I'm excited to let you know that registrations are now open for the 2012 Creative Women Can Summit with the theme this year Creative Women Can Rocket In Business!

Here's a short message I've just recorded to tell you about the Summit.  We've got some amazing and inspirational speakers coming on board and I can't wait to share them with you.  Please share this video with your network of wonderful Creative Women who Can!
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Personal Leadership features as the core of everything for me.  It's the centre of everything I teach and everything I aim to demonstrate as I focus on leading by example.  It is also, in my personal opinion, the key to you  empowering your visions and transforming your life.  While I have my own innate understanding of what personal leadership is I am often reminded that there are many people who do not have a knowing about what it means.  Today I have decided to delve into this topic as the theme for February so I'll be sharing a series of articles over the course of this month to help demystify personal leadership for you, well the Creative Possibility version of personal leadership at least

To get started I feel it's important to tell you about my experience with personal leadership and how I came to be so passionate about it.  I can't exactly remember when it started.  In some ways it's a bit like I've always been interested in what I now call personal leadership.  It is, for me anyway, the deep seated inner drive we all have access to.  It's the drive that fuels your day.  The juice that keeps you flowing.  The magic that makes you sparkls.  It's the choices that you make.  It's saying NO when you know it isn't right and racing up and yelling YES when it's succulently perfect for you.  It's being a leader.  It's living your life on your terms.  It's about saying I can, I will, I do, I am.....

I know that when I'm not in relationship with my inner leader and therefore not engaged in actively living my brand of personal leadership that things are usually not function at their best for me.  It is in these times that I get stagnant, that I feel stuck, challenged, in pain, overwhelmed and just not 'right.'  Things are not working for me and business and my life are often looking pretty bleak. Have you ever had a moment where you just don't 'feel right' but you can't necessarily put your finger on it and put words around what's going on to describe it?  These are the times when you are not in relationship with your inner leader and not following your personal leadership path

What Is Personal Leadership?


"A deep seated, succulent, passionate desire, put into action, to empower your visions and transform your life by staying true to who you really are, aligned with your values, your purpose and your passion"
~ Shannon Bush
The sort of feelings and experiences I described are also signs that you're off track and not honouring yourself in an empowering way.  Time to get back to what it means to be you, and to take charge as the leader of your life, business, career and go out and grab your vision and squeeze it so tight it just melts into you as a divine reality

Personal leadership is, as you may think from it's name, a very personal experience.  My expression of personal leadership will be different to your expression as will the outcomes for both of us.  That is, I think, part of what makes personal leadership so empowering

I'll be back soon with more on this fascinating topic so until next time I wish you succulent, effortless success

Shannon
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_"Imagination is more important
than knowledge. For while knowledge defines all we currently know and understand, imagination points to all we might yet discover and create” Albert Einstein

As I mentioned in yesterday's post I spent an brilliant day at a workshop all day and have so many things to share that I (almost) don't know where to start.  This morning I had the absolute pleasure and honour of facilitating an inspiring morning of what I call 'Creative Visioning' as a team building exercise for a group of relatively innovative people who work in an environment that traditionally lacks innovation and creativity.  The reason I mention this is that yesterday one of things I was reminded of strongly was that without clarity our visions aren't necessarily going to get us where we want to go and without imagination we are destined to limit ourselves in a bit way

The Italian Master Michelangelo said that "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low we reach it.”  That's a really powerful statement and considering it was shared in the 1500's that's a really innovative, insightful insight into human potential, something I like to think of as 'Creative Possibility'

How often have you spent time writing goals, creating a vision board or adding to your vision book, only to review it at some stage down the track and see that you 'sort of' met your goals?  I know I've done it.  I know friends who've done it and I see clients do it all the time.  In fact I often have people say to me something like "I don't believe in goal setting / vision boards / vision books / setting intentions / creating visions because they never come true!"

That is a pretty powerful claim to make.  What I tend to see and understand as I delve deeper into this statement and put some probing, curiosity driven questions out there is that the goal, etc did in fact become true.  Sometimes right down to the finest detail

What's the problem then?  The problem is that the goal (or whatever we are referring to) wasn't clear.  It wasn't clear and consice and detailed enough to really capture what the person setting the goal was wanting and it was also, often, limited in imagination.  What was 'captured' and what was dreamed were poles apart.  There is incongruency all over the place.  If you want something to become a reality then you need to be really, really clear on what it is that you want.  Actively engage your imagination and then write it out with as much detail as you can and ensure that you engage all your senses as you go.  Tap into what it will look like, sound like, feel like, be like when the goal has come true.  Capture where you will be, who will be with you, and anything else you feel captures the moment that your goal transforms from a dream into reality.  Simple huh?  It can be.  Choosing the path of ease as you travel through life can start with allowing yourself to get really clear, to imagine, to stretch your dreams and to express your dreams, your visions as boldly and clearly as possible

Your innovation challenge for today is to consider one dream you have, one goal, one vision, and to create a clarity filled goal to express it as though it is already a reality.  Let your imagination run wild with vision and clarity

Wishing you succulent, effortless success

Shannon
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It's been a big week for me already which, I might add, is absolutely awesome.  After yesterday's celebrating the new (and by the way I have decided to keep my new stuff to myself for now as it just seems more appropriate while the 'magic' happens) I spent time today at a workshop and got aha after aha moment which left me feeling energised and more alive than I have felt in a long time.  There was so much covered and I thought of so many inspiring things that I can share with you all that for the next week I'm going to pick one thing a day to share as part of the innovation challenge

Today's big learning opportunity and innovation challenge is related to something I'm calling the cost of action.  The reflection I invite you to take is to consider what the cost is for you to take action on your dreams.  It's action, with a good dose of strategy, that will make THE difference between wether your dreams stay dreams or become reality.  Beautiful, bold, exciting, motivating, inspiring, day in, day out, lived experience, reality!

What do I mean by the cost of action?  I mean what it will literally and figuratively cost you to take action.  Start by writing down a clear summary of the one dream you've been resisting.  It's the one thing that keeps coming up, time and time again.  The one that, no matter how much you try to ignore it, it keeps knocking at the door asking to be embraced and to become reality.  Yep..... it's THAT dream!

Next break it down into small steps.  Ask yourself, "What's the first step I could take to bring me one step closer to this dream of mine becoming reality?" and write down your answer

Then ask the question again but in a slightly different way, "What's the next step I could take, that stretches me a little from the previous step, and that brings me closer to my dream becoming reality?" and again write down your answer

Keep going until you have about 8-10 steps.  The next part is about looking at the costs you stand to incur.  Think about the costs in financial and emotional terms.  You could even create 2 columns and write your thoughts next to each step.  The really cool thing is that you may well discover (as I did when I looked at the costs of my 2012 visions) that there is no cost involved at all with many of the steps.  All there is in terms of a consequence is lots of wonderful gain.  That made me realise that I have nothing to hold me back.  There is nothing in the way of my taking action except me!

Truthfully, this process has the power to empower you to take action in a big, bold, daring way.  Once you know the cost of something and you can see clearly what lies before you it's hard to keep putting obstacles in the way and hold back and that is, quite simply, transformational

That was your innovation challenge for today!

Wishing you succulent, effortless success

Shannon
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Today is the Chinese New Year and we welcome in the year of the water dragon.  You'll probably see lots of articles about what that means and how to celebrate.  Did you also know that it is a new moon?  Now I'm not going to get all spiritual on you here but I do want to point out that this is a very auspicious time to welcome in and celebrate the new that you want to manifest this year

It's well into the first month of the year and if you've not yet set your intentions today's the day.  Forget the resolutions and instead focus on what it is you want that's new in your life.  You could write yourself a letter, create a list, paint it, make a collage or even create a ritual or ceremony to acknowledge and celebrate what is about to happen this year for you.  Doing this is your innovation challenge for today

It's only a quick post today... I've got new things to celebrate.  As always, feel free to share by adding a comment below.  Maybe tomorrow I'll share some of what I'm intending for this year

Be back tomorrow with the next innovation challenge!

Wishing you succulent effortless success,

Shannon

P.S. Can I also make a suggestion... as you get clear on the new you want think about the following question:
"How can this be easy?" and keep that in mind as you celebrate your new! 
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_Just so you know, this is not another article promising a magic way to success!

I'm sure you've read a load of articles by now about how this year will be your best yet.  Maybe you're even tired of seeing them land in your inbox, so much so that you've taken to deleting them without even reading them.  If that's the case then first up a big, big thank you for reading this far.  I'll do my best from this point forward to not, I repeat not, make this another one of those articles
_ Instead what I hope to do is to help you get clear on why you have held back in pursuing your dreams till now, or why you've thought more about giving up than breaking through.  I hope to highlight, loud and clear, why this is the best time for you to empower your visions, transform your life and create the masterpiece the world is waiting for - you!

Let's just dive in......

Back in December I hosted  free training Webinar called Seal Your Success in 2012.  It was so popular that there was a repeat performance last week and hundreds of people signed up to hear me share key strategies that will, if you implement them, set you up to make 2012 your best year yet (if you missed it you can view the replay here)

Now during Seal Your Success I revealed a really powerful reflection that I want to ask you now.  After i've asked the question I'd love you to start writing your answer right away, without pausing, without hesitation, trusting in what is flowing forth from you, knowing that your inner leader is guiding you here

Ok here it is......

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I've recently asked you to define a few interesting destinations.  We started with balance, then added some growth and success and now it's time for happiness

I seem to have had an ongoing challenge when it comes to gaining a mutual understanding about the source of happiness.  Some people in my life have made it clear that happiness is something they can give to someone else.  Ever heard the phrase "I can / can't make you happy"?  I know I've heard it.  In fact I've heard it, read it, seen it, and overheard it many times.   I feel sad that so many of these times it's been in the context of someone saying "I can't make you happy"

There seems to be a constant need to move towards achieving happiness and I get that.  Being happy is so important.  The thing is, how do we really be happy?  Earlier today I read a great article about happiness and choices.  This was after I'd had a great session with a client who's core passion is to help others to understand that we all have choices in life.  It seems so timely that these 'signs' all show up, one after another, in my day (got to love synchronicity) and therefore I figured it was time to tackle happiness in this destination series for the innovation challenge.  While the article effectively has a flavour linked to happiness and relationships, it's core message is about happiness being a choice.  That, for me, cemented my belief that our happiness is our own responsibility and that led me to decide to offer you the chance, through today's Innovation Challenge to ask the following;

  1. "What is happiness?"
  2. "What can you do to take responsibility for your happiness?"
  3. "What choice will you make that will take you closer to happiness?"
  4. "How will you know when you've got to happiness?"

That's it!  Easy hey?  (I smile with cheekiness as I write that last bit and wish you bundles of effortless ease defining and achieving your destination happiness)

Wishing you succulent, effortless success and a whole lot a happy

Shannon

P.S. One of my favourite things to say when I was little was "Smile coz it makes people wonder what you've been up to!"  ~ it's also a great way to show your happy self to the world and to see the world smiling back at you with happiness too!
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Following on from the destination theme of the past couple of days I have decided to devote today's message to helping you to define your destination success.  As someone who embraces and teaches what I know to be key principles to effortless success I often get asked to define success.  This is where it can get tricky.  I don't believe that there is one definition of success as I believe whole heartedly that it's a very, very personal thing.  What I write as my definition of success will not be the same as yours or the next persons

The term success is so popular and shows up all over the place.  You see it feature in personal development, psychology, health, business, education, sports, finances, relationships..... the list goes on and on

When you get to thinking about what it means to you - success - I think you could potentially end up with many different definitions, depending on what area of your life you are thinking about at the time.  What I do know is that your life experience, your path to this point, your environment, your 'map of the world' all contribute to your definitions.  These differences between us are to be celebrated.  It's the differences that make us unique and real.  It's what makes the world an interesting place and a place to explore and journey our own path to success and anything else we wish for
What do you think about these dictionary definitions of success;

Success is the achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted

Success is the gaining of fame or prosperityand the extent of such gain

Success is the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like

Success is the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors

Mmmmm.... not sure what I think about these!
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After yesterday's article I got to thinking about what additional destinations were important when it comes to creating a clear image of what it is you want in life.  I had lots of different ideas and they all seemed valid so I decided to wait until the end of my day to allow the clarity to come through and then decide what to share with you

Today I spent the day as a participant in an enlightening workshop as part of an alumni program for a Business Breakthrough program I participated in back in May last year (check out the next one happening in Perth this coming March).  The focus of today was on DISC profiling.  Forgive me if you know what DISC is as a profiling tool but I'm going to give a really brief introduction here.  DISC is essentially a personality profiling tool that helps us to better understand ourselves and others.  There are many profiling tools out there that do similar things and all give us critical insights into our unique selves.  That, for me, is the awesome bit and the stuff that enables me to grow! 

I love learning about people, stretching myself to learn more and gain more understanding about myself and others and to sharing my knowledge with other people so they too can be more enlightened, if you like.  At the very least I am opening up opportunities and possibilities that perhaps did not exist before hand
Here's some of my favourite Growth quotes for added inspiration;

"The only journey is the journey within" ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

"Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid only of standing still"
Chinese Proverb

"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom" ~ Aristotle

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever" ~ Mahatma Gandhi

“The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as we continue to live" ~ Mortimer Adler

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I've just been chatting to a great friend of mine and during the conversation we covered all sorts of things.  It was a bit of a general catch-up to see how we both were and, in usual form, we got talking about some relatively deep topics and then we got to the topic of balance

We both, as do many of our friends, and in fact a large majority of people I know, talk of searching for balance and suggest, through what we say that is an elusive, out there, thing

This got me thinking, what is balance?  really, what is it?  what do we say when we use the word balance?  what do I mean when I say I want balance in my life?
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