A different perspective on Celebrating…

…when you’re dealing with disappointment when everyone else is celebrating.

Sometimes the year finishes all too soon, with goals incomplete, and disappointments scattered around you like the gift-wrapping after Christmas lunch.

If you’re familiar with my writing or speaking, you know I’m passionate about celebrating.  Reflecting on accomplishments and celebrating learning is incredibly valuable. It’s not always easy, and even more important at these times. I know many people who are completing 2009 with a sense of “Thank God this year is over! I don’t want to think about it again.”

It may have been a really, really tough year, so let’s have a look at what there is to celebrate… come with me on a journey of discovery. (It’s been a tough year for me, but the outcomes are amazing!)

Did you do something for the first time this year?
Did you meet someone new who opened your eyes to new ideas or opportunities?
Did you step outside your comfort zone?  What do you now do, or know, that was once outside of your reach?
Did you set a goal that scared you because it was ‘bigger than ever’?  How did you go?  Whether you reached it yet or not, what did you learn?
What do you now have, or what do you know as a result of tackling this goal?
How did you handle the challenges that came up this year?  (Never mind if it wasn’t as well as you would’ve liked, but did you handle things better than a previous time)

What would the most encouraging, sincere friend be saying to you if you discussed the above with them?

It’s so important to find opportunities to give yourself a pat on the back.  It increases your awareness, expands your creativity and your confidence, and can even increase your energy – how useful is that at this time of year!
If you keep noticing the things you aren’t so proud of, acknowledge them and put them aside… you might need to remind yourself that it’s time to silence the inner critic and see what else is there that the critic has been ignoring.

Personally, I’m really looking forward to a week to reflect on this year, which feels a bit of a haze at the moment as I’m more fatigued than I’ve been for a long time, so I’m going to start by going through my calendar month by month, noting the events.
I know I will realise that I’ve traveled extensively, met amazing people each time that I am grateful to have connected with. Some have been dear friends for a long time, some are new connections.
I know I will find many new experiences, and moments where I jumped out of the comfort zone which resulted in great learning and more opportunities.
I know I’ll find moments where I surprised myself, and insights that will jump off the pages and excite and inspire me.
I know I’ll be grateful for each coaching journey I’ve taken with clients and in awe of the difference it’s made for them.  Actually reading their testimonials speaks volumes to me…

Are you seeing how this could look for you?

What will you do to celebrate your accomplishments – and the fact that you’ve arrived at the end of this year? See yourself crossing the finish line… You made it!!! Well done! Start with the simple things – pen and paper – and go for it!!!

Now go and have a real celebration, no need to put a smile on – the happiness and confidence will come from the inside out!

Cheering you on,
Kerrie

PS.  Please leave a comment with your thoughts, especially if you’d like to be notified when I actually do my list (I know it’s going to take a while!) – I’m happy to share some of it with anyone who would find it useful to see an example.

100 Days of Gratitude – Day 47

So grateful today for some very exciting mail… especially for the sender!  Julie Woods, That Blind Woman, from New Zealand, launched her book recently, and popped a couple in the mail to me.  How exciting! The book covers Julie’s first 10 years of blindness, and explores her learning along the way.

Julie has featured in our newsletter a few times – so this book will come as no surprise to many of my readers.  I’m grateful to Julie for not only sharing the journey of the book with me, as her coach, and now her friend, but I’m grateful that Julie is who she is.  One page will have you laughing hysterically, the next will smack you in the face with profound insights that could just change your life.  One of the key ways Julie has impacted my life is by her incredibly creative approach to problem-solving, and the way she explores the learning in everything she does.  She’s one incredibly inspiring woman with a story worth sharing!

Love Kerrie

Inspired Blogging

One of the things that I love about blogging is seeing the comments that land at the bottom of the page, especially from people like Miki from South Africa!  Another is that I get to share the excitement and learning and I feel like I’m not keeping all the good news to myself!  Good news, or just happy, grateful thoughts – it’s all good and I can just “put it out there” for whoever wants it!

I’m trying to wrap up our year in a nutshell for our newsletter that is going out today.  It’s a challenge!  I can see why last year I wrote my blog “I’m thankful” (see December entries) and just sent a brief Christmas email to people inviting them to see it!

Again, I’m thankful, and celebrating the completion of the year (some of it, we’re so glad is over!) and recognising the very steep learning curve we’ve been on.  We have met so many awesome people this year, traveled (just within Australia this year, but it’s big enough!)  We’ve been to Brisbane, Sydney (countless times), Gold Coast, Broken Hill, Tooraweenah, Grenfell, Forbes and West Wyalong.  We’ve attended weddings, funerals and Intensive Care, moved house (we’re now in South Dubbo if you missed that bit of news).
I’ve coached fabulous people in Country NSW, New  Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan, mentored new coaches from Adelaide to Indonesia and discovered the following  quote from Anais Nin to be so true:

“Each new friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.”

So if you have stepped into my world in 2008, or anytime previously… I thank you.  You have made a difference, whether it’s been a pleasant relationship or a challenging one, it’s one I am grateful for, as you have helped me grow.  I hope that in our interactions I may have helped you grow too.

Cheering you on,

Love Kerrie

PS. To see the above-mentioned, now published newsletter with photo’s and more inspiration, see
Our latest newsletter Click Here Now.

Achieving Goals

Achieving goals on time, every time – who does that?! Approximately 80% of my clients achieve their goals in the intended time-frame, sometimes sooner, which is exciting. (Bear in mind that they have committed to a process of fast-tracking their achievements) However, there are often goals that are more challenging than expected, or there are random interruptions that occur throughout life, such as sickness or technical delays.
It can be disheartening to feel like your goal is too far off, but it’s important to remember two things.

1. Keep Moving! It doesn’t really matter how fast you’re achieving goals, just don’t let discouragement stop you in your tracks. Keep focused on the big picture and keep moving forward, little steps at a time.

2. The journey is often more important than the destination. It’s great to achieve goals, but don’t lose sight of the learning along the way. Who you become on your journey to the goals tends to be more significant than the goal itself.

Have a super month, learning, celebrating and achieving goals!

The Power of Commitment

If you’re not ready to commit to something, then don’t!!  Many people make New Years Resolutions and have become “too busy” to stick to them.  It’s more likely a commitment factor. I needed a holiday after Christmas, I wasn’t ready to create powerful goals for the year then – but now… look out world!  Here comes my best year ever.

When you’re clear on what’s most important to you, and what’s an achievable time-frame, make your plans and go for it!  Commit wholeheartedly and don’t look back, keep focused and believing that it’s possible.  This quote, one of my favourites, expresses it beautifully…

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness, concerning all acts of initiative [and creation]. There is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans; that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.Whatever you can do or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now. Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe/ Sir Edmund Hillary

What have you been thinking about doing this year?  Are you ready to move forward and keep going?  People ask me (especially in the coaching community) how I managed to build a successful coaching practice – “and in a regional area” and my answer has to be that I chose not to have a “plan B”.  I knew what I wanted to do and was not going to settle for anything else.  It can be tempting, when you’re multi-talented, to settle for something you do well and enjoy – but if there’s something bigger calling you GO FOR IT!

Cheering you on, Kerrie

I’m Thankful…

First of all – I’m thankful for each person reading this – I hope you find it well worth the time and see more things in your world you are thankful for.  What a great focus to end the year with!  (The impact – besides feeling great – is that you’re in a fantastic space to think big when it comes to considering possibilities and goals for 2008)

I’m thankful for another big year coming to a close, with much to celebrate…  I have just spent the afternoon with some of my family – including my 4 Grandparents.  I’m 34 years old and still have my 4 grandparents to share some of the joys of life with – including my gorgeous 7 year old son Ethan. They are an incredible example to us all as both couples have celebrated their 63rd Wedding Anniversaries this year and say that communication is the key… it’s the key to anything relational isn’t it?!  Ok, back to thankfulness… what a year! I’ve travelled to Sydney (countless times and all good), Brisbane, Melbourne & Singapore, plus a few road trips around the region for various speaking/coaching events.  I’m so grateful for the people I’ve met, the confidence I’ve stepped into, the clients I’ve had the honour to work with – each one overcoming obstacles and achieving significant goals, changing their lives.  I’m thankful for the training I’ve completed, the inspiring colleagues I’m delighted to work with, the incredible friendships with passionate, purposeful difference-makers.  I am so blessed.  Many new friendships to treasure and established ones which grow more lovely and valuable each year.  On this note I must write of my incredible husband who I love more dearly as we continue our journey – it’s so much better than ever before!  We celebrated our 13th Wedding Anniversary in June amongst other celebrations.  Lyndon has been quite the student this year, first in bookkeeping,  followed by intense study to complete his parachute instructor rating, along with my dad – they both passed with flying colours.  I’m so thankful for Lyndon’s role in my/our business – I couldn’t do it so well without him (and all his fabulous, organised bookkeeping and admin)!!   We are also celebrating the completion of 3 years of KL Coaching Solutions and have changed the business to Kerrie Phipps Coaching & Development.

Another major blessing has been our recent move – to a beautiful house on the edge of town, perfect for entertaining and quiet family time.  My office is now in another building on the property, so we’re loving home being home with no sign of paperwork or business bits and pieces.  We’re so grateful for this home and the awesome friends who’ve entrusted it to us.  We are also thankful that our two previous homes are well tenanted and increasing in value - giving us the opportunity to further invest.  We have a bright future – much to anticipate, celebrate and learn along the way.

Finally, I am thankful for Christmas and forever grateful that God chose to step into our world and change us for eternity.  Have a wonderful, loving Christmas and be kind to yourself and those in your world.  Love & Blessings, Kerrie