People, it has been approximately 1 million years since I posted a Link Love post, & because of that – & because I literally subscribe to over 100 blogs in my Google Reader (that’s post-purging!), there are appoximately 1 million links to share. But, because none of us has 1 million years to read all these links, I tortured myself by including no more than 20 of them. Now, please note that there are over 700 unread posts in my Reader, & I think that my Reader lists when a post is starred – not written – so these are from the posts I’ve starred in January. Whew! This is getting complicated. Isn’t “simplicity” my 2010 word? I gotta look into that.
Working It Out on Ink on my Fingers (great free download here!)
Even with all the fantabulous stuff that’s been going on with me lately, I’m still feeling the agita as to whether or not I’ll “make it” as a full-time coach. So, instead of thinking of this as my Goal or My Life’s Purpose (ack! scariness!), I’ve decided to think of it as An Adventure. That frame of thinking – that my Goal isn’t the end-all-be-all-most-important-thing-of-my-life-ever – certainly keeps me focused on enjoying the journey, making sure there’s fun involved & seeing where these opportunities lead – which is what the Grown-Up (& innerpreneur) in me wants to focus on!
This is another scary post for me, guys. Like Dear Future Me, this was a word doc that I wrote for myself, to tuck away for me as a journal entry while my journals are still packed in a box. But as I finished, I realized that this could serve as the more authentic posts I’ve been yearning to put here that could possibly bring some of you comfort or inspiration or comraderie or strength. And if there’s a chance I can offer that to you, what kind of selfish twit would I be to keep that to myself? And when you get to the end of the post, I think you’ll see why I felt that I had to post this, in keeping with the intention of putting myself Out There. Enjoy my diary entry (gulp)!
It’s my Me Time now. I haven’t taken an official, scheduled Me Time in probably, oh….too long. I can’t remember the last time it’s been on my calendar. There’s been unofficial Me Time here & there – time for a bath, or reading the paper, or somesuch Me Thing – but nothing that’s been a gift: Here’s 90 minutes. It’s for you.
So here I sit, sideways in the big red patterned chair so I can look right out my window onto the NYC skyline: a green & white Empire State Building, a gold twinkly bridge, the Chrysler Building that shines, well, like the top of the Chrysler Building. I saw a Broadway & Musicals station on Pandora when I was browsing, & I clicked on it. I don’t remember the last time I listened to show tunes when I wasn’t a passenger in my mother’s car. Bernadette Peters is singing “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” & I’m on the verge of tears.
You can do it
All you need it a hand
We can do it
Mama is gonna see to it!Read the rest of this entry »
Holy crapballs, is this exciting. Maybe even more so because after the video was pushed back for the second time, I resigned myself to seeing it in March. Or May. Or 2011. But not before the week was over!
Put Me In, Life Coach is a 5-minute video on Newsweek.com that profiles me as one of the 15,000 (!) life coaches out there. You’ll hear how I found my way to coaching, how I got accredited, my definition of a life coach, & even see me coaching a client & hear her thoughts about being coached! I stand corrected: holy crapballs, this is super exciting.
Oh, and if you’ve found your way here because of this super awesome video, Welcome! Click around & stay for a while – there’s a ton of neat stuff both on my blog & in my site. This is my home on the Interwebs, & you’re always welcome!
I have to admit I am so super behind in my Award posts. Back in December I got the Sweet Thing Award from Maggie, & all the way back in November I got the Sugar Doll Award from Melissa!
Since I got the Sugar Doll Award first, I’m posting my response now. It’s 2 months late, but hopefully it still counts!
1. The only time I’ve never had bangs was when I grew them out in 8th grade. This was also the time when I got a perm. A perm + no bangs = no date to the 8th grade dance. And no, you will not see a picture of me from that time. Unless I’m dead. Until then, here’s a cute pic of me with bangs when I was super little. Read the rest of this entry »
By now you guys have heard me yammer/exclaim/giddily scream about my new website (& if you haven’t, well, come on over & visit – you’re always welcome!). What I haven’t done yet is pimp out my group coaching sessions, & the first one starts on Feb 9th, with early bird registration ending next week & overall registration closing shortly thereafter! That’s super soon, people, & I wanted to make sure you kids saw what I have to offer because, frankly, my group coaching sessions are awesome. I love doing them like nobody’s business (that’s what she said). Thankfully the feeling’s mutual – here’s what my last group coaching participants (yes, there are just 4 to a group so everyone gets personal attention each week!) had to say:
“When the recession hit, for the first time in my life I struggled to find a job…and I realized I was struggling because I didn’t know what I wanted. Looking back, I had patiently dated a million jobs, expecting Prince Charming to fall into my lap. When the scheming little bastard refused to show, I decided to get out there and hunt it down. This new goal brought out my demons, but I pushed forward by telling myself that Group Coaching would still be worth it even if I only found a better “date,” and not my elusive Mr. Right. Every group coaching session was fun and energizing, even when all four of us showed up feeling like basketcases! No matter how rough the week, Thursday night had the magical power to lift us all up. Temporary feelings of loserhood shriveled, and with renewed confidence we hashed out concrete tasks to keep the momentum going for another seven days. Instead of just knowing my own story – the anxieties, roadblocks, and triumphs – I had the privilege of witnessing three more. Now that these group sessions are behind me, I am realizing how much I dip into those other stories, searching for and finding solutions, strategies, hope, and inspiration. Happily, Group Coaching resulted in much more than a “better date.” By the end of the sessions I had developed a new professional dream, a personal mission statement to guide it, and an action plan to make it a reality. Many thanks to my Fairy Godmother, Michelle!” – Faith, California
“The group coaching environment was great! We fed off of each other’s energy, and it helped in feeling like you were not alone in the general struggle of self exploration and needing change in your career. The best thing about group coaching was when Michelle saw my hangups as opportunities to grow and helped me understand and celebrate my strengths. By asking a question or framing the issue I was having in a certain way, she allowed me to break free from what was holding me back. So many times I said something that was important, specifically something that was said with clarity, and I remembered it was recorded and I could go back to it later. It helped having someone else see the strengths and potential that I didn’t see in myself.” – Stephanie Gravalese-Wood, Massachusetts
“The highlight of my group sessions was when Michelle would listen to what I said when I was really confused & then cut through the mental fog & say something insightful – and then come up with an action plan to fix it! She’s a great listener and summarized our feelings succinctly & with clarity, and she has a super friendly personality that puts people at ease when they might be nervous about revealing their hopes/dreams to a group of people. My group session experience was SO POSITIVE & wonderful! I also got really concrete tips from other group members in my position, & we were able to comment on how we knew what the other people were saying, feeling, going through, etc. My group sessions really gave me the confidence to move forward.” – Charlotte Dauphin, Virginia
“I decided to sign-up for group coaching with Michelle because I didn’t know what to do with me. I wasn’t feeling happy with my job, I wanted change, but I didn’t know for what. Often, I was feeling stressed and oppressed by my behavior and I wanted to find my path. I was looking for help to organize all my ideas & thought in order to focus on something. Michelle really helped me feel more comfortable with myself. Everything seems more easier & simple with her. She’s funny & friendly & didn’t judge & almost every time she was targeting right. I now know myself more than before, so I can focus on what I’m good at, & make my work more interesting for me. I now have a good subject to start my blog (& express myself & get out there!) & I’ve decided to sign-up in a graphic design school, so I’m happier! I have gained not less than that.” – Julie D., Montreal
While I love my private sessions, whether they’re by phone or email, there’s something about being part of a group of creative people with a similar goal that supports & “gets” each other that gets the breakthroughs broken-through like nothing else. The fact that it’s low-cost, too (just $39/session) allows me to coach a whole slew of people who might not be able to afford my private sessions, while still making sure that they get individual attention. That’s really important to me. Read the rest of this entry »
I won’t lie -I’m feeling a bit of Overwhelm lately. There’s a lotta stuff on my plate – a lot of it things I want to do, which makes it tough to prioritize – and I’m starting to get a case of the Shoulds. Do you feel the same?
Me at my GraduLaunch Party in June, celebrating my new Spark.
Today is my 32nd birthday.
I joke that I’m an old lady, but honestly, I don’t feel it. Yeah, I see the lone gray hair appear when it’s too long between colorings (there’s a bright one now in my bangs!), & there was a point in my life that I was always (proudly!) The Youngest (usually when I was doing shows), but honestly, really, deeply, truly:
Thank you all so very much for your support, encouragement, & virtual confetti that you threw my way this week when I announced that I was video interviewed for Newsweek! Unfortunately, we’re all gonna hafta be in suspense for just a week longer, as the live date got pushed back to 1/20. I’m taking the stance that the video was so awesome, the staff knew that it would be another week before they got themselves off the floor. Right? Right? Right.
Thankfully, Spring is here to save the day! While I don’t have a fancy video to show you, I do have 3 fantastic,free downloads from the Spring girls today! Head on over & grab yourself a Goal Game (I provided the text, while Jess Gonacha Swift provided the pretty!), a How to Write Your Annual Letter PDF written by Jess LC (she’s the one that started it all!) & a super-cute, super-bright goal planning & organizing PDF from Carolyn Rubenstein! And if you haven’t already, comment on our latest video for a chance to win a Goal Kit by Jessica Gonacha Swift. I spent real money for mine & it’s worth double what she charges!
OK, twist my arm, I’ll admit it: I’m so very proud of me. To the Newsweek video interview that’s supposed to be live tomorrow (aaaaahhhhhh!) to ensuring that my site is ready for re-launch by then to taking many, many, many (many many!) steps in creating this life that is my purpose, even if I’m still reaching, reaching, reaching to get there (& while I have an immediate finish line in mind, I know it’ll be an everlasting journey that is mine to create)….I’m doing it, I’ve done it, and I’m proud of me.
What are you proud of today? (If it’s really early by you & the day’s barely begun, then share what you’re proud of you for doing/being yesterday. It’s not cheating.)
It can be big, it can be small, it can be for an action or an intention or a thought or just a word. It all counts! You better comment about it, too – I want nothing but love here this week for my birthday on Thursday!
Wanna be a sponsor? Shoot me an email at michelle@whenigrowupcoach.com and I'll shoot ya the info! Figuratively, of course.
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Basically, what this means is that everything I write is my own property (duh), but you can use it on your blog or in your newsletter or as skywriting as long as you don't change nothin' & you add the following : "Michelle Ward, aka The When I Grow Up Coach, helps creative people devise the career they think they can't have - or discover it to begin with! A certified life coach by the International Coach Academy, a musical theater actress with her BFA from NYU/Tisch, and a Corporate America escapee, Michelle has served as an expert source and contributor for such outlets as Newsweek, Forbes, and Psychology Today, as well as leading workshops and seminars at SXSW 2011 and the sold-out Etsy Success Symposium. She could be found coachin', bloggin' & givin' away free stuff at whenigrowupcoach.com."
