Welcome to the inaugural issue of Excelleration News & Notes!  With New Year’s right around the corner, many of us are creating intentions and goals for the coming year.  Therefore, this month’s issue focuses on structures for successfully fulfilling those objectives. 

Each issue of News & Notes will include a featured article related to leadership, marketing, or coaching; a practical coaching tip or tool that I use with clients, which I am calling the “Monthly Excellerator;” as well as, a “Learning from Lawyers” section.  Most issues will focus on content designed to support readers in being happier or more productive in their professional lives.  However, since so many New Year’s resolutions tend to be of a more personal nature, this issue touches on a wider range of topics.

This newsletter is coming to you because you are a client, friend, acquaintance or you somehow ended up in my address book.  If you do not wish to receive this newsletter, please click on the link at the bottom to unsubscribe.

With love and joy,

Anna

Accountability Buddies

One of the most effective ways to keep yourself on track with a new commitment is to get a buddy to check in with on a daily basis.  Most of us are pretty unreliable to keep promises to ourselves, but will go far our of our way to honor commitments to other people.  You don’t even need to have the same goal as your buddy.  You could be practicing going to the gym every day, while your buddy could be working on business development, or being more appreciative of his staff.  I recommend the following structure.  Set a specific time of day to talk.  The beginning or the end of the day generally works best.  The conversation only takes 5-10 minutes.  Take turns asking each other three questions.  1)  What did you do yesterday?  2)  If you didn’t do what you said, what got in the way?  3) What will you do today?  As an added bonus, you could practice acknowledging each other for your commitment. 

How to Design a Powerful Project

Whether you are trying to lose weight, write that novel, or increase revenue, one simple way to help yourself achieve the intention quickly is to write out a project plan.  The following are ten steps to create an effective plan.

1. Set a specific and measurable goal, with a clear time frame. – Many of us aspire to “lose weight” which is vague and, therefore, less powerful than a specific target like “lose 10 pounds by February 28th”.  Even an abstract objective like “improve my relationship with staff” can be translated into a measurable goal.  For example, “have three staff members share personal information with me by January 30th,”  or “have three staff members voluntarily stay late to complete their work by February 15th.”
2. Set a goal that inspires you. – Ask yourself if you are excited and energized.  Have you “dumbed down” the objective to make it seem more realistic or acceptable?  If running a marathon inspires you, but running a ten mile race does not, you should aim for the marathon.  Is the goal about you and what you want in life?  Or is it about what someone else thinks you should achieve?
3. Set a realistic time frame for implementation. –  If you have never written a screenplay and don’t know anyone in the business, selling a screenplay may be perfectly achievable.  However, aiming to do so within one month, may be setting yourself up for failure. 
4. Create a clear vision to keep yourself motivated and inspired. – What will your life be like when you have achieved this objective?  How will you be relating to yourself and others?  Write at least one paragraph in the present tense describing your experience after having achieved this goal.  You can also create a collage or other visual representation.  The visioning process makes the end result seem more real and, therefore, more achievable.  Look at it regularly to remind yourself what you have at stake and why you are bothering to do all this work.
5. Make lists of the skills and resources you already have.  You probably already have much of what you will need to be successful with the project.  Making these lists will create positive forward momentum by reminding you of what you already have going for you.  If you get frustrated later on, you can refer to these lists to help you decide how to move forward.
6. Figure out what skills or resources, if any, you are missing. – If you see something missing, consider what skills or resources (including people) you have which you can use to address the gap.
7. Get the support of your community.  – You have friends, family and colleagues who are on your side and would love to support you in achieving your goals.  Tell them what you are doing, get their support, and ask for their help.  Having ten people ask you periodically about that book you are writing will help keep you on track and may lead to unforeseen resources or connections.
8. Set clear and achievable milestones for implementation. –  Setting intermediate deadlines will help you maintain course and stay focused on your objective.
9. Create rewards which motivate you.  – Some people are hesitant to reward themselves, believing that they shouldn’t need extra motivation or that achieving their goal would be reward enough.  In any endeavor there are times when it will be difficult, you won’t want to persevere, or obligations will get in the way.  These are the times when it is most valuable to have a little extra motivation.  Try designating  a reward for each significant milestone.  Rewards don’t have to be expensive, but they should be something that you actually want which will help when the going gets tough.  
10. Revise the project. – Over time the project plan will become outdated.  Results will be achieved faster or slower or simply move in a different direction than you anticipated.  Change is natural, but an outdated project plan loses its power.  So refer to the plan regularly and revise as needed.

ADA Amendments of 2008: Less Restrictions for Employees/ More Lawsuits for Employers

By Paula M. Potoczak, Esq.*

On September 25, 2008, President Bush signed into law the American with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA).  The amendments are effective January 1, 2009, and expand the scope of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The ADAAA applies to employers with at least 15 employees.  This expansion likely will increase the requests for employee disability accommodations.  Employers considering such requests should err on the side of caution and more liberally grant accommodations, at least until there are revised regulations and the scope of the amendments is better understood.  Employers should review their policies, procedures and employee handbooks, as well as, job descriptions so that they conform to the amendments and the essential duties of each position are clear.  Finally, although the effective date is January 1, 2009, some attorneys argue that the amendments apply retroactively to the date of enactment.  Because it is unclear how the courts will apply the amendments, employers should act cautiously.  


* Ms. Potoczak represents businesses and individuals in employment counseling and litigation matters.  Her practice includes drafting and reviewing employee handbooks, non-compete, confidentiality and severance agreements; employment discrimination, FMLA, and FLSA.  She is licensed to practice law in Virginia and the District of Columbia.  You can contact Ms. Potoczak at pmplaw@earthlink.net.

These books provide powerful structures for creating what you want in love and in business development, respectively. 

Calling in “The One”: 7 Weeks to Attract the Love of Your Life
by Katherine Woodward Thomas

If you are having trouble finding the love of your life, check out this book.  It is predicated on the assumption that we only attract into our life those things (and people) for which we are ready.  It provides seven weeks of daily lessons and practices designed to set the stage for finding true love.  Practices include meditation, visualization, journaling, drawing, answering questions and even an assignment to set up your physical space to make it more conducive to a relationship.  Although this book is designed for people who are seeking a relationship, I also know people who have used it successfully as a tool for deepening the love and intimacy in their existing relationships.  Enjoy!


Get Clients Now! A 28-Day Marketing Program for Professionals and Consultants
by C.J. Hayden

If you are interested in expanding your client base, but are not sure what to do next, check out this book.  It provides tools for evaluating your existing business development strategies, identifying areas of weakness, and designing a 28-day action plan to target those areas.  The book walks you through the process of selecting ten specific daily or weekly actions and provides a useful structure for tracking your progress.  This approach to marketing works by focusing on a set of simple and effective strategies done consistently over a period of time.  This book can be used on its own or in conjunction with a coaching/accountability structure.  I use this as a textbook in business development teleclasses.  (Click here for more information.) 

About Anna

Anna Rappaport, Esq. has been coaching professionals since 1999, and now specializes in leadership development for attorneys.  She works with clients to help them manage staff, partners and clients more effectively; create and stay on track with career and business goals; expand business development and maintain a sustainable work-life balance.  Anna’s clients are already highly accomplished people who are interested in achieving even greater success and satisfaction.  Anna’s one-on-one coaching takes place by phone, and she works with clients across the country.  Anna is based in the Washington, DC area.

Accountability Buddies

How to Design a Powerful Project

ADA Amendments of 2008

Book Recommendations