possibilities or do you wake up feeling the weight of another day? Do you see opportunities everywhere or do you feel that opportunity is for the chosen few? Regardless of where you see yourself, the truth is that in order to create the life you dream of you will have to embrace possibility and let go of probability. A possibility thinker is someone who sees opportunity in situations. They tend to be the wealthiest entrepreneurs on the planet. They are able to come up with solutions and capitalize in almost any environment. An example would be Warren Buffett. Despite the recent market downturn with the Dow Jones hitting the 6000's, Mr. Buffett did not start panicking and selling all of his holdings. In fact, Mr. Buffett is shopping for deals and the opportunity to buy good companies at a fraction of their cost two years ago. Other companies are actually seeing an upswing in their momentum. A recent article in the Globe and Mail in Canada illustrated how women were flocking to join one of the oldest network marketing and direct sales companies out there because they wanted to take control of their lives and not worry about downsizing or layoffs. Other network marketing companies are seeing a rise in their distribution force as this industry does not discriminate against gender, education, skill or ethnicity. Network marketing remains capitalism in its finest form and allows people to make as much money as they desire. Success in network marketing or any other industry is largely dictated by attitude. Those who maintain a positive attitude and who are willing to grow will always come out ahead. People who are opportunistic with a 'me first' attitude will ultimately end up losing their income, friends, family and self-respect. To stay in possibility means to look at what could be a great outcome that benefits all people involved in a situation. It also requires forgiveness of self and others. Possibility thinkers also enjoy longer and healthier lives. A recent study pointed to survival rates in cancer and found the number one factor to be a positive attitude and not a specific course of drugs. Possibility thinkers look to the positive outcome and tend to weight their decisions in 'what could be,' as opposed to 'what has to be.' If this type of thinking leads to better health and more money then why doesn't everyone adopt this attitude? The answer is simple: to stand in possibility takes mental fortitude and thus isn't the easiest place to stay. What is easy is to be seduced by negative news, friends, colleagues and family. It is easier to succumb to the doom and gloom of the world. To stay in possibility where you know that any set back is part of your story and that it has a purpose in your life is not the easiest thing to do. To become a person of possibility requires you to develop mental armor and look at changing your mindset. Asking yourself some trigger questions during times of challenge will help you re-frame even the most apparently negative situations. Know that you can change how you think. When you do this, your actions will change. When your actions change so will your results. I encourage you to use this trigger questions this week and observe how you stand in possibility. Trigger Questions to Re-Frame a Situation 1. What is great about this? 2. How am I growing from this situation? 3. When I get through this, will I be able to help others do the same? 4. Can I be an example of possibility during this situation? 5. Am I willing to forgive myself and others and take responsibility? 6. What could some great outcomes be from this? 7. What am I learning? 8. Can I get through this without compromising my values? Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:06:36 -0500 Full article 2_5available at: stepintoyourpower.com Simple Changes for a Long, Healthy and Abundant Life with Susan Sly This past week we held our first ever Power Body Weekend. Lives were absolutely transformed. Over the course of 4 days women learned how their body functions, what foods to eat for optimal health, how to teach the world how to treat them and much, much more. On a conference call on Monday, one participant even sounded different; her voice was much more powerful and deliberate. I know this new found assuredness will translate into all areas of her life. When we live our lives without worry, we take care of our bodies and stand in a place of daily gratitude we live longer, we feel better and we require less external assistance in the form of stimulants or pharmaceuticals to cope. In fact new research is showing that it is actually the simplest of actions that can enhance how our life is lived. On Oprah, Dr. Oz, was talking about 'Blue Zones' which are areas where people live to be into their 100's and are healthy, fit and fabulous. With the current economy and people looking at their retirement years as being long off, is it any wonder we would want to consider that growing older does not have to mean acting or feeling older? From the media doyenne of anti-aging Suzanne Sommers to actors such as Raquel Welch who push the envelope as to what sexy is, we all want to be as healthy, fit, wealthy and exceptional as we can be. The truth is that when it comes to living a fulfilled and abundant life, it isn't really rocket science. In fact, the Blue Zones discussed by Dr. Oz, with the exception of one, lack anti-aging specialists or traditional Western medicine. Instead it is good old fashioned common sense that allows these inhabitants to live into their 100's and feel great. Embracing change does not have to be complicated and can start with the simplest of actions. This week I am sharing the common sense steps to looking and feeling younger. I encourage you to embrace these steps and make some deliberate changes in your life right now. We are all living longer so why not live better? Simple Steps To Create a More Vibrant Life 1. To combat aging - eat a plant based diet. Think fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, lentils, legumes and very little meat, dairy, fish and absolutely no processed or refined foods. The diet consists of whole foods. Toss the chemically, processed foods today and feel better now. 2. Get a daily dose of exercise. Brisk movement for 30 or more minutes is the key to flushing out toxins, improving muscle tone and burning calories. To live a long, healthy life you must balance your exercise routine with resistance training in addition to cardiovascular exercise. 3. Be grateful now. When you stand in gratitude for what you have, more will be given. Studies show that people who maintain an attitude of gratitude have less stress and feel greater self esteem. 4. Take time to socialize with positive people. When you surround yourself with positive people, their energy rubs off on you. By the same token, negative people will bring you down. Perhaps it is time to release the negative people in your life. 5. Eat small meals at night. The majority of people in North America consume the most calories of their day after 4:00 p.m. This causes stress on the heart, pancreas, digestive system and much more. Eat a hearty breakfast - think an enzyme rich protein shake and a small bowl of oatmeal. Eat a balanced lunch with vegetables, fiber and a plant based or lean protein. Keep dinner very small - think a salad plate. Most people will release weight simply by eating less at night. 6. Find your passion. In order to live a vital, youthful life you must focus on your passion. People without passion tend to have more stress, disease and lack a lust for life. Your passion may be travel, writing, painting, helping others, teaching or anything at all. Live a passion filled life and you will turn back the clock. 7. 6 Days Labor - 1 Day Rest. We all deserve time to re-charge and re-energize. In order to do this it is essential that you take one day to simply be peaceful. Spend time with your family. Get outside. Put your feet up and read. Connect with friends. Commit to one day off per week and find that you are supercharged the rest of the time. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:58:52 -0500 Full article 2_4available at: stepintoyourpower.com Just Go With It!with Susan Sly "Keep your mind off the things you don't want by keeping it on the things you do want." W . Clement Stone So here we are in the middle of April and in the next 10 weeks Chris and I will welcome our fourth child (gender still unknown) sell our home, move to a new country, find a new home, enroll our children in new schools and begin a new chapter of our lives. Yes, this is absolutely insane and it is also life. Instead of worrying about all of the details or creating emotional drama and chaos we have decided to embrace the adventure of these changes and just go with it. For two years we have wanted to move to the United States. After years of constant travel we deserve to put down some roots and enjoy the simple pleasures of a winter without snow and a quick trip to Trader Joe's. Two years ago we began the process and started filling out the paperwork. At the beginning of March, as I was about to leave for Cambodia, we had all of our forms finished and our lawyer submitted them. As of last Tuesday we were approved to not only move to the United States but also to contribute to the economy. What we were not expecting was for the final process to happen so quickly. With our beloved approval came a myriad of questions such as, 'how soon do we go,' and 'what about health insurance, liability, and so much more.' Chris and I made a decision to simply go for it. Our newest family member will be born in the U.S. and our children will begin at their new schools for August 1st. After the wave of delirious excitement passed the 'reality mountain' reared its ugly head. We had a house to list and therefore must purge, we had teachers to talk to, movers to organize, find a temporary home to rent, find health insurance and so much more. Fortunately, as the Have It All Woman book readers will know, clearing clutter is something done on an ongoing basis so that isn't a major issue. We also believe in donating rather than selling so snowsuits, boots and all manner of winter outdoor gear is being sent to grateful friends and family. I also have a list ofcourse and tackle a new aspect every day. If I stop to really think about how much there is to do in the next several weeks then it can be seductive to fall into the trap of overwhelm; this doesn't accomplish anything. The reality of life is that when we consider that our dreams really can come true and they do, we must be prepared to go with everything else that comes with it. When opportunity comes you have got to be prepared to do the work, apply yourself, produce for long hours and commit to detail. The only people who are not successful in life are those who succumb to complacency. There are so many wonderful opportunities out there for all of us and there is not one legitimate reason why we cannot be healthy, abundant and fulfilled beyond our wildest dreams. When the possibility of getting what you want happens, whether it is the chance to meet with a great potential client, travel to an exotic location, meet a wonderful person, connect with someone on a different level, invest in a business or anything else that we have dreamed of then we must go for it. The Universe, who I call God, is always giving us what we dream of. It is up to us to do the work. It is that simple. Susan Sly is the author of the highly acclaimed Have It All Woman. She has been featured on the CBN, ABC Family and done over 100 radio interviews. Recently Susan was quoted in Forbes Magazine. Susan is a mother of 3, and soon to be 4 children, and a loving partner to her husband Chris. Susan writes on wealth, relationships, health and prosperity. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:57:03 -0500 Full article 2_3available at: stepintoyourpower.com The Harder You Work The Luckier You Get with Susan Sly On Tuesday I was on a call with an exceptional entrepreneur and her perspective client. After sharing a little of my story, the client asked me to name the number one factor in my success. Without hesitation I replied, 'consistent persistent habits.' Basically if I want to be lucky in business then I work harder. In Malcolm Gladwell's book the Outliers he highlights the argument of whether 'nature' or 'nurture' is responsible for success. His conclusion is that repetition combined with a small amount of fortune or luck will determine an individual's ability to be successful. Gladwell's well researched theory is that 'outliers,' people who achieve extraordinary success in a field generally have thousands of hours of practice at their craft and some opportunity presents itself so they are at the right place at the right time. This week I was also reading a short interview with Ivanka Trump, daughter of the legendary real estate tycoon and bestselling author Donald Trump and his very entrepreneurial ex-wife, Ivana. Ivanka herself has an incredible work ethic and directs new development at the Trump organization. Growing up her parents taught her that the harder she worked, the luckier she would be. In other words - you create your own luck. When I was training for the Ironman triathlon, I spent repetitious hours in the pool working on my catch (how my hand grabbed the water), my follow-through (how my hand pushed the water under my body) and my reach (how I extended my arm to catch the water and then follow-through). Truthfully, swimming is not my favorite part of a triathlon. I do not love the chlorine, the humidity of the pool or the damp grotto of a swim club change room. What I did love about swimming was getting faster, how defined my arms got and how, with practice, I was able to move through the water with ease. It took swimming four times every week in addition to six run sessions, five bike workouts and dryland training (weight training and stretching) to even feel comfortable doing a triathlon. I had come from a running background first and foremost and then ventured into cycling. After spending countless hours on the bike and logging several 100k rides I began to feel at one in the saddle. And, as luck would have it, the more comfortable I felt cycling, running and swimming the more races I placed in the top 3 overall. In truth, it wasn't luck at all - it was hard work. The same is true of my experience in network marketing. In the beginning I logged thousands of calls including ten cent leads. Ofcourse the experience wasn't always pleasant. I had people hang up on me, tell me off and even lecture me on the phone. As you can only imagine, once I worked through the pain I eventually became more comfortable on the phone. In the last six years my network marketing business has produced $40 million in sales and I now operate with ease and flow. Luck is entirely overrated. What will take you to success is hard work pure and simple. If you want to change your body then you will have to sweat, eat properly, take great nutritionals and get adequate rest. If you want to make and keep more money then you will have to create multiple streams of income, save and release debt. Ofcourse anything we do initially is uncomfortable just like my countless hours of slogging it out in the pool. Eventually, we push past the discomfort and our hard work yields greater rewards. This week I encourage you to set your goals, get into action and know that all good things will ultimately require effort. You have such greatness within and everything you want and dream of is possible. Go for it and create your own luck. Susan Sly is the author of the highly acclaimed Have It All Woman and a self made millionaire. She has been featured on the CBN, ABC Family and done over 100 radio interviews. Recently Susan was quoted in Forbes Magazine. Susan is a mother of 3, and soon to be 4 children, and a loving partner to her husband Chris. Susan writes on wealth, relationships, health and prosperity. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:56:04 -0500 Full article 2_2available at: stepintoyourpower.com 7 Cost Effective Ways to Lower Your Stress Right Now by Susan Sly BSc, C.P.T., LWMC "Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure." Oprah Winfrey After last week's article, 'Is Stress Making You Fat,' I had many requests to provide some specific tips on how to lower cortisol. As entrepreneurs who are diligently attempting to focus on the positive, create opportunity and ignore the mass media with the doomsday approach to the economy; no wonder we are stressed out. I have come to terms with the idea that stress is the new accessory. It is more fashionable to be completely, unequivocally stressed than at ease. In fact I challenge you to find a person who is totally calm and peaceful that would not be labeled as some kind of freak. Yes, stress has become the new norm and unfortunately it is making us fat, sick and broke. Like many fashions, think grunge in the nineties, you do not have to participate. In fact, to be successful you will have to learn how to manage your stress and step into a higher level of faith in the present and the future. Stress is optional. In fact stress is simply a personal interpretation to a situation. If, for instance, you were to lose a client right now the first likely thought in your mind would be, 'it is the economy, I am ruined.' If you were to lose the same client in 2007, your thought might be, 'there are more clients out there.' Either way, the degree of stress to the exact same situation is going to rely on your ability to manage stress and your interpretation of the event. Having been an entrepreneur for over two decades, I have become a pro at managing my own stress. From members falling off treadmills and threatening to sue, to not landing large accounts, to going from a media darling to a divorced single mom with $100,000 in debt; really, just like all of you, I have experienced stress. We all have stress. We all have points of tension. We all have circumstances we would rather not have lived through or would rather not be living through. The events may not change however how we perceive them and how we deal with the emotions around the perception are all we can control. This week I offer some ideas to lowering your stress levels. This will lower your cortisol levels which can not only assist you in releasing body fat, it will also lower your risk for a heart attack. In the spirit of the current economy, all of these suggestions will cost you very little and can make a huge impact in your life. I encourage you to be productive, positive and powerful entrepreneurs this week; go forth and live into your God given gifts with a better handle on your stress. 7 Cost Effective Tips To Lower Your Stress 1. Talk About It. Women lower their stress levels by talking about their challenges. In addition to lowering stress they also elevate serotonin, a hormone which causes women to feel more inspired, less hungry and elevates the libido. The opposite is true for men. When a woman holds in her problems the stress builds and she can crave starches, feel tired, blue and gain weight. Girls - just let it out. Men - go to tip number 2. 2. Write About It. Journaling is a wonderful way to release stress. Simply writing about your challenges and then breaking them down to smaller pieces is very cathartic. When I was $100,000 in debt I wrote in my journal that I owed 10,000 ten dollar bills. It was the same amount however my perception of the money was different. 3. Release It. If you are under stress the best thing you can do is exercise. A 30 minute walk is good for your heart, burns calories and also clears your mind. My father-in-law says that there is no problem he cannot solve on his run. Instead of plugging in your headphones - try asking your mind to solve the problem and then head out and get some exercise. 4. Perceive It. Your perception of the challenge is often less accurate than the reality of the situation. If you are about to lose your home and think that you are the only person facing that challenge then you will feel embarrassment, shame, anger, frustration, disgust and more. Know that any challenge you face has been faced by others. There are amazing books, seminars, counselors and pastors who can assist you with plugging into others who have triumphed from a similar situation. 5. Pray It. Regardless of your belief, prayer and meditation is a wonderful release. Studies have shown that people who believe in a higher power have less stress than those who do not. When I have a challenge I release it to God and pray. I know that God for me, perhaps The Universe for you, can provide answers much greater than we can. 6. Pause It. If you are under a lot of stress and feel as though you lack perspective take a 24 hour break from the problem. Make an agreement with yourself and your family that you will not focus on the problem for 24 hours. When you do this, you allow your mind to shift to the solution instead. It is fabulous. 7. Name It. When we feel as though everything is going wrong it is a good idea to focus on the root source. If we cannot pay our mortgage, our loan payments, our credit cards and our household expenses then the issue isn't about these things individually - it is about making more money. Money is not the root of all evil, not knowing how to manage money is the root of all evil!!! If you are drowning in debt then name the problem - you deserve to make more money. If your health is failing in numerous areas then name the problem - perhaps you deserve to release the weight. Almost any host of problems comes down to one or two root causes. Name the problem, focus on the root cause and guess what? The rest of your life will improve. Come and work with Susan live at the Power Body Weekend. You will transform your life. This event is limited to a small group of women. Very few tickets remain. Not only is this event guaranteed to change your life, you will learn valuable nuggets to create increase in all areas of your life. Click here to register today or call toll free at 1-866-890-0807 to pay in installments. Ultra Healthy lunches and dinners are provided every day. Do not delay - sign up today!!! Note - if you are an entrepreneur the Power Body Weekend may be a complete tax write off. Check with your accountant for details. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:54:45 -0500