Goal Update: Health Edition

-By Jaime Willis

I have 3 major health-related goals for 2011 -- let's check in and see how I am doing.  Thanks to Sean "Positivity" Powell for nudging me to update.

1) Running 50 10k 'races' by the end of the year.

2) Completing a sprint triathlon on August 14, two days before my big "6th anniversary of my 29th Birthday" (Yes, it is up to you to do the math on that one).

3) Continuing to lose weight and reach my goal. 

I've made progress on all three fronts.

As of now, I've run/walked/ellipticaled through 23 10ks.  That's over 138 miles in the last seven months.  To reach my goal, I need to run another 27 10ks in the next 22 weeks.  This is totally achievable!  I'll have to start doubling up on 10ks (2 per week).  Since I've done that in the past, I know I can do it again.  I've committed to running a 10k this weekend, and 1-2 more before my birthday.  After the triathlon is over, I'll really get back to my 'normal' routine and I should be able to knock these out and be back on track.

10k Milestone Goals (to help keep me accountable throughout the rest of the year):

End of August:  Have 27 10ks under my belt
End of September: Have 33 completed
End of October: Have 41 completed
End of November: Have 47 completed
End of December: Have run all 50 10ks.

As for the triathlon, I have done the full biathlon distance (biking, then running) twice already.  I've also swam the full distance several times.  I'm not fast, and it's not pretty to watch, but I'm confident that I'll be able to finish the race, barring injury.  I will be training hard this weekend and next, and in two weeks, I'll be reporting back with a medal in my hand.

The losing weight front has been a back and forth struggle -- the weigh-in yesterday after two weeks of "tourist" eating with my visiting sister wasn't pretty.  That said, I am committed to continuing to work on healthy eating and exercise, and I know I'll get myself back on track.  I know when I get busy, my diet is one of the first things I "let go."  With 22 weeks left in the year, I'd like to end 2011 22 pounds lighter than I am now.  This means making my health a priority!  I know I can do it and I'm glad to have all of you keeping me accountable!

Goal Update: Speaking Korean

-by Matt Leedham

Apparently, to learn a new language, you need to listen a lot and speak a lot in that language.

Duh, right? Not exactly genius thinking, I suppose, but it became abundantly clear to me last weekend at the beach.

As a refresher, I set a BIG personal goal for myself earlier this year. I set out to be conversational in Korean by October 1, 2011. You can read more about what conversational means to me and why I chose this goal by clicking here. Then you can read about what a difficult time I was having a few months ago with learning Korean by clicking here.

Over the last two months, I have been listening to CD’s on the Korean language by Pimsleur. They rock. I tried Rosetta Stone, but it just wasn’t for me. Pimsleur has very quickly accelerated my learning of Korean.

Ideally, I would listen to 30 minutes since that’s how long each lesson is. It’s perfect in the car to and from the office, but I’ll admit, I have not been keeping pace. I’ve gotten up to lesson 6. That’s 20% of the way through Phase 1, and there are three phases. Time to ramp it up!

When I learn a new phrase, I often say it to my very patient wife who will either applaud me for nailing it, or give me some instruction on how to change the emphasis or pronunciation of a syllable. So far, so good!

Last weekend my wife and I went to Bethany Beach, DE for four days, accompanied by her sister and husband, and my wife’s parents. My parents-in-law speak English fairly well, but they are much more comfortable in their native tongue, particularly when speaking with their daughters. So, as the only non-Korean in the group, I listened to a lot of Korean conversations all weekend.

What amazed me is that I started picking up little words here and there in their conversation. Words that I had never heard them say before, but that I had been learning on my language CD’s. And when I recognized a word, I would shout out the only phrase I knew that contained that word.

Example:
I heard the word “lunch” one day in the family conversation. I immediately shouted out, “have you eaten lunch? I won’t be having any!”

Then everyone would laugh because while what I said was tangentially related to their conversation, it was totally incongruent to what they were talking about.

But this was great. It sparked the conversation. It would often lead to my in-laws sharing what they were actually saying. And it made me much more comfortable to speak Korean to them.

When walking off the beach one day, I heard someone say the phrase, “where is...?” I asked, “did you just ask where something is? I thought I heard that.” Everyone was very proud that I was picking up words and it continued to inspire me to try to speak more.

Then I would shout out “where is Shichung Park?” And everyone would laugh. That’s the expression I learned from the CD’s, but it makes no sense to be asking where a park in Seoul is when you’re at the beach in Delaware.

It’s slow going, but becoming more and more fun. The more I can speak the words and phrases in a real environment, the quicker I am learning.

How does this relate something you’re learning? Are you just packing away knowledge in your head, or are you getting out there and using what you’ve learned? You will speed up the learning process exponentially if you dare to practice what you’ve learned. Onward!

Weekly Wednesday Inspiration #25

-by Jaime Willis

I love this flow chart! Try it out the next time you are feeling stressed.

Testing in Schools - the Right Answer?

-By Jaime Willis

Good morning and welcome to my very first Education "in the news" blog post.  Once a week, I'll be choosing an education-themed story from the headlines and commenting on it from an Energy Leadership perspective.  I hope that you enjoy these commentaries and would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Testing is probably the biggest hot-button item in Education today.  If you want to get a group of educators riled up, ask them about testing in schools and watch how quickly the gloves come off.   Although testing has been around for decades, the most recent emphasis on testing is likely a result of former President Bush's push to improve education through the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.  

This law required all schools that receive federal funding to begin testing students on reading, math and science using state-chosen standardized tests throughout their academic career.  Schools are then graded on how many of their children scored "proficient" or better on the test.  From 2001 - 2015, the number of students in the school that need to score "proficient" rises until in 2015, 100% of students in schools across the country should, according to the law, be reading and doing math on grade level.

Ten years later, how has testing impacted students and schools? Are we getting the results we hoped for?

Investigators in Atlanta cheating scandal discuss culture of corruption

By Ben Mayer & Jaye Watson, WXIA-TV, Atlanta

Excerpted from www.usatoday.com

It has been a long 10 months for Mike Bowers and Bob Wilson, the special investigators who oversaw the scathing report on Atlanta Public Schools.   

The two conducted 2,100 interviews and examined 800,000 documents as part of their investigation of the 48,000 student district, finding a "heartbreaking" culture of corruption.  

Their 800-page report revealed that officials at nearly 80 percent of 56 elementary and middle schools examined cheated on the annual student-performance tests.  There were 178 teachers and principals implicated in the cheating scandal.

...

In hours and hours of testimony the impetuses to cheat were the same: nearly impossible targets, job security, fear of public humiliation, and to a lesser extent, money.   

Wilson blamed [Former Superintendent Beverly] Hall's targets, a program, he said, was designed to increase accountability for a leader he said was obsessed with data.  Teachers, who thought their students could not pass on their own, felt the pressure to cheat and resorted to desperate measures, and created classes of failing students who feel upwards.  But as Hall's targets were met, the benchmarks only rose.  And, Wilson argues, the depth of the cheating grew with it. 

It completely makes sense that when schools -- administrators, teachers, and students -- are faced with what they believe to be insurmountable odds, they become desperate to save face in any way they can, resulting in a culture of cheating instead of the intended culture of academic excellence.

It is also understandable that teachers and administrators believe that it is the testing itself and being "obsessed with data" that is the problem with education today, and are rallying to reduce the nation's current preoccupation with testing as the end-all method of student performance evaluation.

The response from other school districts doesn't seem to be to get rid of testing but to "crack down" on testing security, in order to eliminate avenues for cheating.

So what is the "right" answer?

Testing isn't binary -- administrators and teachers don't have to believe in testing 100% or be adamantly opposed to it.  We can do both. (For those of you keeping score at home, this is Level 5 -- finding the opportunity in everything!)

First, I agree that standardized testing is probably not the best holistic measure of student achievement.  The work policy analysts, researches, and school reformers are doing to experiment on better methods of measuring academic achievement is great work and I'd like to see more of it happening.  Big thinking usually results in great innovations.

On the other hand, testing is what we, as educators, are currently mandated to do.  Just because testing isn't the best solution doesn't mean we can scrap it immediately and start over -- sometimes we have to learn to operate effectively in less-than-ideal scenarios.

Glennon Melton, co-author of Test Talk: Integrating Test Preparation into Reading Workshop, illustrates the both/and testing strategy best:

“You are EDUCATORS. You KNOW how flawed these tests are. Why are you working WITH THESE HORRIBLE TESTS? Why aren’t you fighting AGAINST these tests that you know aren’t good for children?”

And we’d shrug and say: You’re right. We agree with you. But the thing is that we have these students in front of us. And we owe them. They are our job. THEM, not the law changing. We can’t march on Washington because we are in the classroom preparing our students. So maybe we could work together. Maybe YOU could march on Washington and meet with the lawmakers while we teach. 

Maybe this problem is so big that it takes both kinds of people. People at the capital working on the big ideas and the political structures and THE MAN while we stay on the ground and make sure THESE LITTLE LOVIES don’t fall through the cracks while change is happening. We won’t sacrifice a single one of them. Each one of them is worth more to us than the big ideas. That’s just the way we are, we teachers. We’re short sighted that way.

What are other ways for us to "Level 5" our testing strategies in schools?

A New Day is Dawning (Velocity, v2.0)

-by Matt Leedham

Hello Achievers!

This is not one of our typical blog posts, but rather an update about Velocity. We have some exciting news to share about our focus and the changes that will be coming as we move forward. Those changes affect this blog as well and we wanted to keep you all informed.

• Over the last 10 months, Velocity has done some fun things. Let’s take a look at just a few:
• Published over 200 blog posts (wow!)
• Interviewed 33 achievers in our Friday special, “TGIF: This Goal Is Finished” (applause to all of you!)
• Have had over 15,000 visits to our blog/website (thank you!)
• Have spoken over 10 times to groups of students, teachers, entrepreneurs, and generally awesome people about goal setting and achieving more
• Have individually coached entrepreneurs, principals, teachers, consultants, and lawyers

We have had a great time changing lives and making an impact on our community by helping others realize their true potential for achievement. Through all of this experience, Velocity has become more narrowly focused on our target demographic (our niche) and how we serve them (our specialty). We will now be focused on Leadership Development and Coaching with two groups of people:

1. Professional Educators (i.e. Teachers, Principals, and other Education Administrators)
2. Entrepreneurs

Jaime and Matt each bring specific skill sets that will serve these two groups in ways that simply improve our community. We believe in the lofty vision that we’ll all benefit from more effective teacher/leaders helping students learn more, and more effective entrepreneurs/leaders managing people and taking care of customers. You can read our thoughts in more detail on each of these categories below.

How will this affect our blog?

Our blog format will be changing going forward to better represent our focus. Each week, Jaime will publish one education-specific post and Matt will publish one entrepreneur-specific post. Don’t worry though, the “Matt & Jaime Show” will continue with at least two general achievement posts each week. The TGIF series will be disappear as a regularly scheduled program, but please do share your successes with us as we would love to share your stories and help you celebrate your wins!

Some Thoughts on Education…

Educators, Education administrators, Parents, Community Members, News Media, Politicians, and Pundits all agree that the American system of Education is failing our students. Reform has been the battle cry for years -- most recently with the enactment of No Child Left Behind and the advent of testing and "data-driven" results as the go-to evaluative method for academic success.

Every curriculum specialist, education program, educational professional and consultant is looking for or hawking the 'magic pill' to save our schools. At Velocity, we believe that there is no magic pill. If there were one thing we could do across the board to dramatically change the face of education for the better, it would be changing people's minds.

We know that engagement, leadership ability, energy, and attitude are critical to any successful endeavor, and certainly critical to the success of school administration, faculty, and ultimately the students we want to succeed. What if you felt engaged every single day you walked into work? What if your work and personal lives were balanced in a way that consistently gave you joy? What if you were surrounded by people as energized as you were about your work and found opportunities in every challenge?

Our goal is to massively transform K-12 education at its building block, starting with educators. We are focused specifically on faculty and administrators working in urban Title I schools in improvement status -- the schools that most desperately need a huge shot of passion and engagement.

Using the research-based attitudinal assessment created by renowned coach and psychologist, Bruce D. Schneider, the Energy Leadership Index Assessment (ELI), we are able to get a "moment in time" snapshot of how you feel at work and at home. Unlike Myers-Briggs or DISC assessments that tell you how to best operate within a certain label of strengths and weaknesses, the ELI measures your energy and engagement level at the current time.

We use this assessment as a roadmap for personalized coaching to help educators effect positive change in their careers. What is so amazing about Energy Leadership is that it will not only reinvigorate a career, but it will have a ripple effect on an entire life -- improving personal relationships, creating a sense of peace, and help build sustainable happiness.

One teacher who recently went through just two hours of training with us said, "I knew you guys were going to be good, but you really blew me away. Thanks for relighting my fire."

Jaime has been teaching and training for over twelve years. She has worked with schools, community groups, and non-profits around the world, including DC Public and Public Charter Schools, Howard University, Western Michigan University, Nanjing University in China, Passports to College of Bermuda, Baçeşehir University of Istanbul, Turkey, the National Institute of Health, Prince Georges County Public Schools, Montgomery County Public Schools, Andrus Family Fund, Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the I Have a Dream Foundation, among others. She is an energetic and entertaining speaker and trainer who enjoys helping students and professional reach their personal and professional best.

Some Thoughts on Entrepreneurship…

Small businesses drive our economy. Did you know that small businesses represent over 99% of all employers in the U.S.? Or that they have generated 65% of new jobs over the last two decades? In 2009 alone, over 500,000 new businesses were created. Think about all of the people that were employed by those businesses!

Supporting entrepreneurs is a critical piece to establishing a more abundant economy and more prosperous communities. In other words, by creating programs and services that help entrepreneurs lead more successful business, which will provide salaries and benefits for their employees, we can build better, more stable communities.

The challenge for many entrepreneurs is balanced growth and focus. The maverick attitude that got an entrepreneur to spark a new business concept can waiver under the pressure of achievement as more people become involved in the business. Employees, clients, vendors, and investors all have needs and demands to be met. All of a sudden, the fun and exciting ride with the pedal to the metal, becomes a more like a roller coaster ride with ups and downs and that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach.

At Velocity, we believe the most effective way to grow as an entrepreneur is to focus on a 3-step process:

• Awareness – focus on who you are, why you do what you do, and where you want to go from here.
• Balance – focus on the whole picture, including your personal relationships, health, and enjoyment.
• Conquer – with a foundation of awareness and balance, become laser-focused on conquering your vision

Using the research-based attitudinal assessment created by renowned coach and psychologist, Bruce D. Schneider, the Energy Leadership Index Assessment (ELI), we are able to get a "moment in time" snapshot of how an entrepreneur feels at work and at home. Unlike Myers-Briggs or DISC assessments that tell you how to best operate within a certain label of strengths and weaknesses, the ELI measures your energy and engagement level at the current time.

We use this assessment as a roadmap for personalized coaching to help entrepreneurs effect positive change in their careers. What is so amazing about Energy Leadership is that it will not only reinvigorate a career, but it will have a ripple effect on an entire life -- improving personal relationships, creating a sense of peace, and help build sustainable happiness.

After a few weeks of coaching, one entrepreneur said, “Matt is insightful, a creative thinker and solution oriented. His expertise in business and entrepreneurship is invaluable. He has his finger on the pulse of current business trends and technology which I found abundantly helpful.”

Matt has spent the last 7 years working with entrepreneurs in business development, strategic planning, coaching, and consulting. He has spent the last 4 years working with over 1,000 entrepreneurs across the U.S. in building measurable action plans tied to strategic visions. With Velocity being his second entrepreneurial venture, Matt uses his experience, knowledge, resources, and networks to help other entrepreneurs realize their potential and reach their vision. He is passionate about helping entrepreneurs reach the next level in their business without sacrificing their health, relationships, or happiness along the way.

TGIF: Brian Costanzo

TGIF:

This Goal Is Finished

Good morning achievers! Hope you've had a wonderful week!

If this is your first time on our website, welcome. Velocity is about helping you find and achieve your passion through personal goal setting. You can find out more about us by clicking on any of these links.

You can sign up for our weekly inspirational newsletter or a complimentary coaching session by clicking on the buttons to the right.

Today's TGIF Achiever is an amazing mentor and leader for Matt, Brian Costanzo.  Although Brian has enjoyed plenty of career success, and deservedly so, the goal he chose to share with us to today is a personal one.  Brian did such an enjoyable job of telling the story that we are going to forego our traditional TGIF Interview format and let this achievement unfold on its own for you.

Have a wonderful Friday and weekend!

Is it the Goal or the Journey?

By Brian Costanzo

Brian, his wife and two awesome children. 

My name is Brian Costanzo, and I am a runner. To me, running is my time to meditate, my time to dream big, and my time to reflect on how fortunate I am for my health, success and relationships.

Needless to say, I set goals in my life regarding running. So last year, I ran my first relay race (Ragnar) with 11 other crazy people who wanted to run 200 miles in a 36-hour time period with little or no sleep (and riding around in a minivan). Sounds like fun, right?

To achieve any plan, one must prepare and train. I usually run 3–4 times a week for roughly 3–4 miles at a time. To train for the relay race, however, it’s recommended that you put in 30-40 miles a week (with a long run of 10-12 miles) for a few months in advance of the event. My goal was to run my three legs of the race under a 10-minute pace (OK, young runners … I’m not in my twenties anymore when my pace was in the sevens. Oh, how I miss that speed!). The goal for our team, called WTF (Waynewood Track and Field), was not to end up in last place in our category.

Waynewood Track and Field: The WTF Team

We took off at 5:30 a.m. on Friday, 24 September, and made our way to Cumberland, Maryland. Before the race, I shaved the head of Ben, one of our team members! The race started promptly at 8 a.m. with the sound of a horn, and off our first team member went. That is when reality sunk in, and I was a little nervous! It was already 90 degrees outside, and it was expected to tip over 100— not ideal running conditions!

My first leg of the relay race was eight miles— two miles flat, two miles up, an eight-percent grade, and then a rolling path. To be honest, the eight percent was freaking me out. My team members assured me, however, that I had put in enough training and that I would be just fine. I also think it was the “unknown” of not having run three times consecutively in a day, with no sleep and in the dark in some cases. That said, we did do several night runs with headlamps during training. With anything I do, I look at the positives and look to overcome the obstacles. I said to myself, “Whatever happens today, I know it is going to make for a good story or two.” We cheered on as the runners transitioned, and then drove up to the transition point, where I was scheduled to receive the bracelet.

Chatting with Christa at the transition point.

Ben arrived while I was chatting with Christa at the transition point. I started my journey of eight miles slow and steady. Every time I run, I always remember what they taught me when I ran marathons years ago: Do not to go out of the gate to fast; pace yourself, warm up and then test your endurance. With that in mind, I ran for 2 miles along a country road, where I passed a few barns and houses. It was a great run, and I was falling into a rhythm, confident and assured that this would be a breeze!

The scenery during our run. 

Remember that grade? I was conveniently forgetting it. I was so caught up in enjoying the moment that I paused on an old rusty steel bridge to look at the running water and listen to how quiet it was. I told myself that I need to stop and take it all in. The real test for me came as I was climbing up an old gravel road for two miles at that eight-percent grade. As I approached the hill, with the temperatures in the 90’s, I looked around and there were four to five other runners ahead or behind me. Along the entire race, there was many times that our team van would stop and motivate each other. Unfortunately, on this leg I was on my own when I needed encouragement the most.

The first five minutes were good. I took shorter strides and worked my way up the hill. I thought, “OK, I got this!” As I climbed the hill, I was sweating more and more. I drank more water, and that helped a bit, but I could feel my pace slowing down … so slow that I could see a caterpillar crossing in front of me. Then a woman passed me! (Ladies, don’t take that the wrong way … it’s just a guy/ego thing). When I passed her, another runner passed us both. We must have gone back and forth several times. And as much as it pains me to walk on a run, all of us walked and ran up that damn hill. We inspired each other and ran together.

Working through a leg of the relay. 

With my team hopefully at the top of the hill to cheer me on, I found new inspiration in this team that was tackling the hill together. We found strength in each other. As we crested the top of that hill, hearing the roar of the crowd, we gave each other high-fives. I went on to finish the rest of that leg, and overall I met my under-10-minute goal. It is amazing to me that my sense of accomplishment was not finishing my three legs or running with our last runner at the National Harbor. No, my accomplishment was taking it all in along the way, bonding with my team—as well as my new “hill team”—and making it up that hill. Goals can be anticlimactic. We are driven in life to achieve a number or a finish, and I encourage us all to stop and think about all the ways we grow along the way. The journey.

This September, when WTF gets back together for Year 2, I will not have the same fears of the unknown. I will train mentally and physically to achieve the results that I expect. As my dad says, and as I tell my own kids, “Practice makes perfect.” One of my goals will be to run under-10-minute miles, but my main goal is to get to know the rest of my 11 team members better and to bring my camera to capture the journey.

Learning from my Little Sister

- By Jaime Willis

For the past week, I've had the pleasure of hanging out with my 16-year old sister, Ryn.  She normally lives in California and/or Michigan, so I haven't had a chance to see her in person in TWO YEARS.


I figured we'd have a great time catching up, and as I'm the older sister (one of my students in class this week asked her if I was her Mom!!!), I'd get a chance to impart some sisterly wisdom.  What I didn't count on was getting the opportunity to learn from her, but I am pleased to find that the sisterly wisdom is a two-way street.

Yesterday, we were at Union Station, where I was temporarily setting up shop to take an hour-long call.  Watching someone listen on the phone isn't very fun, so Ryn wandered around Union Station, window shopping, people watching, and taking photos.

After I got off my call, she was sharing with me all the cool stuff she found around the mall.  In the last store she went in, she was playing with one of the kaleidoscopes they had on sale.  As she starts looking through the viewfinder, she has this realization that the patterns she is seeing right now will likely never happen in exactly that way again.  Then she really started to pay attention to the patterns because, she thought, if she was the only one in the universe that would ever see that same pattern of colors and shapes, she better relish in the experience so the patterns aren't wasted.

This entire conversation is taking place as we are speed walking back to the metro so I can make another meeting I'm late for. At this point in the conversation, she turns to me and we both pause for a moment.

Then she says, "And I thought, wow, that's true of my whole life.  Every single experience I have is the only time that it will happen in exactly that same way.  I better pay attention!"

I replied, "That's actually pretty profound, Rynnie. Wow!"

She giggled a bit, and said, "I know, right?  That's a lot of deep thinking from a kaleidoscope!"

I agreed, and we began walking rapidly again on the way to the metro and that moment disappeared in the rush of commuting.

What a great thought to keep in mind, though, as we go through our day.  Every single moment you live is unique, and therefore precious.  Pay attention!

Thanks, Ryn, for that wonderful gift.

Love,

Your Sister

Weekly Wednesday Inspiration #24

-by Matt Leedham

Sometimes we just need a little reminder to slow down. Breathing can do wonders, particularly when coupled with mindfulness meditation.

(Photo credit: Kill'rBoom)

The Red Pill

-by Matt Leedham

“You take the blue pill, the story ends.

You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe.

You take the red pill,

you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.”

“I’m only offering you the truth…

Nothing more.”

- Morpheus from The Matrix

Consciousness is a funny thing. Once you are conscious, you cannot go back. A bell cannot be un-rung. What has been seen cannot be unseen. The question is, are you up for the challenge?

To explore your own consciousness (i.e. how aware you are of your true self), is a challenging journey. Ultimately, you may discover some ugly things. Not surprisingly though, you will also discover some beautiful things. The challenge is, can you let all of that go in complete non-judgment to accept your authenticity for exactly what is?

No?

What if I told you that your true self is perfect? Your true self must be perfect. It is you in complete form. And whether or not you believe in divine creation or biological evolution, you cannot deny that, logically, you are exactly as you should be. Perfect.

This understanding and realization is the truth. And when you come to grips with the truth, you release all of the imaginary things that hold you back. You just live. And live perfectly.

As always, the choice is yours.

Will you stay in Wonderland and see how far the rabbit hole goes?

How's Your Energy?

-By Jaime Willis

"The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body is. The more efficient your body is, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results." -Tony Robbins

Through our coach training program, Matt and I have been learning a lot about how to be happier and more successful by raising our energy. I wanted to take time this morning to share a little bit of what we learned and how it's impacting my life.

When you break life down to it's smallest building blocks, we are all made from energy. Energy is what makes us and the entire world tick. In the book, Energy Leadership, by Bruce D. Schneider (read this book, by the way, it is excellent), Bruce posits that if we are all made of energy, then improving our energy is what we need to work on to have happier, more fulfilled lives.

Schneider breaks energy down into seven categories or levels, the higher the level you can operate in, the happier you tend to be in all areas of your life.

Chart courtesy of Bruce D. Schneider and iPEC Coaching.

To break the levels down into easy to understand language, lets think of them in terms of winning and losing.

Level 1: I lose. Level 1 is victim energy -- think of Eeyore's "woe is me" attitude.

Level 2: You lose. This level is all about blame and anger. If something is wrong in my life, it's your fault.

Level 3: I win. This is the first level with more positive than negative energy. You take responsibility for your actions and you make stuff happen.

Level 4: You win. This is the quintessential "mom" level -- you want the best for others, so you will do whatever it takes to help them achieve.

Level 5: We both win. This level is all about opportunity -- no matter what the situation, you can find the opportunity in it and work to find the win-win for everyone.

Level 6: We always win. This level is all about the experience. It doesn't matter if it is "good" or "bad," the experience is worth the ride.

Level 7: Winning and losing are illusions. This is the highest level of consciousness, when you are connected directly to your higher power and are experiencing absolute joy.

What is fascinating about these levels to me was learning that 85% of the world operates at Levels 1 & 2! How different would our community, much less our world be if we could all learn to operate at a Level 5 -- where everything is win-win? (As a side note, it is really difficult for mere mortals to operate at Levels 6 and 7 for more than a short period of time, so striving for a baseline Level 5 energy is the typical goal).

As part of our training, Matt and I each took Energy Leadership Index Assessments, which measure our baseline operating energy level. As someone who loves to help others, I was sure that my assessment would show that I was operating at a Level 4.

I was shocked to discover how much Level 1 and Level 2 energy that I still had in my life, and what a huge impact it had on my baseline score. Although I have a ton of Level 4 and Level 5 energy, it is being masked by self-pity and conflict. What a wake-up call!

When I got my results back, I was upset (Level 2 - ha!). I didn't want to believe that the test was accurate. Then I started to notice how quick I was to snap at others throughout the day, (Level 2), make a snide comment about a situation (Level 2) or lament the fact that the bus *always* shows up just before I cross the street (Level 1). Wow!

What is great about this process is that your energy level is not immutable -- you can change! Just noticing my energy levels has had a positive impact -- I am less likely to make snide or "woe is me" comments, and try to find the opportunity in each situation. I'm a work in progress (aren't we all?), but I am confident that when I retake the ELI Assessment in several months, my score will be dramatically different.

If you are interested in learning what your own Energy baseline is, contact us and we can give you additional information about completing an assessment and debrief.

TGIF: Nicole Hesson

TGIF:

This Goal Is Finished

Good morning achievers! Hope you've had a wonderful week!

If this is your first time on our website, welcome. Velocity is about helping you find and achieve your passion through personal goal setting. You can find out more about us by clicking on any of these links.

You can sign up for our weekly inspirational newsletter or a complimentary coaching session by clicking on the buttons to the right.

The Achiever

Today’s TGIF achiever is Nicole Hesson. Nicole is a super energetic, spirited educator that Jaime met a couple years ago, and Matt had the pleasure of meeting a few months ago. Upon first meeting her, you will see that she is very intelligent, creative, outgoing, and a little silly! Check out her awesome story of going back to school so that she can take on greater challenges in her life.

I am a Philadelphia native who recently moved back to get my doctorate at Temple University. I earned my BS in Biology at Davidson College in North Carolina. Go 'Cats! I then came back north to earn my Master of Arts in Teaching at Johns Hopkins while teaching full-time as a Baltimore City Teaching Fellow. After a 3 year stint as a high school teacher, I dove into middle school at a DC charter school. After 7 years of teaching, I had taught 6 different subjects in every grade from 6th through 12th! It was a wonderful experience, but I was ready to transition out of the classroom and into the next challenge.

The Goal

The first goal was to take a class over the summer! The big goal is to get my EdD in Educational Administration.

Why This Goal?

When I decided to enroll in Temple, I wanted to get started right away. I didn't want to waste any time. I figured a summer class was the best way to get the ball rolling. I intend to get my doctorate in as short a time as possible so I can put my skills to use somewhere that needs me!

The First Step

The first step was contacting my advisor and figuring out if I could take a class. And if I could, which class to take. It definitely turned out to be the toughest step (see next question)!

Challenges

First, my advisor went on sabbatical and was unavailable for consultation. After I contacted another professor in the program, I found out he had given me some incorrect information. (I had already started the process of lining up internships that I didn't need.) Then, the professor I had contacted did not always answer questions in a timely manner and eventually suggested I wait until the Fall. Finally, I emailed the interim department head and she thought that there was a better program I could enroll in. But, she stated that I probably wouldn't be able to transfer. I found out from the head of the other department that they were no longer accepting science applications. As you can imagine, at this point, I felt very defeated!

Staying Motivated

I knew I had been accepted to the program, so I tried to focus on the reasons I was accepted. I stayed focused on the fact that someone in the university had a concrete answer to all of my questions. I made it my goal to find who that person (or people) was (or were).

Who Helped?

I went to meet with the new interim department chair in person to solve the issues I was having. Dr. Caldwell - the interim department chair - eventually figured out that the program I was accepted to would work just fine for my life goals. She also signed me up for a summer course! She was the biggest help in achieving my goal. My family and friends were also extremely helpful by listening and helping to come up with solutions. I needed a lot of help focusing towards the end! Email and internet, of course, were a great way to contact people!

TGIF – Celebrate!

I spread the good news to all the people who had heard my plight, listened to my struggles, and tried to help! Then, I finished packing for my big move.

Advice

Remember that somebody, somewhere, knows the answer to the question you are asking. Finding that person might be difficult, but be persistent. Also, have a network to lean on. Sometimes, when you are too far in, it's hard to see things clearly. A solid network of friends and family definitely helps with that.

What’s Next?

Next up is being a full-time student! I am enrolled for 4 classes in the Fall and am really excited. My long term goal is to be a professor for teachers who are preparing to teach in urban schools. I determined that getting a higher degree was the best way to do that. However, this class I'm taking called Leadership in Higher Education is making me rethink my plans about being a professor. Maybe a college presidency is in my future. Can I get back to you? J

I'm late, I'm late...

-By Jaime Willis

Good Afternoon!

This week has really been a blur of activity for me. The morning got away with me, and I am now typing this frantically between two meetings. There is so much abundance in my life right now, it's hard to keep up -- what a happy problem to have!

When you find yourself short on time, make sure the work you are focused on is aligned with your values and vision for your future. There are only twenty-four hours in the day, so time management really becomes CHOICE management. What are you choosing to do with your time? Are your current choices aligned with your goals for your future?

If not, don't spend time beating yourself up about it, just be aware that you always have the ability to make a different choice next time.

Have a wonderful day and make conscious choices!

Weekly Wednesday Inspiration #23

-by Matt Leedham

A few years ago, I found myself on a ranch in the hill country of Texas. A gentleman I know well handed me a six shooter and said with a bit of a twang, "Remember, never point a gun at something you don't intend to shoot."

Years later, strangely, I found myself at a shooting range in Philadelphia. The instructor said with a bit of northeast accent, "Rule #1 is, keep the gun pointed downrange. Rule #2 is, don't point the gun anywhere but downrange. And Rule #3 is, aim at the target...which is downrange."

Today, I think about those instructions and chuckle as I coach clients.

The target is in front of you. Stay focused and look that way. As Mr. Thoreau tells us, the only advantage of looking back is if you plan to go that way.

Have a great week.

Flip the Switch

-by Matt Leedham

As Jaime mentioned yesterday, we just returned from a very intensive training and certification program in the Boston metro area and our heads are spinning. As we learn valuable skills for coaching others, we also benefit tremendously from personal development.

My awareness of blocks that can hold others back from reaching their full potential also brings with it an acute awareness of what’s holding me back. It’s unavoidable. During these training conferences, we become guinea pigs for other coaches as they develop their coaching skills. The only way to be a good “peer client” for a coach in training is to use real examples in your own life. So, by default, you are both being coached and coaching others for hours on end in an effort to master the trade.

Last night, on a peer coaching call, I was the client. In an effort to bring more purpose and meaning to this brief story, let me share with you the real issue we were addressing.

My Block:
I am beginning to question why the heck I am always trying to achieve more, do more, and impress “others.” I don’t even know who the “others” are – all I know is that I am seeking validation from “others” for someone else’s vision of what success should be. I also don’t know who “someone else” is either, nor do I even have a clear understanding of what “success” is. Huh? I know! Crazy, right?

Having discussed my new found awareness of long-standing issues holding me back from being my true self, my astute coach said, “It sounds like you just flipped the switch on in a dark room.”

That caught my attention! And my immediate response was, “Yeah, and the roaches scattered.” (sorry if you don’t like bugs)

Both of our points were dead on. By being more conscious, aware, present, and open, I am exposing my spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical blocks to the light. And when the light goes on in a dark room, the ugly things seem to run for their lives. Interesting…

But he wasn’t done. His next point was brilliant. He asked, “And what had to happen for the light to come on in the dark room?”

Unsure of myself, I responded, “I don’t know. I had to flip the switch, I guess.”

BINGO!

The choice is mine. I can take action…or not. I can flip the switch…or live in darkness. And frankly, there is no right answer. There is only choice. And it belongs to me.

Now, THAT’S empowering, my friends.

Still Processing...

By Jaime Willis

Matt and I are traveling today from Boston, where we just finished an amazing three days of coach training with 180 of our coach peers.  It was a fantastic training, and one, quite frankly, that I am still processing. I hope to be able to coherently pull together my thoughts for a "lessons learned" post later on this week.

For now, I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to meet all the wonderful people I met, I am amazed by all of the new insights I have for myself and our business, and I am so excited to get back into the "real world" and start seeing things happen.

Allow me to quote from another blog I read last night.  Glennon, who isn't in coach training, but is always learning on her own life journey, spoke so eloquently about "life purpose," I couldn't do a better job if I tried.

"My purpose in life is to try to see people more clearly so that in each moment I am becoming a more loving person. 

That’s all. 

My life’s purpose is not motherhood. That could be taken from me. It’s not wifedom- that could be gone in a second. It’s to love myself and my neighbors with growing passion and mercy. Parenthood and wifedom and teaching and friendship and Sisterhood and writing are just the training grounds that God has provided me to practice my purpose. To practice seeing more clearly, becoming more loving. This is what brings lasting joy, I think. Becoming less afraid of ourselves and each other by discovering that we are all One. And then, the lucky thing is that this peace and joy naturally make me a better mother and wife and Sister and neighbor and writer. Magic. 

... 

I think if we want to see miracles like this in our real lives . . . we just need to try harder with each other. We have to be careful with what we say to each other and we have to be careful about how we listen. We have to listen with our hearts instead of our heads. We have to want to understand each other, and we must refuse to be easily offended. We have to stop loving drama and start loving peace. And if we do this, we WILL see miracles in our relationships. We will start seeing more clearly and we will become more loving people. And this will bring us Joy and Peace. I know it. I’ve done the experiment."

You can read the whole post here.

Have a wonderful Monday & I'll "see" you back in DC soon!

TGIF: Laura Mae Poore version 2.0

Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a great week of achievement this week. If this is your first time reading our blog, Welcome! You can read more about Velocity in the tabs above this post. If you'd like a daily dose of inspiration, like us on facebook or add us on twitter.

This week, we are doing something we've never done before -- we are rerunning a previous interview. Laura, who wrote to us last March about getting accepted for the 2012 SHINE Convention for Christian Performers, leaves THIS WEEK to perform live for all of the agents, producers, and companies that could hire her to be one of America's next hot Christian talents.

Laura is gearing up for 8 days away from home and with the support of her family, friends, and fans, is looking to see this goal through to it's ultimate completion.

Please wish Laura the best of luck to "Break a Leg" this week at SHINE!

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The Achiever

My name is Laura Poore, and I am a 30 year old wife and mother of 4 beautiful kids. I have always loved the stage, whether it be to act or to sing. I have written songs since I was a little girl, and I always wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, what I loved to do could actually be what I got to do with my life??

The Goal

You know, when your 10 year high school reunion comes around, it really makes you aware of just how much time has passed since you had all those dreams in high school about what your life would be like. Here I was, 10 years out, and I had never really given my dreams a shot. I had always hoped maybe somehow it would just happen, and it never did. When I heard about auditions for AMTC (Actors, Models, and Talent for Christ) in Chicago, I just knew this was my chance. I didn’t know if I’d “make it,” but I knew I had to give it at least one good try.

Why This Goal

I was so tired of wondering what if…. Honestly, I had reached the point where I had finally figured out that I needed to chase after my dream. I was tired of waiting, hoping, dreaming… And you know, I had reached a point in my life where I didn’t even worry too much about the outcome. If I failed, it was ok! I just knew that I had to try, and I would be at peace whatever happened, because I’d finally feel like I was living the life I was supposed to live. If that meant being a wife and mommy to four great kids, that was ok! But if it meant I could sing and act and help support my family? That was better…

Laura and her 9-year-old Halyn at the audition.

The First Step

The first step I took was actually driving an hour to auditions! I had only found out about them 2 days before, so there wasn’t a whole lot of time to let doubt sink in or to weigh down my excitement! I’ll admit that Friday night I had some concerns…no babysitter for my three older kids (9, 6, and 5), then I wondered if we could even afford the gas to get up to Chicago. Was it even worth it? Was I crazy for trying? My mind raced Friday night…but again, I just knew I had to do it. I had to. I had to. If I tried and failed, I could always come home and do the same thing I’d been doing, no big loss. But if I didn’t try, what would have happened? I couldn’t let that haunt me anymore!

Challenges

My biggest obstacle was convincing myself to bring my kids with me! Haha! I didn’t know if they would even be allowed in, but I knew that life had made me a mommy, and if I was going to take this journey, I’d do it as a mommy. So I loaded them up with a few travel toys and lots of snacks, and off we went Saturday morning to Chicago!.

Staying Motivated

I basically stayed motivated by simply putting one foot in front of the other. There were a few less than ideal things that happened…like locking my keys in the car at the parking garage…and leaving my car lights on!! Do I need to just forget the audition and call roadside assistance? What if the battery dies? I have these kids with me up in Chicago, in an unfamiliar place…what should I do? A quick call to my sweet husband answered that- he said, take care of what you went there to do. The car will still be there when you get out. You’ve come this far, don’t stop now!

Who Helped?

My husband and my kids are the one pushing me forward when I might have stopped pushing myself. Instead of just wanting to do something special for myself, it has suddenly become my mission to do something special for them and to set the example of reaching for your dreams to my children.

TGIF – Celebrate!

Laura recording at
Day Spring Studios

When I left auditions, it was bittersweet! I hadn’t done as well as I had wished, yet there was this unexplained joy of victory over me…I had finally done it. I had gotten out there and made the first step toward answering 10 years of what if’s…I had challenged myself and dared to ask the question, is this something I could do with my life? And I had put myself in front of a judge to help me answer that question. And the next morning? Life was back to “normal,” as our family prepared for church, same as we had done every Sunday before that. I didn’t know if I’d get a call-back or not, but it was ok. I felt good. I had given it a shot!

Advice

My advice is get out there and try. The truth is scary but it is also empowering. I think I avoided chasing my dreams for so long partially because as long as you only sit and dream about something, there isn’t much to disturb those dreams! You can dream as big and as often as you want, and it turns out beautifully, just the way you thought it would. I simply got tired of dreaming with my eyes closed…I wanted to see if I could somehow live this dream instead of sleeping through it. I think everyone reaches a point where they just know, enough if enough, time to make something happen or die trying! I was ok with never recording a cd or doing any acting…only as long as I had given it a shot. I was no longer ok with wondering if I ever could have done those things. You are never too old…I had to keep telling myself…If this is what I was born to do, I am not too old to try…but I wasn’t going to wait any longer!

What’s Next?

What’s next for me? I am now an official contestant for AMTC. I got called back for both acting and for singing/songwriting! I am going back to Chicago this weekend for my first training weekend with my coaches. “MY COACHES!” I am still a mommy and wife 7 days a week, but suddenly I have something of my own to work on at night after they go to bed. I have something special to work toward! July 12-17, I will attend the SHINE event in Orlando where an estimated 70-90 entertainment industry agents will be there from all over the world, including Sparrow Records (Amy Grant, Christ Tomlin), 20th Century Fox (Fox Faith Films), Universal Music Group, Sherwood Pictures (Facing the Giants, Fireproof), Epic Records/Sony Music, etc. This is an incredible opportunity for me to have an audience with so many names, all in one place at one time!

My next big goal? Either a record deal and/or a chance to work with Sherwood Pictures on one of their next movies…maybe to write their next theme song or possibly to act in their movie… or maybe both?! There is no stopping me now. I have had a taste of victory, and I love it! My family and I are on this journey together, and we are all thrilled to see where it might lead.

Want more information or updates on Laura's progress? Follow her website, www.lauramaepoore.com and read her local news interview.

Three Month Check-in: Project Simplify with my Coach

-By Jaime Willis

"The hardest thing to do is to be true to yourself, especially when everybody is watching. "

 -Dave Chappelle

As you may have read earlier, I am trying to simplify my life.  Specifically, I am trying to simplify the amount of junk that I've accumulated in my home so I am living in a clean and serene space.  If you've known me for any length of time in real life, you know that this goal is a HUGE challenge for me.  Which is why I've spent the last twelve weeks working on it with the help of my life coach, Lindsay, who has helped me set small goals and stay accountable to them.

Two weeks ago, we set a goal of getting another part of my apartment sorted through, but I failed spectacularly.  Not only did I not get that part of the apartment cleaned, the rest of my house went to hell in a handbasket as well.  It wasn't pretty and I wasn't looking forward to the check-in with Lindsay.  

As Lindsay and I spoke about what (didn't) happen, I realized something pretty profound about myself.  While I value cleanliness and simplicity, I don't at all value the time it takes to make that happen.  I've chosen to stay busy with two jobs, friends, & family, and chores are never going to hit the top of my 'to-do' list.  

How can I resolve valuing the end result of something that I have no energy to make happen?  Outsource it!  Lindsay and I realized that I was just setting myself up to fail every time I tried so hard to commit to some sort of massive cleaning schedule -- because I will never ultimately choose to spend my time that way.  I committed to researching what services in DC can help me both reduce my clutter and provide housekeeping services and report back in my next coaching session.  I also committed to doing three 1/2 hour "clean sweep" sessions before my next meeting with Lindsay. 

Remember what Matt and I have said time and again about talking about your goals?  Of course, over the next day or two, I was sharing my new research project with my mentee, Jessica, who was visiting DC for the week.  Guess who offered to help me sort and declutter?  Jessica was so pleased to be able to help me out as I have helped her over the years.  She came over the next day and in three hours, we were able to clean up the bathroom, kitchen, and living room, including rearranging the furniture, dusting & sweeping the floors!  

I couldn't wait to report my success to Lindsay at our next session -- with Jessica's help, I'd been able to accomplish so much more than I could have in my own 1.5 hours of work, making a huge dent in my project.  Lindsay and I are almost finished with our coaching sessions togethers, so we agreed to do our final session in August, which will give me time to finish de-cluttering my bedroom and hire a cleaning service before I report in again.  

What a gift to myself -- a permanent plan to keep my house clean in a way that honors my own values and time management.  If you are thinking, oh, that's so nice for you Jaime, but I can't afford a housekeeper, note that I am choosing to cancel my cable television service and use that savings to pay the cleaner.  I would rather my money go to allowing me to live in a serene environment every single day than the occasional entertainment I get from television shows, most of which I can watch online. 

Lessons I learned in my three months of coaching?

• Speak up!  Tell people what your goals are and you'll be so shocked at how often you'll get assistance to get them accomplished.
• Know Thyself!  A lot of my coaching sessions were really about figuring how why I valued a clean home and why, oddly, it wasn't happening.  My sessions would have gone completely differently, for example, if the only reason I wanted a clean apartment was to impress my friends or to finally live up to my mother's reputation (My mom is Martha Stewart's midwest doppleganger!)  By understanding the reasoning behind my values, I was able to come up with solutions that will continue to work for me -- something I've literally NEVER been able to do before.
• Baby Steps!  When you are tackling a big goal, especially one you've tried and failed a lot of times before, take it easy.  It may not seem to you that it should take three months of coaching to get a clean and decluttered home, but the slow, methodical way my coach and I have approached this goal has me comforted that my ultimate success will be PERMANENT.  That's totally worth it. 

I can't wait to check in with you guys in August (with pictures) and show you my new and improved, serene, apartment!  I hope this blog post has given you some insights on what coaching is like and how it can help you permanently change both your outlook and your success on some of those nagging goals you face in your life.  Feel free to email Matt or I for more questions or to schedule a free trial coaching session!

Weekly Wednesday Inspiration #22

-by Matt Leedham

Many years ago, a great fighter, the likes of which has never been seen before or after, took hold of a spotlight that lasted long beyond his prime. Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., delighted boxing fans, sports fans, and the general public with both his superior performance in the ring, and his uncompromising wit, humor, and wisdom before and after each fight.

Below is a collection of Muhammad Ali quotes for you to enjoy, be inspired by, and laugh at.

Confidence Quotes

“A rooster crows only when it sees the light. Put him in the dark and he'll never crow. I have seen the light and I'm crowing.”

“I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.”

“I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest.”

“I know where I'm going and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want.”

“It's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself.”

“It's not bragging if you can back it up.”

"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing."

Super-Insane Confidence Quotes

“I am the astronaut of boxing. Joe Louis and Dempsey were just jet pilots. I'm in a world of my own.”

“I figure I'll be champ for about ten years and then I'll let my brother take over - like the Kennedys down in Washington.”

“I'm not the greatest; I'm the double greatest. Not only do I knock 'em out, I pick the round.”

“I'm the most recognized and loved man that ever lived cuz there weren't no satellites when Jesus and Moses were around, so people far away in the villages didn't know about them.”

“It's hard to be humble, when you're as great as I am.”

Hilarious Quotes

“Frazier is so ugly that he should donate his face to the US Bureau of Wild Life.”

“I'll beat him so bad he'll need a shoehorn to put his hat on.”

“I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark.”

“If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologize.”

“My toughest fight was with my first wife.”

Wise Quotes

“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.”

“A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.”

“Age is whatever you think it is. You are as old as you think you are.”

“Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.”

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”

“I wish people would love everybody else the way they love me. It would be a better world.”

“If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure make something out of you.”

“It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it's the pebble in your shoe.”

“It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.”

“Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.”

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”

“Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer.”

“The man who has no imagination has no wings.”

“There are no pleasures in a fight but some of my fights have been a pleasure to win.”

“To be able to give away riches is mandatory if you wish to possess them. This is the only way that you will be truly rich.”

Keeping It Real Quotes

“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’”

“I never thought of losing, but now that it's happened, the only thing is to do it right. That's my obligation to all the people who believe in me. We all have to take defeats in life.”

“It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up.”

“Life is a gamble. You can get hurt, but people die in plane crashes, lose their arms and legs in car accidents; people die every day. Same with fighters: some die, some get hurt, some go on. You just don't let yourself believe it will happen to you.”

“My way of joking is to tell the truth. That's the funniest joke in the world.”

“There are more pleasant things to do than beat up people.”

“What keeps me going is goals.”