CHRISTI HEGSTAD PH.D.

Author Archives: Christi Hegstad

What Work “Calls” You?

Christi Hegstad January 14th, 2013

“When navigating your core projects, think back to what you loved to do when you were a child…And pay attention to the work you gravitate to.” ~ Susan Cain

Coaching Tip For The Week:

When do you feel energized, lit up, or ‘in the zone’ at work?

If one of your goals in 2013 involves successfully doing work you love, take some time to discern your strengths and passions. Many times rather than overhauling our businesses or careers, we simply need to make a few adjustments so that we spend more time in our areas of strength.

This week, pay attention to what lights you up at work. Consider which activities make you lose track of time, what projects you volunteer to complete, and the committees (current or not yet imagined) on which you’d love to serve. 

As you move forward through the year, strive to tip the scales each day in favor of your strengths. You and your business will benefit?

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Ask Dr. Christi: Overwhelming Goals

Christi Hegstad January 11th, 2013

Ask Dr. Christi

One of my goals this year is to write a book, something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I’m passionate about the topic and excited about the project, but I can’t seem to get started! Every time I sit down to write, I feel completely overwhelmed and end up straightening my desk or checking email. Once I get going I believe I’ll find my groove – but how can I get started?

Congratulations on a thrilling goal! Your passion and excitement are good indicators that you’ve chosen your goal wisely, so since that’s not an issue, let me offer a few ideas.

First, consider talking to a few people who have already done what you’re setting out to do. (In this case, they’ve written books.) Invite them for coffee or request a brief phone call, then have some questions prepared. 

For example, you may want to ask how they got started, what they did when they felt overwhelmed, and how they sustained motivation even on the days they perhaps didn’t feel like writing. You’ll gain valuable tips and inspiration from someone who’s successfully done what you’re about to do. 

Make sure you follow up your conversations with a thank you note.

Also, you need to break a Bold Goal like this into manageable pieces. Rather than, “Today at 1pm I will write my book,” divide the project into segments and focus on one segment at a time: “Today I will complete my Introduction” or “This week, I’ll finish the Table of Contents.” Set mini-deadlines for yourself so you continue to move forward and avoid getting stuck in ‘busy work.’ 

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “You don’t have to see the whole staircase – just take the first step.” Keep his words in mind. You don’t have to write the whole book today – just take the first step, then the next step, and before you know it, you’ll be signing book jackets and changing lives with your written words.  

Do you have a question about growing your business/career, goals, or getting unstuck? Dr. Christi doesn’t claim to have all the answers but she’s happy to share what she’s learned! Send us your questions via email or on our Facebook page.   

What Will You Say A Year From Now?

Christi Hegstad January 8th, 2013

What will you say – about your work and life – a year from now?

That might seem an odd question since we’ve just begun 2013, however it’s an important one. If you don’t have a vision of where you’re headed, how will you know what actions to take now to get you there?

As the Japanese Proverb says, “Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.”

Vision plus action, however, means you are unstoppable!

Last week, I shared a technique – creating an annual theme – to help you begin clarifying your vision for the year. Here are a couple of tips for teasing out how that theme may play out in 2013.  

  1. Start with your successes. What accomplishments, wins, and positive experiences have you had in the past year? Create a list of at least a dozen successes before moving to Step 2. (Have a little celebration, too!) 
  2. Picture yourself in December, looking back. Close your eyes and imagine it’s next New Year’s Eve, and you are taking stock of your incredible year. What are you celebrating? With whom have you strengthened relationships? What goals did you reach? What’s new, different, or better in your business or career? 
  3. Hone in on key words. I struggled with visualization until I began capturing the picture with words. What’s your theme for the year? What do you most want to say about yourself in December that you cannot accurately say about yourself right now? What words would you love others to use when describing you?

You can have a clear vision and specific goals while still allowing for flexibility. In fact, flexibility is necessary – you want to be open to the flow of life and opportunities that you can’t even envision yet! When I help my Acceleration Day clients create their Vision, Mission, and Guiding Principles, I give them a simple way to build in flexibility: Add the phrase “This or something better” to the end of your vision statement and goals. 

Start with the vision. From there, determine the actions and habits to begin now that will support you in your success journey. How amazing will it feel, next New Year’s Eve, to say, “YES! I did what I set out to do!”?
   

Are You In A Groove – Or A Rut?

Christi Hegstad January 7th, 2013

“Always ask yourself, ‘Am I in a rut or a groove?’ A rut is when you’re spinning your wheels and staying in place; the only progress you make is digging yourself into a deeper rut. A groove is different: The wheels turn and you move forward effortlessly.”

~ Twyla Tharp

Coaching Tip For The Week:

When you take an honest look at your work, have you found your groove? Or are you stuck in a rut?

If you’re in a groove, keep going!

If you’re in a rut, it’s time to take action. No waiting until after this or that project, for “the perfect time,” for someone else to change, and so on and so on. Take an action today that will elevate you from your rut.

If you already know the action you need to take, do it.

If you’re uncertain, then take this action: get support. Join a group, enroll in a class, hire a coach, enlist an accountability partner. Team up with someone who will cheer you on, provide feedback, celebrate your wins, and lift you up – up and out of your rut!

What joy and relief come from recognizing that we don’t have to do it alone!

Caffeinated Leadership: Lessons From Starbucks

Christi Hegstad January 4th, 2013

I’m not sure if it stems from my love of books, the contagious enthusiasm of the baristas, or my coffee addiction passion, but I am enthralled by all of the books relating to Starbucks. 

I mentioned Onward by Howard Schultz in my Top 12 Books of 2012 post a few weeks ago, which focuses on the company’s highs and lows from the CEO’s perspective. In The Starbucks Experience, Dr. Joseph Michelli takes a different viewpoint and offers five lessons in moving from ordinary to extraordinary. 

Consider “the cup of coffee.” Having a cup of coffee is certainly not new. I fondly remember sitting in my grandparents’ kitchen – which often felt like Grand Central Station with its bustle of activity and visitors – and the first question asked of anyone walking through the door was, “How about a cup of coffee?”

Over the years, however, Starbucks has encouraged us to take this routine part of our day and make it a “moment.” Rather than mindlessly gulping down a cup, the atmosphere in your local Starbucks shop prompts you to sit down, savor, and enjoy the experience. Truly connect with yourself or the person with you.

And they’ve built a wildly successful business model on this concept of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Here are a couple of my takeaways from The Starbucks Experience that you can implement in your own business or career to help set yourself apart, succeed in a values-oriented way, and make the most of your work experience:

Other principles shared throughout the book include Make It Your Own (add your personal touch), Everything Matters (pay attention to details), and Embrace Resistance (open yourself to feedback). 

The Starbucks Experience is one of those books that you don’t want to simply read and place on the shelf. Its clear lessons, applicable in any work setting, invite us to examine our own professional experience and uplevel it in significant, sustainable ways. 

I encourage you to adopt one of these principles for the next week and commit to playing it out on a daily basis. At the end of your week, reflect on your experiences and see how you – and perhaps your environment and those around you – have taken a step from ordinary to extraordinary!


What’s Your Annual Theme?

Christi Hegstad December 31st, 2012

About 10 years ago, I felt frazzled. I was dedicating time to my young children, new business, fairly new home, friends and family, and about 25 other important life areas. And of course, the perfectionist in me wanted to give 110% to each!

The result? Overwhelm, exhaustion, and feeling pulled in too many different directions. After an especially challenging week that involved illnesses, computer crashes, and a flooded basement, I resolved to change.

But rather than create a big list of goals and action steps, as I am often prone to do, I honed in on one word – a single word – that I wanted to define me at that time. Hence my annual theme was born!

My theme that first year was FOCUS. After deciding this was what I needed most, I then created that list of goals and action steps – but this time, they all fell under my designated theme. Every plan I made or goal I set was intended to enhance my sense of focus.

I can honestly say that was an incredibly life-changing experience – so much so that I have continued to set a theme every year since. Like a personal mission statement, a theme provides a guiding path, a thread that makes sure your actions and decisions are aligned and support your growth. And by consisting of one word, it’s also SIMPLE! (Which was a theme of mine a few years later!)

As we sit on the cusp of a beautiful new year, I encourage you to set a theme for 2013. To start, ask yourself this question:

Next December, when I look back over 2013, what word do I want to define my year?

From there, create a Breakthrough Map (aka, mind map) of various words and phrases that come to mind. Choose the one that speaks to you the most, taking care to ensure it’s energizing, uplifting, and affirming. From there, you can create your goals, projects, schedule, and so forth.

Need some examples to get started? Consider these:

Place your theme prominently in several places: your planner, screen saver, car, journal, bathroom mirror. Use it in your conversations, passwords, and greeting cards. In other words, make your theme a consistent, delightful part of your life!

If you feel frazzled, overwhelmed, or just plain tired of the standard resolutions this time of year often brings, try a theme for 2013 instead. Feel free to share your theme below or on our Facebook page, too.

Happy New Year!       

End Of The Year Inventory: 21 Questions

Christi Hegstad December 18th, 2012

Before you dive into a new year with its fresh opportunities, goals, and hopes, make sure you set aside time to reflect on your 2012. Not only does this give you an accurate starting point for new goals, it also nudges you to do something you may not do very often: celebrate your successes!

This questionnaire encourages you to take a healthy look at your career or business, as well as how your work is supporting your overall vision for your life. Like I told my ASPIRE members this month, I encourage you to head to a quiet place with only your journal and pen, a cup of coffee or tea, and this questionnaire. Savor this time!

End Of The Year Inventory: 21 Questions

  1. What are my ‘wins’ this year? What highlights am I celebrating?
  2. What has worked well in my business or career?
  3. What have I tried that has not worked well?
  4. What new actions or healthy risks did I take? What were their results?
  5. What did I let go of or stop doing this year? How has that turned out?
  6. How have I lived out my annual theme? (Watch for more on this next week.)
  7. In what ways did my business/career grow this year?
  8. What relationships did I build or strengthen?
  9. How have I honored my time (e.g. planned vacations, being intentional with my workdays, planning my week in advance)?
  10. What goals did I reach? What helped?
  11. What goals didn’t I reach? What got in the way?
  12. In what professional development opportunities did I engage (e.g., attended a class, hired a coach, spoke at a conference)?
  13. How have I grown as a leader? What leadership skills have I strengthened?
  14. How have I carried out my Vision, Mission, and Guiding Principles?
  15. What were my top priorities this year? How did I honor them?
  16. How have I cared for my well-being – physical, mental, relational, and spiritual?
  17. What support did I seek (e.g., coach, mentor, housekeeper, therapist, personal trainer)?
  18. What new habits or systems have I developed that support my growth?
  19. How have I balanced my work with other Life Dimensions like family, self-care, and home?
  20. What positive difference did I make through my work – for myself, my business, my family, my community, the world?
  21. What positive lessons have I learned about myself this year?

Consider designating a journal or nice notebook for your reflection and future planning. You’ll have all of your growth thoughts captured in one place and will be able to return to it throughout the year.

Watch this blog for further articles to help set up a flourishing 2013. In the meantime, be sure to share other questions you’ll add to your Inventory!

 

Today’s Small Act of Kindness

Christi Hegstad December 17th, 2012

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” ~ Aesop

Coaching Tip For The Week:

Can you make a difference? 

Sometimes events happen that we can’t fully understand or wrap our minds and hearts around. At times like these, it’s easy to feel small and powerless.

But each one of us – including you, including me – has the power to make a difference. And I believe it’s our responsibility to step into that power every single day.

Each day this week, extend an act of kindness to someone. Don’t worry about the size of the act or the outcome or what you may see in return. Willingly give that smile, a compassionate ear, a card, a random gift, a hug.

None of us can do everything, but every single one of us can do something. Let’s follow Gandhi’s advice and be the change we wish to see in the world

Peace and blessings to all.
 

3 Shakeups For Your Morning Routine

Christi Hegstad December 12th, 2012

After sharing a list of tips or offering several strategies in a workshop, I am often asked, “If I were to do just ONE THING that would make the biggest difference in my success, what one thing should I choose?”

What response comes to mind first for you?

While we all have unique personalities and need to answer that question for ourselves, some strategies serve well across the board. One of those involves an intentional morning routine. How you start your day very often carries over into how you live and work throughout the day.

Think about this morning, for example. Did you begin your day by jumping out of bed before sunrise, running 3 miles, reading an inspirational chapter, and expressing gratitude for the great day ahead?

Or did you hit “Snooze” 4 times, complain about how little sleep you got last night, race to work, and jump right into email?

How has the rest of the day panned out for you?

Our mornings set the tone for our days. Five years ago when I made the commitment – or should I say, “started the experiment” 🙂 – to wake up a bit earlier and start my day in a new way, I wasn’t sure it would make much impact. I just knew I wanted to do something differently and needed to wake up on my own terms.

Now, my morning routine has become like water and air to me. I feel out-of-sorts on the rare days that I miss my morning ritual. Even my kids can tell if I’ve skipped my morning practice!

What would start your day off right? 3 strategies to consider:

  1. Set your intention. Before you even get out of bed, decide what kind of day you’ll have – even assigning a word to it, like “joyful,” “relaxed,” or “energizing.”
  2. Never hit the snooze button. Seriously! Hitting snooze means starting your day behind. (Mel Robbins wrote a terrific article on this recently in Success magazine.) 
  3. Write. Whether you record random ideas, dreams, or your goals for the day, put pen to paper for a few minutes (or for several pages, as author Julia Cameron recommends). You’ll boost your creativity at the only time your thoughts are fresh and unaffected by the day’s events.

Creating a morning ritual can be as rejuvenating as it is productive. Consider what activity will boost your mood the most – whether it’s exercise, journaling, prayer, or something completely you.

Then, decide what will make that routine easy and fun. For example, I adore the auto-brew feature on my coffee maker. Hot, fresh coffee is waiting for me the moment I walk down the stairs!

Your next step? Give it a go. Make the commitment to yourself, make it easy, and make it happen. Implement your morning routine for one week and reassess at the end of the week, tweaking as necessary.

As Terri Buillemets reminds us: “Every morning is a beautiful morning.”


Planning vs. Improvising – Which Is Better?

Christi Hegstad December 10th, 2012

“A successful life involves both planning and improvising.” ~ Patricia Ryan Madson

Do you prefer a well-laid plan or to fly by the seat of your pants?

We’ve all heard the phrase “Failing to plan means planning to fail.” But we can also overplan – to the point that we become so overwhelmed by every detail, we don’t even take the first action.

This week, select a goal that you’d like to achieve in 2013. Create a clear vision in your mind of what reaching that goal will look, feel, and be like. Then, decide your first step – ONLY your first step – and take it. 

Before laying out the rest of your framework for the goal (milestones, etc.), assess that first step and how it felt to take it. When you’re feeling stuck, sometimes a clear vision and a strong beginning are all you need to break free.

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