IN THIS ISSUE
FAST FOCUS: THINNING THE GARDEN
When you feel pressured by all you have to do, consider that life is a garden and that the tasks and opportunities in front of you are so many seedlings. Rather than complaining about the pressure of competing priorities, thin the seedlings. Yes, it's hard to pull up some of those precious sprouts, yet unless you do so, come harvest your fruits will be stunted because each plant has had to compete with every other plant for nourishment.
Thin your garden for the sake of an abundant harvest. Making hard choices not only protects this year's crop but also enriches the next season's growth, for every discarded seedling becomes compost for the future.
SIMPLE GIFTS: FREE AUTHENTIC PROMOTION e-BOOK
Last week, more than 60 readers requested my free list of laugh provoking videos. This week, you're invited to download my free e-book, "Authentic Promotion, Building Purposeful Prosperity in a Professional Practice" (whew, that's a lot of p-words!). It outlines the principles that I've used to build a thriving coaching practice while loving my life (well, most days!). Download your free copy at the top of the RESOURCES page of my Web site.
HOW TO USE EZINES FOR AUTHENTIC PROMOTION
Register now for the next two classes in the "Shorten Your Learning Curve" series on developing a great ezine for your business.
*** Content That Captivates *** Writing (or selecting) features that will turn readers into loyal supporters. $20. Tuesday, July 30, 5 - 6 Pm Eastern Time Register Now
This fast-paced one-hour teleclass reveals what I've learned about writing content that keeps 10,000 people a week coming back for more. You'll learn the answer to these and other questions:
What should you write about? How do you know what readers want? How long should articles be? What if you're not a great writer? Where do you get your ideas? How can you make money with your content? What should you include in every issue? How can you make sure readers don't get bored? How can you get people to read it the first time? How can you keep readers coming back for more? How can you manage correspondence with readers?
Instructor: Molly Gordon, Business Coach and Publisher of The New Leaf
***Promoting Your Ezine/Attracting Long-Term Subscribers*** Not just how to get more subscribers, but how to attract readers who'll come and stay. $25. Tuesday, August 6, 5 - 6 PM Eastern Time Register Now
You can design and write a fabulous ezine, but without subscribers, what do you have? This class will bottom-line the resources and action steps that you can use to build your ezine into a powerful relationship builder, an engine that can drive your business success. We'll also share tips and techniques for organizing your promotional efforts, so that you don't have to make a career out of it.
Instructors: Molly Gordon, Business Coach and Publisher of The New Leaf, and Debbie Buxton, owner of InfoWord Virtual Assistance and technical advisor to The New Leaf
BONUS: Free e-book, "Attracting Long-Term Subscribers to Your Email Newsletter" with every registration. E-book available August 1.
We expect this class to sell out fast, so sign up today.
OPEN FOR BUSINESS: THE GIFT OF TOO MUCH TO DO
On any given day I generally have more than enough to do. Sometimes I have so much to do that I hardly know where to begin. Yet the fact is that most weeks I work less than 40 hours.
People are always asking me how I get everything done. How do I find the time to read so much? How can I travel and attend trainings while keeping up with my practice? How do I manage to write The New Leaf each week? What's my secret?
There are many answers, but one in particular arose in the midst of my morning meditation last Friday. As usual, my mind was prancing around like a young puppy, willing to heel for only a moment or two before racing off to explore some enticing scent in the bushes. Also as usual, one of these enticing scents was my "To Do" list.
As I gave a gentle tug on my mental leash, I experienced a sudden shift in perception. It was as if I had slipped through the looking glass to discover that I was living in a world of abundant possibility as opposed to one of temporal scarcity.
I no longer had the problem of not enough time; I had the gift of more than enough to do.
Why is this a gift? Consider this. When you are invited to a smorgasbord laden with more delicacies than you can possibly sample, you choose from among the offerings the ones that you want most. What you choose will depend on your needs, desires, and values. Do you want to try something new? Do you want to experiment with a new combination of familiar pleasures? Do you have allergies to consider? Is there a favorite food you want to make sure to taste again?
Sure, you could approach the buffet with resentment, frustrated that the thoughtless hosts had plotted to overwhelm you. But why on earth would you adopt that point of view? What would you gain?
As I sat with this notion of having more than enough to do, I knew intuitively that I did not have to do everything on my list any more than I would have to eat everything at a buffet. I also knew that accepting that I could not do it all was part of the pleasure of acknowledging the wealth of opportunity before me.
I've spent several days now musing about what actions and choices arise from "behind the looking glass." Here are some of the practical ways this shift shows up:
- When I notice that I have more than enough, it is natural to look for how I can share it, giving a whole new twist to the notion of delegating work. Who would enjoy doing this? Who would enjoy learning how to do this? With whom would I like to try this?
- When I notice that I have more than enough, it is natural to wonder what I want most and why. This invigorates the process of setting priorities. What would be the most fun? What would be the most nourishing? What can keep for another day? What can I enjoy from a distance?
- When I notice that I have more than enough, it is natural to act from gratitude and to express gratitude through good stewardship. For the sake of what shall I make this choice? What makes the most sense or is most necessary in light of current conditions? What selections support healthy ambition? How can I preserve or conserve opportunities for another person or another day? If I cannot use an opportunity, how can I be complete with it?
- When I notice that I have more than enough, I can trust the ebb and flow of natural abundance. I regard unused possibilities as compost for the future. I appreciate that times of apparent emptiness are the seedbed for times of opportunity. I know that when seedlings grow too thickly, it is time to thin the garden, not to complain about the pressure of competing priorities.
This week, notice your own relationship to time and the things you have to do. Check your emotional weather report as it relates to planning either for the day or for a specific project over a period of days. Then notice the physical sensations that correspond to this weather report. How does this change when you play with the notion that rather than too little time you more than enough to do, an abundance of opportunity?
Once you have felt your way into this different frame of mind, see what new possibilities show up. What actions are possible (and how are they qualitatively different) from this place?
THE BEDSIDE TABLE
It's summer time in the Northern Hemisphere, time to head to the beach with a great book. Let's build a list of the top ten best beach reads. Send your nomination with a brief explanation of why you think it qualifies to beachreads@mollygordon.com. We'll create a web page with the top ten and post the link in next week's newsletter.
Here are some of the suggestions I've received so far:
"Working on Yourself Doesn't Work, a Book About Instantaneous Transformation" Ariel & Shya Kane. Cheryl H. says: "--read this book in an afternoon...the idea is so simple--a first step in moving forward..."
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"Bel Canto," Ann Patchett. Cheryl's comments: "--music and humanity--an example of living in the moment.."
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As for me, when I'm not reading "Mac OS X, The Missing Manual," (do I know how to have fun, or what?), I'm continuing "The Fourth Turning," by William Strauss and Neil Howe. The authors propose that history's cycles follow the moods and personalities of successive generations in observable ways, providing a means of predicting broad patterns in our future. Will the next decades bring crisis or convergence? Their answers may surprise you, and will certainly provide you with much food for thought.
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I've also been dipping into another dialogue from SHAPE, one of the Web's most resourceful discussion forums. This one is "Roundtable on Technical Leadership," edited by Gerald M. Weinberg, Marie Benesh, and James Bullock. I'm fascinated and delighted by the clear-eyed and intelligent discussions of the good, the bad, and the ugly of technical expertise. If you are or have ever aspired to be or had to work with a technical guru, you need this book.
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Searching for a book or CD or other product on Amazon? When you use these links to Amazon search engines you support "The New Leaf." Please visit and bookmark them today.
US: www.mollygordon.com/searchbook.html
UK: www.mollygordon.com/eurobook.html
THE NEW LEAF AND YOUR PRIVACY
A reader wrote last week to ask why, if I never sell or share subscriber information, she's been getting business-related emails since signing up for The New Leaf. You may also be wondering if there is a connection between unsolicited emails and your subscription.
The short answer is NO.
The only thing you will receive when you subscribe to The New Leaf is this newsletter and occasional special offers for free or discounted events or resources readers that I send myself.
If that is true (and it is), how do you account for an apparent increase in unsolicited emails? Here are several possible explanations:
- You gave your email address to your bank, insurance company, stockbroker, or other service provider.
- You've given your email address in connection with an online purchase. Many sites have easy-to-overlook "opt out" boxes that, unless you see and check them, give them permission to share your email address with others. (My site does NOT do this.)
- You provided your email address when registering software or a warranty on business equipment.
- Your email address appears on any web site. There is software that scours the web, harvesting email addresses.
- You participate in one or more publicly accessible online discussion lists or newsgroups. Again, there is software that scours these postings for addresses.
A flurry of spam often indicates that your email address was harvested and included on a CD-ROM. These CDs are sold to unwary email marketers who often do not know that the addresses were gained illegitimately. There are many hapless souls who are buying get-rich-quick schemes, and rather than getting angry, we might feel sad that these folks are wasting their time and money in such a desperate and ill-conceived endeavor.
I hate spam, and sometimes I feel quite vengeful when I hit the delete key. In addition to being an irritation and time waster, spam threatens my business. That's because some anti-spam measures also block legitimate publications like mine from reaching subscribers.
In sum, any apparent connection between unwanted email and your New Leaf subscription is entirely coincidental. Whether or not you believe that is a function of the trust we develop together. I'm always interested in hearing from you because that helps us build that trust.
APPEARANCES | MEDIA
This year my keynotes and workshops will inspire, motivate, and equip at least three thousand people to create purposeful prosperity. Will your organization be hosting one of these events? Phone me at 360-697-7022 or email me to discuss a special event for your group.
Santa Fe, New Mexico. November 6, Design with Heart, Keynote Address.
I'm delighted to be the subject of a Seattle 24x7 Profile by journalist and PR maven Larry Sivitz. Read all about.
COPYRIGHT | SPONSORS AND AFFILIATES | SUBSCRIBE/UN-SUBSCRIBE
Copyright (c) Shaboom, Inc. ™ 2002. All rights reserved.
U.S. Library of Congress ISSN: 1530-311X.
You may reprint or copy or distribute The New Leaf provided this copyright notice and contact information for the author are attached. The author is Molly Gordon, CPC, PCC. Contact her at mailto:molly@mollygordon.com or at 360-697-7022 in the US.
Thank you for supporting "The New Leaf" by using our links to affiliate sites. My recommendations are based on my personal experience with and enthusiasm for the named entity. I do earn commissions on sales through some affiliate programs. In every case, I believe that the value they provide is well worth the investment. If you are ever disappointed by a transaction with one of my affiliates, please let me know.
