Bridges Edition of 1/6/2005

Welcome to Bridges, a monthly newsletter published by Robin Fogel,
Performance Enhancement and Career Coach. My goal is that this newsletter be filled with practical information that you can use in your work and in your life. If you enjoyed the newsletter please forward it to your colleagues, friends and family.

If you would like to know more about coaching, please email me at robin@coachrobinfogel.com and/or visit my website - www.coachrobinfogel.com

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Happy New Year

January, the start of the New Year, is traditionally the time that people make resolutions for the year. Yet many people think that by making New Year's resolutions they are setting themselves up for failure because they won't follow through. They are probably right - most New Year's resolutions are history by mid month. Yet business and self-help books agree that having goals allows you to focus your energy and helps you use your time more productively. It may be time to shift your thinking from making those resolutions once a year to putting a process into place that will help you accomplish your business and personal goals on an ongoing basis.

If the word goals is intimidating, and it is for many, trick yourself and use another term -or don't label them at all, but by all means have them. Goals help keep you on track and focus your energy. They help you measure your progress/success, allow you to determine if you are using your time effectively and help you make sound decisions. Given all those positives you would think that everyone would have goals. Yet the number one reason people don't establish goals is fear that they won't accomplish them.

Here are a couple of ideas to get started:
*Write down your goals. There is something about committing your thoughts to paper that increases the likelihood of them happening.

*Make sure your goals are achievable. We would all like to earn 5 million dollars but is that a reasonable and achievable goal for 2005?

*Goals should be measurable. A good example might be to exercise 3 times a week in order is to reduce stress and lower your blood pressure.

Remember, the clearer the goal, the greater the odds of success.

A good way to begin is to ask yourself what you want to accomplish in 2005 - are you looking to increase your client base by 50%, land a promotion or change careers, start an exercise program. View this as an ongoing process and every week or month, spend a minute or two and evaluate your progress. Evaluate your challenges and your successes. Consider having both short and long term goals.

If the goal is to get into shape, find an exercise buddy. If you are building a business or anticipating your next career move, plan a regular lunch with a colleague to swap ideas and thoughts, or use the services of a professional coach.

Ask these questions:
What kind of support would help you reach that goal?
What opportunities are you currently not taking advantage of?
What's holding you back?

Think of it this way, a goal is a dream with a deadline.

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Good Read
In last month's newsletter about stress I mentioned the book "Life is Not a Stress Rehearsal", by humorist and author Loretta LaRoche. Loretta writes, "As a nation we spend 9.3 billion dollars a year on stress management, 9.3 BILLION...is this because we're living in a time that is more difficult than generations before us...generations that faced world wars, extreme poverty...or is it because we have lost touch with reality." Using her amazing wit and humor, this book is the perfect anecdote for our fast paced lives. Ms. LaRoche is a lecturer in the field of stress management. Her books and PBS specials are all worthwhile, as is her website www.stressed.com.

Performance Enhancement Coaching
Your company's most valued resource is its employees. Performance enhancement coaching is designed to support and develop high potential employees. Please email or call me to learn how this service may have application for your business.

I appreciate your comments and feedback on this newsletter, please keep them coming. If there is a topic you would like to hear more about, email me at robin@coachrobinfogel.com.

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Afterward"
"If you don't know where you're going, you will probably wind up somewhere else." - Dr. Laurence J. Peter

Have a productive and stress free January.
COPYRIGHT: 2005, Robin Fogel & Assoc., LLC. All Rights Reserved. May be distributed and reprinted in its entirety with copyright, subscription instructions, and contact information intact. However, you may not copy it to a website.