Connie Sokol - Life Coach

We can become good at things or knowledgeable about topics, if we put the time into learning them. I remember Hyrum Smith, inventor of Franklin daytimers saying...if you want to be successful, do what successful people do. It is that simple. The people that are experts on a topic have spent years learning that topic. I am convinced that you can learn and become quite good at things, if you study and practice them for 3 months straight.
I had never been on a blog until Feb. 2008. 3 months later I had 2 years worth of entries and taught a class on it. We don't know what we are capable of doing until we try.
What if I chose gardening. What if I visited nursuries, checked out library books on gardening, started working my soil and visited expert gardeners. How good do you think I could become if I did this 3 hours each day for 3 months? I would practically be an expert.

The 3 months are going to pass by anyway.
What is something that interests you, that you could start learning about?

Carla

This is a newletter I received from Connie Sokol, a successful life coach that lives in Utah. I believe what she says.

Hi Ladies,

I happened to catch Malcom Gladwell, columnist for The New Yorker, on a KUED interview as he shared the concept of "deliberate practice". In his research of successful people, he discovered that most of them--no matter their profession, hobby, or pursuit--had in common one main thing. They had each "practiced" about 10,000 hours, which equals to about 10 years.

In relation to society "greats" such as Michael Jordan or the Beatles, what made them successful is that they got an early start. But early or late, if you put in your 10,000 hours of deliberate practice, meaning focused efforts and fine-tuning weaknesses, you will be a success in what you choose. Does this mean after almost 16 years of mothering I should be a stellar mother?!

Consider what you love to do currently and WOULD love to do in the future. Start now, a bit here, a bit there, gathering your 10,000 hours of deliberate focus. And who knows what you can do to change the world!
All my best,
Connie

Kids and Candy

Last Oct. a cousin came to stay with one of my kid's friends. This girl hadn't eaten candy for 10 months. She made a deal with her dad to not eat candy for a year for a cash reward. My girls were really impressed with this idea. On Jan. 1st my girls came to me and asked if I would do a similar deal. My son hadn't drank any pop for 3 years since his track coach told him how bad it was for runners. So all 3 decided to do the deal. No pop and no candy for 1 year for a cash reward from mom. I knew I couldn't do it, so I figured I wouldn't go broke doing the deal. I thought the kids might learn some valuable lessons, even if they could only do it for a month or two. They would learn that it was ok to try something different, to not do things when everyone else was doing it, how to conquer peer pressure when their friends were trying to get them to eat candy, how to put off immediate gratification (pleasure of candy), how to have a very long term goal. It seemed like a great idea to support. 2 of my kids are still in the contest. Whenever they go to a birthday party, school or church activity they give all their candy to me. I am shocked at how much candy is given out to kids!

J.K. Rowling Delivers Commencement Address

Author of the best-selling Harry Potter book series, delivers her Commencement Address, “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination,” at the Harvard Alumni Association June 5, 2008.

I found her sincere, humble and funny. I enjoyed listening to the path she followed. She continued to follow her passion no matter what. It was her failure that gave her courage. She said "I was set free, because my greatest fear had already been realized, and I was still alive..."

If you prefer to read this 24 min. video click here:

http://harvardmagazine.com/go/jkrowling.html

I'm Proud of You Jacob

I haven't put very much about my kids on the blog but I feel like I wouldn't be a good mother if I didn't acknowledge my son and his big year. He is such an example and teaches me how to be a better person. I really look up to him. He aims his goals high and achieves them one by one. What a blessing it is to be able to associate with a person like him.
Here he is with a friend at high school graduation. He had a 4.1 GPA. It was cold, rained on us the whole time and was held outside. (NOT fun!)
This was after getting his Eagle Scout Award. If you aren't familiar with scouting it takes years and years of work and service to get this award. I was amazed at what it takes to get this award. Here he is standing next to my mother after graduating seminary. This is 4 years of religious study. He also just got his Duty to God award.
Jacob ran track and cross country. This was as hard on me as it was for him. I could hardly handle watching him in such pain. We live in Arizona and it wasn't unusual for them to be running in 110 degree weather. Ouch!He finally quit playing in his band. Besides him blowing the roof off of our house, I enjoyed hearing the boys writing, singing, laughing and performing their songs.
I can go on and on but I won't. I can't take any credit for his accomplishments because he just came this way.
Your nickname "Jakey my Joy" is so fitting, because you were truly a joy to raise. I'm going to miss you when you go off to ASU. I LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!

My Dream Board

A Life Map, Dream board or Vision board helps you discover what you want for yourself and your life.

"Our soul speaks to us in images. Our heads speak to us in thoughts... It's hard to ignore when it's staring you right in the face. It's as if you're literally creating your life as a work of art."
— Lifestyle Makeover expert Cheryl Richardson

Making a Vision board is like setting goals with pictures. It is very powerful.
First tear out images, words or phrases in magazines. Make sure that they speak to you and evoke feelings.
Second arrange these on a poster board until it feels right.
Then if there is something missing, words or pictures find them on the internet and print them off.
Finally paste the images down.

You can take a picture of your board and carry it with you or put it on your computer as a screen saver. The more you look at it the faster your goals will be attained. It's magic!

Dancing Lessons

I have been talking about taking dancing lessons for years. I kept thinking my husband and I could do them together. Well, it was never one of his goals. He doesn't like to dance. I thought I can either mope around because no one will take lessons with me or I can do it by myself. So last week I took action. I was frankly sick of talking and thinking about it. I drove myself down to Fred Astaire dance Studio and signed up for 5 classes. I went 2 times last week and it was really fun. I danced about 40 min. each time. It was physically and mentally stimulating. I came home and danced with my 11 and 12 year old girls. We had a ball. I am going to keep taking lessons. When I get better I hope I can teach my husband and girls.
This wasn’t a huge goal. It was just one of those things I thought would be fun to try. Is there anything you have been talking about doing? Are you waiting on others to do it? Do it on your own. Your enthusiasm might be contagious.

Here is my uncle and I dancing at my aunt's 50th wedding anniversary. See the lessons have already paid off!

My Mission Statement

Mission Statements evolve over time. What is nice about writing one is putting it up on your bathroom mirror and reading it each day. When you say these positive things and know where you are going, your day starts out better with clearer direction.

My Mission Statement
I savor each moment of my life as a positive, grateful, happy, wife, mother, homemaker and successful business woman and coach who delegates, serves and helps others rise to greatness.
I am a strong, spiritual, healthy, organized and an energetic whole person who is self disciplined, a goal getter, who has deep, meaningful and fun relationships with family, friends and colleagues.

Toastmasters

I just joined Toastmasters. It is a speaking club. My mother was in Toastmasters before I was born. I always knew it was something I would like to try. I had it on my list of life goals for years and years. I finally thought to myself, "What am I waiting for? What is stopping me from going for it?" I decided to do it. I looked on the internet and found the Toastmaster meeting closest to my home. I had no idea what to expect. After going to 2 other buildings I finally found the meeting. I got there late but they acted very excited to see me. They were all very warm and friendly. I was as comfortable as a person could be showing up at a strange place, with new people and standing and giving an impromptu 2 min. speech on holiday goodies. But you know what? I came home so pumped!!!