Moderation Helps Us to Live a Fulfilling Life

Dear Friend, "The man who makes everything that leads to happiness depends upon himself, and not upon other men, has adopted the very best plan for living happily. This is the man of moderation, the man of manly character and of wisdom." ~Plato Let's face it we live in a culture obsessed with accumulating more things, more approval, more beauty, and more pleasure. We must rethink - do we really need more or do we simply need moderation? This week let's explore three ways moderation guides us to a fulfilling life: Less is More The law of diminishing return states that beyond some threshold, each additional unit "in" does not yield more. Imagine one cook in the kitchen cooking for five hundred people, initially more cooks in the kitchen increases the effectiveness of getting these mouths fed, yet there is a point at which too many cooks in the kitchen yields negative results in other words less productivity. Our life works like this as well, too many clothes in a closet yields an inability to find what we need, too much time working leads to an inability to have a social life, and too much food in the stomach leads to an inability to move! More isn't always better. Contentment When we stop searching for more, for better, for different, for larger, for newer, and appreciate exactly what we have now, we surrender to the perfection of the present moment. Moderation allows us to fully savor that which we already have. Balance Balance in our lives is a place where all of the people, projects, and things presently in our life are manageable. Moderation brings us this stability. Balance is also about managing the extremes of our behavior. When we have too much or too little of any one activity we become out of balance. Take sun exposure, for example, too little and we have a vitamin D deficiency, too much and our skin is bright red, we are in pain, and risk developing cancer. Moderation tempers and anchors. Through moderation, we often find less is more, feel more content, and find greater balance - each of which leads to a fulfilling life. The ability to enjoy and appreciate what we have today leads to a full, rich life filled with gratitude and satisfaction. Therefore I suggest to you that moderation is one of the secrets to a fulfilling life. Make It Happen This week, select one area of your life in which you desire greater moderation - an area where you know less is more, where you desire balance and believe that moderation can indeed bring you greater contentment. Take five minutes and select one area of your life where you would like to moderate. Grab a pen and write down five benefits you and those you love will see from adding a little moderation. Blessings to you, Margaret. P.S. Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues by sharing this newsletter with them and invite them to subscribe! Direct them to www.MargaretPundmann.com where they can sign up. Margaret Pundmann is a life and business coach, speaker, and author of numerous articles on living your most powerful life. Stay tuned, Margaret's first book for emerging women will be available for pre-order in the coming weeks. Please feel free to forward the "Powerful Living, Powerful You" newsletter to friends and colleagues, but please forward in its entirety. The "Powerful Living, Powerful You" newsletter is written and distributed by Emerge Enterprise. Copyright © 2008 Margaret Pundmann. All rights reserved. www.MargaretPundmann.com.

How to Make a Beautiful Life

Dear Friend, Sometimes I run across things that are so well said that the best I can do is to simply pass them along. Enjoy this from an unknown author. How to Make a Beautiful Life Love yourself. Make peace with who you are and where you are at this moment in time. Listen to your heart. If you can't hear what it's saying in this noisy world, make time for yourself. Enjoy your own company. Let your mind wander among the stars. Try. Take chances. Make mistakes. Life can be messy and confusing at times, but it's also full of surprises. The next rock in your path might be a stepping-stone. Be happy. When you don't have what you want, want what you have. Make do. That's a well-kept secret of contentment. There aren't any shortcuts to tomorrow. You have to make your own way. To know where you're going is only part of it. You need to know where you've been, too. And if you ever get lost, don't worry. The people who love you will find you. Count on it. Life isn't days and years. It's what you do with time and with all the goodness and grace that's inside you. Make a beautiful life...The kind of life you deserve. Make It Happen This week I'd like to ask you to consider what you need to do to make a beautiful life. Consider one way that you can build a beautiful life. Once you come up with what sounds right for you...take action. Create space for yourself to build a beautiful life because you are a beautiful person who deserves nothing more than to live a beautiful life. Perhaps you already live a beautiful life ... excellent. This week, take a moment to celebrate the beautiful life that you've built! May you be blessed for you are a blessing! Blessings to you, Margaret. P.S. Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues by sharing this newsletter with them and invite them to subscribe! Direct them to www.MargaretPundmann.com where they can sign up. Margaret Pundmann is a life and business coach, speaker, and author of numerous articles on living your most powerful life. Stay tuned, Margaret's first book for emerging women will be available for pre-order in the coming weeks. Please feel free to forward the "Powerful Living, Powerful You" newsletter to friends and colleagues, but please forward in its entirety. The "Powerful Living, Powerful You" newsletter is written and distributed by Emerge Enterprise. Copyright © 2008 Margaret Pundmann. All rights reserved. www.MargaretPundmann.com.

Is It Time to Let God and Let God?

Dear Friend,

"God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer."

~Mother Teresa

Three months ago, my family suddenly lost our beloved dog, Clementine. She was feisty black lab with a lot of bark and no bite except for any food in sight. She left behind a sad family and a brother, Winston. Slowly over the last couple of months, our wound has healed and we started thinking about adding a new puppy to our lives. My fiancé, Blair, and I were at PetSmart purchasing dog food when we spotted an energetic, cute-as-a-button rescue puppy. Immediately, I knew she had to join our family. Gracie, as we have named her, has raised our spirits and helped our family to recover from the loss of Clementine. Her loving nature and spirit are contagious. I call her a prodigy because she was potty trained within a week! This past Friday, we noticed one of her paws looked liked someone stepped on her. So, we headed to the vet thinking that the worst case scenario was that she needed a little doggy cast. Instead, we found out that one part of her leg has stopped growing. Right now, we don't need to do anything, but as she gets older and bigger there are several options - the least painful of which includes amputating her front left leg. For now, we've decided to turn to prayer and to ask God to heal her. Sometimes letting go and letting God is the hardest thing to do.

Make It Happen

This week I'd like to ask you to consider where you need to turn to prayer. What area of your life do you need to - Let Go and Let God? Is there a particular area of your life where you are struggling? Perhaps the solution isn't for you to do more, but rather for you to do less and turn it over to God. Consider that at some point in any situation we can only do so much and worrying doesn't solve anything. Rather our worry and despair depletes our energy and erodes our sanity. May you be blessed for you are a blessing!

Make Meaningful Connections This Summer!

Dear Friend, "In nature we never see anything isolated, but everything in connection with something else which is before it, beside it, under it, and over it." ~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe None of us is an island unless we choose to ignore the bridges in our life. Reach out. Walk across your bridges. In this world of drive-throughs, delivery service, and technology devices, it is easy to sit in our office or home and feel alone. In fact, even if we are "chatting" on the Internet, I am not sure we can fool ourselves into believing that we are meaningfully connected to anyone. It is easy to be stuck in a rut and forget that we have a beautiful web of friends, family, and colleagues who love us and care for us. This web of friendship is designed to support us and celebrate with us. Yet our web of connections is only as good as we are at using it. Last November I suggested you Make Meaningful Connections! This week I want to discuss 10 ways you can make meaningful connections and have fun this summer. Here are 10 ways to make meaningful connections and have fun this summer: Help your neighbor with their yard work. Invite your friends or family for a bbq. Turn on your sprinkler and run through like you are a child at play! Encourage your neighbors to join in the fun. Invite your friends to a potluck picnic in your backyard. Invite your significant other to a park bench picnic. Bring a cheese plate, some wine (and nice glasses, too) and enjoy being together. Have a car wash and use the proceeds for a trip to the amusement park. Pick fruit and make a jam for all of your neighbors and your postal worker too! Have a garage sale with your neighbors - clean up and make money! Have a lemonade stand and donate the proceeds to a local animal shelter. Get a group of friends together to do a walk, run, or race - make connections and support a great cause! Make It Happen This week I'd like to ask you to consider how you can make meaningful connections with the people in your life. Take a leap and try one of the 10 suggestions above or something new that is uniquely yours. Make of point of connecting, not for them, but for you.

Blessings to you, Margaret. P.S. Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues by sharing this newsletter with them and invite them to subscribe! Direct them to www.MargaretPundmann.com where they can sign up. Margaret Pundmann is a life and business coach, speaker, and author of numerous articles on living your most powerful life. Stay tuned, Margaret's first book for emerging women will be available for pre-order in the coming weeks.

5 Strategies to Thrive!

This Week's Topic: 5 Strategies to Thrive! Dear Friend,   For every mountain there is a miracle Robert Schuller   This week I want to discuss a ground-breaking study by McKinsey & Company, a global consulting firm, and published in The McKinsey Quarterly.   In September of 2008 they published an article based upon the McKinsey Leadership Project - an initiative founded four years ago to advance professional women. One goal of this project is to learn what drives and sustains successful female leaders. My newsletter this week will summarize the findings; however, I encourage you to read the full report. I believe men and women alike can learn from the findings within this research.   McKinsey's findings led to a five dimension leadership model comprised of broad yet connected categories: Meaning Managing Energy Positive Framing Connecting Engaging   Meaning Meaning is what takes something from simply a job to a calling. It is important to recognize that in various points of our life our 'meaning' may be driven from different places of our life. For example, many young mothers are happy to simply have a job because they derive meaning from their children. What is essential is that you understand what you enjoy doing and what you are good at and allow meaning and purpose to flow from there. Positive psychology has also connected happiness to meaning. Happiness is achieved as the progression from pleasure to engagement to meaning. Simply stated we derive more meaning from teaching a child to read than we do from eating ice cream. Therefore, the greater the meaning in our lives, ultimately the greater the happiness. Managing Energy This concept addresses having flow in your activity. Successful people by and large spend a large portion of their day doing activities that keep them in-the-flow and give energy rather than zap energy. Researchers also found that the more time spent in activities that provide flow the greater our productivity and our satisfaction.   Positive Framing A glass of water is filled halfway - do you see it as half-full or half-empty? Those who can see situations from a positive vantage point more easily manage difficult situations. However, there is an important distinction between positive framing and positive thinking. Positive framing is characterized by taking an inventory of positive and negative and taking action. In contrast, positive thinking relies on replacing a belief rather than taking action.   Connecting According to Louann Brizendine, author of The Female Brain, people with strong networks and mentors experience more promotions, higher pay, and greater career satisfaction. We are wired to be connected beings. As an emerging woman it is important to cultivate advocates who will teach you, guide you, and if necessary stick up for you. Ever heard the phrase, "make it personal?" This was advice that I received from my first boss. It is true, people connect with individuals, people buy from individuals, people promote individuals, and people do business with individuals. Show your true self - your human side and you will open your door for connection. Engaging Engaging isn't about bragging; it is about being excited about and proud of the work you do and sharing this with others. Have you ever heard the phrase "create your own luck?" Well in a sense this is very true. Working hard and toiling away without speaking up and celebrating your work with others isn't going to get you noticed. Creating your own luck is about being genuine, but also recognizing the opportunities where you can share your results with others.   This research by McKinsey provides a window into creating your most powerful personal and professional life. Again I encourage you to read the full reporrt!   Make It Happen This week I invite you to explore one of these five areas of your life. Select one area and commit to finding a couple of ways you can grow. If you are in the beginning of your career perhaps you examine which part of your job makes you surge with energy and which areas make you feel like your energy is zapped? If you are a more experienced woman, perhaps now is the right time to spend time helping a young woman develop her career? Perhaps you are in a place of transition (as I was last year) and you want to consider what type of work will provide you with both meaning and purpose?

May all of your mountains become miracles!

Blessings to you, Margaret.        P.S. Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues by sharing this newsletter with them and invite them to subscribe! Direct them to www.MargaretPundmann.com where they can sign up.  Margaret Pundmann is a life and business coach, speaker, and author of numerous articles on living your most powerful life. Stay tuned, Margaret's first book for emerging women will be available for pre-order in the coming weeks.

What is Your Sweet Spot?

Dear Friend,   Portions of this week's newsletter are taken from The Emerging Woman.   All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered: the point is to discover them. ~Galileo Galilei   A sweet spot in baseball is when the ball and bat connect in just the right place. And the ball goes flying, unstoppable. The same is true for golf. It describes the moment when the golf club and the golf ball meet in just the right place to launch the ball far into the distance. Tiger Woods understands "sweet spot" though he may have another word for it. A sweet spot is the place where time ceases to exist and all else around you bypasses reality, and meets or exceeds expectation.   Author Max Lucado in Cure for the Common Life: Living in Your Sweet Spot, offers inspiration on finding our sweet spot in life. He suggests that what engineers and technology gurus have done for sports equipment Goad has provided for each of us. We each have a special sweet spot specifically fitted for our strengths, gifts, and talents.   Make It Happen   This week ponder when and where you are in your sweet spot. To do so, start by identifying five activities when you find yourself totally and completely immersed, when you forget time and lose track of what is going on around you. Once you find these five activities look to identify two or three common themes. A theme might be working outdoors, being with people, facing a mental or physical challenge. Take this week and see if you can zone in on your sweet spot. Once you get close, test it out. Ask yourself, when doing "your sweet spot" are you lost in time and space enjoying yourself? If not, keep searching. Once you identify and verbalize your sweet spot take the next step and deliberately weave these elements into your day. See how you can incorporate more of "your sweet spot" into your day, your week, and your month. Don't be afraid to get creative! The result of course is that you will get to work less and be more.

Blessings to you, Margaret.

Honoring Those Who Protect

Dear Friend,   "Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?" ~Star Spandled Banner ~ Francis Scott Key  In the United States Memorial Day is observed the last Monday of each May. On this day we celebrate the U.S. men and women who died while in military service.   This week those in my community lost a daughter, a sister and a friend. Roslyn (Roz) Schulte was a 2006 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. She was a first lieutenant and intelligence officer in the Air Force. She was on a six-month assignment in Afghanistan when she was killed by an explosive device on May 20, 2009. She was a leader at the Academy as well as at our high school, John Burroughs, achieving academic and athletic honors. Bless Roz for finding her passion and serving her country -- our country. In her service to our country she and her family have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Fittingly, the services will take place tomorrow, on Memorial Day.   My request this week is that we take time each day to give thanks for our men and women in uniform who've risked it all to protect us. Let us give thanks for the mom's and dad's who stay behind and run families and businesses to enable our service men and women to be away. Let us give thanks for all of the parents who have inspired and nurtured courageous children to serve our country. Let us give thanks to the parents who impart values of service and love of our country. Let us pray for the safety and security of each and every man and woman who is today, potentially in harm's way. This week keep our men and women in your thoughts and prayers - give thanks for every single one. Thank you, Roz.   Here is an eloquent tribute to Roz (and all serving our country) written by her high school classmate, Jennifer Lowe.

Blessings to you, Margaret.

TUT - Notes from the universe

I really liked today's note...enjoy {and} fill in your name!

My wish for you, {{       }}, is that you succeed beyond your wildest imagination. That you find love in places that astound you. And that you have friends who call you "just because." I dream that you go barefoot more than you wear shoes. That you play as hard as you work. And that you laugh more than you cry. I want you to set the bar high, but not too high. To reach for the stars, but with your toes on the ground. And to never, ever stop dreaming. But most of all, Margaret, I wish for your happiness. And these dreams of mine are what started it all. Besos,      The Universe To subscribe: http://www.tut.com/

Just in Time vs. Just in Case - How Do You Live Your Life?

I was re-reading what I thought was a great article from Oprah's Magazine from April 2009.

Martha Beck is a life coach and I've read several of her books. She is a true academic and weaves great stories in her writing.

Here is the article ... it is on JIT vs. JIC ... Just in Time vs. Just in Case management that the Japaneese use for their inventory and manufacturing. She weaves this business lesson with client storieslessons we can apply to our life - food, relationships, money, stuff, love...thought you may enjoy!!!

http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/200904-omag-beck

Love & Hugs,

Margaret.

Do You Sweat the Small Stuff

This Week's Topic: Do You Sweat the Small Stuff? Dear Friend,  God grant me the serenity  to accept the things I cannot change;  courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. ~Reinhold Niebuhr This column is dedicated to the late Richard Carlson, (who died suddenly in 2006 of a pulmanary emblism) author of thirty books including the well known best seller, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. In Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, Richard shares a message as simple as it comes and yet somehow the message is quite difficult to execute in our day-to-day lives. This is true because our lives are dynamic and unpredictable. In the midst of -- your spouse being late for an important event, a big truck cutting you off as you exit the highway, your child having a fender-bender, your boss asking you to cancel your vacation, finding half consumed water bottles left all over your home, realizing your dry cleaning for the big event won't ready until Monday -- it is easy to loose perspective and get bogged down in the moment rather than realize that all of this is just small stuff. As a family friend often says, "don't major in the minors of life!" How true is it that we can become consumed with the little things that don't go just as we think they should and loose perspective on what is really important? We each have a choice: to focus on the small stuff or resolve today that life's little things will not derail us. Why is it important to stay cool, steady, and focus on life's majors? It is better for our health. Anger and Stress raise our blood pressure and over time are thought to contribute to heart disease among other illnesses. Our mind works better. When we get angry blood rushes to our brain and disrupts logical and rational functioning. Hence, we are able to think more clearly and make intelligent, unemotional choices.   We keep life in balance and perspective As we focus on what is working we remain with the big picture and with positive energy rather than bogged down by the small stuff!    Make It Happen Before life comes at you, resolve to distance yourself from the situation before you react. Ask: Can I impact this situation?  If yes, then change it! If no, then accept it. Consider the phrase: And, this, too shall pass. Allow yourself to linger on it. When you get heated, upset, or annoyed remember the impermanence - the temporary nature - of most situations. This week may you be slow major in the minors and quick to let go. May you let life's little annoyances roll off your back, like water off of a duck! And may you change what you can, accept what you cannot change, and have the wisdom to know the difference! In the words of the wise Richard Carlson, "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff!"

Blessings to you, Margaret.        P.S. Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues by sharing this newsletter with them and invite them to subscribe! Direct them to www.MargaretPundmann.com where they can sign up.  Margaret Pundmann is a life and business coach, speaker, and author of numerous articles on living your most powerful life. Stay tuned, Margaret's first book for emerging women will be available for pre-order in the coming weeks.

Stress Management Solutions

This Week's Topic: Stress Management Solutions Dear Friend,   Rule 1. Don't sweat the small stuff. Rule 2. It's all small stuff. Rule 3. If you can't fight or flee, then flow.   This week we are going to connect the six mental and emotional responses to stress we discussed last week to some tips for stress management. A how-to if you will of applying your responses to stress management techniques. If you tend to Over-generalize - you see a specific event as a never ending pattern of defeat, then try: Positive Thinking - choose your thoughts, focus on the positive, and surround yourself with people who can help you contextualize this "defeat" or "circumstance" Talking with people who really listen to and understand you For example a client of mine was given two options: move the store to a different location or move to a different space in the current building. She came to me to help her make a decision and put the options into perspective. Additionally through our work together she arrived that this was "a blessing in disguise." Oh yeah and she saved one month's rent, too! If you tend to Hyper-focus - you pick a specific detail and focus on it exclusively, then try: Enlarging Your Focus - see the forest rather than the trees! Meditating - clear your mind Deep Breathing - clear your body Exercising/Yoga - clear your body Laughing - clear your mind and body If you tend to Emotionally Reason - you assume that your negative feelings reflect the ways things really are, then try: Sleeping - allows us to have a more clear and more realistic perspective Laughing - there is humor in thinking that every situation is exactly as you currently see it If you tend to Self-Blame - hold yourself responsible for something that isn't entirely in your control, then try: Mindfulness - consider how much control and power you had over the situation. Positive Affirmations - create an affirmation of what you are doing right. For example, a client of my was bearing a lot of burden for how much her clients investment accounts had fallen. By reframing and reassessing the situation she was able to realize that in reality she didn't have much control over how much the portfolios had fallen and her clients accounts had fallen less than the average clients account. Sometimes we can bear the weight of the world on our shoulders, but unfortunately we don't control the world. If you tend to be Helpless - you fail to see your choices, then try: Exercising/Yoga - create a shift in your activities and do something new. New activities give us new perspective. Mindfulness - become conscious of your unconscious - remember we all have all the answers we just need to tap into them. Use this technique to connect with your unconscious. Talking with someone who will really listen to you and who understands you. They may be able to help you see your options. If you tend to be a Perfectionist - you expect too much from yourself and others, then try: Recognizing your limits and accepting them - we all have limits and expecting perfection isn't reasonable or fair to yourself or those around you. Positive Thinking Positive Affirmations Make It Happen Use these techniques to help you when you are feeling stressed out. Remember there are no "right ways" to manage your stress. Try a variety of exercises and see what works best for you. Allow yourself the grace to play a little ... bring the child-like wonderment out to play and that will be a strong first step in managing your stress and your responses to stress. Review this list of tips and see which work for you!   Tips for Stress Management 1.    Exercising 2.    Deep Breathing - the act of breathing deeply into your lungs by flexing your diaphragm rather than breathing shallowly 3.    Meditating 4.    Positive Thinking - the practice of embracing the affirmative in our thoughts, our feelings, our reactions and our speech. 5.    Yoga - is a physical and mental practice of examining and moving the mind and body. 6.    Sleeping 7.    Laughing 8.    Talking with people who really listen to and understand you 9.    Recognizing your limits and accepting them 10.   Mindfulness - is a mental state characterized by calm awareness of one's body functions, feelings and consciousness 11.   Positive Affirmations - create an affirmation to switch your thoughts from I am stuck to I am right where I need to be right now. 12.   Enlarging your focus - see the forest from the trees. Blessings to you, Margaret.        P.S. Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues by sharing this newsletter with them and invite them to subscribe! Direct them to www.MargaretPundmann.com where they can sign up.  Margaret Pundmann is a life and business coach, speaker, and author The Emerging Woman.

Why Hire A Coach?

"Who exactly seeks out a Coach?....Winners who want even more out of life." -- Chicago Tribune 12/17/00

"Executives and HR managers know Coaching is the most potent tool for inducing positive personal change..."-- The Ivy Business Journal Sept-Oct 2000

"Once reserved for executives and professional athletes, personal coaches...are going mainstream." -- Christian Science Monitor 1/25/99

"Entrepreneurs...are hiring coaches to help guide them in everything from changing careers to starting a business to balancing work and family." -- Christian Science Monitor 1/25/99

"The hottest thing in management is the executive coach." -- Fortune 5/12/00

Are You Stressed Out?

Dear Friend,   "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. ~Albert Einstein"   Have you ever been stressed out? I know for sure that I have been! Many of us suffer from some level of elevated stress in the course of our lives. Stress comes in many forms. It can be both positive and negative and can be one large issue or many smaller issues.    Stress is essentially a reaction to any change in our environment.   Let's break down the stress cycle: ·         An event occurs ·         We interpret the event ·         We generate feelings based upon our interpretation ·         We have behaviors based upon our feelings   When we are stressed what happens? When we are stressed we have physical, emotional and mental responses to this event or stressor.     Physically stress causes adrenalin to rushes through our body - which in the short term improves our vision and short term memory. Next, sugars and fat release into our bloodstream. Our heart jumps into action and pumps faster to provide more blood to our body. To allow more oxygen to enter our blood system our breathing increases. In preparation for action, our muscles tense and our sense of smell and hearing improve. In the short term stress can be good for us physically - providing us energy and increased awareness. Yet over the long term if we don't manage our stress our health (physical, mental and emotional) suffers.    Mentally and Emotionally The greatest source of stress is what we create for ourselves through patterns of negative thinking. Consider these six ways this manifests: 1.   Overgeneralization - seeing a specific event as a never ending pattern of defeat 2.   Hyper-focus - picking a specific detail and focusing on it exclusively 3.   Emotional Reasoning - assuming that your negative feelings reflect the way things really are 4.   Self-Blame - holding yourself responsible for something that isn't entirely in your control 5.   Helplessness - failing to see your choices 6.   Perfectionism - expecting too much from ourselves and others   While we may not be able to eliminate stress we must manage it for improvement of our physical, mental and emotional health. 10 Tips for Stress Management  1.  Exercise 2.  Deep Breathing 3.  Meditation 4.  Positive Thinking 5.  Yoga 6.  Sleep 7.  Laughter 8.  Talking with people who really listen to and understand you 9.  Recognizing your limits and accepting them 10. Mindfulness Make It Happen So now let's look at your life - can you identify some stressors in your life? What shows up on your list?   To give you a start: Some positive stressors might include: job promotion, marriage, birth of a child, move Some negative stressors might include: job loss, illness, move, This week take some time to identify stressors in your life and for each stressor see if you can create one way to manage it. Remember, that you may not be able to eliminate the stress, but you can manage it. Use the 10 Tips for Stress Management as a point of departure to create your own stress management plan. Next week we are going to talk more in-depth about the 10 Tips for Stress Management. If you have additional tips on reducing stress share them by sending an email to margaret@margaretpundmann.com and I'll include them (with your name if you desire) in next weeks article.

Blessings to you, Margaret.        P.S. Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues by sharing this newsletter with them and invite them to subscribe! Direct them to www.MargaretPundmann.com where they can sign up.  Margaret Pundmann is a life and business coach, speaker, and author The Emerging Woman.

Do You Need to Amp Up Your Attitude?

Dear Friend,   No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the start, or sailed to an unchartered land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit. ~Helen Keller   Our attitude is the outer reflection of our inner life. Attitude is, largely, the lump sum of how and what we are feeling about the million things rumbling through our mind, body and spirit.   We get to choose what we feel. That's right - our feelings like our attitude are a choice. A decision we make repeatedly as we proceed through life.   Throughout our day, we face many situations which leave us with the ultimate question - how do I choose to feel about this person, place or circumstance? The decision we make in a snap second is what drives our attitude.   Appreciating the harmony of life without judgment is the hidden secret to a joyous attitude. The moment we step into a place of judgment or criticism we enter into defeating thoughts and feelings which ultimately crush our joy. When we wallow in what we do not have or what isn't working for us rather than focusing on our blessings (and we all have blessings) we again choose to be down rather than up!   Consider this story: A shoe factory sent two executives to a remote region of anunder-developed country to study the prospects for business expansion. One executive sent an email saying: "No opportunity for expansion - no one wears shoes." The other executive emails triumphantly: "They have no shoes - tremendous business opportunity."   Which executive are you?   Make It Happen   This week take time to choose your attitude. When faced with a difficult situation - make a decision to see the opportunity rather than the obstacle. When you are in the midst of adversity - consider the question, "What lesson am I to learn from this experience?" Remember your attitude is your choice! Amp it Up!

Blessings to you, Margaret.        P.S. Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues by sharing this newsletter with them and invite them to subscribe! Direct them to www.MargaretPundmann.com where they can sign up.  Margaret Pundmann is a life and business coach, speaker, and author The Emerging Woman.

Happy Holidays!

Dear Friend,

In the past week we've had both Passover and Easter. My hope is that you

were able to take time away from the day-to-day and celebrate with loved

ones. The holidays provide such a wonderful opportunity to connect with

those who we love and cherish.

My heart is leaping for joy after a truly wonderful holiday. I'm sending you

blessings, love and peace.

All the best,

Margaret.

Are You a Motivator?

Dear Friend,   Really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great. ~Mark Twain     Last week we discussed the notion of self - motivation. This week we are going to explore how to motivate those around us.   Motivation is extremely personalized. Therefore, what motivates one person is not guaranteed to motivate another. So as we seek to motivate others we need to explore what makes them tick. And perhaps the easiest way to find out is to ask your team directly what motivates them. Under your "Make It Happen" challenge for this week you will find four questions to help you tap into what motivates a particular individual.   While each individual is different there are some common tips that will lead you to strong and powerful leadership! Some strategies that will help you motivate those around you:   10 Tips To Be a Motivator Lead by example -When you talk the talk...make sure you walk the walk. Lead with a positive attitude - Remember Attitude is Everything! Consider the individual - Use the questions below to help you understand each individual on your team. Value your team - Show those around you that you care about and value them. Celebrate individual and team successes - Take time to celebrate together - it builds a sense of community. Be open to suggestions - Create an open environment where feedback is valued. Listen - Embrace open communication - ask questions and shut up! Explain the what and why of change - When change comes - take time to communicate with those on your team. Uncover new talents - Create an environment where people can try new things and showcase existing talents. Be authentic! - Who you are is why you became a manager - don't forget to be human and be yourself always!  Consider how you can use these 10 tips to be a leader for those around you. How can you integrate these tips into your leadership style? Make It Happen   Four questions to ask those you need to motivate: What would you like more of in your job? What would you like less of in your job? What motivates you to succeed? What can I do to help you succeed? Allow these questions to begin an open dialogue between you and your team members.   Over the next week focus on how you impact those around you. Take time to consciously be a motivator. If you are up for an extra challenge, select one of the 10 tips above to focus on over the next week!

Blessings to you!

Are You Motivated?

Dear Friend,

Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice!

~Wayne Dyer

This week is the first in a two part series on motivation. This week we will focus on self-motivation - what it takes to get us amped up. Next week we will turn to motivating staff and those around us and we'll explore the question, "How can you be a Motivator!"

To begin we must answer the question, What in the world is motivation? Motivation is the drive - the fire that gets us inspired and pumped up to charge after a specific goal. However, what specifically motivates us is quite personal. Ultimately, motivation means different things to each of us. Motivation plays an important role in our life because it helps us to:

• Achieve Goals
• Gain a Positive Perspective
• Create Power to Change
• Build Self-Esteem
• Manage Our Development

When we are motivated, we work harder are more productive and achieve results more rapidly.

Make It Happen

Do you have a large goal that you want to get excited about pursuing? If yes, then it sounds like you could benefit from some motivation! Because we are each unique individuals there is no single motivating factor for everyone. Therefore a great way to uncover what specifically motivates you is to examine what has worked in the past.

• Think back to a large goal that you accomplished in the past...something that you were extremely proud of.
• What was it, really, that motivated you to achieve this goal?

Now that you've seen what has worked for you in the past, take some time to explore this large goal of yours and what motivating factors you need - internal and external to achieve the goal. Make time this week to uncover the answers to the following questions. These six questions will kick-start YOU into tapping into YOUR unique motivating factors to achieve YOUR goals!

1. Why is this goal really, really important to me - right now?
2. What do I need to do to achieve this goal?
3. What am I willing to do to achieve this goal?
4. What support structure do I have in place to reach this goal?
5. What is my plan? (Take time to build out a detailed plan.)
6. How will I know I've achieved this goal?

Blessings to you as you look inside for motivation and inspiration to achieve your goals!

Are You Ready For Growth?

Dear Friend,

Do you want my one-word secret of happiness -

It's growth - mental, financial, you name it. ~Harold Geneen

Welcome to Spring a season of growth! Last week I asked you to look at your life and do a little "Spring Cleaning." How did that go? Was it hard , easy or a dead end? I really urge you to embrace this change in season and examine where you need to prune your life. Pruning our life is like pruning a plant. Essentially, pruning is the act of removing old materials to enable the plant's new growth to bloom and flourish. Consider that we are like a plant and we like most plants benefits from regular pruning and maintenance. Because when we prune we enable growth. Gardeners around the world delight in seeing how they can help their plants grow into lush mature plants. They enjoy the process of pruning because they know it adds to the health of the plant and increases the beauty of the plant. According to writer and gardener Gary Davis as it relates to plants, "the idea is to identify branches or stems that are dead or have slowed down in their functioning ... and then it is time to remove them by cutting them off." The result is that the root system can more efficiently and effectively feed what is left of the plant. This is exactly how we work. We must identify what is slowing us down and prune it. That is what the process of "Spring Cleaning" entails. Sometimes we are reluctant to totally give up some area of our life because we fear that new will bring different and we are creatures of habit and are comfortable in our old routines. Be patient with yourself and take the steps you need to bloom bigger and more beautifully! Life will be better and you will grow and emerge into your BEST self. Grow, thrive and flourish!

Make It Happen

This week review your "Spring Cleaning" from last week and give it another go.When we truly prune we are able to delight in the growth that comes. Examine what you need to remove from your life. Items to prune may be quite small - that is okay with the excess removed you will have more room for growth! Good luck and Blessings as we embark on this new Season in our life!

4 Secrets to Personal Growth - Free Teleclass Tonight!!!

4 Secrets to Personal Growth

Monday, 3/16 @ 6PM CT/7PM ET

Join Tammy Potosky and Margaret Pundmann for a FREE teleclass to discuss these topics:

- What keeps us from raising our standard of living?

- Who would you be if you were living from the present versus living from the past?

- What would your day look like if you incorporated 10 nourishing daily habits?

- What would you have time to do if you simplified your life dramatically?

Join us on Monday by calling: 1-712-580-8025 the password is 480721#

Or if you cannot make it tonight...

Join us tomorrow - Tuesday, 3/17 @ 11AM CT/12PM ET 

Join us on Tuesday by calling: 1-785-686-2400 the password is 480721# 

Are You Ready For Spring Cleaning?

Dear Friend, "Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." ~Carl Bard     In the Northern Hemisphere Spring officially begins March 20th. Spring suggests rebirth, a renewing, and a recommitting. With this new season we welcome new relationships, new opportunities and new possibilities into our life. But before we can welcome the new we must do a little 'Spring Cleaning' and let go of what is not serving us.    As we let go we get a fresh start - a clean slate if you will. We create room in our lives for new possibilities. What new possibility do you want to usher into your life - personally or professionally?   Perhaps you want to find a job, a home, a mate, a routine or maybe you want a renewed spiritual life, renewed physical activity, a renewed social life - all of which are within your grasp. It is easy to get discouraged by big goals and dreams, but you must never underestimate how close you are and how much fun you are going to have once you reach this goal. Remember that while the next step you desire may feel new and different, you bring you to this challenge your wealth of wisdom, brilliance and magnificence.   Right now, I'm asking you to revisit your goals - do a little 'Spring Cleaning' - physically, mentally and emotionally. Toss what is now irrelevant! Take 30 seconds to find two things that you are going to let go of because you realize, whatever the reason, this 'clutter' isn't serving you!   How good does that feel to let go of "shoulds" and "coulds?" Excellent, right? Because when you let go and do a little 'Spring Cleaning' you find that you have more space - physically, mentally and emotionally!   Make It Happen     Take the next week to examine and reexamine your goals and your life. Do a little 'Spring Cleaning' of your own. Don't be afraid to go beyond the surface and dig deep so that you clean it for good, rather than for just a season. Release goals, pursuits, relationships and things that don't fulfill you and feel the freedom of more space - physically, mentally and emotionally!