Welcome back to OR welcome if you’re a first-timer to the Monday Motivation podcast! This IS Sandi Ballard, founder of Growing Forward Success Coaching and master of detecting excuses! If ping pong was a game of slapping back excuses at clients, I WOULD win the Olympics! HA! How are things going? Really? Over the last few weeks, I have challenged you to step out of your comfort zone and try something NEW. Do something differently. Get off your ass and climb out of your rut and DO. SOMETHING. Yes, I’m wearing my pointy shoes right now and my whip is within arms reach! I’m clearly in a MOOD and it stems from fielding excuses all year. Having clients fall out of routine and make excuses to get back-on-track. What’s the challenge? I get frustrated when, and my Mentor has told me many times, “You can’t want it more than them”, but when clients back off or continue to throw excuses at me instead of seeing what I see in them. Seeing how amazing it is and what MORE they can have. So last week I asked you to step out of your comfort zone and I had this voice in my head (I know I have lots of them) but this one I could hear a client say, I don’t want to do this by myself. Sigh**** I will only do this if someone comes with me. Ok, I get it, doing things alone can sometimes be scary, then I also appreciate the saying “Misery Loves Company”. Remember when you were a kid – and you got in trouble and your parents asked you why you did something? And your response was “because Jimmy did it”? haha…….. and what did your parents ask you?  Yes…So if Jimmy jumped off a bridge would you jump too? Hahaha. Yeah. Well guess what – there are many of you adults out there that are still pulling that “I’ll do it if you do it” card. I’m not saying it’s wrong all the time, but there clearly are times when that’s just another bullshit excuse! I agree sometimes going with a friend or colleague to an event is more fun than going it alone, but make sure you understand the WHY behind NOT doing it alone. Is this person in your “comfort zone”? What happens when you have to take that BIG GIANT F-ING STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE and NO ONE CAN BE YOUR SIDEKICK? NO ONE can go to that networking event with you? No one can workout with you? No one can come over and play? What will you do? Reel back into your comfort zone and not go? You KNOW this can potentially help your business, career, life in general…but you just can’t go it alone? Listen in for more on this topic. Comment here or email me SBallard@GrowingForward.biz with what you are willing to finally do alone for your own personal and/or professional growth!

Hidy Ho fellow listeners! I appreciate you logging on here and listening to your weekly Monday Motivation or more of a challenge as it’s becoming!   Let me ask you – do you complain but refuse to make changes? Whether it’s your thoughts, how you do something, WHEN you do something or perhaps personal behavior? Has the WHY behind that changed?  Perhaps the WHY isn’t the problem it’s the HOW. Perhaps you don’t understand or believe IN the WHY behind what you are doing, or the need for change. CHANGE IS INEVITABLE. So why do so many resist? Why do people HATE CHANGE so much? The last few weeks I’ve talked about getting uncomfortable. Stepping OUT OF your comfort zone – doing something new. Going it alone. Trying something for the 1st time or in a new, or different way. I know, I know I KNOW it can be hard, scary, uncertainty sets in – you don’t know or OH HOLY LORD CONTROL THE OUTCOME, so you put the guards up and GUESS WHAT? You don’t do it. Worse yet, you do nothing. Podcast #13 – what is the definition of insanity??  You don’t want to change anything yet you still EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS! Well welcome to life people! I learned years ago to take my hands off the wheel and enjoy the ride! Yes, I still want things MY way, but when something doesn’t happen the way I WANTED OR EXPECTED it to happen, do I just give up, throw a fit (as I’ve seen people do)? HELL NO! I look at what’s going on. THE WHY behind it. I may not like having to change something, but I realize I can’t argue with the giant joystick in the sky!! I have to sit down and really look at everything – every aspect of what I am doing, how I am doing it, and WHY! THEN, I take a deep breath – perhaps have a glass of wine and pull up my bootstraps and make adjustments! Sometimes that even means walking away from an idea, a client, a goal – hmmmmm, usually not a goal. More like delaying a goal or shelving it until the timing is better, funding is better, I know more or align with someone who shares the same vision. Listen in this week as I discuss more about how to not change a goal, change the plan or the process!! And, as this week’s quote says, DON’T EXPECT TO SEE A CHANGE IF YOU DON’T MAKE ONE. AND the comment here, or email me at SBallard@GrowingForward.biz and tell me what you are willing to change!

Hello again listeners! All 6 of ya! HA! It’s that day of the week again, the one you have all chosen to change your attitude about and use it as a launching pad for an awesome week, right? NO? Did I hear you say NO? Well, then you should rewind your attitude a bit and focus on what WILL go well today and how you can kick this week in the ass?! Starting RIGHT NOW! Oh, and if you are listening on a different day, then reflect on how Monday went, how the week has gone so far or “went” if you’re listening on the weekend and reset your mind on the NEXT week Ok? So how are things going? Have you stepped out of your comfort zone even MORE? Have you made any changes in your habits, your life, your processes? Even little ones? And it’s not because you HAVE to, it should be because you want to. You WANT MORE and especially if things are going as you wanted them to…you sort of NEED TO make changes so you can get different results. And stepping out of your comfort zone usually is a way to make changes. Whether it’s personally or professionally, changes do come along whether you accept the changes or not. Taking time to understand your WHY – the why behind the change vs just changing is key as well. And oh, now I hear you say “Sandi I know. I know. I know what I need to do, BUT….. STOP RIGHT FRIGGN THERE! But what? What’s stopping you? What’s keeping you from “doing whatever it is that you KNOW YOU NEED TO DO? I was recently at Starbucks sitting outside working and heard two women talking. And one said that exact thing to the other. I know. I know. I know what I need to do but. Listen in to hear more about how to STOP saying you know what you need to do, and START doing it! And then comment here, or email me at SBAllard@GrowingForward.biz and tell me what you WILL STOP doing and why!

Hey everyone! Sandi here again to dole out another dose of Monday Motivation. Or your weekly challenge, however you choose to view it! What is it that you want or need? Last weeks podcast was about you knowing what you NEED to do… BUT. But something. There was something standing between success and what you KNOW you need to do. So what did you figure out? What is it that you KNOW you NEED to do? AND did you figure out what that “BUT” was? If not, what did you do? Nothing? Anything? Well, what is it that you NEED or WANT that can help you? You need to get from point A to Z but you can’t until you figure it out, right? Yes, I said A-Z vs. A-B. A-B would be easy wouldn’t it? Would be nice for things to always be that easy. We all want the fastest, cheapest, way and unfortunately that’s usually not reality. In a PERFECT world….oooooh all you perfectionists just perked up didn’t you? You heard the magic word PERFECT haha. So, in a perfect world A–B would exist, we also wouldn’t have fear, avoidance, and that ever-so-common perfectionist trap. That would be nice wouldn't it?  Again, that is a rare occurance. And perfectionists, would it be good enough? After all, isn’t life about the journey? Listen to this week's podcast for more about why you should believe in yourself, your abilities.

HELLO there! I know, I could sense it, you were just watching and waiting on pins and needles for the new podcast, the latest Monday Motivation weren’t you?! Well, I do appreciate you listening and would REALLY appreciate it if you would share the podcast via your social media! The more listeners, the better, eh?! Last week was about finding out what you NEED that can help you and honestly that BELIEF – believing in yourself is really the main thing! BELIEF IS POWER and can be the driving force behind achieving whatever it is that you want! Do you BELIEVE in yourself? Many people believe in OTHERS. We’re always better at helping others than ourselves. Why is that? Why don’t we believe in ourselves as much as or MORE than we do others? How do we put OURSELVES first? Have you stopped long enough to think about that? To think about how you can put yourself first? Do you know how to do that? Do you appreciate all that you have? And that you have accomplished? Many times we just focus on what we DON’T HAVE. HAVEN’T DONE and maybe feel like we CAN’T DO. Do you STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES? I used to literally! When I would walk in the grocery store, I would stop and smell the roses. Sometimes other flowers that I liked as well, especially if some of the roses weren’t very fragrant that day! I had it in my mind to do that, and it would seriously put me in a different state of mind! Clearly it has something to do with smell and brain connection, but I’m not going into that! Haha. I am just realizing I LOOK at the flowers now, but tend to stop and look at the sushi being made fresh yet I have not stopped to smell the roses in a VERY long time! Hmmmmm, I think I will take my own advice the next time. BUT…this wasn’t meant to be so literal. Haha – Do you stop to look around and notice. Do you stop to APPRECIATE all that you have. All that you’ve done NO matter how small? Listen in for more about how and why you should take the time to appreciate what you have.

Welcome back! Are you ready for this week’s Monday Motivation? I sure hope so. It’s been rainy and getting colder here in Indy AND darker, so I know I’ve needed a bit more motivation lately to get me going. Plus, it’s the last quarter. Yup, whether you like it or not, it’s here. Last week’s podcast was about stopping to smell the roses. Pausing long enough to think about your accomplishments and give yourself some credit. No matter how small, as sometimes that’s all you need – that one tiny step – to generate movement and momentum and get back on-track and build your confidence! And with it being the last 3 months – 90 – friggn days until the end of the year, this is a GREAT time to do just that …. Pause. Reflect. Give yourself credit. Or truly notice what is and is NOT working. What you’ve achieved and what you haven’t. Where you are in regard to your goals. What adjustments can you make? Did you stop checking your progress throughout the year? Did you even write your goals down or create a plan to achieve? Did you change your habits? Did you just give up? Wouldn’t you rather die trying rather than lay down and accept defeat? At least you’ll be closer than where you are today (or perhaps even get back on-track AND achieve them!) It’s amazing how sometimes with just a few tweaks, a little mindshift can get things rolling. And to make sure your goals were realistic and truly YOUR goals! Listen to this weeks podcast and then tell me what you'd rather take a final big push at versus stopping and trying to start... AGAIN.

Well….welcome back and thank you for listening to this week’s podcast. Last week was about how to “finish the year strong”. We ARE in the last quarter, the final 82 or so days of the year – depending on when you are listening to this (or listening AGAIN!) What did you decide that you could do during the end of the year, the SLOOOOW time to finish strong? To reacquaint yourself with clients, friends, staff… REALITY?! This week's podcast is focused on figuring out how to become or be viewed-as an expert in your field. Think about what are you good at? Determining this can also help you achieve your goals. It can help you make adjustments and FINISH THE YEAR STRONG! If you hone in on your expertise, it can help melt away all the shit you think you’re NOT good at! We all talk about what we SUCK at. Mainly I think because people think if we talk about what we’re GOOD at – we’re bragging! I honestly think that is only when jealousy is involved. Envy. But envy doesn’t have to be bad. It can be a motivator. However, we all have to remember that we aren’t equal! SORRY! I’m not good at many things. I do come across people who ARE good at things I want to be good at and say “I wish I was that fast or that smart or…...”, but I also know that I am strong suited in things other people aren’t. And, after years of working at it, after about 2 years of focusing on my goals, I am FINALLY becoming viewed as an expert in my field. What about YOU? What are you good at? Listen to this week's podcast for more on this subject. And tell me, what you think you're good at, and how you can showcase your talents to finish the year strong!

Hello everyone! Yes, it is Monday again and I do hope by now after listening to all of my podcasts (29 weeks of them) that you have a better attitude about Monday’s! Thank you for coming back, yet again, for your weekly dose of Monday Motivation. I had a great birthday week and yesterday after my run I thought about how I felt at 47. All of a sudden, I was like “CRAP that’s awfully close to 50?!” AM I SUPPOSED to be out running 7 miles or more? How should I be FEELING? I’ve actually had people say “at your age should you”? WHAT THE “F” does that mean? Haha. If you rock it – DO IT! So, after the wrinkle cream and toner went on my face I gave myself a good look – I thought about how my body felt and I thought – I feel better than I did in my 30’s! I’ve done more. I’ve achieved more. I HAVE MORE, including my health! I’ve been gluten free for 7 and only started running 8 years ago, after my broken leg healed. We all realize we are on “borrowed time”, and that’s not very exciting or MOTIVATING to think about is it? But it’s what we DO with the time that matters isn’t it? Last week I wanted to get you thinking about and to tell me “what you are good at”. What makes you an expert in your field. Did you figure it out? Or maybe you’re still thinking about it. Well, keep thinking…clearly you have time on your side! Haha.  I’m an expert at getting people to go for it! To step off the CRAZY TRAIN, the hamster wheel of life, even out of their comfort zone to achieve their goals .. their success. Now, it doesn’t always happen at the speed I would like, but I have to remember it’s not my journey, my demons or my fear that I’m working through and everyone has a different pace. I just get so excited with the potential I see in people, that I want everyone to GO GO GOOOOOO! HAHA. Listen to this weeks podcast to hear about a conversation I had with a client whose reply about his birthday wasn't as positive an experience as mine.  So his birthday, him being a year older is now his motivation to figure his shit out and get moving! So we talked thru his goals and brainstormed ways to get there. We devised a plan, action steps and who can help him. With this client, he knows what he’s great at, it was just the HOW that was creating a block. And the WHO could help. The FEAR kicked in with his recent birthday, but he is using the fear as a motivator vs. a road block.

Thank you for listening and for sharing these podcasts with others you feel could benefit. If you want to get them in your inbox and currently do not, email me to add me to your list. WOW – there’s only 5 weeks left until Thanksgiving. Then what happens? Not much anything eh? 5 weeks until businesses slow down – MOST that is. Some even shut down for a couple weeks. Only 5 weeks until you get into “holiday mode” and forget about your goals... OR perhaps you’re using the Holidays as a way to avoid thinking about them? Your goals that is! WHY? Are you going to have to carry-over your goal or perhaps a few to next year. AGAIN?!!! Why keep doing this to yourself? Why do you keep “giving up”? On your goals. On YOU? Why stay on this hamster wheel of life full of disappointment and unachieved goals? When will you step off the damn hamster wheel and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! I WANT more. I am ready to finish the year strong. I’m ready to be viewed as an expert in my field, to achieve my goals. I’m ready because I believe in myself. Hmmmm?? When? As I mentioned last week, the clock is ticking. And now there are 7 less days to accomplish your goals. How will you face the rest of your days? Your moments? With enthusiasm or regret?

Welcome welcome! You are listening to Sandi Ballard – lead motivator at Growing Forward coaching. It is Monday, and you are listening to week 31 of my Monday Motivation podcasts. Thank you for listening. If you are here for the 1st time, thank you and please take a few minutes to go back to week 1 and listen! Actually that’s not a bad idea for ALL of you to do. Go back to the beginning! And start again! That’s this weeks theme! Going back to the beginning. I’ve been talking about, well or harping on the last few podcasts about finishing the year strong. How can you do that if you’re starting to feel a bit stressed out about “HOW”? Why, yet again did you NOT...  (FILL IN THE BLANK HERE) What didn’t you do? Get 5 new clients? Achieve the goal weight? Make more $$? Get your house updated? Or perhaps start that business you’ve been “thinking about” for EVER! Tell me. I want to know! Email me at sballard@growingforward.biz (or comment here)   And then listen to this weeks podcast to understand how to go "back to the beginning" to figure out why you didn't achieve what you set out to.

WOW! Have you ever finished your day or week and wondered what the Hell happened to the time? What about to your "PLAN"? What you wanted to accomplish? That happened to me last week! Now, some meetings were planned, and others went longer and new ones popped on. But thankfully, since I do have a plan, I was able to make adjustments and be there for those who needed help. I also was able to easily recover vs. giving up. How do you handle those days? Those weeks? How do you Recover? Reset? And Refocus?

Ah yes... Change. And not the kind in a dudes pocket that he annoyingly jingles. The kind we have to deal damn near every day in life. Yep. That "change"! What can you do about it? How do you react to it? I'm sure it probably depends on what changed or is about to change. It's nice when you actually get a warning isn't it? What has changed in your life? This past year so far? What change is coming? And, yes, what do you NEED to change but haven't?  Listen in and then tell me: 1. What is the biggest change you've had this year 2. How did you react to it? 3. What has come from this change?   Email me if you don't want to post here: SBallard@GrowingForward.biz

Have you reviewed your goals yet? If not, NOW is a great time. Why? Because we only have 5 weeks left in 2016!  This week though, I want you to DIG DEEPER, get another layer in. As you look at your goals, what is something you wanted to happen that hasn't? Perhaps it IS a goal or perhaps it's something you need to get done to help you get closer to a larger goal.  What's happened? Have you tried everything? REALLY? Well, here's a little assignment for you: WRITE IT DOWN! Everything. Everything you've tried, done, attempted and what has happened.  1. Write down the goal (or task associated with the goal) that you've not made progress on.  2. Write down the expected outcome. 3. Write down your current status - progress. 4. FIND SOMEONE TO BRAINSTORM WITH! Sometimes we're too close to the solution to SEE it! (Ever heard that phrase, "If it was a snake it would have bit ya"?!?!)  Listen in for more on this topic. And let me know what it is you've wanted and what your status is. And if you need help with the brainstorming - utilize my FREE 30-min coaching call. Email me to set it up: SBallard@GrowingForward.biz!

Welcome back to my Monday Motivation podcast: No More Excuses!   This week let's talk about NEW PERSPECTIVE. Why do you continue to try the same thing over and over and expect different results?  Are you afraid to ask for help? Do you think you'll appear incapable if you do? Like I mentioned in last week's podcast (#35), sometimes you're too close to the situation to see the answer! Sometimes you need to take a step back, get off the hamster wheel of life, JUMP off the crazy train and look at life from a different angle. And sometimes you need to ask for help to get a new perspective. So YOU can gain new perspective!  What is your goal that you haven't achieved? The task you can't seem to get completed which will help you get closer to a goal? Did you write it down? Did you write down everything you've tried? Everything you've done? If not, do it. And then ask someone to review it with you.  You'll be amazed at the results and may even "face palm" and say "Why didn't I think of that?" It's ok to ask for help. It's a hell of a lot easier than continuing to fail isn't it?

Ah yes, you've had someone give you a new perspective and now YOU have one as well. You're now able to see the forest through the trees! And now, once you find that new perspective, you have work to do! Yep! More work YAY! This time, it's looking at what you are willing to do. Willing to do MORE of. LESS of. Or DIFFERENTLY. You can't keep doing the same ol same ol and expecting different results, right?! So, now is a great time to grab a piece of paper and a pen. Then listen to the podcast and start making your list and checking it twice! (see what I did there?!!) This will help you set yourself up for a new year with BIG SUCCESS! I know I'm ready to rock next year... are you? If you aren't sure HOW... never fear I am here! Click here to email me and schedule your FREE, yes FREE 30-min coaching call. No string attached. Seriously. I don't play that way.

Yes, that is the question of the week: What's missing? OR... what are you missing? As I've been harping about, sometimes things are right before your eyes. And, sometimes they aren't.  It can be what you don't see that helps us. But how do you know? How do you know if you're looking too hard or not looking hard enough? New perspective! Did you ask someone? You didn't ask me!! Why not? What are you afraid of? I asked last week "What you are willing to do for your success?" Finding out what is missing from your plan, life, environment can help dramatically. Or finding out what YOU are missing, meaning - the solution, the answer to the question. Listen in to hear about a client of mine and her Aha moment about what was missing and what had been keeping her from achieving her success. And, once again, contact me if you need help. I won't bite. But I definitely won't let you go until we figure it out! Want to try on your own? Click here to download some free worksheets!

It's the last week of 2016!  Christmas was yesterday, how did you celebrate? Perhaps you don't celebrate Christmas? What did you celebrate and how? Did you hear others talk about their achievements? Did you think they were bragging? Perhaps a little, but did you help them celebrate or were you too busy wallowing in your own self-pity due to what you did NOT accomplish?  Everyone has achieved something. You just have to review things and take time to CELEBRATE your SUCCESS, no matter how small. Progress is progress and it all helps you move forward. Give yourself credit and make sure you learn from what happened so you can set yourself up for success, because the new year is coming! Listen in to this week's podcast and if you still feel you haven't achieved anything worth celebrating, email me to set up a FREE 30-min coaching call or let's just go for it and do a full Stepping Stones Strategy Session and get to it. Aren't you worth investing in?

Why bother creating new RESOLUTIONS when only 8% of the American population keep them? Why screw around with setting new GOALS when you didn't achieve your previously set ones?  WHY BOTHER?  Just keep doing what you've been doing. Perhaps it's working and according to the stats, more than likely it's not. Even I didn't achieve some of my goals! And after coming off a wildly successful 2015, man, that stung! So, why should I bother?  BECAUSE I WANT MORE! For me and especially for my clients! I don't want my clients to be part of that 92% who fail at keeping resolutions. And even more staggering are the statistics on the lack of people who set goals, let alone keep them.  Listen into this week's podcast for more about why, how and what to do to make 2017 WILDLY SUCCESSFUL for YOU! So, WHY BOTHER? Because don't you want more?

Welcome back! This week I want you to think deeper about your goals. Hopefully you did months ago so you were prepared for the start of the year! But even if you set them NOW, today... after you listen to this, is great. You have to get them OUT OF your head and ONTO paper. So you can see them, think about them. Especially NOW! Are your goals really a goal? Are they YOUR goals? Or are they smaller tasks associated with a goal. Yes, last year my "goal" was to get these podcasts started and continue with them. That was a a mini-goal which was attached to my BIGGER goal of becoming a "Sought-after Coach, Speaker, Teacher and Facilitator". I want people to contact me from all across the U.S., and world!  So what about you? Who do you want to become? Are you setting strategic goals or are you stretching your mind to understand who and how you envision yourself? You say you're happy with who you are? GREAT! Then how do you not stay there and become stale? How can you grow even more?  Listen in to start thinking deeper about your goals. Think bigger about how these goals can help you become the person you envision. Email me who it is you want to become and what smaller, more tangible goals can help you get there.

Welcome back to Monday Motivation's podcast! This week I'd like to focus on how clear your vision is. Of yourself that is! The two previous podcasts I talked about the difference of your resolutions and goals and how they affect each other. And then I also spoke about the difference between goals and tasks and asked you to make sure you knew the difference and also looked at your goal sheet for this year to make sure your goals were really goals and NOT just tasks associated with goals. And all-in-all, how your resolutions, (a decision you make) affects your life. The vision of you and who you want to become. By creating good/new habits help you with the "how" to achieve your goals. And then how by achieving your goals affects you. And helps you become the best YOU you can become. When you look at the goal worksheet which is on my website (click here for the link), you go from top to bottom, but then you really work from the bottom-UP!  It can be confusing, but if you write it down, if you work the "worksheet", it makes a lot more sense and can help you stay focused and motivated, and is the PLAN you need, your roadmap for your SUCCESS! Listen in for more about that and how this helps you create the vision of yourself. If you're more of a strategic thinker, that's fine. Write down your big, hairy-ass goal for yourself and then sit and look at it. What does achieving that goal "DO" for you? How does it "AFFECT" you? THAT is what I want to know from you. I want you to see yourself clearer. I want to know what your vision is. Have a great week! Cheers!