By Aurea Crotty

Finding Her Passion:

Joanna Track knew at a very young age she was destined for a sweet life. She accredits her passion for uncovering unique finds to her grandmother, who was as she puts it, a shopaholic. “It’s genetic” Joanna says as she remembers walking to the local mall at the tender age of ten to spend hours browsing the latest fashions. Her love of marketing developed during her corporate experience in the advertising and marketing world where she was exposed to, and inspired by, some of the world biggest brands.

In 2004 Joanna Track turned her passions into reality when she launched Sweetspot.ca, a Canadian website dedicated to uncovering the latest trends and spreading the word to savvy shoppers through daily online updates.

Her Story:

Joanna grew up in a middle income family in an affluent community, she recalls aspiring to achieve that which she saw around her, and used that inspiration to fuel her drive for success.

After completing secondary school at York Mills Collegiate she went on to earn a BA in Mathematics from the University of Western Ontario.  Joanna had a natural aptitude when it came to math so when deciding what to study she says it was a no brainer, math was her effortless route. Following that she completed her MBA at the Schulich School of Business.

Joanna spent over 6 years in the advertising world before deciding to venture off on her own.  As she puts it “I knew I always wanted to be my own boss.  After working in very corporate cultures I knew it wasn’t the right fit for me.  I was determined to create an environment where there was no, or at least very little, bureaucracy and where people would enjoy coming to work. When the idea of Sweetspot came to me, I knew it was time to take a chance.”

Making It Happen:

“I was inspired by a business I had seen in the US -Daily Candy” says Track, “after suffering from many stress-related illnesses I knew I had to do my own thing or I would never really be happy.  I took my passion for shopping/trends and my marketing knowledge and took the plunge.”

She got off to a rocky start in 2004 separating from her business partner of only 8 weeks.  With no money, partner, or staff and a very small database she believed so absolutely in her vision and her capability to accomplish it, that there was no doubt in her mind that she would triumph.

Joanna attributes making her fearless transition to her grounded upbringing which gave her the confidence to focus on the possibility of what can be, and to embrace the uncertainty of risk. She also had a great boss who supported her potential by allowing her to work part time while she brought Sweetspot to life.

In 2006, Joanna was approached by Canada’s largest publishing company Rogers Communications to partner with its digital publications division. Apprehensive at first Joanna expresses what a positive experience it has been working with Rogers and how they helped catapult her vision to where she imagined it.

Her Philosophy On Growth:

Joanna has always been focused on organic growth. She believes in “growing one thing into the next, as opposed to trying to do too many things at once.”

Her Challenges:

At first, Track states “the greatest challenge was paying the bills and figuring out how to stay afloat.  These days, the challenge is how to maintain our small, entrepreneurial culture and yet grow into a larger company, and be part of Rogers.”

Her Successes:

Joanna says there are two things she is most proud of: “The first is that I feel we have succeeded in creating a unique culture where people are truly motivated and happy.  The second is the rewarding feeling I get each time someone contacts me to let me know about the positive impact Sweetspot has had on their business after we’ve written about them.  I have had countless people let me know that we drove their sales/page views, etc. through the roof.  I love hearing that!”

Her Hopes For The Future:

A recent new mom to a beautiful son Teddy, Joanna wants to continue growing in size and credibility. She hopes “more and more people will come to know and trust us as a resource” and aspires “to expand into new categories, while maintaining our focus on lifestyle topics.”

Her Advice To You:

You never know if you really like to do something, or if you’re good at it, until you try it. 

I have a theory I call the “Lily Pad Theory”.  You need to jump from lily pad to lily pad.  Some may be a little to the left, or right, or back and forth.  But until you’ve really jumped into something you don’t really know what it’s all about.  And you don’t always have to move up the ladder to grow your career.  Sometime lateral moves, or even less senior roles, provide invaluable experiences.

Figure out what you love, and what your skill sets are. It is important to recognize your own strengths AND weaknesses.  If you can figure out a way to marry what you love with your skills, you will be successful.

What is the first section you pick up to read in the newspaper?  It says a lot about your interest and passions.

If you would like to sweeten your life visit Sweetspot.ca your guide to fashion, beauty, food and fun…

By Wendy Litner

I am a chronic apologist.  As someone who values personal space, both physically and metaphysically, I am always wary of being in peoples’ way or taking up too much of their time.  While certainly not a becoming quality, and one I continually vow to quit, I never really thought of it as anything more than a harmless, quirky habit.  Until now.  Now it has become life threatening.                       

It’s a Saturday night, a few weeks ago.  As my husband and I prepare for a night on the town, and by a night on the town I mean take our dog for a walk, the distinct smell of smoke wafts through the air.

“Do you smell smoke?” my husband asks astutely.

As we follow the fetid scent down the stairs, we see plumes of thick smoke foraging across our basement, swathing the unfinished walls and ceiling.  We stare in horror, backing away as it begins to flood the stairwell.  Smothering our mouths with our shirtsleeves we exchange muffled coughs.  The dog barks at the oncoming smoke and then ceremoniously pees on the floor.  Even the cat momentarily stirs from her slumbers.  We become frantic, trying to identify the cause but it’s impossible to see through the clouding haze.

It occurs to me that I should call the fire department, that my house going up in flames falls precisely within the fire department’s domain, but I don’t call them.  I couldn’t possibly.  They’re busy people with a hard job and I really don’t want to bother them.  Our best friends recently moved in across the street and instead I call them to ask for their advice.  As Joel cautiously enters, it takes him very little time to confirm that, yes, there indeed seems to be large amounts of smoke emanating from our basement and progressing rapidly through our home. 

“Why the hell haven’t you called the fire department?” he asks. 

I feel that the state of our uncompleted basement is equivalent to being in a car accident while wearing unattractive underwear, a situation which my mother always cautioned against, but as the smoke continues to close in I relent, and finally dial 911.

 “What type of emergency is it?” asks the dispatcher.
“Well I wouldn’t really call it an emergency,” I say.  “I mean, we’re all okay, there just seems to be a lot of smoke in our house, but it’s really no big deal.”

“That’s a fire emergency Ma’am.”

I am horrified.  I have before now always been a Miss.  When did I become a Ma’am? My thoughts are quickly interrupted as the dispatcher instructs me to get everyone out of the house immediately and wait outside for help.

“Really,” I say, “we don’t need a lot of resources diverted here. It’s really not necessary.  I am sure just your smallest truck will do.”

“Ma’am I am going to need you and everyone else to get out of the house.”

With our cat and dog under each arm, I begrudgingly leave the house with my husband in toe. 

“I really hope they don’t have the sirens on,” says my husband.

Within seconds, we are dizzy from the wailing blare of six fire trucks which have made a train along our narrow street.  A police car flies up onto our lawn and the officers dramatically jump out. 

The entire neighbourhood is outside watching as the men from my colleagues desk calendar run inside our house, albeit wearing slightly more gear.   

I immediately begin to apologize to everyone for the ruckus.  I apologize to all the neighbours for blocking the street.  I apologize to the woman next door with whom we share a wall for the terrible smell.  I apologize to Joel for interrupting the hockey game.  I apologize to the firemen for the mess in our basement.  I apologize to the policemen for having to attend.  I apologize to my cat for waking her up.  I even make a mental note to apologize to my father for the police car having ruined the flowerbed he helped me plant.

“You know,” my husband says,  “you are allowed to exist.”  He walks away.  My cheeks begin to flame. 

The trucks finally begin to depart one by one and as they do, the crowd slowly dissolves.  The firemen clear us to come home, having identified a rubber band in our washing machine as the source of the fire.  But I don’t want to go home.  I sit on the curb, sandwiched between the dog and cat, feeling no relief at all.  I feel small.  I wonder if I could light a match, hold it to myself and smoke my neurotic antics right out of me.  I would set my spirit ablaze, watch it smoulder into powdery ashes and like the phoenix, I would rise, confident and self-assured-a girl who calls emergency services when she is having an emergency.  I hate my submissiveness.  I hate that I’m meek.  I hate it. 

Hugging my knees I turn my head and look up at my husband.  I meet his gaze, embarrassed.  “I’m sorry,” I say.  “I’m so sorry”

For more than fifteen years, Robin Sharma has been quietly sharing with Fortune 500 companies and many of the super-rich a success formula that has made him one of the most sought-after leadership advisers in the world. Now, for the first time, Sharma makes his proprietary process available to you, so that you can get to your absolute best while helping your organization break through to a dramatically new level of winning in these wildly uncertain times.

In The Leader Who Had No Title, you will learn:

How to work with and influence people like a superstar, regardless of your position

A method to recognize and then seize opportunities in times of deep change

The real secrets of intense innovation

An instant strategy to build a great team and become a “merchant of wow” with your customers

Hard-hitting tactics to become mentally strong and physically tough enough to lead your field

Real-world ways to defeat stress, build an unbeatable mind-set, unleash energy, and balance your personal life

Regardless of what you do within your organization and the current circumstances of your life, the single most important fact is that you have the power to show leadership. Wherever you are in your career or life, you should always play to your peak abilities. This book shows you how to claim that staggering power, as well as transform your life—and the world around you—in the process.

About The Author

Robin Sharma is one of the world’s most highly respected leadership experts. He is devoted to the mission of helping organizations develop people who Lead Without a Title so that they win in this period of intense change. His clients include Microsoft, GE, FedEx, IBM, Nike, NASA, Yale University, and The Young Presidents Organization. Sharma’s books, such as The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari and The Greatness Guide, have topped best-seller lists across the globe and have sold millions of copies in more than seventy languages. They have been embraced by rock stars, royalty, and many celebrity CEOs.  Sharma is also the cofounder of 960vets.com, an innovative online support resource that helps U.S. veterans successfully reintegrate into civilian life.

Author Video

http://www.simonandschuster.ca/multimedia?video=58430610001

Praise for Robin Sharma and The Leader Who Had No Title

 “The Leader Who Had No Title  is a game changing book; read it and get ready for an amazing new life!”   Marci Shimoff, bestselling author of Happy for No Reason

“Read this book and make the leap to extraordinary performance, innovation and influence at work and in life.”   Keith Ferrazzi, bestselling author of New Eat Alone

“If you want to operate at the level of ’WOW!’, be an exceptional leader and live life ’full out’–buy this book”   Darren Hardy, Publisher, SUCCESS magazine

“Though Sharma rejects the guru label, it’s hard not to think of this CEO that way.” – Publishers Weekly 

“Robin Sharma has the rare gift of writing books that are truly life-changing.” Richard Carlson, Ph.D., 

Author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff 

“He is recognized as one of the world’s top experts on leadership and personal growth.” 

–The Times of India

“Readers from all around the world are raving about his philosophy.” The Jerusalem Post 

Find out more about the Robin Sharma Contest Here

Book review courtesy of

For more great reads and giveaways, find Simon & Schuster Canada on the web, Twitter or Facebook.

For more book and author news, sign up for the monthly Simon & Schuster newsletter.

By Dr. Samantha Ristimaki, BSc, ND of Balance Wellness Center

In my early 20’s, I ran to help deal with the stresses of every day life.  I swear if it were not for my morning runs, I never would have made it through graduate school.  I made it my goal to run a marathon before I turned 30 but I was never motivated to commit to a strict training schedule. 

By my late 20’s, establishing a business had gotten in the way of my running routine.  Then suddenly, 6 months before my 30^th birthday, a little alarm went off.  If I actually wanted to realize my goal of running a marathon, I had better strap on my runners and hit the pavement.

Having been away from running a while, I was a little rusty.  I remember my first run. It was on a cold day.  Throwing on my runners I headed out to attempt what I thought was a reasonable distance.  By the time I got half way, I felt like I was running at a snail’s pace and could feel the frost building on my eyebrows.  I didn’t realize how far away from running I had actually come.

I went to work that day and questioned whether or not this was something realistic to ask of myself.  Would I be able to keep up with training and my every day life?

Still determined, the only marathon I had enough time to prepare for fell 3 days before my 30^th birthday.  I downloaded an online program and started formal training 16 weeks from race day. It was the middle of January.  I even had to dig out all my ski gear to stay warm on longer runs. 

Sundays were dedicated to long distance training and it was just my luck that it snowed quite frequently Saturday nights.  I soon discovered snowplows are not as quick to clear the roads on weekends!  It was painstaking to push through the deep snow but I stuck it out.  I made sure to tell all my friends about my crazy running adventures.  This was probably the best thing I could have done because they kept me going. 

I welcomed the spring and running in the snow had actually made my legs much stronger.  By the time the race day came, I was ready. 

On race day a few of my friends who promised to be at the finish line realized it was mother’s day and opted not to come.  Even my mom got sick that weekend and was not able to make my big race.  Initially, I was saddened by the fact that I had put all this training effort in and no one would be there to help me celebrate.  By the time the gun went off shortly after 7am, I had convinced myself I had done each and every run on my own and the only person who needed to be there for me at the finish line was me!

The first 24 km were a breeze!  Who would imagine that I could ever live to say such a thing?  But, the motivation to continue started to dwindle as my body grew more and more fatigued.  By the 40km mark, I felt so close to the end, so I dug a little bit deeper and picked up my pace.  By the time the finish line was in sight, that drive was even stronger and I pushed straight to the end.  I couldn’t help but let out a big sigh of relief.  I probably looked exhausted but inside, I felt overwhelmed with happiness.  Other runners had their partners and other family members there with open arms, flowers and food.  Proudly, I picked up a water bottle and some crackers and headed for the bus. 

I can’t believe what an incredible sense of accomplishment I felt afterwards.  I had realized my goal. With only 3 days to spare before my 30^th birthday, I had challenged myself to do something for me and me alone.  I didn’t qualify for an additional race nor will racing become my main aspiration in life but the run served a huge purpose for me going into my 30’s. 

 I can accomplish anything that I put my mind to and that I shouldn’t ever let my age, my schedule or the snow stop me!

By Wendy Litner

I once had a question on an ethics exam which asked, “if your father and the man who had the cure for cancer were both drowning in the lake and you could only save one, who would it be?”  I chose my father – he paid for my swimming lessons.  This, however, has become a particularly loaded question for me in recent years as my mother died of cancer after hers and my father’s divorce.  Answering now would be like choosing who I want to live with post separation.   

My husband, blessed with a very healthy hubris, doesn’t understand why this question is even an ethical quandary at all.  According to him, he would just save both his father and the cancer curer.  It is no matter that he doesn’t even know how to swim.  Given his self-identified talent for multitasking rescue, I posed to him a modernized, particularly self-interested, version of the question: “If I and his iPhone both fell on to the subway tracks and he could only save one of us from the oncoming train, which would it be?”  My husband chose his iPhone without hesitation.  This, to my mind, means that Steve Jobs is now personally responsible for picking up my husband’s underwear off the floor and putting them in the wash. 

While righteously indignant at first, I couldn’t really bemoan my husband’s loyalty to his toy.  I have been known to prioritize my cat over my husband, and, as my husband is quick to point out, she has far fewer applications.  Weeks before moving in together my husband flatly said that either he or my cat were moving into our new apartment, not both.  I chose the cat without hesitation, but wished him well in his future endeavours.  I realize that choosing my sleepy Burmilla over my partner may seem outrageous to some, but in fairness, you haven’t met my cat.  She’s adorable.    

I was recently reminded of these Sophie’s Choices while reading Ayelet Waldman’s infamous essay “Motherlove,” where she boldly declares to love her husband more than her three children, who, she writes, are “satellites, beloved but tangential.”  Sanctimonious mothers everywhere debated whether Harvard lawyer Waldman, who gave up her brilliant career to raise her children, was a “bad mother.”   Despite the venomous outcry, I don’t think Waldman is a bad mother at all.  I think her premise is so poignantly realistic it catches my breath.  Waldman isn’t really advocating for a hierarchy of affection; what she is really advancing is a measure of balance and proportionality between all that we hold dear.  There is no reason why we need to quantify and distribute our love in marked boxes, or polarize our love into hypothetical extremes.  Tenderness, of any kind, is just not mutually exclusive.  That can sometimes get lost as we find a way to make our jobs, our families and our lives, work.   

My husband’s first answer, while unintentionally caring, is exactly right.  It’s not an ethical quandary at all.  What I have learned from my father’s remarriage, though painful at first, is that you just can’t have too many people who love you.  And as my siblings and step-siblings continue to multiply at a biblical pace I am also reminded that you can never have too many people to love.  While it may be difficult and tiring to devote the time and attention to all those in my life, I am thankful for the challenge.  I adore each new niece and each new nephew, just as I adore the new puppy that my husband and I brought home together.  I hold close each new, special person, who comes into my life along the way, by whatever means, and adds a measure of shared joy and companionship.  And if they, my husband, my cat, my puppy, my father, and the man who had the cure for cancer, were all drowning in the lake or had fallen in front of a barrelling subway, I would just save them all.  Each and every one of them. I wouldn’t even hesitate.  But I may be inclined to throw back my husband’s iPhone, he is just on that thing way too much.

By Wendy Litner

The novelty of adulthood still hasn’t worn off on me.  Married life feels like a permanent sleepover party, on weekdays no less, and I still feel rebellious every time I buy sugar cereal.  Sometimes, I will even skip breakfast altogether and I won’t put my hat on when it’s cold outside.  There really is nothing better than being a grown up and making your own bad decisions.

Recently, after spending hours crafting a budget and putting ourselves on a strict financial diet, my husband and I proceeded to book a trip to an all-inclusive resort in the Mayan Riviera.  We planned to go with three other couples and while we knew we shouldn’t spend the money, as we all enter our child bearing years, who knew when we would be able to travel together again?  Most persuasively, besides Visa, there was no one to tell us we couldn’t go.

Growing up, ours was the family that always stayed home during winter break.  Every December, while I watched all my classmates travel to such exotic locations as their grandparents’ condos in Fort Lauderdale, I really couldn’t think of anything more glamorous.  Traveling, to me, represented exceptional opulence available only to royalty and my wealthy private school friends.  My generous parents, on the other hand, sacrificed fancy cars and relaxing vacations to send my brothers and I to private school.  As a twenty-nine year old, I am extremely grateful for their hard-work.  At the time though, I really wanted to go to Disneyland.  And so, as my friends invariably returned to school sun-kissed, I returned green with envy. 

With such hectic, grown-up schedules, I long for time away to take a collective breath with my husband but I just can’t get used to the notion that I am permitted to take a trip if I want to.  I never feel like I have earned it and our Mexican jaunt was no different.  As I packed my suitcase, I started to feel immensely guilty about our frivolous decision.  Having already spent the money on what was supposed to be a relaxing holiday, I started to feel guilty about feeling guilty.  With bikinis I prayed still fit sprawled out around me, I sat on my luggage panicking.  I have just never been any good at treating myself.  I am consumed with worry and can’t seem to shed my parents’ preaching of hard work and holiday conservatism. 

After their painful divorce, however, my parents each developed an urgent need to see the world.  Whether it was the fact that their children were grown and educated, the influence of their new partners or a sense of competitive one-upmanship that comes with separation, I don’t really know.  But somehow, my anxious, just ‘stay-put’ mother, who had previously ventured only as far as my grandmother’s rented apartment at Bathurst and Steeles, made her way to Kanchanaburi, Thailand with her handsome boyfriend.  Giddy with romance and jet lag, my mother told me I really ought to see the Bridge over the River Kwai when I get a chance.  My mother said this as if she just happened to stumble upon it.  As if she were telling me to go and get the Clinique bonus at the Bay.  After a long pause, she interrupted my astonishment.  “You know,” she said, her voice cutting in and out of the Thai static, “it’s really important to travel with your partner.” 

I think about my mother’s revelation, the closest she ever came to expressing any sort of regret.  I think about it as I run in the ocean at my poor husband forcing him to attempt a recreation of the Dirty Dancing lift.  Just as I jump out of the surface my bikini bottoms slip off me with the water, exposing my white tush to the entire beach and what feels like to me, all of Mexico.  Through salty coughs, I hear my friends’ peels of laughter.  I take my husband’s steady hand as I gingerly slide back into my bottoms.  Standing with him, smiling, in the middle of the ocean, I realize that my mother was right.  Traveling with your partner is priceless.

By Wendy Litner

I’m not a “happily every after” kind of girl.  I cringe from stories of over-the-top engagement proposals.  And after four years of marriage, I don’t need grandiose gestures of love from my husband to know that he cares.  Which is why weeks prior to my last birthday I sternly instructed him that no present was necessary.  We were both feeling stretched a little thin and while certainly there were things that I wanted (i.e. the new lime green Dell netbook) there was nothing that I really, truly, needed.  Besides, given our hectic schedules I would rather my husband spent time with me than shop for me.   My husband vehemently objected, insisting that the occasion be marked with some material purchase.  I smothered his protests, however, with practical posturing about finances and other such unromantic considerations.  I insisted that his love was all I needed and I really, truly, meant it. 

So, when my birthday rolled around, you can only imagine my surprised outrage when he handed me nothing but a thoughtfully written card generously extolling my wifely virtues.  What the what?  How dare he take me at my word!

I tried my best to enjoy our hand-in-hand, leisurely stroll through the park but every time he asked if something was bothering me I could do nothing more than give a frosty, “Nothing at all . . .why?”  I continued my passive aggressive antics throughout the day, actively moping by my imperceptive husband while insisting that I was “fine,” albeit agitated by his questions.  I mean, he should obviously know what’s bothering me!  Isn’t it obvious?! 

But as the day progressed to evening, my agitated thoughts gave way to regretful embarrassment.  I comforted myself with the notion that I’m a modern girl and ours is a modern relationship.  I grew up watching my father shower my mother with lavish gifts-roses, perfume, jewelry-and their marriage ended in divorce.  Yes, meaningless, surprise purchases are by no means a necessary cornerstone of a long-lasting relationship.  I was happy my husband and I didn’t need to give each other tangible signs of our affection.  After all, flowers, no matter how beautiful, eventually wilt.  Chocolates, too, get eaten, and Dell netbooks get replaced with newer technology.     

But months later, as I pushed my suitcase through a hotel room door for a four-day work seminar for which I had been extremely anxious, I was shocked to be greeted by the most beautiful flower arrangement I had ever seen, sitting on the hotel bureau.  Birds of Paradise and greenery exploded into this overwhelming expression of love, toting a card which wished me good luck in the days ahead.  Despite my unwavering practical undulations I found myself overcome with so much emotion I could hardly move.  Entranced by each colourful bloom and the caring sentiment it represented, my once pragmatic exterior began to wither.  With shaking hands I delicately fingered the petals feeling ever so lucky and ever so loved.   

With a lump in my throat I reached for the phone to call my darling mate.  Hearing his voice on the other end I could scarcely choke back my tears, “You are so wonderful,” I cried tenderly, “but how much did you spend?!”

By Victoria Joanna  BBA, CNP, RNCP http://www.victoriajoanna.com/

It’s that time of year again!  As a brand new year and a brand new decade begin, we are excited and filled with hope at what the upcoming twelve months will bring.  It’s a chance to begin again and accomplish some of the things we may not have done last year, or perhaps take our lives to a whole new level.

While it may seem that at this time of year everyone is setting resolutions, did you know that less than 50% of North Americans actually make ‘New Year’s Resolutions’?   I’m going to guess that part of the reason behind this is the fact that we are all aware of how short-lived these resolutions can be and so some of us are choosing to spare ourselves the disappointment.

So are resolutions pointless? We’ve all heard about the “January rush” at the gym, only to see the traffic slowly fall less than 6 weeks into the New Year.  Yes, resolutions may be hard to keep, but does that mean we shouldn’t make them altogether?

I believe the key to success is not in the language – whether you call it a goal, an intention or a resolution – there is something even more fundamental that will impact your chances of success.

Are you ready for the secret?  Write. It. Down.

It may seem simple but less than 5% of people write down their goals!  Why is this so important?  In the act of writing it down on paper, you make it real for yourself.  Not only in your conscious mind, but also your subconscious.   You take abstract thoughts and energy and distill them into tangible words and ideas.  Your subconscious mind works visually, it needs to see it on paper, whether in words or pictures.

Here are a few other tips to ensure the goals you write are powerful and effective:

Have a deadline. You need to have a specific month and day for each goal, this makes it more real and creates a sense of urgency that will motivate action and follow through.

Be specific. Your goal must be specific enough to be measurable, otherwise how will you know when you’ve achieved it?  For instance, don’t just say “I want to be happier” or “I want to have more balance” or “I want to be successful”.  What will your life look like when you are happier, have more balance or more success – will you spend x number of days with your kids, will you be pursuing x hobby, will you have a certain job or salary level?  Clarity creates opportunity.

Be fired up. Your goals must be motivating.  They should instill a sense of passion and energy when you think about or talk about them, that’s how you know they are coming from authentic desires rather than things you think you “should” do.  If we set goals with our heads rather than our hearts, we find it hard to stay committed and motivated.

Be positive. Humans tend to innately move towards pleasure and away from pain.  Pleasure and feeling good motivates us.   As a result, our goals shouldn’t focus on what we don’t want, but rather the positive outcome.  For example, rather than saying “I don’t want to be fat” or “I want to lose 20lbs”, it’s more motivating to say “I want to be healthy” or “ I want to have more energy for my career and family”.  Can you feel the difference in these statements?

This may sound simple, but it really does work.  Most of us spend more time planning our annual vacations than we do planning our life.  It’s no wonder we often don’t get what we want…we haven’t planned for it.  Take the time this month to write down some clear goals for yourself so that you can make 2010 your best year yet!

By Victoria Joanna  BBA, CNP, RNCP

 “I want more balance in my life.”

Have you heard anyone say this, or perhaps have said it yourself?  It seems everywhere you turn, we are all striving for balance.  But before we spend another day making ourselves crazy striving for what might be an unattainable ideal, let’s explore the concept for a moment.

The idea of balance implies that we are living in a joyful state where we feel we have finally found enough time for all of the things that are important to us – career, family, friends, fitness and personal care.  I don’t know about you, but I haven’t met anyone who has actually said to me “yes, I feel my life is pretty balanced right now, I seem to have enough time to take care of everything”.

So while balance may sound good in theory, I ask you to consider whether it is a realistic expectation or whether, particularly as women, we are setting ourselves up for yet another ideal against which we never measure up.   We are then left comparing ourselves to others who “appear” to be in balance (remember: nothing is ever as it appears) and criticize ourselves for not being able to do it all.

As an alternative I ask you to consider the concept of harmony.   In applying this concept in my own life, it has allowed me to release some of my unrealistic expectations of myself and enjoy life without constantly feeling like I’m not doing enough.  And ironically, I feel good – the way I would imagine I would feel if I had achieved “balance”.

Harmony can be defined as “several components pleasingly combined.”  In an orchestra, it is the melody created when different instruments are combined.  Each instrument is played at a different level, some in the background and some in the foreground. 

When applied to life, think of different areas taking priority at various stages of our life.  This can vary depending on age, life stage, and time of year.  It doesn’t mean that we let one area of our life take over, but rather that we become realistic of our expectations and mindful of our priorities.

For instance, if you’ve just had a baby, or a new promotion, or are moving to a new home, these aspects in your life will no doubt affect your ability to find time for everything else.   They may take centre stage for a few weeks or months, and so you may need to reprioritize some other aspects. 

Re-evaluate every 3 months to ensure you’re not living out of routine, but truly focusing on your goals.  It doesn’t mean you won’t feel like you’re juggling, but perhaps it will be 3-4 things in your life rather than 10 all at once.  Be gentle with yourself and realize that Superwoman was a action hero. 

The following are some tips for living in harmony:

To evaluate your priorities at this time in your life, use the circle of life.

Draw a circle and create 8 equal sections (like a pie chart). 

In each section, label the following categories – Work/Career, Friends, Family, Health/Fitness, Self Care, Fun/Recreation/Hobbies, Finances, Physical Environment

Rate how satisfied you are in each are on a scale of 1 to 10.

Now look at the three lowest scores.   Are these potentially the areas where you might want or need to give more focus over the next few weeks or months?

Write 2 or 3 goals for each area. They should be measurable in some way so that you know you’ve achieved them.  Be specific.

For each goal, write a date by which you would like to accomplish it.

For each goal, write 1-2 action steps you can take this week to move towards it.

Re-evaluate your wheel every three months.

By Victoria Joanna  BBA, CNP, RNCP www.victoriajoanna.com

Two years ago, I was in a corporate job.   From the outside, I had a great life – great career, wonderful fiancée, amazing friends, and disposable income.  What else could I possibly want?  All I had to do was continue on my path and no doubt, kids would be next, a bigger house, vacations, maybe a promotion or two.  Perfect right?

Unfortunately, I wasn’t happy.  I wanted something more.  I couldn’t describe it at first.  I just had this sense that something was missing.  From the time I was young, I had always wanted to find a strong sense of purpose and passion. I found myself reading stories about successful individuals who followed their passion and who lost track between work and play, who felt they were making a difference and having an impact in people’s lives.  Every time I read their stories there was a strong sense of envy.

As I was turning 30, this feeling grew more intense and I started to think that maybe I wasn’t just going to “fall into it” one day.  The idea of giving up on my dream was more than I could handle, so I started to actively search out answers in the form of books, seminars and by hiring a life coach.

Today I run my own wellness business.  I am a wellness life coach and certified holistic nutritionist.  I spend my days speaking, reading and writing about my passion, health and wellness.  I get such joy and fulfillment from helping other women add more happiness and vitality to their lives.

Very often, I have women ask me how I did it and share their own dreams of leaving their jobs and finding their passion.  While I won’t tell you that a career transition is always easy, it absolutely can be done and any one of us can do it.  The process and journey is unique for everyone so I highly encourage working with a coach or joining a mastermind group or other networking group to get the feedback, support and encouragement to keep you motivated and accountable to your goals.

In the meantime, if you find yourself dreaming of a different life, here are some suggestions to get you started.  Each of these tools is very powerful.   When we are specific and put our goals on paper in words or pictures, we activate an aspect of ourselves on a subconscious level, which begins to pull us in the direction of our goals.

Visualization:

In a quiet space, sit or lie down and close your eyes.  Begin to breathe deeply and relax your body.  Begin to visualize your “future self” in your ideal life 5 years from now.  Get as vivid and clear as you can – where are you living, what city, what does your house look like, what does it feel like?  How big is your family?  How do you spend your days, what does work look like – do you go to an office, do you work from home, are you working with others? What do you look like? How do you feel?  Make these images as real as possible.

Journaling:

Stream of consciousness journaling accesses your subconscious mind.  For two weeks, keep a journal by your bed and as you wake up in the morning, before you get out of bed write for 15 minutes.  Write absolutely anything that comes to your mind.  Don’t judge or edit yourself.

Alternately, in your journal write answers to the following questions:

What would my friends say I am a “natural” at?

What do I tend to remember or learn easily and effortlessly?

What types of magazines or books do I read for fun?

What did I enjoy to do as a child or teenager?

What would I want to do with my time if I was independently wealthy?

 Vision Board:

Create a picture collage that represents your ideal life.  Where you would live, how you feel, what you would be doing (family, career, hobbies).  Go out and purchase a stack of your favorite magazines.  Take some time on the weekend.  Relax, turn on your favorite music and flip through those magazines.  Pull out any pictures and words that resonate with you.  Then arrange these images on a large Bristol board.