PROOF4U Giveaway no.3: Getting out of your own way - stopping self-sabotage of your diet and fitness goals

Another day and another free Life Coaching tools giveaway - whoop, whoop!

Well we're on Day 2 of the New Year and if you're like me you will have made some resolutions around cutting down on the booze and making some healthier food choices.

And again, if you're like me, it won't be the first time you've had these intentions and yet for whatever reason, unfortunately, the lifestyle change hasn't quite gone to plan.  If we challenge ourselves to reflect on what got in the way of our goals we can often explain these away with perhaps being 'too busy', 'having a bad knee' or 'the gym is too expensive'.

The truth is however, a bit more brutal, in that, we had a role in self-sabotaging our progress and there might be a habit of these behaviours if we look back on our actions - or lack of action - over time.

Well, this PROOF4U frees download giveaway is about getting aware and creating a clean slate and breaking the cycle of self sabotage when it comes to your diet or lifestyle choices.  I wanted to share these specific tips as I've found them tremendously useful as they are really practical and grounded in objectivity.

So, take a look at the free download and let me know what you think and which of these Top 10 can be an extra support for you as you aim for the best you can be in 2014.

Love Lucy xx

(Image Credit: http://paulzii.tumblr.com/post/1590765602)

PROOF4U giveaway no.2: What to do when you don't know what to do

Hi guys,

HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR to y'all!

How did you get on with your goal setting fun sheets?  No worries if you missed those you can download the exercises for free here!

Today I’m giving away some Life Coaching tools relating to decision making to help you tackle some questions or choices you may be mulling over at the moment.  You can download these for free here

Have a go at using these and let me know how you get on!

Tomorrow I'll be sharing ways to identify and eliminate self-sabotage in the areas of your wellness and relationships.

Love Lucy x

PROOF4U giveaway no.1: How to set life goals and work towards them

Hey guys,

Welcome to my first Life Coaching tools giveaway to kick the ass off the Christmas New Year lull and help you knee skid into 2014!

I'm calling this little series 'PROOF4U' and in this first bundle we're tackling how to set life goals and work towards them. Often my clients start Life Coaching with me because they're not sure where to start or they feel a bit muddled about what they want and where they're going.  These are tools I use to help dispel both of those obstacles and the results have been fantastic - naturally a big chunk of my Lucy magic is involved too! ;)

Click Here to download a pdf containing two exercises that are guaranteed to get your creative juices flowing and provide a step by step guide to why and how to set the right life goals for you.

Let me know if you have any questions or comments below and I hope these provide a great 'starter for 10' when thinking about what you want to achieve in the year ahead and beyond.

Love Lucy xox

Kicking the ass off the pre New Year lull: The BIG Proof Life Coaching giveaway

Ugh.  Full of turkey.  Fuzzy wine head and seems like there's nothing to do.

Well fear not sweet as, starting tomorrow, I'll be giving away absolutely  shiz loads of free Life Coaching tools and fun sheets so you can knee skid into 2014 with a clear idea of where you want to be and how you're going to get there.  I'll be sharing free downloads to do with areas that I coach clients in, including:

• How to set goals and work towards them
• Decision making
• What to do when you don't know what to do
• Combatting self-sabotage
• Creative thinking
• Moving on from the past and breaking free of general bad shiz (jobs & people)

It's time to indulge in yourself in a non-chocolate-exclusive way and do feel free to share with your family and friends!

I can't wait to hear how you get on.

Love Lucy xox

Good Timber: A reminder that all of your experiences build you up

 

Good Timber

by Douglas Malloch

The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.

The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.

Good timber does not grow with ease:
The stronger wind, the stronger trees;
The further sky, the greater length;
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.

Where thickest lies the forest growth,
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.
This is the common law of life.

(Image credit: http://lamescapes.tumblr.com/post/37698764365/winter-trees)

"What the eff is Life Coaching Lucy?" - Why you don't need to live in L.A. to access some sunshine & results

It’s lovely to have people interested in getting to know me better and from in my experience there are a lot of pre-conceptions about what people think Life Coaching is and isn’t so I just wanted to share this mini post to help clear up some of the questions or curiosities you may have.

Those that know me and/or read this blog will know I’m a relaxed and up beat kinda gal so this is probably one of the straighter posts you’ll ever get from me but I love to inform and educate, and facts don’t need my fairy dust, so take a look and let me know I this raises any other questions about what Life Coaching is and isn’t…

Coaching is goal focused and task orientated:

The emphasis in a coaching relationship is on action and accountability. 

Coaching is about the now and the future:

Where relevant we’ll explore the past to understand the context in which your future goals are set.  We will mainly focus on the present, in order to help create actionable strategies for achieving specific goals that move you towards the future you want.

It doesn’t take a lot to get a lot from coaching: Due to how the process flows, growth and progress are rapid and usually enjoyable.

A short term intervention: 

As a coach I can successfully be involved with a client for a short period of time, typically 3 to 6 sessions. The coaching lasts for as long as is needed, depending on the wants of the client.

Coaching is not counselling or therapy:

I will not give advice during our sessions but – and it’s a big but- the coaching exercises we use, and the questions I ask you, will unlock different perspectives, approaches and options for you. Therein lies the magic.  You have the answers in you and it’s my job to give you the time and focus to reveal these and turn them into action and doing.

Coaching allows you to ‘crack on’:

Once the agreement is signed we can begin coaching straight away and the tools and techniques used means any given topic can be worked on based on what is important to you and what brings you to the session. The models I use are flexible to serve you to activate action quickly.

Your success depends on your commitment. And ‘showing up’ for yourself:

As a coach I am responsible for the process.  As the client you’re responsible for the results.  A bit like a personal trainer can’t do the work out for you, I can’t complete your actions for you.

Checking in:

The purpose of coaching is to improve your performance in the area(s) of your life you want to see results. Once results are achieved I’m no longer needed as you’ll be all set until the next time you’d like to work with me to focus on another topic.

I hope this is helpful guys, and if you have any other queries or curiosities then just holler!

Love Lucy xx

Living Proof Episode 2: Lucy talks to Natalie Crampton, MD of The Event Company, Dubai

Woohoo Christmas has come early – my special gift to you is Episode 2 of my vlog series Living Proof with the addition of my ugly mug! (Let’s just say Oprah is temporarily safe as queen of the talk show… for now.)

This Q&A saw me to speak to Natalie Crampton, MD of the Event Company in Dubai (http://www.the-event-company.com/).  Natalie was an obvious choice for me to select for the series as she has an amazing ability to sniff out opportunities against the odds, having set up her own event company when she was only 23, at the beginning of the worst recession the World has experienced in recent memory.  

Recognised for her contribution to the business scene in her adopted home country, Dubai, Natalie is also a brand advocate for International cosmetics brand, Bobbi Brown, as part of its Pretty Powerful campaign (http://www.bobbibrown.co.uk/prettypowerful/).  Not only that but when the likes of Lewis Hamilton or Alicia Keys are in town doing their thing, it’s Natalie’s job to look after them too. (I wish she’d post more selfies!)

Click on the video below to hear her first hand perspective:

Walking the walk and talking the talk, eh? 

I hope you enjoy our chat where Natalie shares some refreshingly honest views about what it takes to build a company from scratch and implement plans for world domination!  Unfortunately there are some issues with the video quality and so here are some ‘lesson notes’ so you can access the insights form Natalie’s experience. 

 

Let’s start with…

• Paying attention to the mis-steps of others as it can save you a lot of time and money by observing and recognizing what NOT to do.  How would YOU do something differently?

• Listen to your gut and tune into how you’re feeling. Natalie recounts how after a few months working as an employee for another event business she was losing interest and that was the start of her setting up on her own.  She knew she wanted freedom and wanted to call her own shots and she committed to following that feeling.

• You don’t have to do it all – even if there’s only you!  One of the first things Natalie did when she set up on her own was employ someone to cold call the targets she had identified to secure a meeting.  She felt she could use her time more efficiently by delegating the set up of the meetings to a trusted person and was then able to fully ‘show up’ to the arranged meetings and introduce herself and her company and make that all important first impression.  It’s partly thanks to this that Natalie now counts the likes of HSBC as key retained clients.  If she hadn’t delegated she would have been peddling double fast and only generating half the results!

• It was a brave move as she had no cash coming in and didn’t know how she was going to pay the lady for the calling – but she believed it would generate results if she got in the door.  And that’s just what happened.

• It’s good to talk.  When Natalie first went out on her own, she got in touch with all of her previous contacts and let them know she was for hire – getting her message ‘out there’ was key.  Don’t assume people will just find out - you need to actively talk about what you’re doing or you’ll be overlooked.

• What’s a sure thing, despite all the uncertainty?  If you work hard, focus on something and then give it 100% something good will come.  If you put effort and attention into a project you’ll get the result you want.

• The biggest myth that stops people getting what they want is self-doubt and being nervous about whether they can do it or if they have the right connections.   You have to take on that potential obstacle and find ways to address it, as it won’t go away: “My job is create connections – it’s part of the deal.  When I moved to Dubai I didn’t know anybody!” 

• There will never be a perfect time but some times will be better than others so go for it:  Being ready is a myth! It may feel like a leap of faith but if you look at your track record and what you have done right you will be able to see that you have it in you and you need to give yourself more credit.

• “I struggle to think of some good advice I’ve received because a lot of people told me I was insane but I didn’t listen to them and thank goodness… but I would say, always manage your finances and put something away for a rainy day.”

Natalie is now looking to the future with the intention of creating a new industry standard for the events market and will also be growing her other company Canvas and Wood (http://www.canvas-and-wood.com/) to ensure that opportunity bears fruit too, but she has also promised to take the time to enjoy the fruits of her hard work – “you need the rewards to make it feel worth it”.

Thanks so much to this gorgeous and inspirational businesswoman that is Living Proof that putting the time in leads to the most amazing experiences and fulfilling ways to spend your life.  I can’t wait to do a follow up interview after she’s appeared on the cover of Forbes magazine!  I bet I won’t have to wait too long…

Love Lucy xoxo

Time to BITCH? Begin Intensely To Change Habits

Need a bit of help with your 'hallway'? I eat Hallways for breakfast!

Get in touch with me to discuss how my Life Coaching can help you flip things and get rid of those blocks in between you and what you want for yourself.

Drop me a line to arrange a Q&A and 'Aperitif' and knee skid into next year with a smile on your face :) (lucy@proofcoaching.com)

Love Lucy x

Give the gift of freedom this Christmas

If you or someone, you know, is itching for more or yearns to find their own way and follow their passion, it’s worth exploring how this can finally be done.

Life coaching creates the freedom to think and the tools to act, so why not consider giving this as a gift this Christmas?

Contact me for an info pack and help make 2014 your loved one’s best ever!: lucy@proofcoaching.com

Love Lucy x

Living Proof is live!!! What a first Vlog post:- "Trigger points and backing yourself"

Hi guys,

Welcome to a new addition to the Proof Coaching family, namely, ‘Living Proof’ my brand new vlog series!

My rationale for creating Living Proof is I want to demystify and de-fear the process of getting where you want to be by understanding the experiences of others so that we can take cues, and get insight into, how we can do it for ourselves.

Will Jackson is the first subject of my Living Proof series.  As a songwriter for Universal Records working with numerous International recording artists – CeeLo Green and Pixie Lott, anyone? – His tale is an interesting one and click on the video above to check it out.

Will’s down to earth perspective has allowed him to keep to his path and achieve growing success in the industry but he, like many successful people, acknowledge they need to keep learning and, by his own admission “I’m not out of the woods…”

His passion for music has seen him pursue his songwriting career and in this Q&A he lets us in on all the nitty gritty details that have got him to this point, namely:

• Rather than having a clear and consistent road to follow, a bunch of trigger points showed him to keep going, reinforcing that he was following the right signs.
• When you’re following anything that isn’t on the beaten track it can sometimes feel like you’re wandering around trying not to bump into trees but he has dealt with uncertainty and the passing of time by remembering that trigger points do always come along that join the successes together and bring confidence.

Some of the killer insights Will shared with me ring true from my own experience, in that, the inertia of routine can keep you from doing what you want and feeling good.  Daily habits and being swept along by other people’s schedules can be hard routines to break.  Will also highlights some important personal perspectives which I think sums up some PERFECT advice:

“It’s crucial to back yourself: - The good things that happen give you a shove.  LOOK for opportunities especially in the tougher times when nothing’s there to nudge you along... It’s not telling yourself you’re amazing all the time – be as realistic as possible and still carry on.  You can fall back on knowing that you should keep going – back yourself.”

The process of building his career in the music industry has taught him to acknowledge:

• Getting the right support is crucial – talking to those that know the industry has allowed him to let him know what he’s in for and allowed him to suss out what his next expectations can be.

• A healthy dose of realism is key - sometimes you have to be quite cold and objective but not be pointlessly negative… keep assessing what feels right and play to strengths. 

• Allow yourself to rise up through layers and understand what the next move is – if you go straight to the top you’ll miss out on learning lessons and understanding how things really work

• Don’t do the same thing and expect different results.  It’s important to read situations anew – there isn’t one way to do it.

Thanks so much to Will for taking time out of his schedule to take part and share his first hand experiences- there are BIG things ahead for this chap.

I hope you enjoy this Q&A.  I would so love to hear any of your feedback or comments – good, bad and ugly… but mainly good!! :)

I can’t wait to share more Living Proof Q&A’s with you in the coming months and thank you for stopping by.

Love Lucy xox

PS: I do plan on developing my editing skills so these videos are nice and bite size and apologies for the giggling in the video but this guy was a pleasure to interview.

---

Something that stopped me in my tracks

Every so often you read something and it makes the hairs on the back of your next stand up on end and I wanted to share this with y'all.

"Don't look where you fell.  Look where you slipped."

It seems so simple to reflect on the actions that didn't go the way you may have wanted but if you understand why, you can see a slip coming in future.

Love Lucy x

A most personal and unique Christmas gift

Give the gift of a clean slate or putting plans in action…

My 1-2-1 Life Coaching packages are available to gift to the one you love this Christmas.

Get in touch with me for an info pack and find out how a life coaching experience could be one of the more personal and special presents  you’ll ever give, with results that sparkle well beyond yuletide.

Love Lucy x

e: lucy@proofcoaching.com or visit www.proofcoaching.com

Power Pairs: Why you need a wingman to help you fly to the land of awesome.

Sometimes the best person at keeping you on track, or paying attention to your life, isn’t the person staring back at you in the mirror. (Gorgeous as hell as that person is.)

It’s funny how it can be sooo easy to not show up for ourselves and what makes us happy – like we’re the least important thing on our ‘to do’ list.  Life can get in the way and the stresses and time management challenges of a full life mean we just don’t get a say because: 

“I’m too tired”

“I don’t know”

“I don’t have time”

“It’s too late”

“I can’t afford it”

“I’m too busy”

…It sucks, right?  None of that stuff feels good.  In fact it feels ‘yawn!’

And yet babe, when someone else asks you to pull something out of the bag for them, and deliver at short notice, you pretty often do, don’t you?  In the words of Danielle LaPorte, that’s a ‘Truth Bomb’ right there!

A couple of examples of my life-coaching clients putting others before themselves include:

• Pulling ‘all-nighters’ at the office to get a report to a client for 9am – this from the guy that said he struggled to focus.
• Hustling to cut project costs to please her boss, but when we first met she said she didn’t know how to budget to factor in a holiday for herself. (She does now.)

Ultimately these guys, as with all of us, have the skills and know-how to deliver to a goal.  So isn’t it time we ‘turned that on’ for ourselves and ‘showed up’ for our own wants, goals and needs? (There’s another truth bomb for you right thur.)

I’ve been working with my coaching clients to bust the blockades above.  Mega mindset changes are one of the most powerful outputs of the coaching process… but I’m also there to hold clients to account and show them how to start, and keep showing up, in their lives so that what they want doesn’t slide.

It’s scary how much you could achieve if you put a few support measures in place for yourself and tapped into a cheerleader or, on a more basic level, someone that will hold you to account for yourself as your boss would!

So, I wanted to share some free insight into how you can create a ‘Power Pair’ and access the benefit of working with someone who’ll ensure you show up and move forward, whatever that means for you.

There are just a few ground rules to follow as a guide:

• Choose your Power Pair partner wisely – you’re going to be sharing some personal shiz.  You need to trust them to not only be sensitive but to challenge you to account for yourself.
• Choose one clear goal you’d like to work towards in your Power Pair – it’s not their job to coach you to sort your entire life out, there are Pro’s like me for that.
• Make your Power Pair meetings regular – don’t leave it more than 10 days to download your progress, agree next steps forward that you’ll each take and off you go.
• Keep it short and sweet – 20-minute sessions should do it.
• Cheerleading and kick ass attitude are compulsory
• Pull your weight – it’s your job to deliver to yourself.  It’s your wingman’s responsibility to deliver for themselves.  If bot h of you pull your respective weights the motivation your Power Pair creates will be stellar strength!

OK so go find your Power Pair Partner and be each other’s wingman to pull it out of the bag for yourselves! I’d LOVE to hear how you get on and the results you achieve by combining your powers.  Leave a comment below or on our FB page!

If you want to go a step further with your wingman ,one way I can help is with my Power Pair coaching.

This is coaching for two people – a Power Pair- at one time.  It tends to be with couples, BFF’s or siblings that are working towards a common goal but it also works to help the individuals focus on their own path but with a buddy along for the ride that will keep them going when I’m not around!  You can give me a buzz here to find out more or book a coaching aperitif.

Love Lucy xo

"Time spent with Lucy is time well spent..."

Thank you to the lovely Emma for this heartening and delightful testimonial: "The most important thing people should know about Lucy is that any time spent with her is time well spent. Her enthusiasm and authentic interest in helping people find answers is so infectious you will NOT fail to come away from a ‘Lucy meet up’ feeling anything less than 100% inspired!"

Love Lucy xx

October is a second Spring