I was recently featured in a video produced by the Omni Group. I feel honoured to have had a starring role in the Omni Group’s first “Customer Story” video. I appreciated being able to share my journey through cancer and the profoundly positive impact that the Getting Things Done® (GTD®) methodology and OmniFocus™ has had on all aspects of my life.
Despite all the challenges, my journey through cancer was rich in rewards. It was a wake-up call that allowed me to become very clear on my life path and how I can best serve people, organizations and communities. All of the work that I do is embodied in the concept of “Holistic Productivity” — a topic I’ll be presenting in more detail shortly. My work as a Productivity Coach and Consultant at Technically Simple is very much aligned with my life work and I feel blessed to be engaged in work that is both fulfilling and impactful.
If you’re curious to read more about GTD and OmniFocus…check out the GTD® “The Art of Stress Free Productivity” and How I Use OmniFocus articles.
I work with people, both individually and in groups, to help them get up and running with OmniFocus and to fine tune their OmniFocus setups — ultimately supporting them in leading lives that are healthy, productive and aligned with their values. The process I go through when working with people draws upon my professional coaching training and goes beyond OmniFocus and technology. Through the consulting and training work that I do, individuals have an opportunity to look at the big picture of their lives and to reconnect with their dreams and passions. As part of this process they also have opportunity to take a close look at all of the incompletions and indecisions in their life that are holding them back and to put a plan in place to tie up loose ends. For more information visit the Technically Simple website.
Between April 26 and May 31 I’m teaching a series of Kundalini Yoga classes under the theme of Awaken and Transform. All classes will be held at Yoga West in Kitsilano (2662 W 4th Avenue, between Stephens and Trafalgar) on Thursdays from 12–1:30pm.
These classes are part of a 40-day yoga challenge that officially launches at Yoga West on April 23 at 7pm. According to yogic science, 40 days is the amount of time it takes to let go of an old habit and cultivate a new one. You’re very welcome to attend any or all of these classes whether you’re participating in the 40-day yoga challenge or not.
April 26 — Awaken to Your Ten Bodies — We are multifaceted beings by nature and our physical body is only one of the aspects that defines us as humans. Come and experience, strengthen and balance all of your ten bodies through breath, movement and meditation.
May 3 — Understanding Through Compassion — According to Yogi Bhajan’s teachings, we have entered into the Age of Aquarius. Key to thriving in this new age is going beyond an intellectual understanding of the world and learning to understand through compassion. Experience yourself as an integral part of life and open yourself to exciting new possibilities.
May 10 — The Other Person is YOU — Consider that we see others as a reflection of ourselves. Qualities we admire in others are qualities that we possess. And any time we have a reaction to something someone else says or does we have an opportunity to see our shadow. Learn how to apply this teaching in a practical way and embrace your light and the shadow it casts.
May 17 — When the Time is On You…START — Is there anything in your life that you’re putting off? Resisting doing things is, in many cases, more draining that actually doing them. Learn to apply yogic technology to create momentum in your life as you take courageous steps along the path of fulfillment and happiness.
May 24 — A Way Through Every Block — Like it our not, challenges will come along throughout our life. Resisting these challenges can lead us to feeling stuck and drained. Embracing them presents us with an opportunity to learn and grow. As children, many of us loved to play with blocks. Bring your inner child and re-experience how much fun blocks can be.
May 31 — Vibrate the Cosmos — At a very basic level we humans (and everything else for that matter) exist as vibrations. Kundalini Yoga places a strong emphasis on chanting sacred mantras that support us in raising our vibration and reaching heightened levels of awareness. Don’t take my word for it…come and experience it for yourself.
I was recently a guest on The Dr. Anne Marie Evers Show. Dr. Evers is a best selling author of many books on the power of affirmations and co-authored Wake Up and Live the Life you Love in Spirit with Dr. Deepak Chopra and Dr. Wayne Dyer.
This was my second time on the show and it was a pleasure to be back. I talked about my journey through cancer in 2008 and summarized the profound lessons that I learned through my trials and tribulations. These lessons continue to serve me well today and have led to me gaining a new sense of clarity around all aspects of my life. During the interview I also publicly announced a new book that I’m writing, with a planned publishing date of Fall 2012. I look forward to sharing more details on this project shortly!
You can listen to a recording of the interview by clicking the Listen Now button below. You can also access the Anne Marie Evers Show on iTunes by clicking the Listen on iTunes button. The interview aired on February 18, 2012 and I join Dr. Evers about 11 minutes into the show.
I’m excited to announce that I’ll be hitting the airwaves this Saturday at approximately 12:20pm Pacific Time as a guest on The Dr. Anne Marie Evers Show. Dr. Evers is a best selling author of many books on the power of affirmations and co-authored Wake Up and Live the Life you Love in Spirit with Dr. Deepak Chopra and Dr. Wayne Dyer.
I was first on the Dr. Evers show in May 2010 and look forward to picking up the conversation where we left off. I’ll be talking about my 2008 journey through cancer and the clarity of purpose that arose from my trials and tribulations.
Through my work as a coach, consultant and yoga teacher, I give people tools that support them in being healthy, relaxed and productive in our fast-paced modern world. I’ll be sharing some specific insights and recommendations that I often share with my clients. I’ll also be using this show as the forum to announce an exciting new project that I have in the works. Tune in to learn more!
You can listen to show on your computer by clicking the LISTEN LIVE button below or by downloading the free CTR Radio iPhone app. The interview will also be made available through iTunes approximately 24 hours after the show airs. Visit the How to Listen page on Contact Talk Radio’s website for more information.
I’m excited to announce that I’m teaching a regular Thursday noon (12-1:15pm) class at Yoga West in Vancouver starting this Thursday (October 20, 2011). I have been teaching yoga since 1999 and was a regular teacher at Yoga West before getting diagnosed with cancer in 2008. Kundalini Yoga played a major role in my recovery and I’m grateful to be teaching regularly at Yoga West once again and to have the opportunity to share the many lessons that I learned during my healing journey.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Kundalini Yoga, it’s a style that is often dubbed the “mother of all yogas”. It has a strong physical element, with more of an emphasis on dynamic movement than on static postures. Kundalini Yoga also provides the opportunity to experience the many other facets of yoga, including breathwork (pranayama), meditation and yogic lifestyles and philosophies. The best way to learn what Kundalini Yoga is all about is to come and experience a class for yourself.
For more information on Kundalini Classes at Yoga West visit yogawest.ca. And feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions.
p.s. I’m also going to be teaching Kundalini Yoga in downtown Vancouver starting in January 2012 and have some plans for workshops with a yogic theme. Stay tuned for details!
An article I wrote for the Annex Consulting newsletter about David Allen’s Getting Things Done® (GTD®) methodology was published earlier today is now available on the Technically Simple blog.
GTD has had a profoundly positive impact on my life, both personally and professionally. The story of my introduction to GTD was published on the David Allen Company’s blog, GTD Times in 2009 and I was interviewed by David Allen himself later that year as part of the “In Conversation” series.
I recently shared the benefits of this approach with the International Coach Federation (ICF), Vancouver Chapter and with an enthusiastic group of coaches and consultants at a local Meetup.com gathering. Through my coaching business, Coaching Life, I work with people to navigate GTD and to develop their own systems. My consulting business, Technically Simple, has a strong focus on productivity and I provide consultant and training in Mac® and iOS® technologies that are designed to implement GTD – specifically OmniFocus and Daylite.
I’m excited to announce that I’ll be hitting the airwaves this Saturday afternoon at about 12:30pm Pacific Time as a guest on the The Dr. Anne Marie Evers Show. Dr. Evers is a best selling author of many books on the power of affirmations and co-authored Wake Up and Live the Life you Love in Spirit with Dr. Deepak Chopra and Dr. Wayne Dyer.
I’ll be talking with Dr. Evers about my 2008 journey through cancer and focusing on the role that positive thinking and gratitude played in my healing journey.
If you’re in the Seattle area you can listen to the show on KRWM, 106.9 HD Channel 3. The show can also be heard live on the Internet by visiting the Contact Talk Radio website and clicking the Listen Now button. The show starts at 12pm Pacific Time and my interview will be from about 12:30 until 1pm.
I’m excited to announce that I’ve just relaunched my consulting company, Technically Simple. I originally founded Technically Simple way back in 2003 and, working with business partners and contractors, have had the pleasure of working with a wide range of clients to develop marketing strategies and have seen many websites from concept to fruition.
The next chapter of Technically Simple’s evolution is focused on providing consulting, training and education with the intention of making the benefits of technology available to everyone in a friendly and accessible way.
I’ve always had a fascination with technology and continue to see its potential to make life easier and more creative for us humans. Ironically, many people see technology as a source of stress rather than a trusted sidekick. So what’s missing?
Choosing the appropriate technology is an important first step that is often overlooked. There is a lot of marketing hype and false promises around technology and one of Technically Simple’s roles is to act as an advisor and point to well designed solutions. In the near future I’ll be launching the Technically Simple Approved™ program. This seal of approval will be given to technologies that are well designed, reliable and genuinely make people’s lives easier and more productive.
With the appropriate technology in place, it’s important to establish clear workflows and to configured the chosen technology to support these workflows. Equally important is that people using the software be well educated on how to use it effectively and on potential pitfalls. I very much enjoy this sort of work and it draws upon many years experience as a project manager and on my passion for David Allen’s Getting Things Done® (GTD®) methodology, that has had a profoundly positive impact on me, both personally and professionally.
Partnerships with Marketcircle and MINDBODY
I recently established partnerships with two outstanding companies.
Marketcircle has been in business since 1999 and has an outstanding business productivity manager called Daylite that is well suited for single to medium sized Mac-based businesses. I’m a Daylite Certified Partner and am here to help you and your organization get up and running with Daylite or to fine-tune your existing installation.
I’m equally thrilled to be a MINDBODY Business Partner. MINDBODY has a web-based studio management solution that is used by yoga centres, health clubs, martial arts studios, spas and more literally all over the world. It’s a highly flexible solution that manages everything from client accounts to product inventory. I have a passion for fitness, yoga, martial arts and health and wellness in general and am excited to be bringing the benefits of technology to individuals and organizations in this sector.
More Information
I invite you to check out Technically Simple’s new website: technicallysimple.com. I’ve also written a blog post that provides more information on where we’ve been…and where we’re going.
A Snapshot of Your Life
If you’ve ever worked with a life coach, you’re likely intimately familiar with the “Wheel of Life”. For those of you who are new to this concept, the Wheel of Life is a coaching tool that allows you to take a visual snapshot of your life as it exists in the present moment.
Life is, by it’s very nature, multifaceted. The most powerful and lasting approaches to growth and healing encompass all aspects of your being. Taking stock of your life and acknowledging and accepting where you are right now is a requisite first step to engaging in transformation.
The Wheel of Life includes all major areas of life, typically: career, money, health, friends & family, significant other/romance, personal growth, fun & recreation and physical environment.
The exercise is to assign a rating from one to ten for each of these areas. A score of one indicates that you’re thoroughly unsatisfied in this area and a score of ten indicates that this part of your life is off-the-charts amazing. And, there’s all the scores in between, with five often being expressed as an uninspired “fine”. A common trap is to label lower scores as “bad” and higher score as “good”. I encourage you to approach this exercise from a very neutral place and accept life exactly as it exists in the present. The ancient yogis called this “Santosha” – contentment with the way things are.
“Career” in Modern Times
I frequently remind my coaching clients (and myself) that the labels associated with the Wheel of Life are arbitrary. If a specific term doesn’t fit it can always be substituted with a different, more empowering label. The goal is to create an all-encompassing view of life and not to fit a pre-defined mould.
The one label that has never really worked for me is “career”. I have struggled over the years to define my career, with varying levels of success and plenty of frustration. I’ve discovered that I’m not the only one who faces this dilemma.
In the past, a common scenario was that you’d receive an education in a given field and then spend the next 25 years or more working in that area, perhaps even for the same company. For better or worst, our modern life doesn’t always work that way. Our world is changing at such a rapid rate that industries that existed twenty, or even ten years ago may already be yesterday’s news. And we’re exposed to a wealth of information and have many opportunities to learn that simply didn’t exist in years past. The result is that it’s common to have several different “careers” over the course of our lives and many of us are in a seemingly constant state of learning and training.
The concept of “career” doesn’t work the way it used to. Perhaps it’s time for a new paradigm.
Introducing the Wheel of Life Work™
Earlier this year I started working with a talented and highly creative coach, Phil Askew. During one of our calls I mentioned my challenges around the word “career”. As an experiment, we substituted career with a term which fit much more naturally – “life work”.
I believe that each of us has a purpose for being here on the planet and that we each have unique gifts to offer. Our level of happiness and fulfillment is proportional to the degree to which we’re able to live this purpose and share these gifts (I’m tempted to insert a mathematical formula and graph at this point, but I’ll resist).
There’s a practical side to life that requires us to earn money in order to support ourselves and our family…and perhaps indulge in some of the finer things in life. Ideally the work that you get paid for is completely in alignment with your life work. This isn’t always the case and, especially in earlier stages of life, your purpose and “life work” may be somewhat (or completely) undefined.
As a minimum, hopefully your paid employment satisfies at least some aspects of your life work. And with a little creativity this is almost possible, regardless of circumstances. Those aspects that aren’t met by a traditional career can still be cultivated in other areas of your life, with or without financial gain. Sometimes rewards for carrying out your life work can exist in the form of fulfillment or as an experience of deep connection with the world around you.
So how does the Wheel of Life Work apply in practical terms? Read on.
My Wheel of Life Work
To further illustrate this concept, here’s my own Wheel of Life Work as it exists today:
In my case, I came up with eight personas and gifts that bring great fulfillment and allow me to make a positive contribution to the world. Some of these exist as part of paid work, while others aren’t attached to a financial income stream, yet bring great joy. In my case, I’ve discovered that the specifics of the work I’m doing is less important than the results that are created. For example, as a public speaker I enjoy engaging a group in a way that leaves them inspired and willing to look at their life in a new, positive light. The specific topic of the speech is less important than the impact that is delivered.
I’ve also noticed that none of the areas of my Wheel of Life Work exist in isolation. For example, as a Technology Consultant I’m motivated to share ways in which technology can be used to bring positive changes to our lives and our communities. I might express this enthusiasm and knowledge as a Writer, Teacher or Workshop Leader and may draw upon my training as a Yoga Teacher to inject some ancient yogic wisdom into the conversation.
I frequently revisit my Wheel of Life Work to ensure that each of these areas is getting “fed”. If an area is being neglected I put a plan in place to shift this area. I also use the Wheel of Life Work when evaluating new employment opportunities. If the opportunity doesn’t satisfy at least a few segments of my Life Work it’s time to look elsewhere.
Now It’s Your Turn…
Enough about me. Now it’s your turn to explore your own Wheel of Life Work.
Set aside some quiet time – 20-30 minutes will likely be sufficient – and define the various facets that make up your own life work. It’s useful to look back on your life and identify moments where you felt particularly fulfilled and content. These could be moments spent in the context of a job or they could be activities you’ve pursued for the sheer enjoyment they bring.
The key here is not to over-think the process. Often the first thought that pops into your head is the most relevant one. It may help to do this exercise with a coach or a friend. Let their curiosity around your life work help you clarify the various activities and roles that light you up and are aligned with your core essence. In some cases, it’s as much about your gift of being as your talents at doing. For example, you may have an enthusiasm that is contagious to everyone around you or your mere presence may instil a sense of calm.
Your labels may exist as personas, as mine did, or they may be more topical in nature. For example, sustainability and the environment may be a key component of your life work. You may come up with eight facets, or you may have more…or fewer. There may be some aspects that are crystal clear, while others may be foggy or even invisible at this stage. Identifying what is clear is a good first step that can allow clarity in the other areas to unfold naturally. It’s also important to keep in mind that none of this is cast in stone. Allow yourself the freedom to evolve your Wheel of Life Work over time.
Once you identify the various facets of your Wheel of Life Work, rate each of them on a scale from one to ten based on your current satisfaction in each area. Imagine what each area would look like if it were a ten – even if the means to achieving this level of satisfaction is unclear.
To help ground this exercise, take three areas from your Wheel of Life Work and commit to the rating you’d like to have in each of these areas three months from now. The key is to come up with measurable indicators. For example, if you currently aren’t putting any significant energy into a key part of your life and rate it at at two – a measurable quality that would make it a five might be that you’re spending two hours a week in this area or have identified jobs that would feed this part of your work life.
Creating accountability is a key aspect of coaching. I encourage you to share your Wheel of Life Work and goals with a friend or coach. And, if you’re feeling particularly brave, share a summary of your discovery in the comments below. Publicly revealing your gifts and ambitions can be a powerful way of setting the stage for a fulfilling life.
Procrastination is one of those words that, for many, elicits feelings of guilt and powerlessness. I love tearing apart scary words and looking at what they really mean. This word has reportedly been part of our English vanacular since Shakespeare’s time and, roughly translated from its Latin roots, means “push it forward…because this belongs to tomorrow”.
Consider that there’s nothing inherently wrong with procrastinating and that sometimes it’s very much appropriate to push something forward to tomorrow. On the flipside, it’s important to remember that our human existence only affords us so many tomorrows and that by putting important things off indefinitely we’re depriving ourselves of the joy and fulfillment that accomplishments can bring. Issues that we face on a global scale, notably the health of our planet, have a very timely component and there’s a real cost to inaction.
My deepest learning around procrastination came in a less than subtle form. In the summer of 2008 I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and there were times when I wondered if I would live to see Christmas. A wave of sadness fell over me as I faced the possibility of not having many more tomorrows and I became mindful of all the things that I wished that I’d done over the past forty years. Fortunately I ended the year with a clean bill of health…and a new lease on life.
All of this begs the question. Why do we procrastinate? Fear is often a key component. There’s the fear of failure and the embarrassment that that might follow, and the lesser recognized fear of success – hiding out in the shadows might be more of a challenge once the world witnesses how amazing you are. Procrastination is also a common reaction when something feels too big or when the path to our dreams is unclear. And sometimes the things we put off are just not that important.
The first step to overcoming procrastination is to look your reasons square in the eye. Sometimes the source of the resistance is not obvious and it helps to talk with a friend or work with a life coach to clearly see your patterns. Bringing awareness to your reasons puts you in a place of choice.
Taking things on in life can be scary and uncomfortable and I invite you to move boldly forward, staying mindful of what’s at stake. If something seems too big, consider taking one small step, even if the rest of the path is unclear, and invite others to share your journey. Let go of things that aren’t important, be kind to yourself and be weary of that deamon called “perfection”.
In the words of Mark Twain – “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Originally printed in Winds of Change Newsletter, Summer 2010
Photo by Andreanna Moya Photography