Persistence is Key to Success

Every have one of those days when your computer just isn’t cooperating?  I have tried writing this blog post 4 times now; then it struck me how funny that is because of the subject. That’s me today.

What is funny about the beginning of this post is I just kept doing the same thing over and over; obviously I had to change something or this post would have never occurred!

That makes you think about the old saying, if you continue doing what you are doing expecting different results is the definition of insanity!  You can replace doing with thinking just as easily.

Persistence is a headstrong endurance to complete something!  Why is this key to success.

You can have all the time, talent and treasure in the world but if you keep moving from one project to another without focus you are doomed to fail.

Why?

It has been proven that you can not multi task; it is not efficient.  Your mind can only hold focus on one thing at a time.  When you are constantly jumping from task to task you are loosing momentum reducing productivity.

Take this example; you are working in your office on a report which is due in 2 hours, you are hurrying because other things have gotten in your way and you procrastinated until the final hour to complete the project, someone runs into your office and yells FIRE!  Now what do you do?  If you don’t complete the project on time your job is in jeopardy (you have a habit of doing this); if you stay well that is an obvious threat to your life.  Hum.

Now, if you had been more persistent and deliberate in your work before the final hour the report is due; this situation would be no problem.  You would simply back up your report on a thumb drive and take it with you as you hurriedly exit the building.  You are in control.

Anything other than this has life controlling you!  Some people are so willing to just throw up their arms at the first sign of defeat.  They don’t hunker down and get to work.

Work has changed today!  You no longer can count on anything.  Performance is king.  You must perform quickly, accurately and consistently to survive.  Doing more than you are asked is paramount.  Workers are being asked to do more with less for less.

In order to have success in the future being persistent, working toward your goals consistently is the key. When you think you have gone as far as you can, take another step forward and you’ll find you can actually see a few steps more.  Keep doing this until you reach your destination.

Don’t forget to enjoy the trip — when it comes down to the end — it will be more about the experiences you had rather than what you accomplished.  The thrill of the case.

I look forward to your comments.

Your Coach, Robin Harpe



 Recession Proof Your Life

Billions to Stimulate

15.3Million laid off

2.7 Million will loose their unemployment benefits before the end of April

14% are women between the ages of 45 and 64

We are living in uncertain times.

I was speaking with a client yesterday, she is 67 years old.She has a mortgage, and needs to work. She has been laid off now for over 3 months. She has a degree! No body is responding to her resumes and applications.

She could be Your Grand Mother, Your Mother, Your Spouse! She could even be You.

It is just so sad the number of people who are finding they need to look for work; only to discover all the rules have changed. And, this has me totally pissed off!

Why? Work has changed.

And, many people never realized it changed almost overnight.

They were just going about their business of living.

Does all this talk of tweeting, facebooking, being linked in — is that confusing to you?

The old way to find that perfect job still exists, only we have different tools now to find it.

Are you laid off? Know somebody who is? Did you look through the paper today for job openings? Not many listed, were there? Did you look online? Are you becoming frustrated because your traditional methods are just not working?

Would you like to be involved with a Beta Group of clients using cutting edge technology to stand out among all those candidates? Then respond to robin@coachrobinharpe.com your interest. Just say you are interested.

With over 25 years as a Human Resources Manager and Director; coupled with my Entrepreneurial spirit and experience I’ll show you how to get your next job and while we are at it how to take the next step in your financial freedom.

This will happen again! Recessions are the product of our economy. Stop allowing others to control your destiny. Take steps now to ensure you never have to worry about layoffs or recessions.

Talk with you soon, Robin Harpe Your Work Life Strategist

P.S. Remember just respond to robin@coachrobinharpe.com your interest and we will get started on creating an outrageous marketing campaign for Your job search today.

P.P.S. If you would like to read more about this subject run over to here.



 You Are What You Eat

Weight Management! Just the thought brings tears to many people.

They try, and try, never achieving their ideal weight and health goals.

Does this sound like you? Have you tried all of those get “thin” fads?

Nothing seems to work?

Is one of your resolutions (goals) for 2010 to loose weight?

Join me tomorrow (2-11-2010) as I will be speaking with the fabulous Celeste Nichols, Natural Health Consultant. Celeste is going to explain why you haven’t been able to loose weight. She’ll introduce us to the possibility that some of the ailments you are experiencing is because of what you eat!

Obesity is epidemic in the US and is becoming a health concern in countries where the people have adopted a western diet. Shockingly, 75% of adults are overweight or obese. And, with all the talk of Healthcare, here is the US - obesity represents 25% of healthcare costs.

If you want to get healthier, lose the weight and lower your healthcare costs then this interview was made just for you.

Join me tomorrow at www.blogtalkradio.com/coachrobinharpe 7:00 pm ET (the show will be recorded so you can download later) Call in to the show at 646 929 2221 if you cannot get to your computer.

See you tomorrow for this exciting show.

Your Coach, Robin

P.S. Email me your questions in advance simple reply to this message.

P.P.S. The Coach Robin Harpe show brings you timely focused topics to help you succeed daily. Feel free to tell a friend, email this message to them today. Let them know they can sign up at www.CoachRobinHarpe.com so they do not miss any news!



 Do you Tweet?

Are people telling you to get online, join Facebook or that you should be tweeting?

Do you know why you should be doing these things? Simple! You may not really understand why you need to be on Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, Digg, Gain Net (for my local folks).

You may not know where all the free sites are out there. And, you may not think you need to know. Marketing today has drastically changed for everything you buy or sell.

Let me give you a very simple explanation I gave to a client today that helped him see how social media works. This is a very simple explanation!

1. Assume you are a cattle farmer and have 100 head of cattle that needs to have their shots today!

2. You hire several assistants to help you drive all of that cattle to the shoot where you are standing by to give them the shot they need for what ails them. As they enter the shoot one at a time you give them the shot and they jump out feeling exuberant. Yes, I know cattle don’t really jump out of the shoot all excited and exuberant unless you are giving them a peppy pill. Which I doubt.

For our scenario above and our business, job hunt or personal purpose let’s put this in perspective.

The assistants are the sites of Twitter, Facebook, Linked In or any other site that is a membership type site, article deposit site, forum or blog.

Traveling toward the shoot is actually your sales funnel. It starts huge at the top and becomes smaller at the shoot (your web site or store front), where each customer must enter one at a time.

The customer who has purchased your brand of medicine is excited to start the program, read the book, or get involved with the community they have just joined.

As you can see taking out the online piece, not being an active member of these social media sites is costing you previous cash flow for your business, costing you precious networking opportunities with those who might have the unadvertised job you would love to have, and/or costing you valuable connections.

Online marketing and specifically using social media sites are a smart choice to build your brand, connect with opportunities and build trust.

Something we can all do…….now go out there and join up!

Talk with you soon, Robin

Your work-life strategist

P.S. Follow me:http://twitter.com/robinharpe

Follow me: http://facebook.com (Robin Pennington Harpe)

Follow me: http://linkedin.com/robinharpe

P.P.S. Check out free article deposit area here:

http://www.examiner.com/x-36886-Gainesville-WorkLife-Balance-Examiner www.scribd.com/Coach%20Robin%20Harpe



 5 Steps to Achieve Work Life Balance

Many of us get caught up in the business of living.  We spend the majority of our time working.  The sad reality is that this leaves us very little time for the other areas of our lives.  People are desperately seeking a balanced life.  Reports of the good old days just seem impossible for our modern worker to achieve.

A short history of work

To understand how our lives have become so hectic let’s look at the history of work.  Before the Information Age work was hard, degrading and back breaking.  In antiquity hard work was regarded as slave work.  The thinkers of the times, Aristotle, Plato, Socrates taught that a man’s purpose was to be enlightened.  They believed that work was for the less fortunate not them. The prevailing thoughts of that period was that if you owed someone you were their slave.  As a slave you would have performed the work and you would not be capable of thinking or being enlightened.

Fast forwarding into the 19th century work moved from the agricultural and home crafts into the factories.  Machines were replacing home craft makers and the promise of abundance enticed the farmers to populate the cities where they found steady factory work.  The Industrial Age was born and the immigration into cities changed our definition of the good life.

During the 20th to 21st centuries work has drastically changed.  We are experiencing another drastic shift in our definition of work as we strive to have a strong work-life balance.  In 1937 the all time classic book by Napoleon Hill, “Think and Grow Rich” was published.  In this book Mr. Hill explains, “If you are one of those who believe that hard work and honesty, alone, will bring riches, perish the thought!  It is not true!  Riches, when they come in huge quantities, are never the results of hard work! Riches come, if they come at all, in response to definite demands, based upon the application of definite principles, and not by chance or luck.”

This book was written during the Great Depression being published as the country sprung out of this devastating time.  Note that the mongers of the time knew of the great principles Mr. Hill describes.  The mass population did not.

The Information Age brought along the innovation of today and the stresses from being available instantly.  We no longer have privacy as our personal and work time have blended into a blur.

The 5 steps for creating a balanced life

With the appreciation that the good old days were really not so good here are five steps to design and balance your work life for today.

  1. Make a list of all the things you want.  Many people will talk about things they want or would like to be or do and they rarely put these on paper.  Putting them on paper gives you a 99% better chance of achievement.
  2. Review this list and sort them based on these three areas, relationships, self, and work.  Life fulfillment occurs when this three legged stool is in balance.
  3. Note why you want these things.  The why is the motivation for all accomplishments.
  4. Recognize that you must spend quality time in each of the important areas of your life.  These areas include career or business, finances, accomplishments, recreation, family, friends, health, personal and spiritual development.
  5. Decide how you will or can divide your time among all of the important areas of your life.  Work life balance does not mean you are spending equal time in each of these areas.
For more information check out www.coachrobinharpe.com


 Goals Are For Sissies

All those personal development guru’s are always telling you to set goals.

How many people do you know who set goals but never achieve them?

They’re happy - right?

Here is what those annoying progressive goal achiever types do:

They set SMART goals.  The goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant

and timely.

You don’t need to do that because you are happy with your life the way it is.

Those annoying progressive people put these goals, they just wrote, on their calendar

and make sure they work the most important things first before they do anything else on that day.

You don’t have to worry about any of that because you keep your list of things to do in your head, where they belong, and you can always do them tomorrow if you don’t get to them today.

Those goal achievers are always thinking, strategizing, re-calculating, reviewing and talking about their goals.

How boring!  You’d rather talk about the game last night or the re-run you watched of Lost.

Another thing that is just too annoying from those goal achievers is that they are always volunteering, meeting new people and hanging out with like - minded people.

Well at least they stay to themselves so that you don’t have to be so bothered by them.

The biggest annoyance of all is that they are always trying to sway you to their way of thinking.  They talk about their success and want you to join them.  They want to know how they can help you succeed.

Don’t they realize you don’t need them to help you succeed.  You are enjoying your current results just fine, thank you very much!

Seriously if you are beginning to think maybe, well just maybe those goal achievers have some idea of how to be successful that you don’t know - call me so I can explain what they do in more detail.

It really is fascinating how they run their lives.

There is still room in our 90 Days Goal Achieving class - going on right now!  Sign up today here:

http://www.1shoppingcart.com/SecureCart/SecureCart.aspx?mid=B8FA7741-0E58-4CC3-B43B-5F39D7600269&pid=ed5fc82e580f4171bc33781844be4c65&bn=1

Talk With You Soon,

Your Coach - Robin

P.S.  You can just set there, continue getting the same results you have always gotten or you can sign up for this unbelievably priced course to change your direction today.

P.P.S. You know you can always TVO those Lost reruns!



 Cruising and Family Vacations

It really did seem like a good idea!  You read about the beginning now for the rest of the story:

Once we did get out the following day for our first annual family holiday vacation, the seas were calm and we enjoyed our first night out on the seas.  My parents were excited this was their first cruise.

The 2nd day at sea was formal night, meet the Captain and such.  We all looked great dressed up.  Earlier that day we were on deck, it was cold and gloomy all day.  Not to worry we thought!

The third day we made our port in Cozmel.  It was your typical cruising port town with all the trappings.  We did manage to have a fabulous lunch downtown.  One of our cabin stewards told us where they go and we took a cab down to the local hang out.  In back was an open cafe and they even have turtles under foot.  That was real Mexican food and such great memories.  Our Waiter translated the name of the place to mean “The Grandfather”, and he was one of the descendants.  What wonderful conversation.

On the way back to the boat…….this is when we should have started getting worried.  A huge, and I mean huge black ugly cloud (ok, it took up the entire sky) came up quickly and by the time we reached half through the peer it came a down pour.  My husband was pushing my Dad, who was in a wheelchair, like a crazy person — they made it without getting very wet.  My Mom and me were not so fortunate.  We knew we would get wet and well we just didn’t mind…..it was hot and the rain felt so good.  What laughs we had.

On the way home, back out to sea — and the rocking started.  Slowly at first; apparently we were heading into the storm that caused so much havoc on the East Coast.  They got snow - we got wind (45 MPH) and waves of 12 feet.  If you have ever been on a cruise ship; usually little winds and waves make it pleasant…..but not 12 foot seas.  The winds hit us from one side and the waves had us rocking front to back; we were rocking and rolling all over the place.

Everybody — even the crew — was sick!!  What a way to spend the last night.

As morning arrived, we were thrilled — then the announcement — we were delayed yet again.  The storm had moved all the channel markers and we would have to wait until they were placed back in order.

Four hours past our docking time we finally docked and were allowed to get off!  I was never so glad to see land again!  It took the rest of the week to get over that feeling.

While at the civic center waiting to know if we would ever be able to leave that first day my brother said a old Muddholler (where we grew up) forecast, “Soggy bottom cornbread means Fog”; well if that is true then “Soggy soaked people means a huge storm is coming”!

We wanted to make memories — boy did we ever.

It also proves what I always teach — be very very specific about your goals — you see I just wanted memories but I forgot to say what kind.  Next year you can bet I’m already writing down how I want that to turn out.

Oh, we’re staying on land for next years big outing!

Enjoy your Holidays.



 Family Holiday Vacation Diaster

Yesterday we all got up 5:00 am, out the door by 8:30

We drove 3 1/2 hours to Mobile AL all excited for our first annual family vacation.

My parents have never been on a cruise, they still haven’t!

When we arrived we dropped off our luggage, so far normal operations.

Then we were told to drive over to the civic center, being escorted by police.

Hum? Something wasn’t right

We were given a paper explaining our ship had not came in!  no pun intended here

The historic fog that covered the gulf coast had shut closed the port.

ok…..we will leave late we thought

At the civic center we were fed, we were entertained, we checked in.

Always on the job for you and always looking for opportunities I interviewed folks on how they were handling the situation.  Fascinating!

The cruise line called one local restaurant McAllister’s and they were in charge of food.  I spoke with the Catering Manager, she will be on my radio show in 2010, she said she said “Hallelujah” when the call came in.  An order for 2200 sandwiches!  WOW.

Another Cruise Ship employee stated they were only worried about people taking more than their share of meals.  One of Security guards was more worried about people becoming angry. 

What I observed as I watched over 6 hours of waiting in the civic center on word whether we would be allowed to board the ship, would the cruise be canceled, or any other sort of news.  The human spirit is unbreakable.  Some were playing cards, some were dancing to the entertainment the cruise ship was providing, some jumped in and helped organize things, others were just making new friends and creating a party atmosphere.

Others, however, were blaming the cruise line for the delay — for what Mother Nature — was doing To Them! 

This is so indictive of human nature.  Some people no matter what will just take things in stride, some will no matter what take things negatively.

Things just are, events are not negative or positive until we mix that with our emotions with our expectations and perceptions of what is or is not normal - to us.

Yesterday was an extreme example of what happens when people are put in a situation where their true nature will shine through.  When we take life as positive, and events happen out of our control we can bounce through the event with ease, things become an adventure.  On the other hand when we take life with a negative bent, everything will bother us. 

It is a decision whether you will live life negatively or positively.  Choose to be positive through this Holiday season.  You will find that life becomes an adventure and you can find fun, meet exciting folks everywhere you go.

Stop back by our blog early next week — it looks like we will get to board afterall today!  Yeah. My folks will finally get to go on a cruise and the first annual family vacation is off and running.

Has this ever happened to you, comment about your experience while on vacation that didn’t go as planned.  I look forward to reading how you handled this. 

Merry Christmas and look forward to updating you next week.

Your Coach, Robin



 Tribute to Jim Rohn

We lost an amazing mentor, teacher and philosopher over the weekend. This is the message I repeat from the Jim Rohn International newsletter received Saturday, December 5th.

With great sadness we share that Jim Rohn, our mentor and friend, left us December 5, 2009 for a better place. Over the past 18 months, in his battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis, Jim assured us with a smile that all is good, that he would fight until the last breath, yet he had no fear as to what would be next. Jim’s faith was as much a part of his life as his desire to inspire and challenge us all to be the best we could be and to live our dreams.

Jim’s courage in his final months and days were a testament to his message that we should all fight the good fight. He never gave up and never gave in.

Jim Rohn touched millions of lives over the past 46 years through his seminars, books, articles and CDs. He always stayed long after an event t o shake hands, take pictures and sign autographs. He loved making a difference in people’s lives, that was his passion and inspiration. Yet he was also a private man who kept a small, loyal and caring inner circle. He was a tremendous friend to those who knew him. There will be a private funeral held in the coming days. Plans and details are also being arranged for a Public Memorial Service to be held in the Los Angeles area in the coming weeks. Details will be announced upon final confirmation at the Jim Rohn Tribute Site.

We know Mr. Rohn is looking down on us at this very moment with a smile saying I did it, I gave it my all, I went for it, now it’s your turn. Go for it. Make your life a life worth living well!

View a special tribute to Jim at the Jim Rohn Tribute Site produced earlier this year and debuted at the March 2009 SUCCESS Symposium. You are also encouraged to post your thoughts and remembrances of Jim on the Memorial Wall.

Here is one of my favorite quotes from Jim, which is listed on top of his website:

“I wish for you a life of wealth, health and happiness; a life in which you give to yourself the gift of patience, the virtue of reason, the value of knowledge, and the influence of faith in your own ability to dream about and achieve worthy rewards.”

Jim fondly closed his programs with the following sentiments: “I go with you in all the experience that we’ve had. But I promise you this as we leave here: I will not leave you behind. I’ll take you with me in my thoughts and in my heart.”

We will all miss him dearly.  And, I am grateful for his presence and teachings.  Today say a prayer for all of those who are no longer with us. Say a prayer for the families as they make it through another Holiday without their loved ones.

Remember the reason for the season and give the best gift - your time.

Your Coach, Robin



 What Song Are You Singing

During the Holiday season we tend to reflect on past memories.

Do you smell the cookies, fresh baked breads and mulled cider?

Can you hear the carolers outside or the old time Holiday songs?

I grew up Presbyterian, then Baptist, then Catholic! Each of these churches had different songs they played during the Christmas season. I especially love the old time favorites.

I have them on tape, and listen to them often throughout the season.

Over the weekend I was listening, while I cleaned out my filing cabinet getting ready for 2010. I know my CPA will be asking for files soon!!

While I listened to the songs, doing my busy work a sense of calm rushed over me, a huge smile came upon me and I just felt so peaceful.

Then I thought of you.

Why?

Because when you are doing what you love, performing work that has meaning, and your passion shines through - it is just like that feeling I had over the weekend.

I want you to have this same feeling!

To foster your own song find something that lights you up. Here are some suggestions:

1. Prayer

2. Yoga, walking in nature, setting by a stream - get outside

3. Listen to birds singing - go bird watching

4. Keep a journal

5. Mediate and contemplate on your purpose

6. Go dancing

7. Watch a great movie, your favorite

8. Visit friends

9. Cook

10. Give your time to someone in need

The point is just do something, find something that really excites your soul. Something that you are not responsible to - that just is. Feel alive inside. Come alive inside.

Need help, give me a call, Your Coach, Robin