Hi and Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Before I get caught up in the weather, cook outs, and holiday fun, let me say “Thank You” to all those who have served, are serving, or have loved ones in the military. I appreciate your sacrifices!

If you haven't yet gotten Gift #4, it’s not too late. This month, in celebration of my 5 year business anniversary, I’ve opened up my audio vault to give you VIP access to the Top 5 teleseminars I hosted last year. Interview Tips Every Pro Should Know seems to be the most popular of the 5. If you know someone in a job search, please forward them this e-zine so they can get my complimentary gift and some great interviewing tips!

This month’s Guilt-Free article

The other day I was driving in the car with my 3-year old son, listening to my iPod through the car radio. The song Ballroom Blitz by Sweet (circa 1975) came on and I started jamming “old school”. (If you watch the video, those are some funky clothes! I had never seen Sweet before doing research for this article!) Aidan was singing right along! Curious what he was singing, I turned down the radio and cracked up listening to him sing, “On the list……on the list”.

Chuckling, I explained that the words were “Ballroom Blitz”. He was ADAMANT that I was wrong and the words were “On the list”. No matter how hard I tried to convince him, he wouldn’t hear of it!

This happens to us too! Sometimes WE hear things rattling around in our own minds or coming from our own lips that aren’t true. No matter what someone tries to tell us, we just won't believe it either. Find out more about the importance of mastering your inner dialogue in my article below.

If you happen to be local to the McHenry area, I’ll be talking about inner strength in much more detail, as well as sharing strategies to begin changing the negative thoughts and fears, on Wednesday, May 27th at the WINGS Luncheon (open to any women in the area). I’d love to have you join me! REGISTER HERE

To your continued success!

Victoria Cook, ACC Your Guilt-Free Coach Connect with me:

PS: A great big "Welcome!" to all the new readers who have recently joined my guilt-free community! You're going to love the resources you'll find here to help you create more time and focus to get done what's most important...Guilt-Free! Enjoy!

It´s my 5 year business anniversary and I´m celebrating, but YOU get the gifts!! For the next 5 months, I will be offering you a different gift each month. To see what gifts you might have missed, go to www.TheGuiltFreeCoach.com/anniversary.

Gift #4 - VIP Access to the audio vault of my Top 5 teleseminars

Gain immediate access to the audio vault of the Top 5 teleseminars I hosted last year. There's something for everyone! Whether you are a stressed parent, struggling business owner, looking to change jobs and in need of interview tips, or just have a big goal you'd like to achieve. Each audio contains simple strategies and practical tips you can easily implement. Also included are seminar notes and BONUS resources from each call.

GET ACCESS NOW!

“Being a Woman of Strength Inside & Out”
Presented by Victoria Cook, The Guilt-Free Coach &
Karen Buenzli, Mercy Health System

May 27, 2009 | 11:30 AM - 1:15 PM
McHenry Country Club
820 N. John Street, McHenry
Price : $20 Chamber Members; $25 Non-Members

REGISTER HERE or call 815-385-4300

To be a Strong Woman takes both inner and outer strength. Victoria Cook, The Guilt-Free Coach will share 5 Keys for creating a strong and empowering inner strength.

Participants will:

• Learn how the ongoing inner battle affects inner strength
• What can be done to combat this struggle
• Identify core beliefs and fears that might be holding you back

Karen Buenzli, Mercy Health Care will discuss the outer strength. Karen Buenzli is a certified Strong Women Instructor and has been teaching group exercise programs for more than 12 years. She will share:

• The biology of aging and share a plan to improve the health and well-being of women who are approaching middle-age and beyond.
• The effectiveness of structured, safe and effective strength training programs.
• How strength training improves muscle mass, bone density, strength and balance.
  

Our Best Year Ever Coaching Call on MONDAY, June 1st, 12 pm CST

“Break the Habit of Procrastination!”

Procrastination, like efficiency, is actually a HABIT, not an instinctive trait. We will discuss the SIMPLEST ways to begin conquering procrastination, give suggestions on HOW to create habits, and give you a tip for getting out of “stuck” when you’re in procrastination mode.

These calls are ONLY for Best Year Ever Group Coaching members. Not a member?
Join now to access this call with Victoria's special FREE 1-month Membership trial
(plus a small $5 shipping/handling fee)

One of the biggest challenges in achieving goals is sticking to the necessary action steps with focus and consistency. If that´s been a challenge for YOU and you´re tired of your plans fizzling out before year end, then you've got to check out my Best Year Ever Group Coaching program.

The purpose of the Best Year Ever Coaching Program? For you to make SIGNIFICANT improvements in your life and business, and to ensure that 2009 is your best, most successful year— EVER! Each biweekly call includes a brief lesson on a relevant topic and expert coaching to keep you focused on creating your Best Year and give you the specifics to get going with momentum. The calls will also provide accountability, support, and the resources to implement strategies that will keep your business and your life continually getting better and better.

I am so sure that you´ll get incredible value from this program that I´d love to give you the opportunity to try it out —for F.R.E.E.! When you sign up for the group program, you will receive your first month for free* along with an audio CD including introductory information and detailed notes to get you started before your first call.

Join now to access my special FREE month membership trial

*$5 for shipping and handling of the CD

Is what you think true?

The other day I was driving in the car with my 3-year old son, listening to my iPod through the car radio. The song Ballroom Blitz by Sweet (circa 1975) came on and I started jamming “old school”. Aidan was singing right along! Curious what he was singing, I turned down the radio and cracked up listening to him sing, “On the list……on the list”.

Chuckling, I explained that the words were “Ballroom Blitz”. He was ADAMANT that I was wrong and the words were “On the list”. No matter how hard I tried to convince him, he wouldn’t hear of it!

This happens to us too! Sometimes WE hear things rattling around in our own minds or coming from our own lips that aren’t true. Have you ever made an off the cuff disparaging remark about yourself in front of someone and have them counter what you just said. Maybe you said something like, “I’m just not good at public speaking like you” and they disagreed. Perhaps they even shared a time they thought you were quite inspiring. No matter how hard your friend may try to convince you that your public speaking is great, you won’t hear of it. When the negative thought is so prominent it’s hard to believe the truth just like Aidan not believing me about the song lyrics.

I’ve been reflecting a lot on this as I prepare for a talk I’m giving next week on Being a Woman of Strength Inside and Out, where I’ll be covering the inner strength portion. We cannot have inner strength if we don’t master our inner dialogue.

Mastering our inner dialogue is much more than just a positive attitude. It’s about the subconscious and conscious beliefs we have, how they make us feel, and how they either empower or sabotage our actions. The conscious and subconscious must be in alignment. If you are saying “I want that promotion”, but your subconscious dialogue is saying “Yeah, but, that will mean a whole lot more hours” or "But I probably won’t get it, Linda is much more qualified” or “I’m not sure I have what it takes”, guess what? You DON’T! I’m not trying to be mean, but rather help you understand how important it is to believe in what it is you say you want. Napoleon Hill says it best: "Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve". (Hear him directly)

I often give a talk titled What’s on Your Inner MP3 Player? in which I share more on this subject. I use the example of an MP3 player to represent our mind with a variety “songs or thoughts”.

The cycle goes something like this:

• The playlist starts and we hear the internal negative or limiting thought.
• We begin to buy into it.
• This alters our beliefs and can cause fears.
• These fears bring forth more negative thoughts and feelings that hold us back.
• From there, we begin making excuses for why we can’t achieve our goal or be who we want to be.
• These excuses then keep us from taking the actions that really can create the results of our heart’s desire.

It’s a sabotaging playlist and negative cycle often repeated over and over again. The good news is that while we all struggle with this to one degree or another, we CAN change our tunes and create greater success!

Your Guilt-Free Assignment (should you wish to accept it)

So, how do we go about changing those tunes? I’m glad you asked!

1. Start by being more conscious about those thoughts. Notice when they pop up. Often a particular situation or experience can magically press the PLAY button on the negative playlist.
2. Take my complimentary Mindset Mastery assessment at www.SteppingStoneCourses.com by clicking on the red pencil. There are only 20 short questions to answer and tally up for your score. It’s a terrific way to assess the strength and empowerment of your own inner dialogue.
3. Make a list of the negative thoughts and fears you’ve identified. Raising your awareness is the first step towards making change.
4. Pick one belief or fear and work on changing it.
   

If you happen to be local to the McHenry area, I’ll be talking about inner strength in much more detail, as well as sharing strategies to begin changing the negative thoughts and fears, on Wednesday, May 27th at the WINGS Luncheon (open to any women in the area). I’d love to have you join me! REGISTER HERE

© 2009 Victoria Cook. All Rights Reserved.

Victoria Cook, The Guilt-Free Coach, is a successful entrepreneur, speaker, Certified Professional Coach, and creator of The Guilt-Free Results System™. Through coaching, classes, and workshops, Victoria helps professional women accomplish huge goals guilt-free.

As a coach, Victoria sees her role as a catalyst to help her clients identify and implement greater self-care and her 7 step system for creating the guilt-free results they desire.

To begin experiencing Victoria's coaching, you can enjoy one month of her Best Year Ever group coaching program at no charge, beginning right now (plus a small $5 shipping/handling fee).

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© 2009 Victoria Cook. All Rights Reserved.