Message from Joel

This monthly newsletter will occur the first three weeks of every month and cover the following topics: 1) Articles on ways to achieve your true potential. 2) Tips on enjoying work. 3) Inspirational stories and quotes. I think you'll enjoy the inspiration and challenge this newsletter provides... it will support you in finding your own dreams and passions.

My purpose is for you to have information that you can put to work immediately in your daily life. DreamsWork: The Power of Intention, Part I Question of the Day Why do we spend our days focusing on what we can't do, who we can't be, the challenges we won't overcome and the dreams we won't achieve? The answer lies in where we direct our power of intention.

The Power of Intention

You are a powerful, magnificent, wonderful and passionate being. This is your true essence. Yet most of us see ourselves as less than all that. Why do we spend our days focusing on what we can't do, who we can't be, the challenges we won't overcome and the dreams we won't achieve? The answer lies in where we direct our power of intention.

What is the "power of intention" and how is it different than just intention? I am referring to the incredible effect that power coupled with intention has on the results you are trying to create. Intention is not at all powerful by itself, because it's just a mental state, without action and results. In order to create power behind your intention, you must take action. To direct your power of intention to maximize your results, both intention and action must be directed toward the results you want in your life.

Last month, I had ten days where I experienced feelings both of power and of powerlessness. The feelings of power occurred as I gained even more clarity of my vision for my company, enjoyed the rewards of great friendships, attracted new clients from my target market, collaborated with other creative and bright coaches, and organized my office space to be more efficient. At the end of this wonderful week, I felt on top of the world because I was able to not only expand my dreams for the future, but also to manifest more than I had even dreamed of when I started this company one year ago. My power of intention was focused on what I am capable of creating.

Then, two days later, my power of intention became re-directed because of my frustration at the lack of freedom I was beginning to feel. As my dream business has taken off, I have had less time to devote to developing new programs and ancillary materials for my business. Once I became focused on the negative - my feelings that increased time constraints decreased my freedom - I started paying attention to the negative voices inside me, and thinking: "I can't do it," "I'm not worthy of attracting all these gifts," and "I don't have the power to innovate." These voices of doubt and fear overcame the great burst of energy that I had felt in the previous week, and my productivity plummeted.

Now, after this tough period of feeling powerful and then powerless, I believe in myself again. I believe in my dreams, my magnificence, and my ability to create and to manifest all that I am in the world. The difference between one week's doubt and another week's fearlessness is where I focused my power of intention.

With the help of my coach, I took my attention off my doubts, and placed it on my intention to grow and improve Dream Job Coaching. I generated power behind this intention by taking constructive action steps. In short, I redirected my power of intention. Changing the direction of your power of intention can change your feelings, and then your results. You might have the habit of allowing yourself to get caught up in negative feelings, thereby focusing your attention on something that doesn't serve you in the best possible way. Usually when that happens, your energy is diverted to relieving those negative feelings, and away from taking constructive steps - especially the challenging, scary ones -- to attain your goals.

At such times, a coach, friend or any understanding individual can offer the support to get you through the self-doubts, and to assist you in redirecting your power of intention toward achieving your goals. Next week's edition of DreamsWork: the power of intention, part II, will explore in detail the steps you can apply to shift your power of intention to keep on track toward achieving your goals.

Here is a sample of 3 of the steps:

MONITOR YOUR THOUGHTS - If you are questioning why you aren't creating the result you want, look at your thoughts and words, because those express your true intention.

ENLIST SUPPORT - Stay close to people who believe in you and remind you of who you are in all your power. Find three people today who can remind you of where your attention wants to be directed.

USE A COACH - Arrange with someone to work with you weekly to focus yourself on what you most want in your life. Consider hiring a professional coach to help you along your path to what you want.

As you apply these steps, you will begin to feel a sense of inner strength and an appreciation of your true essence, and you will become bigger than your feelings of powerlessness. Putting the power of intention to work for yourself means being focused on what is best for you and having a clear idea of how you're going to achieve it. Then, once you have an objective and a strategy, take action. Only action will move your desired result from being "out there" to becoming a reality in your life.

As one of my clients said about the power of intention, "when one focuses on achieving a particular result, and acknowledges a process leading to an objective, one fuels the process, and things get done very quickly."

Success Formula Power of Intention = Clear Objective + Focused Attention + Taking Action

The Power of Intention, Part II

The Joy of Work: Ways to Shift Your Power of Intention to Attain What You Want.

These steps can be used at work and in other spheres of life to achieve your desired results more quickly and easily.

Monitor Your Thoughts
If you are questioning why you aren't creating the result you want, look at your thoughts and words, because those express your true intention.

Enlist Support
Stay close to people who believe in you and remind you of who you are in all your power. Find three people today who can remind you of where your attention wants to be directed.

Use a Coach
Arrange with someone to work with you weekly to focus yourself on what you most want in your life. Consider hiring a professional coach to help you along your path to what you want.

Sign up for Seminars
Gaining knowledge that reminds you of what you want in your life is a powerful tool for focusing your power of intention. Review local papers and other useful sources so you can find out what seminars and workshops are being offered, and sign up for one's aligned to your dreams.

Create Daily Reminders
Create personal notes that remind you where you most want to put your power of intention and inspire you to action. These notes can be in your home and even your office.

Set Aside Relaxation Time
By slowing down, quieting yourself and allowing your energies to settle, you can reinforce your sense of direction your life wants to live, and receive new inspiration.

Make Space
Clean up your office and life so nothing "out there" limits you from knowing the right intention for your life. Some activities which you might find helpful at work are: organizing your filing system, focusing on only three major projects at a time and completing your to-do list first thing in the morning.

Engage in an Activity You Love
Think back on your life. What are the things you most enjoyed doing, felt most passionate about? Try to include something you love in your life every day.

Dream Job Coaching - What's New!

About two months ago, I attended the ICF (International Coach Federation) conference with over 700 coaches from around the world. It was exciting to spend time with my peers and learn what other coaches in my industry are doing. I've included some of my notes from just a few of more then 40 break-out sessions offered during this three day conference in Arizona.

What coaches need to know when working with clients?

* They are naturally resourceful, creative and whole.
* They need space to be who they are.
* The relationship is a designed alliance individually customized for each client.

What obscures the truth from coming out in the coaching relationship?
* Focusing too much on goals.
* Coach asking to many questions.
* Undue expectations from the client or the coach.
* Lack of deep listening by the coach.

How to create a successful coaching practice?
* Invest in myself, my clients and my business.
* Understand what makes me better then other coaches.
* With every potential client, ask myself, "am I the ideal coach and are you the ideal client?"

In order to have higher level clients, I need to be a higher level person.

1) Take Time for Your Life ... Create High Quality Lives

2) Leveraging the Power of Telephone Technology

3) Strategic Inquiry - The Coach's Tool

I brought back exciting new exercises and materials that I've incorporated into my practice. My clients are benefiting from this added knowledge. The most exciting revelation was being a part of a profession with other like-minded, energetic and serving individuals. To be a part of the second biggest consulting, business next to management consulting, according to US News & World Report, is exhilarating.

The Power of Intention, Part III

Did You Know? The following is the true story of the establishment of the Nobel prizes, which are generally considered to be the supreme awards for achievement in the arts and sciences:

Alfred Nobel, a Swedish chemist, made a fortune by inventing more powerful explosives and licensing the formula to governments to make weapons. One day, Nobel's brother died, and one newspaper by accident printed an obituary notice for Alfred instead. It identified him as an inventor of dynamite and the man who made a fortune by enabling armies to achieve new levels of mass destruction.

Nobel had the unique opportunity to read his own obituary in the lifetime and to see what he would be remembered for. He was shocked to think that this was what his life would add up to, to be remembered as a merchant of death and destruction.

He took his fortune and used it to establish the awards for accomplishments in various fields which would benefit humanity. It is for that, not for his explosives, that he is remembered today. When Nobel was at his most 'successful,' he was working against life and against peace. Then he realized what he would leave behind if that were all he did, and he gave the last part of his life another direction.

Source: "When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough" by Harold Kushner

Coaching Tip: Alfred Nobel is a shining example of how one man redirected his power of intention to leave a positive legacy that would be remembered beyond his lifetime.

Are there any stories or articles for Did You Know? that you would like to share? If so, please send them to joel@dreamjobcoach.com. I will give you credit for sending in the article, if I use it in a future edition. Your comments and ideas are always welcome.

Thank you for your precious time and have a productive Week. Joel Garfinkle Dream Job Coaching: Live Your Dream Life!

~ Joel Garfinkle
Dream Job Coaching:
Live Your Dream Life!

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Coaching Services

Joel Garfinkle is available for coaching. Send him an email at joel@dreamjobcoach.com or call (510) 339-3201.

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Copyright (c) 1999-2006, Joel Garfinkle, all rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or distribute DreamsWork so long as this copyright notice and full information about contacting the author is attached.