Ten Minute Fix: Jump Start

Who here has had a dead car battery? I know I have. The feeling of turning the key and having nothing happen is terrifying, but when you figure out it's just the battery because you forgot to turn your headlights off, some of the stress goes away. It's replaced with embarrassment, but that's another story. All you need is a jump start and you can drive off into the sunset.

Thanks to the alternator --the thingy in your car that charges the battery-- all you need is a little juice to get everything started.

That's the principle behind this Ten Minute Fix. Let's say you have some goals you know you need to work on, but the couch and remote control seem so much more appealing. What do you do? Spend your entire evening watching Seinfeld? No! It hurts to say this, but everything -- including  Seinfeld -- is best in moderation.

Try This
Dedicate ten minutes to working on one of your goals. It doesn't have to be completed in ten minutes; just worked on. Then after ten minutes you are free to go back to Seinfeld.

What you'll find; however, is that after ten minutes you suddenly feel like being productive all night. All you needed was a jump start and now your internal alternator has kicked in and is providing all the energy you need to continue.

P.S.  I could have also used static vs kinetic friction as my example, but my goal isn't to cause flashbacks to high school physics.

Big Announcement!

It pleases me to announce that I am now certified by the Life Coach Institute! I had a certification interview after completing the course work, and it was really great. I had a mini coaching session with Dr. Helmstetter, but with me as the client. He offered some words of encouragement and advice as I continue to build my career as a coach.

I want to thank everyone who has encouraged and supported me throughout this process. Thanks to my wife for not thinking I'm crazy (or at least not  telling me she thinks I'm crazy). Thanks to those early clients who volunteered their time to help me learn and practice the art of training others to succeed. Thanks to everyone who reads this blog! Thanks to Seinfeld for providing me with entertainment.

So what does the future hold for Vaughn Life Coaching?

1. My pre-certification rates will remain through the end of the year, so take advantage!
2. A website redesign is currently in progress at www.vaughnlifecoaching.com
3. I'm now offering three specially designed packages for personal development. Check them out.
4. I'm still  toying with the idea of offering online seminars and courses.

The most satisfying thing about coaching is seeing my clients do those things that everyone else puts off or never gets around to. They actually make the changes they want to make!

If you or someone you know is fed up with having to set the same goals over and over again, or wants to learn to live a more fulfilling life, contact me for a FREE INTRODUCTORY SESSION!

Kyle Vaughn
LCI Certified Life Coach
(801) 686-8226
kyle@vaughnlifecoaching.com

Forming Good Habits

You know those daily goals that have been on your to-do list for the past couple of years? Every day you want to exercise, read something inspirational, learn a new vocabulary word, do a good deed, tidy up the house, etc… Wouldn't it be nice to conquer these goals and make room on your to-do list for new goals? The trick is taking these daily goals and transforming them into daily habits.





 Consistency is Key
Whatever habit you want to form, do it every day and track your consistency for at least one month. Tracking can be as simple as putting a check mark on the calendar for every successful day. After a month of doing something every day you’ve worked out all the kinks like when to do the activity and how to motivate yourself.

Establish Triggers
When we have a routine, there is a sequence of events. After I shower, I get dressed. After I eat breakfast, I brush my teeth. Before I do anything else, I watch Seinfeld. Instead of setting an exact time for your goal you might try piggy backing it onto some other habit. This other habit becomes the trigger that reminds you of your goal and helps incorporate it into your routine. For example, if your goal is to read something inspirational every day, you could do it while you eat breakfast or before you go to bed.

Remind Yourself
Sometimes a trigger isn’t enough and your goal is still frequently forgotten (sometimes intentionally). Write the habit down. Tell your spouse of friend about your goal so they can remind you. Associate yourself with people who already have the habit you want. If you want to do something before you go to bed, put a big – and preferably clean – rock on your pillow. This forces you to consciously move the rock and remember your goal. Then there’s no fooling yourself into thinking you “forgot”.

Start Small
Avoid the temptation to do a complete overhaul of your daily life. Work on one or two habits at a time. If you’re really feeling motivated and think you can handle it, you can try three. If you’re trying to form several habits at once, it dilutes your concentration to the point where all you habits may be abandoned.

If you have any stories or helpful tips about how you’ve successfully formed a good habit, I’d love to hear from you. You can leave a comment or send an email to kyle@vaughnlifecoaching.com