Recent Articles From EvanCarmichael.com http://www.evancarmichael.com/ http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/20-Ways-to-Say-No.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/20-Ways-to-Say-No.html Saying no is tough sometimes. But it’s a necessary skill if you want to live a life with any kind of balance. Demands on our time, money and other resources can take all that we have if we allow them. And failing to use this important word leads to resentments in our relationships, over-scheduling, overwhelm, over extending, frustration and inattention to our own needs or goals. When we aren’t good at it, coming up with a “no” on the fly can be very difficult. I encourage my clients to create some ready phrases so that they are prepared. The trick is to: http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/A-Toddlers-Exercise-Program--A-Recipe-for-Heart-Health-in-More-Ways-than-One.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/A-Toddlers-Exercise-Program--A-Recipe-for-Heart-Health-in-More-Ways-than-One.html I wrote this list when my oldest son, Eric, was about 4 years old. Eric was, and still is, a very energetic boy. One day it just struck me as very funny to think about how different we are as adults. If we were more like kids we could get rid of those extra Calories just going about our normal activities. Have you ever wondered why your kids are so thin? Well, when was the last time that you: http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/The-Priorities-Game.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/The-Priorities-Game.html Each one of us is a valuable resource and we all have gifts we are meant to use in service to others. There are demands on our time constantly. How do we pick and choose where we will use our time and energy? It’s tough! The Priorities Game can help. I use it with many of my clients. Just apply these few simple questions to any demand on your time before you make a decision. You will be more intentional about your choices. Follow through based on your answers and you’ll experience more focused energy and peace. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/New-School-Year-Lessons-from-a-Middle-Schooler.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/New-School-Year-Lessons-from-a-Middle-Schooler.html Today is the first day of school in Michigan and I am the new mom to a Middle Schooler!. Time has flown so quickly. It seems like just yesterday that I was holding him in the rocking chair in his room. I remember looking at his little legs and thinking to myself, “some day his legs will hang over mine when he sits on my lap. I can’t even imagine it.” And now here we are, it’s been years since he’s spent any time on my lap. His legs would almost hit the ground, all in the blink of an eye. Where has the time gone? I watch with amazement as he heads off to Middle School with nothing more than anticipation. Hallways to maneuver, new school, way more kids, lockers and classes to find. His elementary school is nothing more than a fond memory and he is ready to move on. I am so proud of him today! http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/Quick-Tips-to-Decrease-Stress.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/Quick-Tips-to-Decrease-Stress.html Life has been busy, busy, busy but good. Lots of new projects in the works and great new clients. It's definitely been a time to chunk down tasks! Yes, even I, "the life balance guru" need reminders. Living in a state of overwhelm is not healthy. I always say, you can live that way for a sprint but not a marathon! Here are some basic steps to use to move from overwhelm to calm - or at least calmer! http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/No-TimeReally.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/No-TimeReally.html I love to pay attention to the language I use and also the words my clients choose. Being aware of our own language provides a window into where we may have blind spots, fears or beliefs standing in our way. I often catch my clients using the phrase, “I just don’t have time.” It’s a sentence that suggests that we have no power over how we spend our time. And the truth is, we do. Certainly there can be negative consequences to choosing to spend our time in one way over another. And avoiding those negative consequences can drive our choices, but, at the end of the day, we are choosing! http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/The-Interview-Process-in-a-Nutshell.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/The-Interview-Process-in-a-Nutshell.html Have you ever thought about the full cost of hiring a new employee? There are the obvious costs: placing an ad, the wages spent on time looking at resumes and conducting interviews, pre-employment physical, reference checks. Then there are the less obvious costs: wages for training time of both the trainer and new employee, lost productivity while the position is vacant, lost productivity while the new employee learns and gets up to speed, the cost of mistakes. When you add it all up it definitely motivates you to minimize employee turnover, doesn’t it? And there are many strategies an employer can utilize to create an environment that inspires employee loyalty. But the first and most important step is making the right hiring decision. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/Procrastination--The-Symptom-not-the-Cause.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/Procrastination--The-Symptom-not-the-Cause.html Procrastination is one of those buzz phrases that people use often, sometimes with a negative connotation, other times with a shrug and a laugh like it’s just the way it is and they are powerless to change it. Procrastination, itself, is never the issue though. It’s just the symptom. So, I always help my clients figure out what’s underneath the procrastinating behavior. This is where the real opportunity for change exists. Here are some of the main causes of procrastination along with some steps you can take to eliminate the behavior – if you choose! http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/The-Two-Key-Components-to-Living-with-Tenacity.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/The-Two-Key-Components-to-Living-with-Tenacity.html Tenacity is a key component to success. We must have it to reach our goals. It’s the fuel that keeps us moving through the inevitable challenges. But how often do we take the time to stop and think about what tenacity really is? Let’s spend a minute to figure out what tenacity looks like and how we can create it to use to our advantage. When I’m working with clients I often use the analogy of getting your screaming baby strapped into a car seat to illustrate tenacity. Because, if you have kids, you have experienced tenacity! When you are putting your child in their car seat your purpose is to make your baby safe. Your baby hates to feel confined and wants nothing to do with it. You can not reason with a baby or explain your logic so you must just make it happen. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/Are-You-Ready-to-ReEnter-The-Workforce--Back-to-Work-Strategies-that-Work.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/1798/Are-You-Ready-to-ReEnter-The-Workforce--Back-to-Work-Strategies-that-Work.html Have you been out of the workforce for a period of time and now are ready to re-enter? Don’t worry – it’s not that uncommon these days to go back to work after a period away! Many moms take a hiatus after having a baby and then go back to work. Or, life circumstances change, you get a divorce and need to go back to work after being home. Here are some tips for preparing: