Other Articles

Better Way to Say “No”

Is it hard for you to say “no” – even when deep down you know you should? Read my blog to see a really clever way that one of my favorite writers, Anne Lamott, says “no”. This example demonstrated to me that with creativity, grace and humor we can steer clear of tasks that weigh us down and stay focused on the work we love.

Anne is a role model on how to take care of yourself in spite of others’ needs and projections. She gently and humorously tells the truth. What a concept! So now I’m curious to hear what creative ways you’ve found to respectfully and lovingly say NO. Post comments to share your ideas with me.

Do One Thing a Day That Scares You

When I have enough confidence, I’ll ________________________.” You fill in the blank. Part of coaching is finding out what’s in the blank. If you had the confidence, what would you do? What call would you make? Whose door would you knock on?

 “Do it scared!” reads a sign in front of my friend’s computer which reminds her that confidence is a day at a time undertaking. What I know about confidence is that it ebbs and flows based on how much flexing and nourishment it gets. Read my blog post to see what you need to do to nourish your confidence.

Don’t Use Undermining Language

A good way to undermine your confidence is to use words like “try”, “just” and little.” I hear minimizers slipping frequently into conversation with business owners. “Here’s my little brochure.” “That’s just my rough draft of a book proposal.” “I’ll try to be there.” When you see them in succession it becomes clear how they diminish the effort involved or the accomplishment. Read an article on my website to learn how to be more conscious of your language and remember the simple truth is most powerful of all.