October 02, 2013

Career Decision Making: Is It Calculated Risk or Foolishness?

October 02, 2013/ Guest User

Very often “brilliance” is really just a risk that turned out well. If a situation ends badly does that mean pursuing that avenue was foolish? After coaching people for more than a decade, this is my two cents on the subject. The difference between a calculated risk and foolishness is that a risk is something that you feel you must do in order to be true to yourself. It is not always easy to determine, but this is a very different inquiry from evaluating what is objectively the best, smartest, or most sensible choice. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that robbing a bank is not something that anyone does to be true to themselves.

October 02, 2013/ Guest User/

Authenticity, Decision Making, Personal Sharing and Misc- Ramblings

New Adventures, Taking Risks

July 23, 2013

When Intolerance is Good

July 23, 2013/ Anna Rappaport

Here we are in mid-summer. It’s hot and humid and as good a time as any to get fed up with the circumstances of our lives and make a change. We get what we are willing to tolerate - not what we deserve, not what we were born into, not what fate gives us. We get what we are willing to tolerate. If we are willing to endure a lousy work environment, or bad relationships, or a schedule that is too busy for exercise, then that is what we will get. One of my favorite coaches describes the difference between coaching and therapy as “therapy helps people to tolerate the circumstances of their lives while coaching helps people to see circumstances as intolerable.”

July 23, 2013/ Anna Rappaport/

Changing Perspectives, Decision Making, Leadership, Personal Sharing and Misc- Ramblings

May 22, 2013

Happiness - Part One

May 22, 2013/ Guest User

On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you? Some of us don’t even pursue happiness because it either seems too far out of reach or it seems trivial, not worthy of our time and energy. But is that true? Enjoyment generally accelerates productivity and improves the quality of human connection. When we are genuinely happy we are less stressed, more pleasant to be around and respond more effectively to daily frustrations and unexpected challenges. As grown-ups, we tend to focus on being mature and responsible. Sometimes just surviving one’s life can feel challenging, and so actual happiness isn’t even on the radar.

May 22, 2013/ Guest User/

Personal Sharing and Misc- Ramblings, Time & Energy Management

How lawyers can improve their happiness, Increasing Happiness

February 03, 2013

Changing Your Self-Talk: What Would Superman Do?

February 03, 2013/ Guest User

Has that post-New Years malaise set in yet? You know, I'm referring to that time period when the initial energy has worn off and that resolution starts to feel more burdensome than inspiring. Rather than just getting resigned or angry with yourself, do what a superhero would do. Look for an antidote. Like so many things, the antidote for the New Year’s blahs is simple but not always easy. The key is to focus on revising how you think about yourself rather than focusing on changing behavior. Human beings resist change.

February 03, 2013/ Guest User/

Accountability & Support Structures, Authenticity, Changing Perspectives, Decision Making, Personal Sharing and Misc- Ramblings

August 25, 2011

Are Vacations Overrated?

August 25, 2011/ Guest User

A number of years ago I was horribly ill all by myself in a national park in China, where I didn’t see a single other foreigner for three days and couldn’t communicate with anyone. NOT fun! Am I the only one who gets myself into this sort of mess? I was taking to a friend recently who did not enjoy his vacation and was feeling like the only person in the world who doesn’t have fabulous holidays. Just as most human beings live under the illusion that everyone else is more emotionally secure, well-organized and has a better love life, similarly we tend to assume that others also have better vacations.

August 25, 2011/ Guest User/

Personal Sharing and Misc- Ramblings, Well Being, Work Life Ballance

Making good vacation choices, Planning a vacation

August 25, 2011

Who Gains Weight When Fasting?

August 25, 2011/ Guest User

When I was in high school, one of my friends was Muslim, and she explained to me that Muslims fast for an entire month during Ramadan. I flat out did not believe her. No food or water for a month sounded to me like a really good way to kill off your followers. Of course, I finally learned that the fasting only lasts while the sun is up, and at night there are feasts and lots of socializing. This leads to the funny phenomenon that most people, I am told, actually gain weight during their month of fasting!

August 25, 2011/ Guest User/

Personal Sharing and Misc- Ramblings, Turkey

February 02, 2011

A Surprisingly Useful New Year's Activity

February 02, 2011/ Guest User

Last year on New Years I sat down with a few friends, a stack of magazines, glue sticks and a big piece of cardboard and created a vision of what I wanted in my life for 2010. The interesting thing about vision boards is that they provide access to beliefs, ideas, or desires that you may not otherwise be aware of. Last year at this time, I was completely focused on my coaching practice in the U.S. It had not occurred to me to me that I might soon be living abroad. Yet this was the vision board I created:

February 02, 2011/ Guest User/

Accountability & Support Structures, Authenticity, Goals, Personal Sharing and Misc- Ramblings, Silly Stuff, Turkey

Creating a vision board, Envisioning a new life, My move to Turkey

July 22, 2010

Mind vs Heart: Moving to Turkey!

July 22, 2010/ Guest User

Greetings from Istanbul! Some of you may be wondering why you haven’t heard from me in a while. The quick summary is that my father died in January, I became depressed, and decided to shake myself out of it by moving to Turkey. So, I have been busy getting settled, trying to learn Turkish, and developing business here. YES, I AM STILL COACHING CLIENTS IN THE U.S. I do most of my work by phone, and my phone numbers haven’t changed. Don’t hesitate to call. (Turkey is seven hours ahead of Eastern time, ten hours ahead of Pacific time. Call anytime, though. I work odd hours and turn off my phone at night.)

July 22, 2010/ Guest User/ Comment

Authenticity, Decision Making, Personal Sharing and Misc- Ramblings, Turkey

March 12, 2010

Why I am Passionate about Coaching Attorneys

March 12, 2010/ Guest User

The ABA (American Bar Association) Journal picked up the story about me from the Washington Post. This is my response to some of the reader comments. One of the reasons I am passionate about coaching attorneys is that it seems a shame to have so many well-educated, brilliant, hard-working people putting all their energy into jobs that don’t inspire them. Recently, a client said to me “I know you think happiness is important, but I just don’t have time for that right now.” At times, I have felt that way too. It’s natural.

March 12, 2010/ Guest User/

Personal Sharing and Misc- Ramblings

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