CounselingBlog

Pursue the Passion - eBook

I asked Brett Farmiloe to let me know when his new, FREE, eBook was released. Well, it is out and ready for you to download. Here is the blurb Brett sent me for my ezine, The Occasional Newsletter.

"Four recent college grads are undertaking a project this summer entitled Pursue the Passion, where they are embarking on a 14,000 mile journey in a gigantic 30 foot tour bus to interview 200 professionals who are passionate about their work.

They want the tour and the material they gather to inspire, guide, and support other aspiring individuals that are seeking to find their passion in a career.

The 90-day Pursue the Passion tour launches from Phoenix July 2nd, and will be going through Texas October 5th-10th. You can learn more about the project or sign up for an interview at www.pursuethepassion.com "

Brett Farmiloe, the founding member of Pursue the Passion, has just issued a free e-book about last year's journey. Here is the link, Pursue the Passion - eBook

Do check out the eBook - it took a while to download onto my computer - don't despair, it is worth the wait.

So - what are YOU passionate about?
I would love to hear from you - just click the "comments" button below and let us all know.

Cynthia
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Cynthia McKenna Counseling
www.cynthiamckennacounseling.com

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Cynthia

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Cynthia McKenna, LPC, NCC

Creating Healthy Relationships

www.cynthiamckennacounseling.com

CounselingBlog

Taking the Plunge

I love the following post from Ann Zuccardy - Ann talks about the process of deciding to leave a salaried job to pursue her solopreneurship at Vermont Shortbread

Read:  An Entrepreneur on the Brink

My reflection on this, from my own recent experience, is that Ann will know when it is time to give her notice.   

My own process was very conflicted, "Should I stay or should I go?" (with a tip of the hat to The Clash.)
but when the time came, I knew it, and knew it at a very deep level. 

I think, when we are tuned in to our intuition and can give ourselves the space to be quiet and listen, we can hear our own wisdom, our own needs, and take council from our own insights.

Good luck to you Ann, and to each of us, as we try to make the very best decisions for ourselves and our families.
Cynthia
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Cynthia McKenna, LPC, NCC
www.cynthiamckennacounseling.com

Get Motivated Now

The dogs are itchy and woke me up at around 4:00 this morning - scratching away.  When I put them out, I recognized that my brain was in-gear and I was not going back to sleep.

I have spent the last two hours catching up on some reading and pondering my day.

My counseling practice is going well, and I have had a busy week.  I have plenty of little tasks on my desk that need some attention before I head back to work tomorrow.

The tomatoes and the water garden are also in need of some TLC.  Then, of course, the dogs need baths (anyone want to come wash three 70 lb. Labradors?)

I write all this because there is a gap between what I need to do and what I want to do. 

I want to go to breakfast and then plop in front of FoodTV for the rest of the morning.

It isn't a bad plan - given that I have been busy....  no, wait, I am rationalizing.

The space between working on my business and tending my spirit is an important one.  Sometimes, those two overlap - that is a very productive time.  Today, they are not intersecting, so I am going to compromise.  I will work diligently this morning, and take the afternoon and evening off.

or,

I will work somewhat diligently with frequent breaks to see what's cooking on FoodTV.

or,

I'll go get another cup of coffee and watch the sunrise.  Mmmmm.  That is first on my "to do" list.

So, dear readers, what do you do when there is a gap between what you need to do and what you want to do? 

I would love to have your feedback.  Post a comment below, or drop me an email.

Happy Sunday,
Cynthia
*************
Cynthia McKenna, LPC, NCC
Creating Healthy Relationships
www.cynthiamckenna.com

www.counseling.typepad.com

Self-Confidence for Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs face a lot of challenges. 

Here is a great blog entry from Donna Gunter, Online Business Resource Queen.  It is a short article about believing in yourself and NOT paying attention to the gremlins that tell us that we can't succeed.

The "Fraud Factor"

Take care,
Cynthia
***********
Cynthia McKenna, LPC, NCC
Counseling & Life Coaching
Creating Healthy Relationships
www.cynthiamckenna.com
www.counseling.typepad.com
210 557-1715

From Tom Peters...

100 Ways to Succeed-  #6

"Consider this a variation on a debate in the Tom Peters weblog over the number of priorities a person can have.  Well, I 'm settling it.

One!

Here's the deal.  It's 5 a.m. (09.28.2004) as I write. I have a day crammed full of miscellaneous (that dreaded word!) activities ahead, ending with a flight from Boston to London.  But the ... THE...Pressing Question is:  What Will (in one sentence) THE LEGACY OF THIS DAY HAVE BEEN FOR TP?

Yes, I believe a Single Day can have as much of a "legacy" as a lifetime.  In fact, that had better be the case!  Why?  Because the day ... stretching out before me ... filled (at the moment) with limitless opportunities ...is...ALL I HAVE!

RIGHT?

JUST ANOTHER DAY?

HARDLY!

THIS IS IT!

All those things ... grand and numdane ... I want to do with my life will either be abetted or thwarted or put off or ignored int he course of ...THIS ONE, UNFURLING DAY.

So:  What (One Sentence) will Today's Legacy be ... for You?"

 

*************

Cynthia McKenna, LPC, NCC

www.cynthiamckenna.com

www.counseling.typepad.com

 

Shortbread Dreams

How about some shortbread...

My friend, Ann Zuccardy, is the creative and culinary spark behind The Vermont Shortbread Company.  Ann began Vermont Shortbread Company so that she could stay home with her young daughter.  Now, as her daughter has grown, so has her business and she is shipping her delicious shortbreads all over the place.

Last month, Ann gifted me with a delicious lemon curd shortbread.  It arrived on a Friday, in a lovely green box with terrific wrapping which kept the shortbread very fresh.  Mmmmmm.  We ate half of it with our tea that afternoon.

On Sunday, Ann dropped me a note saying that her shortbread freezes very well.  I am sure it does, and that is a helpful hint - but it never made it past Sunday afternoon tea.

Next time, I'll try to freeze some.

Why not visit The Vermont Shortbread Company and order some shortbread for yourself, or for holiday or corporate gifts?  This is a wonderful, deliciously edible, way to say, "I am thinking about you."

Thanks Ann,
Cynthia
www.cynthiamckenna.com
The CounselingBlog

After The Rain

Just now, I was finishing a long post about our drought and this morning's lovely rain.  It was a great post - I had fun writing it.  But somehow, in the spell-checking, HTML playing, that I do before I post...I erased it all.  So, I am laughing at myself, and have decided not to try to recreate it.

One of the intersting things that happened with this gigantic rain was that our power went out.  Now, that is not always interesting, but I was enthralled with the silence.  No fans turnin overhead, no lovely pond trickling in my front room, no hum of refrigerator, no whirr of air conditioner.

The only sounds were the rain and the very soft sound of Labrador paws on the saltillo tile.  It was a calming thing, to not have electricity.  That calming reminded me how busy and noisy life has become.  In opening this wonderful counseling business, I have become stretched thin at times, my stress levels are high, and I am busy. 

In this busyness, there isn't much quiet.  And, I need quiet...lots of it. It was a great blessing to be quiet this morning. 

The electricity ultimately returned after about six hours, just in time for my first client of the day.  That meant that we could have our session with a little air conditioning. 

So we had comfort, and the silence of the morning slipped away. 

But the memory of quiet and my own yearning for stillness did not leave, and I am resolved to cultivate the quiet and stillness. 

You, who are self-employed entrepreneurial types, are you able to cultivate stillness in your life?  Do you have quiet and calm, even silence?  I would love to hear about it if you do.  If you don't, how are you handling that? 

Send me an email, I would really love to hear your reflections on this oh-so-delicate balancing act of inner peace and outer success. cm@cynthiamckennacounseling.com

Cynthia

*************
Cynthia McKenna LPC, NCC
Counseling & Life Coaching
www.CynthiaMcKennaCounseling.com
210 557-1715

An Invitation

I have been reading a lot about marketing and ways to get "noticed" on the www.  One constant mantra is "become an aritcle writer," 

Why write?
You get to say something about your passions and areas of expertise.  The process of writing something down helps solidfy my knowledge, and sometimes gives me interesting insight into my own work.  It also helps educate others about indeas that I think are important.

From a marketing standpoint, posting articles helps establish an identity and credibility.  Using free article submission, like the fabulous  EzineArticles.com  your articles are published quickly and can then be picked up by others who post them on their own sites.  The trick here is to write a good resource box - your author bio - so folks will visit your website once they finish your article.  Your article becomes an invitationto to visit your website and learn more.

While I am thinking about EzineArticles.com  I want to mention their "author blog."  You'll find great tips there as well as the fantastic information from Christopher Knight - the guy behind EzineArticles.com  Well worth reading.

Finally, write a lot of articles - it really makes a difference.  I can't quite explain this, but when I had 10 articles on the web, I had so-so traffic.  When I went to 12 articles, my triffic improved on all the articles.  There is probably some great mathematical idea behind this, all I know is that it really makes a difference - so keep writing.

Business Coaching

I love reading Tom Peters' Blog - his insight has helped me and I try to pass on his ideas and knowledge to my coaching clients.  Tom Peters offers a lot of free information on his website - really useful downloads that can help give you a nudge when you need one.  I love his 100 Ways to Succeed/Make Money  There are actually only 50 tips on this free download, and you can read it in one or two sittings.  It is part excellence coaching and part good business sense. I think these 100 Ways are helpful for folks who are not running a business - there is good wisdome to glean here.

I hope you check it out.