I just finished 30 days of Operation Boot Camp here in Atlanta.  I signed up because I felt like I really needed a jump start on getting in shape.  When I signed up I was ambivalent about getting up early in the morning, working out with a group, and being pushed beyond my limits.  I really didn’t know what to expect.

It was a great experience because I did some things I never thought I would do or could do. I worked out in the pouring rain on several days, laid in the mud doing push ups and sit ups, ran sprints, did walking lunges and pushed way beyond my comfort zone.  I used to see people running in the rain and thought, “What’s wrong with them??”  I actually found that I enjoyed running in the rain (as long as it’s not a downpour), it has a peaceful quality about it.  I also found that getting muddy and dirty won’t kill me, in fact, it was kind of like being a kid again.

The other thing that I really enjoyed was that in my morning boot camp sessions, I was totally in the moment.  I was feeling my muscles, my breath and was purely focusing and pushing myself; there was no time to worry or think about anything other than what I was doing in that moment.  I would like to find more activities like that!

The instructors at Operation Boot Camp are amazing.  They push you without being degrading or demoralizing, they’re funny and inspiring and they really want to create a good time for everyone while getting fit.  It’s a great program for anyone that wants better fitness without feeling out of place. I plan to do it again and again, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself on many levels.  When you push beyond your limitations physically, it gives you confidence to take on other things in your life, and even more importantly…my jeans fit better!

However, I am still a little sore today and looking forward to having a beer tonight to celebrate!

I’ve been hearing quite a few stories of people lately who are creating opportunites out of the chaos. I was talking a friend the other day who was laid off from her job after being there for 10 years and her husband was laid off from his job on the same day!  They made the decision to start the business they’ve always dreamed of starting together.

A young woman in her mid-twenties who I recently had coffee with was laid off from her job last week for the second time in 3 years.  She’s getting tons of offers to do consulting work plus she had a solid job offer she was considering.  She opted to do her own thing because she wants to have a family in the near future and thinks doing consulting work will be a better path for her to create her own schedule.

My neighbor told me last night she had gotten laid off from her job this past Friday and feels like the timing is perfect because she knows there’s something else she’s meant to do.  Now she has the time to explore what that means for her.

I don’t want to minimize the tough times many people are going through, but I’m seeing a lot of evidence that many people will be better for their experiences.   Lots of people  are turning this downturn into a time for reflection and moving more in the direction they really want to go.   Bravo!

One of the tools I use to stay centered, focused and sane is meditation.  I’ve noticed that when I mention the world “meditation” to most people their eyes glaze over and they’re like…”I can’t do that.”  I think most people think meditation is this unattainable thing that is only for the very spiritual. They see a zen monk sitting on a mountain top contemplating life for hours and hours.  That’s one avenue but there’s also some relatively easy ways to integrate this practice into your life by downloading guided meditations from iTunes onto your iPod. The truth is it’s relatively easy for anyone to do with guided meditations and the benefits are tremendous!

Here are just a few of the documented benefits of doing meditation:

1.) Increased relaxation and peace of mind.

2.) Reduces anxiety and stress.

3.) Increases your ability to concentrate and solve problems.

4.) Improved learning ability and memory.

5.) Helps cure insomnia.

6.) Decreases restless thinking and your tendency to worry.

7.) Enhances your ability to be creative.

I’ve noticed big changes in myself from doing this practice and as I mentioned I used a guided meditation.  I really like Kelly Howell’s meditation tracks and you can easily download them from iTunes and give it a try. When I finish one of the meditation tracks I feel much more clear and focused plus calmer and more relaxed about everything.

There is so much going on in our daily lives and the world right now, we all need a little “retreat” from it.  This is a great way to spend 30 minutes and to feel refreshed and relaxed as well as more clear and focused.  If you’re trying to find a job, start a new company or just increase your performance at work this is a fantastic tool.  I guarantee if you replace watching the news for 30 minutes with this, you will feel much better!

I did something completely outside my comfort zone this weekend.  I did a “track day” at Road Atlanta with the BMW CCA Driving School.  My husband has done it several times and wanted me to come and try it for myself with him this weekend.

I got on the track early on Saturday morning with my instructor and 30 other cars.  I’m wearing a helmet and an earpiece so I can communicate with my instructor and my brain is screaming at me, “What the hell are you doing!! This is scary!”  So, they give us the go signal and I enter the track with all the other cars and drivers (99% men) and I must say my brain went into complete overload.

It was trying to process all this new information and put it into action at the same time.  I felt completely overwhelmed and I was scared that I would be so slow that everyone would make fun of me.  (Funny, how we do this to ourselves).  I got off the track after my first session, secretly not wanting to go back out again.  I was afraid it would be hard for me to learn and I would look stupid.  (another funny thing we tell ourselves)

I went out again after that first terrifying session and things started to come into focus and I improved a little.  Each time I went out over the weekend I improved and by the end of the weekend I was really having fun and pushing my limits with the car.  It felt really good to try something so far outside my comfort zone and to really have fun with it.

My husband asked me if I was surprised about anything about my experience this weekend.  I told him it was kind of cool to be an observer watching my brain and inner voice freak out and not want to do it for fear of looking stupid.  And then to do it anyway and see the great results I got.  The other key learning is that the instructor told me to focus my eyes on where I want to go with the car, because that’s where the car will go.  Wherever you focus is where you will go….that’s also very applicable to life.

The reason I share this is we all deal with new opportunities or situations that make us feel uncomfortable and it’s feels great to push beyond those initial fears and do it anyway.  That little voice inside our head isn’t always right and it sometimes serves only to hold us back.

Being successful, but unfulfilled is rampant in the world of work especially for people who are mid-life/mid-career. It happened to me and I realized that I didn’t feel like I was doing work that held any real meaning or that was having the kind of impact I craved. I felt empty inside despite making a good income and getting regular promotions. It took the dot.com bust and getting laid off while I was working and living in London for me to do some deep reflection about who I was, who I wanted to be and what I really cared about.

Last week I was having coffee with 27-year old woman who had just gotten laid off. She told me she thought it was a blessing because she was getting paid well and could have easily stayed on endlessly in this job, but that it didn’t “feed her soul”. She talked about having an impact and wanting meaning in her work, which made me smile. When I was 27, I certainly didn’t have that level of awareness!

As things continue to change in our economy and world, I think people are looking for work that “feeds their soul” where they can have an impact in some way, shape or form. At least, a lot of the people I’m interacting with right now are. Work and life bleeds into each other and if you are doing something that makes you feel good at work, it affects your life. You can’t compartmentalize yourself, you’re one being….not a “work being” and a “life being”. At the same time, if your life at home isn’t going well it affects your work.

It takes deep some soul searching and fortitude to find or create work that is meaningful to you. I’m glad I took the time to do it and I know a lot of people that are using this time of turmoil to explore what that means for them going forward. I imagine we will all be better for it on the other side of this.

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I received an email today from a woman who made a great point.  I’ve heard this from so many people but I thought she articulated it so well.  Here is an excerpt:

I have a lot of people saying, “you are young, creative, BUT, you should….”
They are all on my side and they have contributed a great amount to my life thus far, but they are suggesting that I try to do things that will help them feel better about my future.

What an amazing statement!  The people around us do care about us and they try to give advice that will make them feel good about the path we’re on so we’ll be safe in their eyes. Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as safe.  The best path to be on is one of your own creation, one that you’re passionate about and one that you can follow with complete integrity.

I was speaking at the American Institute of Architects meeting in Atlanta last week when a woman came up to me and said, “I love your title, Carve Your Own Road.  Unfortunately, I feel like I’m in the rut of a road that someone else carved and I need to dig my way out!”

There’s never been a better time to carve your own road and to focus on what you’re passionate about.  You may not get to focus 100% on it today because of the need to make a living, but I assure you if you take the time to figure out what your path is and take small steps every day in that direction; before you know it your life will have changed.

When has there ever been a better time to get clear about what YOU want, not what others want for you?

I got an email this morning from Marc Cenedella who is the CEO of The Ladders, a job board for people making six figures or more. In the email, Marc is shares a note from one of his subscribers, Roger Van Parys who’s had success. The wonderful thing about this man is he’s 69 years old and doesn’t feel limited by his age, sees the world in a positive light, and it seems he has a constant flow of new opportunities. Here is an excerpt from his note:

“My career field is international construction. International projects are a somewhat narrow slice of the employment pie, but it does have its rewards. It pays well, requires a bit of “out-of-the-box” thinking, and gives me an opportunity to discover other cultures.

My wife says that I am just too cheap to take her on a vacation. However we have spent a great number of years living abroad, which she would agree wasn’t that unpleasant. I remember strolling in the surf along the shore of the Aegean and her commenting that people pay a lot of money to do what we do and we are paid for it. Life truly is grand.

The main reason I am writing is my age… I am 69 and find myself in constant demand. I make mid 6 figure income and pick my projects. I wanted to share this because there are a lot of people out there who think that age is a deterrent. What my employers hire is a 45-year-old with 24 years’ experience. Experience is knowing what works and what doesn’t… Savvy employers are quick to pick up on this and avoid reinventing the wheel.

Success in job hunting for a mature candidate takes an open mind to location, flexibility, and a sense of humor. The latter is especially important in international work. One finds that things definitely are not the same the world over.

I tried retirement for a year and found it too confining. Listening to my friends discuss their aches and pains got to be a real drag. Today I work with bright, focused individuals who are constantly teaching this old dog new tricks… I love it as it keeps me young, reasonably up to date and makes me a better manager.

I enjoyed reading his note and thought I would share it with you. I do believe age is what you make of it, there are always people who continue to prosper in spite of obstacles like a down economy and age. What do you think makes the difference? I would love to hear your thoughts on this…

I was recently having lunch with a friend of mine who was laid off several months ago. She had just received a job offer that was very good, however the position was doing virtually the same thing she was doing before and she had determined to use this time to make a career change. I think the timing is great to assess what you really want out of your career and focus on making the changes you would like to make, but you have to balance that with your financial situation.

As we continued the discussion, she told me she was grateful for the offer because she really needed it financially. She was trying to decide what to do and was really struggling with it, which I completely understand. You don’t want to continue doing something you don’t want to do and stay in that vicious cycle. However, in this economic climate I suggested she take the position and view it as a short-term gig to tide her over until things begin to turn around. It’s still very important not to forget your dreams and to continue to focus on what you really want, even if you’re doing things like reading about it, taking classes, meeting with people in that industry, etc.

I’m all about following your dreams and your passion, but if you’re in a tough financial situation and you get a job offer it might make sense to take it for the short-term even if it’s not ideal. It’s a balancing act, but if you’re in a desperate financial situation it will be really hard to follow your dreams and make any significant headway. You don’t want to be in survival mode if you can avoid it because it forces you to make decisions that aren’t best for you.

During the last big downturn in 2001, I was out of work and offered a job at a much reduced salary but I took it and was grateful. I still focused on trying to figure out what I really wanted and used that time to explore multiple options. You can view a job as a short-term opportunity and not feel guilty about it. The career landscape has changed and you have to look out for yourself. That’s not to say that you don’t work hard if you take a short-term opportunity, you can still do a good job and focus on yourself and what you want.

We all get into a routine and think we have to do everything sitting at our desks in front of our computers. The problem with this is; it squashes creativity. It’s hard to have breakthrough ideas or creative insights when you’re in your routine. Your brain craves new experiences and challenges, plus who can come up with great ideas with new emails coming in every minute!

I’ve been reading some books and articles on the brain and creativity and a recurring theme it’s suggested to get out of your routine and try something new. By giving your brain something new to focus on gives it the space to allow solutions to come through. Have you ever had an “aha” moment while driving down the road that just comes out of nowhere? Your brain relaxed enough to allow a fresh idea or insight to bubble up through the subconscious.

Some ideas for getting out of your routine when you’re trying to have creative insight:

• Visit a museum over your lunch break
• Drive a route you’ve never driven before or go on a long, scenic drive
• Play a musical instrument
• Listen to classical music or some other music you don’t normally listen to
• Get a massage
• Spend some time writing, just jotting down things that come up as they come up (stream of consciousness)

Just taking an hour to do something like this away from your desk will give your subconscious mind the opportunity to allow some insights to bubble up to your conscious mind. I’ve been trying some of these tactics and I’ve found that I don’t necessarily have the insight while I’m doing the new activity, it comes an hour or so later but it’s definitely working!

I’ve recently had a couple of people ask me what my New Year’s resolutions are, and to be honest I don’t do resolutions. The word resolution, doesn’t inspire me. It sounds like I have to use a lot of willpower and force myself to do something I don’t really want to do. It’s something I know I should do, but I really don’t want to do it or I would have done it by now.

I like the word aspiration much better. So, for 2009 I’m setting Aspirations. Yeah, I like that much better… So, I thought I would share them.

1. Create my own economy.

2. Play more.

3. Spend less time in front of my computer. Do more brainstorming and creative thinking in unusual places and get myself outside of normal routines to create a space for new ideas to bubble up.

4. Notice the beauty around me and connect with the planet on a daily basis. I was noticing the sky tonight and how remarkable it was. I usually forget to do that unless I’m on vacation.

5. Allow more. Give more space to people who are different or who annoy me, be easy and gentle with those I disagree with.

That’s it, those are my 2009 Aspirations. I also have set goals of course, but that’s a different post. I saw a quote today that I love and think it’s representative of the times and this post.

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

ciao for now