Our Thanks and a Gift to You

We thank you for taking your time and sharing our stories about leadership and personal growth.
We would like to offer you the opportunity to take The Platinum Rule Multi-Rater 360 assessment, followed by 2 hours (1-3 phone sessions) of Leadership coaching or choose to take the assessment or coaching alone. Our only request is that you redeem our offer by February 1st. All assessments and coaching sessions are confidential. This is our gift to you and there is no obligation or fees involved.  Just send an email to  Roberta at robertahill@1-focus.com with  Coaching Offer in the subject line.
We wish you a wonderful holiday season and a delightful, fulfilling and inspiring year ahead.
 
What's On....Collaborative Cooking
My business partner, Roberta in collaboration with Chex Cooking, recently completed the special team building event using cooking in a professional kitchen as the "real life" experience of working as a team. What was particularly noticeable is how our natural styles regarding leadership shows up.  Using The Platinum Rule(TM), she could easily predict how individual would react in the workshop. It was so obvious who had a managerial role as well as collaborative leadership skills.  1-Focus hopes to offer another public offering in Geneva in February but if your are interested, this full day event is now part of our in-house programming.   
Our Blog 
You can find out about the latest news and announcements on the blog under the Events Page.

Our  Assessments 
I may be a little premature, but sometime in the second quarter of next year, we are planning on taking AssessmentsNow to the next level as a service of 1-Focus International.  Not only will we offer The Platinum Rule(TM,) but also the DISC, and our own 360 Collaborative Leadership Assessment in various languages.  More information will be announced as it all unfolds.

Candice woke-up heavy-headed and dragging every morning. Sleep was always fitful. After her partner took a few middle of the night awakening knee jabs, too many, he started sleeping in the guest room during the week.
Every day was full for Candice. She had long lists of projects and tasks to complete. Though, she never seemed to complete them all and lists kept growing. She came to believe that this was part of her the role of having so much responsibility. But, when she lost sleep over not sending an email that she started 3 days earlier, but didn't have the time to fully finish, she decided that she needed to seek support to resolve her time management issue.
When discussing the situation, it was clear that the uncompleted items on her list were weighing heavily on her. So, she agreed to do nothing (except in case of emergencies) except clear up and put closure to the small, quick items, to complete open issues and pass on to her Personal Assistant that which  she did not need to do herself. She completed open emails, filed paperwork, sent belated birthday cards, organized reading material, threw away outdated material, etc.

These were simple, mostly non-essential tasks. Yet, those two days changed her life. Putting closure to these items... opened up space both physically and emotionally for her. She found that she was able to tackle larger issues with a clear head and gusto, again ... and she found that much more time! Not surprisingly, a week later, her sleeping patterns returned to normal.
With these small projects done, she had less on her mind, she could think without the constant distractions and weight they bore in her mind. She committed to stay on top of her small stuff, allowing the phone the ring unanswered when finishing up an email or some small project.
Research shows that the time it takes to just restart a stalled project is often longer than it takes to start it the first time. For small projects, this is often longer than it would have been to have to have completed it the first time around!

How are you affected by unfinished business? You might want to put a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on your office (or desk) and take two days to open your own space. I suggest that you start by making an "unfinished business list" including everything from emails to pencil sharpening to phone calls, filing, etc. Be as specific as s possible, making the tasks as small as reasonably possible. Schedule two full days or blocks of time to complete them, putting closure on them one-by-one. Cross off what is one and acknowledge what you are accomplishing.

In a short period of time, you might find that you have much more space freed-up and are sleeping better, too! You might also find that your blood pressure is lower, you are more relaxed, and creativity and humor are in line with your higher energy.

Biology of Belief: unleashing the power of consciousness, matter & Miracles, by Bruce Lipton, Ph.D.
"Leading Cross-Cultural Reengagement: Creating Post-Merger Identity," a White Paper by Sandy Weiner, MCC with Roberta Hill, MCC.  If you have not already, we invite you to request a download of our article by sending an email to: mergers@aweber.com

During the upcoming holiday season, life may tend to move a little quickly. There is much to remember and often to so much to do. Walk a little quicker, e.g.  fast walking to meetings or to your office, around your neighborhood or at home and adding some distance, so you are fast walking 20 -30 minutes several times a week can improve "what scientists call "executive function," the ability that allows you to select behavior that is appropriate to a situation... and focus on the job at hand in spite of distractions,"* as well as increasing your working memory. By adding distance or adding light weights to your normal walking (careful not to hit your computer when working) can add some muscle tone in the process. You might find this holiday season goes by with fewer lists, higher energy, more accomplishments... and lots of fun in the process.
Did you know that stress hormones significantly reduce immune system function? ... and that exercise reduces stresses hormones? I wonder if... fast walking might increase your ability to stay healthy this holiday season.
* Op-Ed Contributor: Exercise on the Brain By SANDRA AAMODT and SAM WANG, The New York Times, November 8, 2007

Martin knew that the change in the company-wide design process needed to be addressed. The tools, processes and in some cases even the equipment and software were outdated and inaccurate. But, he simply could not act. It was as if he was paralyzed - torn inside... knowing on the one hand that he needed to do something and stopped yet, by a sense that  it is better to leave well enough alone... He knew that the company was built on these processes. He had a nagging thought that said something like: "We have worked this way in the past; it should be good enough for the present ... if we change, what will become of us."
A year passed and still, -there was no action. His Heads of Engineering and Manufacturing campaigned for changes. He knew, too, that this project was essential, one that would be add a major competitive edge to his company and produce significant cost-savings to boot.  Every time he started to initiate the process, he found himself holding back. Logically, this made no sense. He knew the importance of what had to be done. He never shied away from doing that which was necessary before!
What could be holding Martin back? Could it be that he held back by his unconscious thoughts about not changing the status quo? ... or the size of the project? ... or the amount of risk in involved? Martin, it turns out, had a subconscious deterrent to the possibility of defacing his forbearer's legacy...Once he acknowledged this, he was able to act.
Where have you found yourself unable to act? What old, yet, no longer appropriate thoughts might be holding you back. What can you do to let go the bonds of those thoughts and take the action you choose?

Food For Thought...
Food for thought: Twenty years of relatively little action has passed since the US initiated it first energy policies. It wasn't until the recent awareness of short and long-term security issues around this issue came to light that  significant tangible actions occurred.

It seems the motivation for major changes simply wasn't there. However, when safety was at stake, a direct correlation with  the risk  of inaction was made. As a sense of safety returns, how will motivation be sustained... or will enough changes in energy production be made by this time for a Tipping Point to be reached.

Where are you in waiting for a situation to be life threatening before  you make changes in your life? Is there something on which you want to take action sooner?

"Tension between conscious will power and subconscious programs can result in serious neurological disorder."Biology of Belief: unleashing the power of consciousness, matter & miracles, p. 171 by Bruce Lipton, Ph.D.
He goes to talk about how Energy Psychology techniques (EFT, TFT, PSYCH-K, etc.) can effectively be used to rapidly reprogram our learned behaviors and conflicts.

A colleague and I have begun some research based on my current theory related motivation, depression and drive.
I would appreciate if you would email me: You first thoughts upon waking in the morning...

For several days, please write down and then confidentially share with me: What were your first thoughts upon awakening?
How did you feel upon awakening?
How quickly do you get out of bed?

Thank you in advance!