Harness the Power of Your Heart’s Desire

 

We are often encouraged to set goals before we even have a vision of what we want to accomplish. But doing so deprives us of the dream that provides the fuel necessary to achieve those goals.

As you contemplate the year ahead, consider the essence of what you most want to achieve, create, or become.  Perhaps it is not yet concrete, but rather an inkling of something that is calling to you.

Every great accomplishment begins with a dream and a vision.  It requires imagination and an openness to receive its gifts.  As Albert Einstein once told us, “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”

And imagination is big and amorphous – it’s not easily captured, quantified, or broken down.  It is something that must be welcomed and nurtured.  The reward of having done so is that it will reveal itself to you in ways that make you feel alive with possibility.

There is wisdom in your desire – even if you cannot yet quantify it, break it down in tangible ways, or even articulate it. In fact, sheer inklings and aspirations can become powerful seeds for the most innovative and ground-breaking accomplishments.

What is your vision? And how can you breathe life into it?

If you’d like more on how to gain the clarity necessary to envision and chart a path to your desired future – and to receive updates on an upcoming webinar that’ll help you make the most of 2026, download my special report, “Why Real Leaders Don’t Set Goals (and what they do instead)”. 

 

 

How to lighten, simplify, and infuse your December with ease and joy.

 

What if all the things you need to do this time of year could be lighter, easier, and more meaningful and fulfilling? Though that may seem unlikely, it’s entirely possible if you remember one simple yet timeless truth…

How you do things is as important as what you do (…maybe even more so).

December inevitably brings a whole slew of things to do that can tip the scales for people who were already feeling overwhelmed with work (and maybe even life itself).

It’s tempting to approach it all the way you would items on a checklist – just power through them in the most efficient way possible.  The risk of that, however, is that you’ll relegate yourself to a kind of “autopilot” state, where you’re going through the motions with your head and your hands but not really your heart.

And when that happens, the things you do can feel empty – for yourself and others too.

Never underestimate the power of presence.

I’m convinced that when people receive what we give them, they experience the energy we put into it.  You’ve probably had someone tell you to have a good day while looking at their phone or multi-tasking.  It just doesn’t have the same impact as it does when they look you in the eye and are truly with you, sharing a feeling and not just words that sound good.

The end of the year brings into focus what really matters in our lives.

November leads us to think about what we are grateful for.  December allows us to spend time with those we love, both giving and receiving in ways that create and perpetuate joy.  And as we move closer to January, we do well to reflect on what we most want to experience, accomplish, or become in the new year.

It’s a time that calls us to be present – and to pour our very selves into what matters most.

Honor what’s most important.

You may not be able to DO everything on your list (most of us never really can).  Instead, take some time to identify what is really important to you.

What are the things you care so much about that it’s worth slowing down to pour enough of yourself into them that people are moved by the experience?  Those things you give yourself to wholeheartedly will be the game changers in both your personal and your professional life.

So be intentional.  Start now.  Today. 

What matters most to you?  And how can you be completely present and intentional in a way that allows others to truly experience the magnitude of what you have to offer?

Because when you do, what you give to others will enrich your own life as much as it does theirs.

Do it because you LOVE it

 

This week’s video was recorded in the spur of the moment – when I was hit with an epiphany about what allows people to be both successful AND happy. It felt worth sharing, despite the background noise and absolute lack of makeup.

When you click on the image below, you’ll be taken to my LinkedIn page, where the video is posted.

While you’re there, connect with me if you haven’t already. It would be wonderful to have you as part of my professional network.

Here’s to happiness and success – and doing what you love because you love it!

Diane

Unexpected lessons from my cable guy

 

It was one of those days where I had way more to do than time to do it. And my internet was out. The cable guy showed up early and I was happy to see him, though I knew from previous experience this likely wouldn’t be a quick process.

David had a twinkle in his eye and a familiar way about him. Though I hadn’t ever met him, you would never have known that from the way he interacted. He made casual banter while going about his work disconnecting cords and dismantling equipment, the way someone who could do it in his sleep would.

He mused philosophical, reflecting on what a waste of energy getting worked up in traffic is and letting something that bothers you fester and occupy the space of your day. Then he went on to demonstrate in his own unique way what coming back to seize the simplicity of the moment looks like as he continued to troubleshoot the equipment.

Though my cluttered mind reminded me of all the things I could (should?) be doing while he took care of the job he was there to do, something led me to mentally set it all aside and join him in his reverie.

David told me stories of conversations he’d had with other customers who had apparently done the same – people who were getting all spun up had found ways to release their angst and see things differently after simply engaging with him. He relayed stories of being in the service and having the same kind of interactions with his comrades and superiors.

And he shared a conversation he’d recently had with his daughter, who was frustrated about the unusual quantity of rain we’d been getting over the last several days.

He paused to show me a picture on his phone of what appeared to be a placid lake softly reflecting the moon and stars and colored lights that hovered around it the way an impressionist’s painting would portray. It was a comforting scene of peace and tranquility.

“My daughter loves this,” he said. And I loved it too.

When his daughter had finished lamenting the inconvenience of the rain, he reminded her of that picture – something he had sent her a day or two earlier. And he explained that it was a reservoir they both drove by all the time, a sight which was quite unremarkable when it was dry.

He pointed out that the picture she loved was full of the very rain that was bringing her down.

David’s face beamed as he put his phone back in his pocket and returned his attention to testing the new equipment he had just installed, his work in my space almost done.

Every once in a while, someone or something comes along to bring you back to a place of presence. It’s an experience that interrupts the automatic and unconscious patterns that keep us from seeing beyond the mundane, trap us in our heads, and have us running to do things we’ve completely disconnected from without even realizing it.

David did that for me on that day. And I often reflect on the experience as a reminder that the people we interact with, the things we do, the very routines we engage with every day have a level of depth and beauty that we all too easily miss. That is, unless we make the decision to open our eyes, our hearts, and our minds to see beyond appearances and be in the moment.

Thank you David Rogers, for reconnecting me with the power of presence and perspective – and changing the trajectory of a day that may have otherwise had me racing to the end in a haze that would keep me from remembering what I even did.

And also, thank you for fixing my internet.

Miracles in Disguise: How the worst things that happen to you can become some of the best

 

 

I’ve worked with a handful of clients who unexpectedly lost their jobs after working for over twenty years with the same company. The funny thing is these people knew they were ready for something greater before it happened. In coaching meetings, they’d often talk about wanting to strike out in new directions, take on bigger challenges, live and lead in a deeper and bolder ways than before. And few of them would have likely sought out new opportunities if things hadn’t worked out the way they did.

In the midst of the changes, it’s likely that they felt as though their universes were falling apart. Much of what was familiar was ending as they were thrust into a world where nothing was certain and forced to begin again. They were brought face to face with the question, “what do I most want for myself now?” and challenged to take action that would lead them in new directions.

It seems more of us are asking the question, “What do I most want for myself?” Some feel ready for new adventures. Others long for deeper connections with people. Many just want to experience the same passion for their work and their lives that they did when they were younger – to feel a part of something bigger than themselves, to work at something worth working for, and to bring more of their true talent and gifts into the world.

And the world needs those talents and gifts more now than ever.

When we come to a place where we’re willing to open ourselves to the question of what we most want, we set into motion a series of events that bring the answers we seek. And sometimes they come in packages we don’t immediately appreciate.

But as we look back on our lives, we can begin to see that the very things that frustrated and pushed us to our limits were exactly what we needed to know more about who we are and what we are here to do.

As Thanksgiving nears, I’m grateful not only for my many blessings but also for my unanswered prayers – those that would have led me in a direction that wouldn’t have served me or others in quite the same way.

I am grateful for the difficult people in my life, who have challenged me to look at things (including myself) differently and find new ways of relating. I am thankful for the trials I didn’t think I could endure and the resilience and courage I was able to tap into because of them. And I am grateful that over time I have been able to laugh at the things that happen to me as well – and for the people who have been there (or somewhere similar before) who have laughed (and sometimes cried) right along with me.

I am grateful for every client I have ever worked with who has given me the opportunity to learn from their experiences and to see one more example of the strange and wonderful ways that miracles manifest themselves in everyday life.

I wish for you (and myself) the ability to always appreciate the blessings that always surround us – the ones that lift us up as well as the ones that seem to strike us down. And to open ourselves to the ways every one of them has the transformational power to bring us closer to our most precious dreams and visions.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

Feel like something’s got to give?

 

If you’re near your wit’s end, running yourself ragged, or just feeling overwhelmed, you’re primed to make powerful change – one that not only helps you, but ALL of us to find a better way of both living and leading. This video will point the way forward.

If you’re ready to blaze a new trail, visit UnleashtheExtraordinary.com.

Here’s to your success!

Could you be in your own way?

 

What if your most formidable obstacles are between your ears? This week’s video will help you overcome them.

For more on how to get out of your own way (and lead others to do the same), check out UnleashtheExtraordinary.com.

Here’s to your success!

 

Diane

Do you believe it’s possible?

 

The video below is a follow up to Tuesday’s video about a conversation that had me second guessing something I was passionate about – and why I now know that it was (and always will be) a truth that has the power to transform the way we work and live.

For more on work/life transformation, visit UnleashtheExtraordinary.com.

Here’s to your success!

Diane

Don’t let them stop you

 

Ever have a conversation that stopped you in your tracks? This video is about one of those pivotal moments that took the wind out of my sails for a while – until I realized I could generate the energy I needed from a different source. Maybe you can relate…

For more on overcoming life’s potential showstoppers, visit UnleashtheExtraordinary.com.

Here’s to your success!

Diane

How to Work Quickly and Effectively Through Post Vacation Piles

 

You’ve returned from a fabulous vacation feeling like everything that happened while you were away has coagulated into an overwhelming pile that seems completely impermeable.

Now what?

In my last post, I discussed the second vital strategy for coming back strong after your vacation: (2) Take advantage of the opportunity to see things from a fresh perspective. A part of that strategy included identifying all the things that are competing for your attention. Not as a “to do” list, but rather an inventory of potential items to be addressed.

Getting things out of your head has a way of freeing up your mind. But that sweet release is quickly replaced with angst and anxiety if you believe you must accomplish all that is written there. That’s when overwhelm sets in and threatens to get in the way of action.

That leads us to the third strategy…

(3) Use discernment to determine your highest priorities.

Take a moment to get clarity on your most important desired outcomes. See if you can go beyond the outcomes themselves to dial in what those accomplishments will give you – forward momentum? closure? pride in your work?

Now, from that mindset, ask yourself the following questions,

• Which of the items listed are truly most important?
• What needs to get done right away, and what can be deferred?
• What MUST I do myself? And what could I delegate to others?
• What, if anything on this list, really doesn’t need to get done at all (or could be minimized in some way?)

Once you’ve identified your priorities, start with the most important. If you can focus on one thing at a time and bring all your presence to getting that thing done, you’ll do it more quickly and effectively. And then you can move onto the next thing with the same laser focus and intensity.

Remember, one of the important functions of taking a vacation is to allow yourself the rest, relaxation and recharge necessary to come back to your work with new vitality, energy and enthusiasm. It could usher in a whole new way to simplify your life and work and focus on bigger, more important, strategic ventures and initiatives.

Approaching your post vacation re-entry by taking the steps outlined above (and covered in previous posts) will allow you to leverage your time away to unleash new levels of performance in yourself, as well as those you lead.

If you want to learn to infuse your work year-round with the same freshness and inspiration you feel after a good vacation, message me to learn about a new program I’ll soon be making available to a limited number of executives.