Author Archives: Kit Prendergast

Inventory Your Successes from Last Year

This is a great reminder for all of us. It’s so easy to slip into thinking about everything that we didn’t do, couldn’t do, postponed doing etc. We often do that at night before going to bed. Instead of focusing on what we did accomplish during that day, we are busy thinking of all that we didn’t do. The result? We just feel more overwhelmed and exhausted.

So try this instead . . . do an “inventory” of your successes from last year. Start with flipping back through your paper or electronic calendar and start noting down all that you accomplished in both your professional and personal life. Now go to anyplace else that you write these things down. Ask colleagues, your spouse, your friends as well. Often their memories are much better than ours.

Make a HUGE list for 2014. If you are on a roll, go back another year and another year. You will be amazed that you actually have been very successful! Now give yourself a warm pat on your back, curl up next to your fluffy pillow and go right to sleep knowing that you have been very successful in the things that matter most to you at this time.

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Thrive: The Third Metric…

Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder, by Arianna Huffington, Crown Publishing Group, Random House LLC, New York, New York, 2014.

If you get the opportunity to see Arianna Huffington speak live at any kind of event, make sure to go! I saw her at the ASTD International Conference in Washington D.C. last spring and immediately bought two copies of her brand new book, Thrive.

Huffington’s personal story, combined with her own extraordinary success as the co-founder of the Huffington Post Media Group, grabbed my attention right away. She was singing my song! All of us need to be very aware of how we are defining “success” for ourselves. And then to have the courage to ask ourselves if that definition is getting us to where we really want to go at this time in our lives. Don’t hurry reading this book – savor it and enjoy!

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What is “Essential” to You? Focus on the Power of Five

In deciding what is essential, I always start with identifying the outcome I want in a certain area. And then I think about the strategy I need to achieve this outcome and what disciplined approach will be most effective in implementing the strategy.

Here’s what it looks like – it’s actually my annual business plan.

  1. I draw out my favorite Olympic Circles picture – five interconnecting circles.
  2. In each circle, I write an area of my business that I have chosen to be essential in the coming year. My five areas for 2015 are:

Individual Career Transition Coaching; Corporate Partnerships (Training & Coaching); Mentoring/Prof. Development; Marketing; Business of the Business.

These five areas are where I want to devote my time and energy this year.

When I do that in a disciplined way, I am extremely effective in achieving my goals and my business grows and flourishes!

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Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less,Greg McKeown, Crown Publishing Group, Random House LLC, New York, New York, 2014.

I admit that I haven’t read this new book cover to cover over the holidays. And it’s simply because I started flipping through the chapters and immediately got fascinated with several of McKeown’s powerful insights. My favorite two chapters so far are developing our ability to “choose choice” and the “genius of routine” to make it effortless to focus on what is essential.

One of my favorite clients had recommended this book and he was absolutely right – it is one to read slowly, think carefully about and then decide which of the ideas can help you achieve your goals for the coming year. And let me know how it is working for you. Enjoy!

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Do You Have the “Right Stuff” to Become a Free Agent?

I am a free agent and love it. Earlier in my working life, I worked for both San Diego County and for Kaiser Permanente HMO (west & east coasts) and enjoyed both a great deal. But as my professional career has matured I’ve gravitated to working for myself as a sole practitioner, independent contractor, business owner etc. I’m all those things rolled into one. Yes, I work harder, but I enjoy the challenge of using my years of experience and expertise in any way I want.

But being a free agent is not for everyone. Here are three questions I would suggest you ask yourself before making the leap into this new way of working and of being.

  1. Do you have the initiative and drive to build a business from the ground up? It takes focus, commitment and a large dose of optimism to stay with it. Do you have those qualities?
  2. Are you willing to learn the new skills – or hire someone who does – to market your business, to establish the infrastructure and to do the business of running the business?
  3. Is the rest of your life fairly stable? Do you have a separate income that can help pay the bills until this new venture is profitable? Can you commit the necessary time and energy?

No time is a perfect time. But with some careful planning you may find that becoming a free agent is just perfect for you in this time of your life. Lots of other people of all ages are embracing this idea – think about it!

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