Finding and giving direction

Today's Game Plan column on FOXBusiness.com is about child and family advocate and coach Tracey Serebin, who has a New Jersey-based business called A Child's Voice. I like her story and how she paid attention to signs to find her way. Check it out:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/personal-finance/lifestyle-money/lifestyle-money/finding-giving-direction/

Vocation, all I ever wanted

I got two new clients today. One brand new one who is looking for coaching on her writing. A dream assignment for moi. The other is a person I really like who I did a consultation with a few years ago and she just decided she's ready to take action in her life now. This, too, jazzes me to no end.

Also had a terrific session with an existing client today, one who ended our hour with these words -- "This is the best money I've ever spent on myself."

This -- all of it -- is why I do what I do.

More on balance

Friday's Game Plan column on FOXBusiness.com -- http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/personal-finance/lifestyle-money/lifestyle-money/work-life-balance-personal/-1616138015 -- about work-life balance has been getting an interesting response from readers. I think because it doesn't espouse the popular notion of trying to have it all, but rather make some hard choices, it has touched a collective nerve.

Honestly, writing that column has given me a sense of personal freedom about my own choices to use my gifts and get paid for them and love every moment of that. I wouldn't presume to impose that same decision on others, but it works for me and that's what the column was all about. Has that way of living affected my personal life? Yes. Would I change any of it? No.

However, moving forward, I have a renewed vision about this. Perhaps instead of assuming a meaningful relationship might get in the way of professional growth, the idea is to find someone who understands with a capital 'U.'

Last night I was watching the ABC series Brothers and Sisters and there was a moment that crystallized this. The Rob Lowe character, Robert, is a senator who wants to be president and he is married to a character named Kitty played by Calista Flockhart. They met because she was working on his campaign. While he didn't get the presidential nomination, he was asked to be the running mate of the man who did. Kitty, very focused on their infertility issues, didn't approve. But he explained he had ambition and she had fallen in love with the man with that ambition. It was still there. He hadn't changed just because he had lost this round or because he had married her. He wound up turning down the offer to be vice president for the right reasons. She eventually assured him they were on the same page.

Fiction or no fiction, it was a real work-life balance moment.

Ripple effects

Received a great email from a client named Terry today. She wrote to coach Cheryl Richardson, who has a show on Hay House radio, and offered some advice to a guy who had called in about feeling overwhelmed because he was a couple of years behind on his taxes. Richardson read Terry's email on the air! With her permission, I present it here:

Dear Cheryl:

I listen to your show on Hay House, and heard Paul - the musician with the tax issue. I have a life/writing coach as well. I put my writing on hold to deal with my tax situation because until you take the matter into your own hands, your creativity is stagnant.

I owe an additional $1300 to the irs. It is overwhelming. I could not move forward until this was taken care. I decided to forgo my coaching sessions until my finances were on track. I have a great coach behind me.

On top of the $1300 that I owed in taxes. My car over the last four months had to have repairs in excess over $1500. I don't make as much as I used to because I decided to get out of the corporate world and focus on my writing. I have a steady job.

Although its a financial struggle at times, I feel if I can offer Paul some advice to overcome the anxiety: get a project management style notebook. Start listing what you think you owe. Getting everything out on paper helped me get a real about what I owed. Looking straight at finances helped me become less overwhelmed.

What was down on paper was scary however, I refocused my attention on getting clear with the taxes. I worked out a payment schedule with the government and found I eliminated the pressure that was pounding on my head and the tears pouring from my eyes on a NIGHTLY BASIS. I went an extra step to refocus my financial goals and found a writing community on line so I can get my creativity back on track.

REFOCUS PAUL YOU CAN DO IT!

best to you and love your show
ms. terry

What I love about this is that it really positions Terry for success. Facing down the finances, setting up a real plan and then sharing it and reaching out to someone else.

Good stuff.

Redesign

So happy to see the newly refurbished FOXBusiness.com homepage, which feels a little newsier and is much easier to navigate than the previous one. It still has six stories leading the section, but users can see them all at once.

Also, the search box on top of the page allows users to find specific topics (or columnists, wink, wink) whereas before it only searched for quotes. So, to all who have contacted me with concerns about being able to find my Game Plan columns, it has just become a cinch. Either catch them fresh on the homepage every Wednesday and Friday or plug my name into the search box and they'll come up.

As always, they're also listed on my website: http://nancola.com/pages/press.html.

I love streamlined communication. Yeeha.

Thanks for reading.

Balance, wherefore art thou?

Sometimes good interview = good column. Love that. Check out today's Game Plan on FOXBusiness.com about work-life balance, which includes my interview with author and coach/consultant Anthony F. Smith:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/lifestyle-money/careers/article/worklife-balance-personal_575961_24.html

Food for thought

Went to see an event at the Paley Center tonight called "From Bella to Hillary: Women, Media and Politics" with panelists Laura Flanders, Carol Jenkins, Suzanne Braun Levine, Marlene Sanders, Gloria Steinem, Mary Thom and Marie Wilson. Felt good to feed my inner feminist.

Found this quote, as mentioned during the Q&A by Liz Abzug (Bella's daughter), wonderful:

Women will change the nature of power rather than power changing the nature of women.
-- Bella Abzug

Sometimes it just feels good to take stock and remember how far we've come. And who to thank for it.

One-woman audience

What a fun afternoon. I spent over three hours at a dance studio in Chelsea watching a choreographer for Nickelodeon work and then interviewing her for an upcoming Game Plan column for FOXBusiness.com. I couldn't pull myself away.

There's something fascinating about seeing a dance team work on a song and get the routine down just right.

Love the creative process.

'Cause she's got ... personality

What do the words of advice "Just be yourself" mean, really? A whole lot, in my book. Especially if you're running a business. Check out today's Game Plan column on FOXBusiness.com:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/lifestyle-money/careers/article/pays_570646_24.html

Good life

The biggest dilemma of my day:

How to suppress the urge to sing like a maniac on the leg extension machine when Long Time by Boston is playing in your ear.

The corporation of Nancy

A banner day, one of gleeful self-employment:

-- Filed a column to FOX by 10 a.m.
-- At the gym by 11 a.m.
-- Responded to a potential client seeking coaching on her writing by 1 p.m.
-- Took a call offering the possibility of teaching writing (more to come on that) by 2 p.m.
-- Conducted an interview that felt more like a conversation (my very favorite kind) by 3:30 p.m.
-- Started writing the next column by 6 p.m.
-- Took a break for dinner by 8:30 p.m.
-- Tuned in to Week 8 of the webinar featuring A New Earth by 8:45 p.m.

And those are just the highlights!

I will sleep well tonight.

An artist starves no more

Those familiar with my Game Plan columns may recall that back in December I wrote one about a terrific guy named Julian Calderon who supervises all the flower arrangements at Tavern on the Green. I loved his energy and his allegiance to his creative talents.

Well, guess who was pegged to do the flowers for the Pope's visit to New York?

It seems that Julian will continue to use his gifts in amazing ways.

The column, in case you missed it:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/lifestyle-money/travel-lifestyle/article/artist-starves_418876_23.html

Called me chuffed

In today's Game Plan column on FOXBusiness.com I wrote about a columnist from Scotland named Janey Godley. What a hoot that she has already reached across the pond to respond to me. Here's the column link and her response is below:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/lifestyle-money/travel-lifestyle/article/life-coach-friend_565511_22.html

Dear Nancy, thanks for writing about my article that I wrote for The Scotsman newspaper. I am so chuffed (Scottish word for happy) that you gave it a mention. I know that life coaches are important and I was just taking a 'tongue in cheek' approach to your job, it wasnt meant as nasty in the least! I hope you understood that!

Janey

Got it, Janey!

Work week

It has been an intense week of coaching. Two consultations, both with writers, both inspiring. Sessions with existing clients have been deep and uncharacteristically emotional.

I have emerged satisfied, challenged, exhausted.

Wow.

Follow your gut

Today's Game Plan column was inspired by my mini-addiction to the Chefography series on The Food Network and all the lessons herein. Check it out:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/lifestyle-money/careers/article/learn-follow-gut_560599_24.html

On the move

I hired a web dude today. Changes are coming. I'm psyched.

What it boils down to is I'm taking the reins of my Web site, which is currently in the hands of a dear friend who has better things to do (my words, not his). I was initially worried about being "tech" challenged, but then I remembered that I used to be a web producer for a major sports site that had to be updated constantly and was highly scrutinized. This is not rocket science. And, frankly, I know few people who like control more than I do, so this is good bordering on scary.

Stay tuned.

Touchstone

I had a conversation with someone today who reminded me of where I was a few years ago and where I am now. She wanted to know how spirit played a part in me creating the life I want.

I told her the single most important shift I made was feeling real abundance in my life. Not financial or material abundance based on attachments, but the kind that can only come from within. I live simply, but this is not to be confused with deprivation. I like and appreciate nice things! (Geez, it was all I could do to walk away from a pair of pointy pink Manolo Blahnik suede loafers today.)

It was gratifying to connect with this person today. She sought me out, but I gained much from our conversation.

My world view

What a glorious beginning to a day. I power walked to the tip of Pier A Park, which as its name suggests is a park built on a pier that juts out into the Hudson River. The Manhattan skyline view is spectacular and you can see as far south as the Verrazano Bridge and as far north as the George Washington Bridge.

Today I was keenly aware that I was staring at the "entry" into our country even though Lady Liberty was just out of my sight. New York is so serene from that vantage point. Even surrounded by gray clouds and gray water, the city looked majestic. My MP3 player was piping Bobby Caldwell's version of Beyond The Sea into my ears and it all just felt spectacular.

At one point a young man stood at the southeast corner of the park staring at the lower end of Manhattan, where the World Trade Center towers used to be. Every time I see someone at that particular spot I wonder what that view means to them.

My trip to the "Conversation Among Masters" conference in Asheville is still washing over me. I've been playing it pretty close to the vest since I returned, as I don't think words do it justice. So this was also time to ponder that and let my mind wander to possibilities.

Once again, after nine years, I pinch myself to make sure it's real. I live here. I do.

Family formula

Went to visit the folks in Leisure Village today. Celebrated Dad's 77th birthday. Classic Colasurdo gathering -- Mom's pot roast, mashed potatoes, carrots, corn, pickled beets, salad with kick-butt balsamic dressing and bread sticks. The finale -- triple-layer yellow cake with raspberry and apricot filling and cream cheese icing, also courtesy of Mom.

Food = Love.

The pressure cooker

Today's Game Plan column on FOXBusiness.com called "Escaping the Pressure Cooker Isn't a Crime" grew from a discussion at lunch one day in Asheville:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/lifestyle-money/travel-lifestyle/article/escaping-pressure-cooker-isnt-crime_555981_22.html

Funny, but I'm reading Anthony F. Smith's book right now -- The Taboos of Leadership -- and another perspective is emerging on the whole work-life balance issue.

Stay tuned.

Connections

I have landed back in Hoboken, but not before my car service guy hit another car in the Newark Airport parking lot -- an attorney in a Mercedes. An hour-long production ensued, of course, but blessedly no one was injured.

It feels good to be back, but what a trip it was. Inspiring speakers, beauty all around, good food. But most significantly, I feel I was divinely sent to Asheville to make soul connections with a very special group of women I met on my first night there. Seven of us had put our names to the signup sheet to eat in a downtown restaurant called Sugo. It was as it was supposed to be and it set the tone for a special experience.

Yesterday's conversation with Martha Beck was wonderful, transformative even. The energy in the room was so warm. A funny thing happened to me in the beginning. We were all sitting in rockers in a big semi-circle around Martha. She began talking and I had my pen and pad poised for note-taking. Then I got this tickle in my throat and it was persisting enough where I knew it would escalate. I was in the front row! So I got up and grabbed a glass of water and sat back down. Since I was holding the glass, I abandoned the pen and paper. Then the message hit me. Just be with this conversation, Nancy. Don't start writing and miss half of what's said. Be with it. Experience it, right now.

So powerful. And topping it off with lunch on the Sunset Patio with my newfound friends made it all the more so.

I will be feeling the ripple effects of this "Conversation Among Masters" for a long time. I have already signed on for next year.

I am filled with gratitude.

Resume Game Plan

I'm still in Asheville, N.C., and will likely deconstruct this amazing experience I'm having at some point when I return and feel more thoughtful about it.

In the meantime, one mountain honey wrap and massage later, I present my latest Game Plan column on FOXBusiness.com. I had a little fun with the topic of resumes:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/lifestyle-money/careers/article/looking-new-job-jazz-resume_549945_24.html

In short, jazz the thing up!

Luck of the draw

Too much dancing to report from Asheville, N.C. last night. Dueling pianos. Lots of fun.

However, I can't let 24 hours go by before talking about my fabulous scores on the day. First, eight people here won the chance to have lunch with Anthony F. Smith -- co-founder and managing director of Leadership Research Institute -- yesterday and, yes, I was one of them. Watching him speak to our big group all morning, with questions and conversation in between, felt a bit like peeling an onion. Lunch was a chance to experience him in a relaxed atmosphere and go one on one. I bought his book, The Taboos of Leadership: The Ten Secrets No One Will Tell You About Leaders and What They Really Think, so more to come on that.

Then I won a raffle in the afternoon, a one-night stay at a spa in Monterey, Calif.

Not a bad haul, huh?

Off and running

Asheville is one funky place. The South meets artsy/edgy. I am staying in a place that reminds me of the big hotel in The Shining, only the vibe is better (haha).

Ate fried green tomatoes and cheesy grits for lunch. And, yes, wild boar for dinner (with a group of dynamic and hip women).

All good. Business begins tomorrow ...

Walking my talk

Yesterday's Game Plan column on FOXBusiness.com is about my recent artist date in New York:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/lifestyle-money/travel-lifestyle/article/revisiting-sights-smells-memories-past_545644_22.html

This is something I encourage in my clients, so I try to make sure I practice what I preach, so to speak. I've had a recent lapse, which probably made this particular one special.

It's like taking a deep breath in the middle of the week.

Breathtaking

How stunning is this photo?

http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/travel/03personal.html?hp

Looking good

I have had a long journalism career that has given me the opportunity to interview lots of cool people (Christie Whitman, Brooks Robinson, and Anna Quindlen, just to name a few favorites). Ranking right up there was my recent interview of Stacy London, the co-host of TLC's What Not to Wear and the subject of my Game Plan column on FOXBusiness.com today:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/lifestyle-money/travel-lifestyle/article/ripple-effect-looking-good_540902_22.html

Stacy is a real champion of women and she's one of those people who is using her gifts to really help people see what they can be.

Good stuff.

Not so creepy?

Just three days ago here I wrote about Wal-Mart and the lawsuit it had won against a former employee. It had exception-to-the-rule written all over it. I'm happy to say that the company has seen the light, perhaps because it has been roundly criticized in newspaper editorials and on cable news shows:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120708739471181553.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

That said, I still hope the snake has a long, long life.