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A
Note from Mitch |
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Featured
Article: The Top 10 Strategies for Inspiring Creativity
Where You Work and Play Through
the Art of Environmental Design |
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Tip
of the Week |
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Market
Place |
Dear Subscriber,
I am writing my
notes section once again from my home office in Scottsdale
AZ. The weather is getting a little cooler (around 75 :) and
everyday I am reminded about how much my environment actually
does affect my daily level of happiness. As you know I lived
in Chicago for over 20 years and although it is a wonderful
place in many regards, for me living there was filled with
too many things that were inconsistent with my true nature.
Some of it was the weather, some was the city life ... another
was my own attitude as a result of these and other things.
I think I was swimming in the wrong pond. Now I am swimming
in a pond that fits much better with my nature.
This leads me to
some thoughts around "creating your environment".
This does not necessarily mean just your physical location.
There are many key elements of "environmental design"
and today I am featuring an expert on the subject, master
coach and all around wise person Bea Fields. I hope you enjoy
the article.
Have a awesome
week!
Mitch
P.S.
We're always interested in your comments and feedback on this
ezine. If it has stimulated some thoughts, let
us know.
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Quote For The Day:
"The
starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak
desires bring weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount
of heat.”– Napoleon Hill
The
Top 10 Strategies for Inspiring Creativity Where You Work
and Play
Through the Art of Environmental Design
By Bea Fields
Websites,
automobiles, milk cartons, living spaces. Design saturates every aspect of our
lives and the difference between success and failure could be the color purple,
could be the person who you talk to every morning when you wake up, or could be
the amount of light that streams into your office every day. Each and every
thing in our environment influences us, convinces us, plays to our emotions,
and appeals to our intellect. As the world changes, so must our environment. We
can fight our environment, or we can design and shape it so that it actually
inspires us to move to a level of brilliance. These ten steps, taken from the
Personal Environments Community of CoachVille, will support you in
revitalizing your environments and will foster an amazing sense of innovation.
With these strategies, creativity will become much more than a goal...it will
become a way of living.
1. Start by finding out
what makes you "tick" with the DISC assessment.
The DISC is
a fantastic tool that can provide you with amazing insight into understanding
your behavior and will help you create motivational environments and interact
more effectively with others.
Are you a high D
(Dominance?)- You will thrive in an environment that is fast-paced, buzzing
with energy, and somewhat chaotic. A week-end in a busy city like Manhattan, Atlanta, Chicago, or Hong Kong may
provide you with the motivation you need to get your juices flowing.
Are you a high I
(Inspirational?)- You will thrive in an environment filled with people. A high
energy convention, a mastermind group, or a cutting-edge community organization
can send you to amazing new levels of success.
Are you a high S
(Steadiness?)- You will thrive in a calm and consistent environment. A day in a
quiet park by the water can provide you with the balance and peace that you
need to get the job done.
Are you a high C
(Conscientiousness?)- You will thrive in an environment that is filled with
order, facts, structure, and one that focuses on tradition. A day at a
wonderful book store or a historical museum will often motivate a high
"C" to move to new levels of inspiration.
2. Replace your old 45s
by adding Beethoven to your life.
What songs
are the old records in your mind playing? "I'm not smart enough. I can't
do this. I don't have the money. I'm not well-connected enough." Break
this pattern of negative thinking by popping in a CD of Ludwig van Beethoven.
The year 1805 was a year of crisis for Beethoven, with his realization that the
impaired hearing he had noticed for some time was incurable and would soon grow
much worse. Did he let this stop him? Absolutely not! He sawed off the legs of
his piano so that he could put his ear to the floor to feel the vibrations as
he struck the notes of the keyboard. Beethoven's music coupled with his heroism
can provide you with a powerful source of energy, inspiration, and a sense of
pure triumph.
3. Add a punch of Red to
your life!
In the
practice of Feng Shui it is important to know that Red is the color of fortune
as it is a color of confidence. Moreover, it attracts recognition and respect
for the person who uses it. Add red candles, red roses, or red paint to your
home or office and watch closely as you unleash your creative spirit and as
your boldness grows to new heights.
4. Master the Master.
Jack
Fields, age 13, has over 22 tournament championships and 2 holes in one under
his golf achievement belt. How did he do this? By mastering the master, Tiger
Woods. During his free time, Jack reads books like How I Play Golf-- by Tiger
Woods, In Search of Tiger: A Journey Through Golf With Tiger Woods-- by Tom Callahan
and Tiger Woods: A Biography for Kids -- by Libby Hughes. He pours over Golf
World and Golf Digest Magazine to find out what Tiger is up to, is
incorporating Tiger's diet and workout regimen, and he practices putting while
watching Tiger on television during his appearances on the PGA tour.
5. Add an original twist
to a traditional business by tapping into a hobby.
As visitors
walk through the doors of Donna Lane, in Southern Pines, North Carolina, the
aromas of jasmine, citrus, lemon, and roses mixed with the rich smell of coffee
and mochas are enticing... making visiting this full service day spa an ideal
location for renewing beauty, forgetting stress, and for getting reacquainted
with old friends. CEO, Michelle Yow, is not only an expert in the field of
extreme self care but is a connoisseur of fine coffees from around the world.
By adding The Java Bean Plantation Coffee Company to her establishment,
Michelle is able to dabble in a favorite hobby while enticing coffee lovers
from her local community to take a closer look at her line of skin
care products.
6. Create a feeling of
warmth, comfort, and of "being home."
Accessories
reflect a highly personal touch, and they are of paramount importance in the
design and decor of not only a home but a place of business. No one knows this
better than David Woronoff, President and Publisher of The Pilot Newspaper
(www.thepilot.com). Breaking away from the traditional publishing design
schemes, David chose hard wood floors, corian countertops, and Oriental rugs
for the renovation of The Pilot, adding an element of surprise, an intimate
touch, and a homey feel to the interior of this growing community newspaper.
7. Create relationships
that inspire you.
Are your
relationships chipping away at your creativity and your zest for life? Or, are
they simply supporting you to live a life of mediocrity and of living with the
status quo? Hmmm...not quite enough. By developing relationships with people
and colleagues who not only support you but actually inspire you, the vacuum of
success can pull you forward in a flash! Dan Askins of www.danaskins.com
believes that success is all about making connections with high-energy
colleagues, friends, customers, and companies. By forming a marketing
mastermind group and opening a full concierge service in his executive office
center, Dan is quickly advancing in the world of commercial real estate
development, and he is finding the courage to try innovative ways of problem
solving and of approaching the challenges of both his business and personal
life.
8. Play Chess.
Chess is
not simply a game...it is an amazing tool for the development of the mind, and
it just so happens that it is a "board game." By adding a chess board
to your home, small business, or corporation, this game can challenge you and
your team to think fast, think under pressure, and to think several moves
ahead. It is a fantastic game for developing vision, elements of strategic
planning, and for anticipating a potential change from a customer or competitor.
9. Use your gifts and
talents shamelessly.
One of the
keystones of high achievement and happiness rests in your ability to exercise
your talents, strengths, and gifts. As an attorney and President of a new
chemical company, BenTech, Bob Friesen has accessed his musical talent in a
highly compelling way. With the support of a digital keyboard and his guitar,
Bob will soon be recording a demo of one of his many compositions. This
exceptional use of talent has allowed this forward-moving professional the opportunity
to play out his strengths to their fullest, which has resulted in an increase
in his bottom line profits.
10. Build spaces of
delight by merging the indoors with nature.
Whether it
is a sun-filled breakfast or conference room, a beautiful potted plant, or a
hummingbird feeder placed outside a common window, you can boost your spirits
and create extraordinary joy by bringing nature into your home or office. After
being challenged by the dark spaces of his basement office, Dr. Timothy Dey
(www.deygroup.com) created a solution to this challenge by adding a Florida
room to his home in Detroit, Michigan.
Timothy now uses this room as his office, and by filling his day with
natural light, birds, trees, and all that nature has to offer, he has created
a living and breathing environment that is warm, inviting, and truly inspiring.
About the Submitter
This piece was written by
Bea Fields, President of Five Star Leader Coaching and Training, who can be
visited at www.FiveStarLeader.com. She is an Executive Coach who works with
business owners, professionals, and corporate executives in the areas of
leadership and business development and environmental design. For more information on Personal Environments
training, check out her upcoming teleclass: An Introduction to Environmental Design: 9 Strategies
for Inspiring Creativity Where You Work and Play. Register
online today at: http://www.fivestarleader.com/upcomming_events.htm
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