Queen of Bliss, Joeann Fossland

http://www.facebook.com/savorthesuccess

Connect with Joeann on LinkedIn ...

or if you haven’t joined my Facebook business side…please come see if you like!

...or come play with me on FourSquare!

Reputations…Made or Lost! My Saga of Lowe’s, Customer Service, Twitter & Facebook!

Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach (Advantage Solutions Group) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:33:47 -0400

After it was all said and done, my plumber, Norm from Mister B’s said it really scared him what happened…..He said he realized that even if he had done a great job for someone and they thought he charged too much, they could post something negative and it could impact his reputation! By the way, if you need a plumber in Tucson-call Norm!

Social Media makes reputation management more important than it has ever been. Situations can occur quickly and get out of hand if not monitored and addressed swiftly.

A prime example of how Cosmic Shift Happens™ *

WHEN SOCIAL MEDIA IS USED RESPONSIBLY……The power is amazing….

My Saga of Lowe’s, Customer Service, Twitter & Facebook!

My husband and I are in the middle of remodeling our bathroom. We have lived in this house since 1982 and the fixtures were original from 1952! So, it’s about time, I’d say! My sweet, retired husband, Bub, wanted to take on managing the project and his pace is quite a bit different than mine (to say the least!). This has meant it is a two month job instead of a 1 week job. That’s ok…I can be patient! I am so excited we’ll finally be replacing the 48 year old fixtures with new!

Back in July, we shopped at several stores looking at fixtures and new sinks,

and we settled on a great looking pedestal sink at Lowes. They had this sink on the floor as a model and we were told not in stock. So we ordered it and waited a couple of weeks for it to come in from American Standard. It sat in the box on the back porch until last week, when Norm, our plumber was finally scheduled to take out the 50 year old pipes and put new in. (Halleluja!) When Bub unpacked the sink, he saw it was not white…..but a kinda cream color-the box named it “linen” (which I thought was a fabric not a color). So Bub boxed it up to go exchange it…

Lowe’s is a friend to Realtors®! I love and recommend in my classes the program they have created for REALTORS® to use with their clients. In my experience over the past few years, the coupons, information, emails have all been evidence that they understand the needs of consumers and want to demonstrate their value. We’ve been loyal to Lowe’s. We hadn’t had any need to exchange or return anything.

So, it was a shock last week when we experienced a serious customer service issue. When Bub took it back, they refused to exchange it because it had been a “special order”. No one made us aware when we ordered it was a “special” order; only that it was not in stock. The salesman said the policy is no exchanges for special orders. Bub talked to the manager who backed the salesman’s statement and pretty much said they couldn’t/wouldn’t do anything. Bub came home upset. I was upset. He decided he’d go back and order a white sink and we’d just pay for another sink.

I don’t get upset often. I always believe there’s got to be a way to make something work, even if everyone says it is impossible. So, I put on my thinking cap and TWITTERED!

Two friends jumped in and also posted on Twitter Thank you friends! There was also a discussion that ensued on Facebook with more comments. I checked out Lowe's Facebook page and there were complaints with no responses. Doesn't look like they do much monitoring there, but they do monitor Twitter!

Four hours after the first posting, I get a @LowesCares tweets back:

Interesting Twitter handle! Lowes doesn’t seem to follow the Facebook postings like it does the Twitter ones.

I followed directions, filled out the form and shortly after lunch, the following day, Bub receives a call from the corporate office. They say they will “eat it” and he can return the sink to our local store. Which he does. He says they are VERY nice to him. Helpful…even though said sink now is not being made any more and it looks like we are going to have to buy something different. But wait…right there on the floor is a white sink that looks just like the linen one! For some reason it isn’t in their computer! And though out it all, the sales associate was patient and kind and helpful. So helpful that it turns out when they id’ed the sink there- it was only $99 instead of the special order $250! So Bub was given a gift card for the difference and the white sink! He came home a happy man.

Thank you Lowes! And my Twitter thank you to Lowes:

So, the tile guy is coming tomorrow! And then Norm comes back to hook everything up and I should have a new shower by next week! And a new sink that looks GREAT!

As a business coach…I am always looking at questions with my clients after the fact that could make the next situation turn out better:

• Was this good customer service?

• Or poor customer service?

• Did the fact I was a Realtor® have anything to do with it?

• Was the fact I have a fairly high profile in CyberSpace a consideration?

Don’t get me wrong….I am a happy camper, but I wonder if the situation helped Lowe’s learn something and improve?

Perhaps the moral of the story is that the consumer is empowered these days by the ability to use social media. Smart businesses are monitoring and responding swiftly. Reputations are being made and lost through Social Media. Cosmic Shift Happens™ !!!

*My friend, Carra Riley and I are co-authoring and crowd sourcing an eBook called Cosmic Shift Happens™ about how to navigate the cosmic universe without negativity. If this appeals to you, get the info here, we’d love to hear your stories and thoughts!

Like my plumber, Norm, said....Social Media is effecting people and businesses reputations.....

What do you think?

More From The Awesome Females In Real Estate

Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach (Advantage Solutions Group) — Tue, 04 May 2010 12:46:57 -0400

Last week, I shared with you some of the highlights of this year's AFIRE Conference!

To spend three days with over 50 successful women was a real treat and I came away with my head spinning from the thinking and inspiration.

If you haven't also read this....My friend and author of The Cosmic Cow Pie, Carra Riley did a great blog post with her takeaways that is a wonderful brainstorming list! Lot's of good ideas are captured here.

And here are a few more of my takeaways and ah ha moments:

•KathiKing http://www.savorthesuccess.com/member/kathi-king

"Who's driving YOUR bus?" there is only ONE driver and it should be you!

•Marilyn Wilson www.retechnology.com shared some key trends:

Inbound marketing vs. outbound marketing Hubspot.com daily snippets of wisdom About the clients finding you-customer at the center of the process is a good experience
Transparency and congruency are important for credibility
Mobile: mobile property search. Netbooks, iPad. There are no excuses for not being available immediately. Google Chrome rocks
Processing efficiency: having all paper work online. Calculate the savings of going paperless.

•Pam O'Connor, President and CEO, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World , said "Information is free, knowledge is priceless"

•Raleigh Pinsky the PR Expert http://www.promoteyourself.com/ shared

•o Create an "Online Pressroom" with articles, videos, and interviews

•o Rethink in person lunching (start doing it more!)

•o It does take at least 7 exposures to build credibility but they only see 1 in 3...so you must put 21 in front of them!

What new ideas are helping you reinvent yourself? Please leave a comment here or share on the wall of my Facebook Page!

Falling in Love is Wonderful! So says Seth Godin!

Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach (Advantage Solutions Group) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:51:39 -0400

Margaret Rome is one of the smartest agents I know and the most caring! You'll love this article!

Via HomeRome Realty Author:Real Estate the Rome Way 410-530-2400:

Falling in Love Is Wonderful!

A couple of days ago, Seth Godin wrote a blog about buying a house. He called it "How to Buy a House" and started it off with, "Actually, how to think about buying a house." He went on to talk about the "…enormous social pressure and the expectations that come with…." being in the market for a house, and gave some great advice to people thinking about buying.

I couldn't resist – I had to write him a fan letter. This may be my favorite post of Seth's so far. He reminds the reader that, "A house is not just an investment, it's a place to live." And, "You shouldn't fall in love with a bond or a stock or a piece of gold…" but "…you just might fall in love with a house."

Falling in love is wonderful!

No question, buying a home is an emotional decision. Even if you find everything you think you want – the right neighborhood, the right school, the right number of bedrooms, the right look, the fireplace, the gardens, the garage, the man cave, even the lower level ping pong room – it still may not be right. It's like when you were dating. He looked right, was tall enough, good sense of humor, good education, your friends liked him…but something was missing. I think we call it chemistry. The same is true with the house - you gotta fall in love! Falling in Love is Wonderful!

In his blog Seth cautions against buying too much house or falling under the spell of great marketing and being pressured into paying too much for a house. He reminds his readers to step back when looking at a house, to take out the investment aspect, and just look at it as a house you love, then decide.

Falling In Love Is Wonderful!

As seasoned agents, we can see when a house is right, when a house just fits. We can just look at the buyer’s face, listen to the chemistry, and we know. It may not be exactly what they described, but it is exactly what they want.

Falling in Love is Wonderful!

www.HomeRome.com

410-530-2400

The NEW Consulting Model:Join Mollie Wasserman & Joeann Fossland FREE!

Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach (Advantage Solutions Group) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 21:20:30 -0400

Fossland's Forums are free webinars monthly to share ideas, tools and information to help make you successful!

This month, Mollie Wasserman will join me to discuss:

The NEW Consulting Model
Everything you need to know!

To Listen to the Archived Call: , it was recorded here

Tuesday, April 13 , 2010

My guest this month will be Mollie Wasserman, author of Ripping The Roof Off Real Estate and co-creator of the ACRE^TM Designation.

Will join me to talk about how consulting can be used to give more choices to the clients you work with? This business model is gaining in popularity as agents discover how transparency and quality resonate with today's consumers! Join us! You'll be glad you did.

I also offer a free goodie each month to help with your business and life!

Fossland's April Freebie: Read the introduction to Ripping The Roof Off Real Estate for some eye-opening thinking about what you could do to give consumers more choices! Download it here.

If we aren't Friends on Facebook or Linked on LinkedIn or following each other on Twitter (I will reciprocate):

...or if you haven't joined my my Facebook business side...please come play!

...or come play on FourSquare!

Attitude, Contrast & Being Extraordinary

Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach (Advantage Solutions Group) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:34:33 -0400

The ordinary person waits until they are feeling a certain way to take actions; the extraordinary person, knows they can shift their "feelings" into a more positive place any time they want, by noticing them and then taking actions that make them feel better. Self-awareness is the difference between getting stuck with feelings and using them to your benefit.

You've probably heard "what you focus on expands." And, yet, when you have an unwanted circumstance or situation, it can be hard not to focus on the negative parts of it. Either the outrage that "this" has happened or the feelings of helplessness or impotence suck us into unproductive worry and drama. You can dwell there, of course. And, we all know drama can get us attention. However, seldom is it truly useful. Rather, it's a waste of time and energy that could be productively bringing us closer to the things we really want. Sometimes, it is easy to let go and shift. Sometimes, I find an attachment to the drama of the outrage. I have been practicing expanding my own ability to "get" how this works!

Some of my favorite work around the Law of Attraction is from Ester & Jerry Hicks. I have mentioned their many books, including the latest, The Vortex in previous posts. One particular perspective that has been especially helpful for me around some negative emotions I haven't been able to let go of is that the universe gives us contrast. When we are very aware of what we DON'T want, we can more precisely visualize exactly what we do want. So, instead of seeing an unwanted circumstance as something that shouldn't be happening or thinking something is wrong with your life or the world for giving you this situation, if you shift to interest and even gratitude for what it brings you, you can go forward without focusing on how you don't want it to be. The contrast gives you more clarity about what you do want.

What's this got to do with you and your business? I hear so many people frustrated at the current state of the economy and the real estate markets who have let themselves be stuck, instead of reinventing their businesses. That is one possible response, but I don't think it's what you really want, is it? Working on upgrading you and your responses will probably give you more results than learning all the scripts in the world! Attitude is a powerful tool.

Some here are some actions you could take this week:

Do something every day to make someone else smile
Look for the contrast and when you see it, be curious about what good it is bringing you
Be grateful for what you do have - do you keep a daily journal of 5 things for each day?
Expand the actions and activities you enjoy - once a day, add 1 more thing that is connected to your passions
Be gentle with yourself - the judgmental perfectionist isn't helping you excel (REALLY!)

I invite you to be extraordinary.... just because you CAN!!!!

...or if you haven't joined my my Facebook business side...please come play!

...or come play on FourSquare!

Have a Marvelous Week! It IS up to you!!!!!

Living Your Dreams!

Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach (Advantage Solutions Group) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:20:21 -0400

How is it going this year? Are you living the life you want? Is the rest of the year going to include people, places and activities that will be memories for the rest of your life?

Last week, I got a phone call from someone I hadn't seen or talked to since 1978! My old friend, Huey Hurst, from my Basalt, Colorado days, was riding his bicycle from San Diego to Florida. He was in Wickenberg, AZ when he called, planning to go through Phoenix where his bike was getting some tuning and he was going to pick up his new iPad. He had a day to fritter away and wanted to see if I was free! How fortuitous I wasn't on the road and my computer, it had been determined, need reformatting so it was perfect timing.

One lesson I learned from the father of coaching, Thomas Leonard.... PEOPLE BEFORE THINGS! i changed my working day into a play day and enjoyed the time with an old friend.

What an amazing guy! Huey retired 18 months ago after being a UPS Delivery man for 25 years. Along the way, he's scaled over 30 of the 14,000+ mountains in Colorado, built a house on the slopes of Mt. Sopris (in Carbondale near Aspen) and has done quite a bit of travelling. Since retirement, he has visited Morocco, Iceland, Nepal and me! He is doing this bike trip alone, staying in hotels, not camping. He said he had no rules, but he seemed fairly committed to the route and maps he had of the back roads and staying focused. He is riding about 70 miles a day. Wow!

I mentioned a few years ago that I planned to walk from the Mexican Border to the Canadian Border. Plan A was to kick that off this year, when I turned 62 and had planned to retire. We are now operating on Plan B.... I am not retiring for 3 more years, I have some foot problems that hinder me after a few miles and I am now thinking a biking trip might be a good substitute! The main thing is: the inspiration of Huey's trip has nudged me along in the new Plan B and put SOME adventure & energy (not certain what it will end up looking like) back into this. How about you?

Before the movie and term Bucket List became popular, I worked with my clients and created my own 100 To Be, Do & Have List. This list was all the things I wanted to do, be and have in this lifetime. We've accomplished a lot of them... done a triathlon, toured Australia for a month, bought some rentals and had grandchildren... still many to do in the next 40 years! (Jumping out of an airplane is NOT on MY list!) Each year when I am doing my yearly planning, I refer to mine and I've put it on my Pre phone in notes so I can add to it on the run.

So, since the first quarter of 2010 is behind us... as well as all the years that have preceded it....where are you going next?

Here are some questions to ask yourself and actions for this week:

What dreams do you want to manifest in this lifetime?
What places do you want to see?
What experiences do you want to have?
What people do you want to connect or reconnect with?
Create your 100 Be, Do & Have List: Just take out a sheet of paper and number it and start adding these things
Choose some to put on the calendar now
Choose some that need more planning in place, but you are committed to have happen and put a date beside these
How can you make today extraordinary or have a smaller version of something on the list (go camping this weekend perhaps)?

Huey's visit was a really nice wake up call to look at where I have been playing too small, or even, not having some experiences because I sometimes still buy into "not enough time" or "not enough money". Between just having a birthday and contemplating what this year will bring, Huey's inspiring visit and Springtime..... I am jazzed to make this whole year extraordinary, one extraordinary day at a time.

The universe is always sending messages... sometimes in whispers, sometimes more blatant, sometimes, it takes a crisis to hear..... are you listening or paying attention?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I Love to Party! If we aren't Friends on Facebook or Linked on LinkedIn or following each other on Twitter (I will reciprocate):

...or if you haven't joined my my Facebook business side...please come play!

...or come play on FourSquare!

Have a Marvelous Week! It IS up to you!!!!!

You can own the ULTIMATE Marketing Package

Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach (Advantage Solutions Group) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 10:32:32 -0400

This package is an amazing way for someone to have all the tools and support they need to really have a great presence!!! And it's great to see it supporting a really worthwhile charity! So, if you are a new agent or one who is re-inventing yourself....consider investing in your future!!!

Via Mike Mueller (Tech and Social Media Consultant):

At REBarCamp in San Diego this last year a few of us got together and started thinking of a way we could work together and do some good. We came up with an idea and here’s the result…

The ULTIMATE REAL ESTATE MARKETING PACKAGE!

Here’s the Auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290422456319

From the eBay auction itself…

The Following Have Graciously Donated Their Products or Services For This Charity Auction
All proceeds benefit Mothers Fighting For Others and their mission to provide orphaned girls in Kenya with opportunities their parents would have provided, if they only could; a loving and nurturing environment and a quality education, so they can learn, thrive and achieve their highest potential. #MFFO #50kfor50k

ActiveRain – $715 Total Value
One Full Year Membership with the following:

$348 – RainMaker

$159 – RainCamp Ticket (closest Location to winner)

$108 – Localism Sponsorship – 1 local community

$100 – Outside Blog (includes support)

Feature one post of choice – (complimentary

Mike Mueller – $500 Total Value

One Custom Facebook Business Page (Includes 2 custom built tabs)

Dakno Marketing – $2682 Total Value

SwiftSite with 5 hours additional design customization ($925)

SwiftBlog ($550)

1 Year of Hosting both the website and blog ($708)

Posterous Blog Customization (to match the design of the site/blog) ($199)

6 month membership to Dakno’s AllAccess Live Training

RealEstateShows – $1562 Total Values

A whole office account up to 50 agents.

Nicole Nicolay – $2000 Total Value

Donate 2 hours of one-on-one social media coaching via phone/Webinar. Coaching can be used for a specific goal or project, OR a review of current social media strategies and Web presence. Nicole will also provide you with a custom social media plan, including revised/or new goals with recommended implementation tasks.

Altos Research – $960 Total Value

One Altos report subscription one year (provided they are within their service area)

Diverse Solutions – Value Varies

an IDX for a year (provided they are within their service area)

Drew Meyers – $150 Total Value

1 hour of consulting time – SEO, Social Media Marketing, wordpress, or whatever the person wants to talk about.

All proceeds benefit Mothers Fighting For Others. MFFO is a non-profit 501c3 organization (EIN/tax ID number: 26-0320699)

On Apr-06-10 at 19:07:00 PDT, seller added the following information:Added:WellcomeMat – $2100 Total Value

A 10-Pack of WellcomeMat Pro for One Year

Total Value Now Over $11,000

On Apr-06-10 at 20:41:16 PDT, seller added the following information:Jay Thompson – $300 Total Value

2 hours of 1-on-1 consulting

Total Value Now Over $11,300

This post brought to you courtesy of Mike Mueller.
Feel free to ReBlog or ReTweet as you like as long as you credit the source (him).
Did you know? He's for hire! He builds Blogs, Graphic Images and Widgets and Facebook Pages and besides… He knows lots of really cool stuff.
Hire Mike (925) 456-4567

Did you know?

BEING THE PERSON WHO Has the energy to give...

Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach (Advantage Solutions Group) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:17:39 -0500

I know you know this......You have to take care of yourself FIRST!!!! ALWAYS. You can only give to others in proportion to what you have. If you are tired, scared, frantic or beat up...you don't have much to offer the people you want to serve. And, even though you know this, why do I keep talking with people who are making half as much working twice as hard and are just plain tired?.....Why is it so hard to stop and re-center, focus and begin in the beginning? And that beginning is to nurture and love you.

Yes, it may sound selfish and that's what I want you to claim in 2010-

Extreme Selfishness (as in SELF CARE) in taking care of YOUR NEEDS.

I have enjoyed and learned from the books and recordings I have of Esther & Jerry Hicks and the teachings of Abraham-where the recent Law of Attraction work all started. I read their latest book, The Vortex: Where the Law of Attraction Assembles All Cooperative Relationships, on our Hawaiian vacation. It was so calming to sit on the beach and think about where and what I was resisting in my life and see how to let go, so the resistance didn't distract me or get me stuck from getting the things I REALLY want.

Here is a quote from Abraham's Teachings, "Your greatest value to others is when you are joyful. Your greatest value to others is when you are connected. Your greatest value to others is to be radiantly healthy. Your greatest value to others is when you are happy. Your greatest value to others is to have and to be and do all the things that are very important to you. And as you are living that and vibrating that and oozing that and radiating that - then you are a catalyst that is inspiring others to an awareness of that." Abraham-Hicks

Isn't that wonderful? Can you take it in? Your job is to take care of YOU...so you can serve the people in your life you want to serve.

Here are a few ways to take better care of yourself:

Take at least one full day off each week
Schedule the time for vacations whether it's a staycation or a trip around the world!
Put regular appointments on your calendar for the things that nourish you: watching the sunset, reading, massages, getting together with people you love, playing tennis, golf....OK, hopefully you get the idea.
Ask others to help you!
Give up things that don't give you joy anymore
Take up a centering practice: mediatation, yoga, exercise
Eat well
Stop habits that numb you or injure you
Start and end each day with an awareness of what you DO have and what you are grateful for

You are the most valuable asset to your business (and your life!). If your life is not calm and happy most of the time, stop and see what you can do. IT IS UP TO YOU!!!!!!

Become a fan at www.facebook.com/CoachJoeann

My 4-Session Social Partnering^TM Webinar Series starts April 7

Cosmic Shift Happens tm part 1 of 5

Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach (Advantage Solutions Group) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 09:24:38 -0400

I am so excited to be partnering with Carra on the Cosmic Shift Happens (tm) project! How are YOU doing with shifting???

Via Carra Riley CRB, CRS, GRI (Carra Riley Inc.- Real Estate Consultant, Author, Speaker ):

Cosmic Shift Happens tm part 1 of 5

"Cosmic Shift Happens tm"

2010 is the year to update your "personal internal hard drive," or your brain!

Over the past few years, the Internet (and the world) have seen some major changes. The emergence of social media is near the top of the list of all changes. Social media has allowed people who otherwise never would have met, to connect, engage, and make business contacts. For others, social media is overwhelming and intimidating.

Start thinking about the positives that social media can create and bring into our lives instead of focusing only on the negatives. Cyberspace is a scary place for some individuals, because there are just so many unknowns. "Social Media Syndrome tm" could be a reality in your world if you are not prepared for circumstances that can some up. Processing the new form of communication skills just takes practice and understanding of where the other person is coming from and what their agenda is. If you stay focused on you and your message the outside "differing" influence cannot touch you.

Perception really IS your Reality in cyberspace.

Start connecting with more buyers and sellers by getting more involved in a blog community. Blogging is an essential part of being visible online. Blogging increases your SEO like nothing else. If you're up for it, video blogging is the best. Youtube is the number 2 search engine on the Internet.

Consider some basics to start connecting in cyberspace if you don't already have these tools up and running:

1. Start a blog, use localism to set yourself apart and create an outside blog to connect with your community.

2. Create a facebook fan page for your business.

3. Learn how to use

4. Start to Tweet on

Connecting with facebook, Linkedin and Twitter as your Internet vehicle, you will have the ability to upload or link your outside blog and keep your customers up to date on what you are doing. It's easy to spread your message on social media sites. Sharing valuable information and making connections are the real goals for participation in social media.

To survive in 2010, embracing Social Media is a MUST. Incorporating your blog into everything you do is a the key to success! It just takes practice. Are you ready to update your hard drive?

Does cyberspace intimidate you? Click for your FREE chapter on "Cosmic Shift Happens tm"

Cosmic Cow Pie

Carra Riley

Social PartneringTM Idea of the Week

Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach (Advantage Solutions Group) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:55:14 -0400

Social Partnering^TM is a system to increase your Social Currency, business and referrals through inclusion and conscious expansion of your best strategic partners. Find others who want or have the clientele that fits your perfect client profile, and magic will begin to happen!

I am offering you suggestions each week here in the Tips to help you identify some perfect partners to have the win/win/win: your clients and prospects win by getting valuable services / your new partners win getting new business/ and you win by expanding your social currency!

Social Partnering^TM Idea of the Week: Your Local Oil Change Shop: Just think of how many people go each day to get their oil changed! Who's the best in your town? Bet they'd like more business! Meet the owner and tell them you want to send them customers and you want to help them build their business.

Suggest: They give you a certificate for a free Spring Check of a car's air conditioning system.

Then... you get viral with their offer: distribute to your sphere in you monthly newsletter, offer in your blog, Twitter, share website links, put them on your resources page, become the mayor on Foursquare. What are you waiting for?

For more great ideas about how Social Partnering^TM works and how to increase your 2010 referrals, my February Fossland's Forum is still posted and is available to listen to here.

AND to really get momentum with this and start seeing the referrals happen .... ALMOST LAST CALL:

YOU WILL:

Define 50 Business Partners that will give value to your clients
Learn the steps and system to implement Social Partnering
Add 4 new partners each month
Create Your Plan for the year

Make Today Marvelous! It IS up to you!!!!!

Network with Joeann on ActiveRain

Control Freaks.....What's Your Plan B?

Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach (Advantage Solutions Group) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:40:55 -0500

Jimmy Dean said,"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die tomorrow"

Mother Nature has a way of reminding us we aren't in charge, doesn't she? First Haiti and now Chile have felt her wrath with the horrendous earthquakes this year. It is a stark reminder of how impermanent our hold on reality is. Our US weather has also thrown us some curve balls this winter: Snowstorms and power outages can quickly render YOUR plans untenable-leaving you socked in, and unable to live life as usual. And, it's not just the weather. The economy and personal health issues can quickly change the best laid plans. Simply put, taking the future for granted, is risky business.

I read an interesting article yesterday comparing the physical impact of the 2 quakes. Chile had building codes that helped decrease the devastation and had the benefit of support systems to deal with this. I don't want to minimize in any way what they are going through there or in Haiti right now, but the difference between the preparedness and ability to be prepared probably saved a lot of lives in Chile. My love and empathy are with people in both countries. I do believe, though, we can always learn from all of the challenges in life and learning from another's lesson often saves some heartache. I know many of you are dealing with all of this in your own ways, whether it is the weather, your health or the economy.

How do you react when faced with having to go to Plan B? Do you have a Plan B?

Many people prefer not to think about or look at what could happen that could TOTALLY derail their plans. I certainly don't believe in dwelling here or awfulizing, but I do believe preparation for all eventualities is a very smart action.

At least once a year (when you do your business planning is a good time to review your Plan B's) take a look at a few areas:

•· What is Plan B if I got hurt of very sick this year?

•· What is Plan B if my income doesn't come from the projected sources?

•· What is my Plan B if my spouse or significant other dies?

•· What is my Plan B if an act of nature devastates my home?

•· What other areas of my life could be impacted by an unforeseen event?

At the end of this month, you should be doing your 1^st quarter review...that might be a good time to address these issues, if you don't have an answer in place!

And, then hopefully, you can have a year where the gratitude of not having to need a Plan B unfolds with all you have dreamed, and planned!

This makes me remember....Back in the 70's when we lived the hippie life...there was a day when I was frustrated because the ants had figured a way through the gasket in the refrigerator and were into the food! It had ruined my morning, but then I had a chat with someone who had just gotten horrid health news and I realized if ants in the refrigerator were the worst problem I had...life was not too bad! Those earthquakes sure put things into perspective as well and have given me gratitude for all that I am enjoying daily!

By the way... My friend, Carra Riley's Cosmic Cowpie Book, has a wonderful chapter on Plan B. If you don't know of her, take a look at her group, Cosmic CowPie here on ActiveRain. I believe you'll find some wisdom mixed with a fun perspective!

Have a Marvelous Week! It IS up to you!!!!!

Network with Joeann on ActiveRain

How Much of Your Life is YOURS????

Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach (Advantage Solutions Group) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:20:23 -0500

Or does the way your life looks depend on the economy? The acceptance and expectations of others? Or the needs of others? Whew....we don't live in a rarefied existence where we are oblivious to and unaffected by the rest of the world....and yet, the happiest people have learned how to accept all this AND live a life that is 100% theirs!

As I work with coaching clients, the question of "what % of their life is theirs?" is one of the questions on my initial welcome package. Rarely do I see and response of 100%. It also seems the lower the percentage, the more stress that person is feeling. I know one of the causes of stress is the feeling of helplessness about things we have no control over. We all have situations and circumstances in our lives we can't control. It's how we perceive them that causes the stress or not.

I also have found when I work with people about creating goals, there are often goals that aren't really theirs, but expectations of others-their manager, or spouse, or parents. We often are trying to live up to other's expectations of us or our own that were, perhaps, created long ago and no longer hold any juice for us. It is OK to let go of these goals and it doesn't mean you are a failure!

So, my question for you today is "How much of your life is yours?"

Ask yourself these questions:

What goals do I have that I am not passionate about?
Who else expects me to work on that goal?
Why do I need to hold onto this goal?
What's the worst that could happen if I let go of this goal?
What daily activities do I do because someone else wants me to (and I don't)?
What circumstances are in my life right now that keep me from doing what I want?
What people keep sucking my time and energy so I can't do what I want?

Now, if you've been reading the last couple of weeks, you'll recognize the recent topics are closely related:

You ARE like those you hang out with...Is it time to upgrade?
And
Being The Person Who Has the most energy to give....

One blog comment when these were posted asked if that meant we shouldn't do housework, etc., if we were not passionate about it.

The real truth is that YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING! NOTHING!!!! You don't have to get out of bed, go to work, make money, do the dishes.....none of it. Everything you do is YOUR choice. Now, that doesn't mean there aren't consequences to not doing certain things, but in the end, it is ALL your choice each day. Tasks can be delegated. They can be dropped altogether. They can be changed so they are joyful.

Start by answering the questions above. Recognizing where you feel you don't have any choice is the first step to either owning that you do have a choice or coming up with a way to let go of the goal, task, responsibility. Sometimes, we just need to accept situations and quit resisting and wishing they were different. Accepting what "is" allows you to get on with it instead of being stuck and in victim mode. From there you can create an experience that is happier. I think of Viktor Frankl and this story in Man's Search For Meaning: to be in a concentration camp and still be able to call his life his own! If you have never read his book...it is an amazing true story of one man's triumph over his circumstances!

Then, after you discover where you are giving away your power...you are free to choose to continue to feel disempowered, to make a request, change or a shift or you could decide to accept that it is the way it is. If you feel stuck in moving through this, get a coach to help you see what you don't see or help you examine your choices. The cool thing is...we ALWAYS Have choices! Make some good ones!

Have a Marvelous Week! It IS up to you!!!!!