Blog Entries

Say what needs to be said

lauree@simplyleap.com — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

It's not easy to tell the truth, but it's worth it.

This is an excerpt from my upcoming book, called I'm Scared & Doing it Anyway.

There I was on the conveyor belt of life in 2008, going along pretty darn happy most days, when I met a friend while he was visiting his family for Christmas.

Walking around Manhattan, we talked about his marriage, and he said:

The thing about us is that we can execute any plan. We're really good at it.

In a way, it's a compliment. A couple should be in sync; that's the only way you can survive h [...]

Own it, already

lauree@simplyleap.com — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Forgive the rant, but it needs to be said.

It's time to be who you are unapologetically.

My recent rants have been on accepting a compliment and Saying Yes. It seemed about time for a new one.

I'm speaking mainly to women, but I think it applies more broadly too.

What am I talking about?

Women, be women. Own your woman-ness, your femininity, without apologizing, and most definitely without judging yourself for it.

You are not weaker for being feminine. You are, in fact, stronger.

Here's what I mean:

It mak [...]

Time for your check-in

lauree@simplyleap.com — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Unlike the dentist, this won't hurt a bit.

It's mid-January, when holidays are a memory, you're back to a routine and resolutions, such as they are, may not be sticking.

That's why it's time for check-in.

How are mine, you may ask? Pretty darn good.

The main reason is because my resolutions were secondary. I wanted to take more naps (done!) and remove the word "try" from my vocabulary (it's complicated).

What I really wanted, and what I'm getting, is to be More Happy.

Yes, it's grammatically supposed to be happ [...]

Resolutions that work, really

lauree@simplyleap.com — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

You know you want to set some. I think it's in our DNA.

Attaching your resolutions to your values makes them stick. Then, they are just to-do's that will bring you closer to what you really want for yourself.

My resolutions for 2012?

To remove try from my vocabulary and to take more naps.

The first one conjured up Yoda for some of you.

Do or do not. There is no try.

Yoda is right.

I use the word try when I'm forcing myself to do something I'd rather not. In the process I end up making a lot of things work, even though they aren [...]

Their leaps, your inspiration

lauree@simplyleap.com — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

What an amazing year it's been.

Thanks to changing the story of my life, my Hug Tour, and in large part to the smart, driven, and sometimes silly (I wouldn't have it any other way) individual clients and businesses I've worked with this year.

Looking for inspiration to take a leap in 2012?

It's their 2011 successes that you need to hear about:

Lola Pyne realized that, "We don't have to relegate the things that bring us joy to just 'hobbies.' We can pursue such passions knowing that the joy they bring us can be shared.&qu [...]

Out of my way, coming through

lauree@simplyleap.com — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

It may surprise you that what gets in the way of you going after your goal is just as important as the goal itself.

A recent article in Yoga Journal is about achieving goals. It introduces two simple steps that I'd like to elaborate on.

Commit to a goal or practice. Remove obstacles in the way.

First, a goal can be anything you want: starting your own business, improving relationships, eating well, exercising regularly...

Start off by stating clearly what you want in as simple terms as possible. Consider finishing this short phrase: "I want ___. [...]

Ignite your workforce

lauree@simplyleap.com — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

What would you say with only had five minutes?

That's the question posed by the organizers of Ignite events around the world, and by me to the attendees of the Government Workforce conference hosted by the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD).

I used a five-minute Ignite speech to show what's possible if you bring the format into the Government and work settings.

Please take a look.

Want help bringing Ignite to your organization? Let's talk!

101 Days of Facing Fear

lauree@simplyleap.com — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

No one expects great leaps while making peanut butter and jelly. But that's what happened.

Four mini-posts on facing fear from new mom and life-long leaper, Nadine Cooper-Kohn.

Making Things Bite Size
Right in the middle of trying not to tear a hole in the bread, I thought of the business card on my computer desk - the one with a new neighbor's e-mail address on it; the one I had been too shy, nervous, scared to actually use over the past week.

I suddenly thought, "This is what scared and doing it anyway is all about." It doesn't have to be [...]

Patience, buttercup

lauree@simplyleap.com — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

How do I leap if I don't know what will happen?

Well, why do you think we call it a leap?

We all want a sure thing. To know that the big dream we have for ourselves will come together perfectly.

Not just that, though. We also want to know this in advance of going for it, and want to see the path to get there marked out clearly in front of us, like the yellow brick road.

Even Dorothy didn't know where the road would lead, only that she had to take it.

I recognize that this isn't comforting when what you want is scary, the way to get [...]

Getting the fear runaround

lauree@simplyleap.com — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Last week, I freaked out.

What I wanted for my business wasn't happening fast enough. I didn't know if I could make it. Was it time to cry uncle?

I could barely breathe.

Then like clockwork, all my plans and activities from before the freakout started producing results.

Speaking engagements, and new clients popped up seemingly out of nowhere. (Though you and I both know better; I made them happen.)

And then?

Another freakout. This time:

Oh crap. It's happening so fast!

As if it was safer not to be successful and alway [...]