Brent O'Bannon - America's Voice of Life Balance » Balance Matters Minute – Weekly Success Strategies http://www.brentobannon.com Making a difference in the world through speaking, coaching, and creating resources. Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:08:59 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Your Customer’s 4 Basic Needs | Customers Basic Needs http://www.brentobannon.com/your-customers-4-basic-needs/ http://www.brentobannon.com/your-customers-4-basic-needs/#comments Wed, 05 May 2010 15:34:12 +0000 Brent O'Bannon http://www.brentobannon.com/?p=697 Customers Basic NeedsPause and ask yourself, “What leader has the most positive influence on my daily life?” Now list four words that best describe what this person contributes to your life.

This two fold question was randomly asked to 10,000 people by The Gallup Poll. The research was somewhat surprising. You might anticipate words like intelligence or wealth. But no. The four basic needs of customers are:

1. Trust
2. Compassion
3. Stability
4. Hope

How can you use your strengths to build more trust, compassion, stability and hope with your customers?

First, we build trust by showing respect to ourself and to others. We create another level of trust when we are authentic with successes and struggles. Finally trust is established every time you say you will do something and you follow through.

Second, our customers want to feel that we care more about their well being and happiness than us getting money for a service. You show compassion by sending a birthday card, giving a gift, and asking about a customers personal life. Compassion is built when we cultivate emotional intelligence and people skills with our customers.

Third, is the need for stability. Customers need security that we will be stable and strong over a long period of time. They see stability by us surviving hard times as a business or being involved in a church or volunteer in the community. Customers feel strength when they see a long term marriage and healthy family life.

Finally customers want hope for the future. Customers are inspired by a happy workplace. They feel optimism when they see personal and professional growth. Hope is fostered by faith, guidance and good news.

Coaching Questions:

1. What specific activities could you do more of to increase trust, compassion, stability and hope to your external and internal customers?

2. How could you increase trust, compassion, stability and hope with your spouse, children, and community?

Call or email me now so I can help you or your business create more trust, compassion, stability and hope.

]]> http://www.brentobannon.com/your-customers-4-basic-needs/feed/ 0 Why Mastermind? http://www.brentobannon.com/why-mastermind/ http://www.brentobannon.com/why-mastermind/#comments Sat, 03 Apr 2010 14:55:50 +0000 Brent O'Bannon http://www.brentobannon.com/?p=639 Why Mastermind?

If you are on a quest for success in your personal life and professional life then you need a mastermind group.

The term was first introduced in 1937 in Napoleon Hill’s book, Think and Grow Rich.Many successful people have used the power of the mastermind group like, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and contemporaries like John Assaraf, and co-creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Jack Canfield.

Mastermind groups can be paid with a coach or free with a peer group. Both accelerate growth. I’m in a speakers mastermind group that has a monthly payment but I’m also in a free local business development mastermind and a telephone speaker/coach mastermind group from all over North America.

Here are 5 tips for starting your mastermind group.

1. Research, google, and learn about mastermind groups from someone who has done it.

2. Invite 5-9 people who offer an expertise, level of success, or strengths that compliment yours. I find having a variety of personalities and strengths in the group help energize and catapult the group success.
3. Choose a consistent time to meet every other week or monthly. You can meet at someone’s home (I enjoy having my local group sit around my pool cabana) or on a free telephone conference line that can be recorded (like www.freeconferencecall.com).
4. Let the group evolve and choose how they want to meet. Some are more structured with  topics and format and many are spontaneous and unstructured. Some focus only on business success though many focus on personal growth and business development.
5. Share ideas and resources, successes and struggles and be accountable. Build trust, share compassion, show stability, and inspire with optimism. Find a balance of giving and receiving with your mastermind group.

You asked. You got it!

Some of you wanted to join a group and be a part of a mastermind group that is “up to something BIG.”

So now I’ve created a tele-coaching group (mastermind) that will catapult your personal and professional success for only $79 monthly for 10 months.

Go to www.brentobannon.com under group coaching for more information and to sign up for the ongoing group coaching program.

Coaching points:

1. Who would you invite to your mastermind group?

2. What holds you back from starting or participating in a mastermind group?

** Any comments or questions email me at brent@brentspeaks.com

Call now for a speaker or life coach at 903.819.0301 and visit

www.strengthsfindercoaching.com,
www.360successcoaching.com ,
www.marriedtoyourboss.com and
www.brentobannon.com.

Brent O’Bannon
America’s Voice of Life Balance

]]> http://www.brentobannon.com/why-mastermind/feed/ 0 The Success Script http://www.brentobannon.com/the-success-script/ http://www.brentobannon.com/the-success-script/#comments Sat, 03 Apr 2010 14:42:11 +0000 Brent O'Bannon http://www.brentobannon.com/?p=637 What is your subconscious saying?

Oceanographers say 88% of an iceberg is below the surface while only 12% is visible. Sigmund Freud theorized that our behavior is mostly unconscious.   Life success is 88% about changing our subconscious programming and only 12% about achieving conscious goals.

Writing, focusing, and achieving your conscious goals is only the tip of the iceberg. Your subconscious thoughts, beliefs, and mind set will either sabotage your success or be the instinctive power to life success.    That is why I’ve been coaching my clients to create a ”SUCCESS SCRIPT.” This script focuses on your top 5 strengths and becomes a daily mantra that strengthens your subconscious and is a guide to achieve your conscious goals.

By reading your script several times a day, your mind and body work together to produce the results you want. If it all sounds too simple, that’s because it is.

To create your personal success script, you and I talk on the phone and I’ll take you by the hand and show you how to record your success script, just the way you want it, and turn the recording into a written document.

Each morning when you first wake up, you listen to or read your success script. You let your own words sink into your subconscious and take hold. In the afternoon and evening, you do the same and before you know it your script is a conscious part of your life.

Remember, these are your goals and dreams in your words and in your voice. There is no more powerful way to chisel these goals deep inside of you than spending the few moments reading or listening to the recording each day. Long before you figure out the logic of it, you notice your spouse’s airy sense of humor return, your standoffish children ask for your advice, and your friends seek you out to join them at a new restaurant in town.

Let me share an abbreviated version of my son’s script that helped him survive incarceration and catapult him into college.   My mind is now clear, my concentration is focused, my vocabulary is expanded and I feel smart and confident. I have a renewed sense of humor that makes people laugh and people are amazed at the dramatic transformation in my life. When conflicts or hard times come I am free from all unhealthy temptations. I calmly communicate and easily cope with a positive mindset.

I am enrolled and soon will finish the Tyler Junior College tennis teaching program. I work for a period of time as an assistant pro in a beautiful environment like California. I will soon own a tennis club making $300,000 to $500,000 dollars a year. I am a successful business man. I am stylishly dressed, wearing the best watch, and driving a pearl white BMW. My self esteem soars.

Now it’s your turn. We can create your SUCCESS SCRIPT in 3 telephone coaching sessions. Regulary $360. If you mention this article I will give 1 session for free for just a total of $240 for your success script.

Email or call me now. brent@brentspeaks.com or 903-819-0301.

Coaching points:

1. What unconscious thoughts, beliefs, and patterns are sabotaging your success?

2. Do you know and are you tapping into your natural subconscious strengths for life success?

** Any comments or questions email me at brent@brentspeaks.com

Call now for a speaker or life coach at 903.819.0301 and visit
www.strengthsfindercoaching.com,
www.360successcoaching.com ,
www.marriedtoyourboss.com and
www.brentobannon.com.

Brent O’Bannon America’s Voice of Life Balance

]]> http://www.brentobannon.com/the-success-script/feed/ 0 The Power of Affirmations http://www.brentobannon.com/the-power-of-affirmations/ http://www.brentobannon.com/the-power-of-affirmations/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:29:07 +0000 Brent O'Bannon http://www.brentobannon.com/?p=552
My heart was pounding with excitement when I went to a Jack Canfield seminar on his book, “The Success Principles” in Dallas.
 
As I walked into the building I prayed that I would meet the people I was supposed to meet. While listening to Jack the first few minutes he shared of having dinner with an inspirational entrepreneur in Dallas the night before. Sitting beside me was Michael, a middle age psychologist from Kansas City. We paired and shared during an exercise.
 
He placed a 3×5 card in front of me with the written affirmation he had been saying daily for approximately six months. It said, “I am grinning ear to ear when I meet Jack Canfield face to face.”  With awe and joy he said, “Brent that was my brother and I who had dinner last night with Jack Canfield for two hours.”
 
Now I was the one grinning ear to ear inspired by the power of affirmations. (Visit www.brentobannon.com to see the actual picture of the written affirmation.) Michael later introduced me to his entrepreneural brother who shared some incredible insights on growing my speaking and coaching business.
 
Here are some quick guidelines for powerful affirmations.
 
1. Be personal. Start with I am or your name.
2. Be present. Use the present tense.
3. Be positive. Say what you want.
4. Be precise. No more than a sentence.
5. Be purposeful. Include an action word with -ing.
6. Be passionate. Include an emotion/feeling word.
 
Here are a few of my personal affirmations using these pointers.
 
I attract favor and unlimited possibilities to fulfill my dreams and become my best.
 
I experience commitment, affection, intimacy, fun and great sex with Rhonda more than ever.
 
I visualize and realize success, happiness and a bright future for my children.
 
I am healthy, happy, financially free, connected, and outrageously successful.
 
I exude gratitude, humility and happiness for the journey of life.
 
I challenge you to write down your affirmations on a 3×5 card, carry them with you, and say them daily. At least once in the morning and before bed for 30 days. It’s true we attract what we affirm daily and then you will be grinning from ear to ear.
Coaching Points:
1. What area’s of life are you experiencing negative chatter that you need to write a positive affirmation to combat?
2. Are you reading your affirmaitons daily?
3. Do you need coaching to help you write your affirmaitons?

 

 ** Any comments or questions email me at brent@brentspeaks.com . Thanks!   
 
For life coaching call now at 903.819.0301 and visit
 
 
Brent O’Bannon
America’s #1 Personal Life Coach
]]> http://www.brentobannon.com/the-power-of-affirmations/feed/ 0 5 Styles of Conflict http://www.brentobannon.com/5-styles-of-conflict/ http://www.brentobannon.com/5-styles-of-conflict/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:17:22 +0000 Brent O'Bannon http://www.brentobannon.com/?p=550
How do you handle conflict?
Most of us use a variety of styles depending on the person, the situation and our stress level. How we deal with our spouse at home is likely to be different than how we deal with our boss in the workplace.
Here are some brief thoughts on the strengths and struggles of 5 styles of dealing with conflict adapted from Johnson, 1981.
1. The Turtle: Avoidance
The strengths of this style is that this person can easily look past conflicts and realizes most conflicts will solve themselves out. They are calm on the outside and help de-escalate emotions in conflict.
The struggles with this style is the tendency to minimize, deny and avoid conflict all together. Major conflict tends to grow worse without coming out of the shell.
2. The Teddy Bear: Accommodation
The strengths of this style how likeable and lovable this person is in most situations. How could you be mad at them? They want and need harmony. They will accept blame to just bring peace to angry situations.
The struggles of this style is that they may be taken advantage of and become a doormat. The can enable others by not allowing them to face and wrestle with conflict. Secretly they tend to have a low self esteem and use likability from others as a way to build their own self confidence.
3. The Shark: Competition
The strength of this style is the ability to be strong, courageous, and bring a conflict out in the open quickly. They are a leader who can confront bullies.
The struggles are becoming too pushy, tactless, and hurting peoples feelings. They can escalate emotions and create barriers easily.
4. The Fox: Compromise
Their strength is communication, and willingness to find win-win or lose-lose compromises. Often the fox is able to craft intelligent intermediate solutions.
The struggles are deceptiveness and manipulation. People may feel outfoxed and cheated.
5. The Owl: Collaboration
The strength of this style is integrity. They can build trust, respect and deeper relationship. They are not tied to their way and tend to have an open mind for pragmatic solutions that create a win-win experience.
The struggles are you have to have two willing parties to collaborate. Two parties have to have high levels of communication skills and emotional intelligence. Some conflicts  require quick solutions and this style may take too long.

Coaching points:
1. What is your most dominant style under stress most of the time?

2. What strengths and struggles do you face in your conflict management style?

3. How do your top 5 strengths from the strength finders 2.0 influence your conflict management style?

To discover your top 5 strengths visit my new web site at www.strengthsfindercoaching.com .

** Any comments or questions email me at brent@brentspeaks.com . Thanks!  
For life coaching call now at 903.819.0301 and visit

Brent O’Bannon
America’s #1 Personal Life Coach

]]> http://www.brentobannon.com/5-styles-of-conflict/feed/ 0 Lessons from Dog Sledding http://www.brentobannon.com/lessons-from-dog-sledding/ http://www.brentobannon.com/lessons-from-dog-sledding/#comments Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:18:48 +0000 Brent O'Bannon http://www.brentobannon.com/?p=523 Magnificent are the Canadian Rockies near Canmore (where they filmed Dances with the Wolves). Spray lake is nestled close to the Three Sisters (mountains) with a picturesque view. In this white heaven is where Snowy Owl Tours gave my friends, my wife, and myself a howling adventure of dog sledding for the first time in our lives.

What can we learn from dog sledding?

1. You need to know your dogs especially your lead dogs.

There are 8 enthusiastic canines that pull a sled of three people. In fact they are harnessed according to their personality and strengths. Lead dogs are the first two dogs and are the most experienced. They are not necessarily the smartest but the best listeners and most focused. If they don’t lead, the team will not follow. We were told to always be praising and communicating with all the dogs but especially your lead dogs. The point dogs are the next two dogs in line and are being apprenticed to be lead dogs. In the middle are swing dogs. They are a pair of an older dog and younger dog helping balance each others energy and experience. Finally at the back, in front of the sled are the wheel dogs. They are the strong, undramatic, powerhouse dogs to move the sled.

Is this not a perfect example of teamwork?

2. There are 3 basic commands in dog sledding.

The first command is “hike or hike up.” When you give this command with energy the dogs go wild howling and bursting into the wilderness. They feel your energy and are born to run into the wild. The second command is “easy.” Believe me there will be times the dogs are running faster than you can handle around the mountain. Easy helps the dogs steady and slow down just a little to navigate those tight turns. The third command is, “whoa.” There are two basic reasons to stop. To conclude your trip of course and most importantly when a dog needs to take a poop break. We stopped several times when a dog needed to have a break and the entire team had to stop and let them do their business before we could proceed. I’m just saying. We also discovered how important to match your tone of voice with your commands. If you try to say whoa with fear and anxiety the dogs will keep running. If you stay calm and slowly say whoa they will come to a halt. 

How do you communicate with your team?

3. The driver is the CEO of the sled.

The driver has several responsibilities on this adventure other than just riding on the back of a sled. You lead from the back of the sled.

The most important rule for the driver is “never let go.” It would be like a run away train. Also the driver has a responsibility to build a great relationship with and know his dogs. You appreciate their individual strengths. You motivate them with praise. You energize them with recognition.

The driver (CEO) also helps lighten the load and pull the sled. Going up a steep hill the dogs will look back and see if you are off the sled jogging or helping push. There is a delicate balance of not doing all the work because they will let you or not helping enough and they become frustrated with you.

My wife and I did a tandem drive from the back of the sled. I believe it’s even harder than driving the sled by yourself. We both had to balance each other, communicate, and coordinate without turning the sled over around turns or running off the mountain, like we almost did. This CEO almost got fired, eh.

How are your leadership skills?

(For fun watch the short video with our guide now.)

Coaching points:

1. Are you appreciating, arranging, and leveraging the personality and strengths of your team?

2. Are you communicating effectively with your team?

3. How would you and your team evaluate your leadership skills?

For more information visit my new web site at www.strengthsfindercoaching.com .

** Any comments or questions email me at brent@brentspeaks.com . Thanks!

For life coaching call now at 903.819.0301 and visit

www.strengthsfindercoaching.com,
www.360successcoaching.com ,
www.marriedtoyourboss.com and
www.brentobannon.com.

Brent O’Bannon
America‘s #1 Personal Life Coach

]]> http://www.brentobannon.com/lessons-from-dog-sledding/feed/ 0 Strengthen Your Marriage http://www.brentobannon.com/do-you-use-your-strengths-in-your-marriage-02102010/ http://www.brentobannon.com/do-you-use-your-strengths-in-your-marriage-02102010/#comments Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:51:47 +0000 Brent O'Bannon http://www.brentobannon.com/?p=441
Do you use your strengths in your marriage?

Marriage is like a combination lock; your job is to find the right numbers, in the right order, so you can unlock your love potential. Famous management consultant Peter Drucker once said that “Most Americans don’t know their own strengths. When you ask them, they look at you with a blank stare.” Drucker was dead on. When it comes to understanding our strengths most of us are in the dark. Yet the fastest way to marriage success is by discovering and applying our strengths.

How then, can you focus on your strengths if you don’t know what those strengths are?

The short answer is: you can’t.

Through the Strengths Finder 2.0, I can help you and your spouse discover your top 5 strengths.
For example if your spouse is a LEARNER, then sign her up for yoga or piano lessons or a class at the local college. Take her to a book store or a movie or the opera, any place she can learn new ideas and activities. For learners, life is one long deliberate journey from ignorance to competence. Understand this much about her and you’ve just connected in a meaningful way you and she never thought possible.

If one of her strengths is HARMONY then be on the lookout for areas of agreement. Find common ground. Steer clear of debates and lickety-split you find your own life in perfect harmony.

If you husband has the ACTIVATOR strength then utilize it to help you make improvements around the house. They can transform ideas into immediate action.
Maybe your husband has WOO (Winning Others Over). This strength can bring fun, energy and more socialization to your relationship. This strength also can naturally use humor to put the conflict with the teenagers at ease.

So as you approach Valentine’s Day how do you jump over weaknesses and flow in your strengths?

You need a coach to teach you how. And now you have one!

 
PS-You will need to purchase one book for each person because there is only one code for the online assessment per book.
Put the odds in your favor!
PSS-If you and your spouse are interested in my Strengths Based telecoaching series send me an email expressing interest.
 

 

 

** Any comments or questions email me at brent@brentspeaks.com . Thanks!  
 
For life coaching call now at 903.819.0301 and visit
 
Brent O’Bannon
America’s #1 Personal Life Coach

 

Coaching points:
1. Do you focus more on each others weaknesses or strengths?
2. What strengths do you appreciate in your spouse?
3. For more information visit my new web site at www.strengthsfindercoaching.com .
]]> http://www.brentobannon.com/do-you-use-your-strengths-in-your-marriage-02102010/feed/ 0 Married to Your Boss http://www.brentobannon.com/are-you-married-to-your-boss-0232010/ http://www.brentobannon.com/are-you-married-to-your-boss-0232010/#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:59:25 +0000 Brent O'Bannon http://www.brentobannon.com/?p=433 Are you married to your boss?

It’s one thing to be married to your job. It’s another to be married to your boss.   Over the last thirty years, there seem to be more and more couples opting to marry their home and work lives.The research shows an increase from 500,000 to over 800,000 couples in business together.  My wife has worked with me in my counseling/coaching practice for 20 + years. We have experienced both the high’s of connection and the low’s of conflict.  There is a beautiful connection working toward a meaningful goal together, knowing some of the same people, having flexibility with schedule and having accessibility for a quick hug and conversation.

However we have experienced conflict by having unrealistic expectations, blurring work/home boundaries, and not understanding each others strengths. There were times we did not appreciate the leadership value that we both brought to the business. It has been so bad at times that I have said, “If we weren’t married I would fire you.”

If you are contemplating starting a business with your spouse or you are currently running a business together then you will benefit by  reading my new web site and getting a complimentary report called, “Married to Your Boss-13 Success Strategies to Prosper in Business and Love.”

Visit www.marriedtoyourboss.com

If you know a co-preneur or couplepreneur that is in business together please forward this Balance Matters Minute to them so they can read and get their complimentary report  at www.marriedtoyourboss.com.

Thanks for helping spread the word!

Coaching points:

1. Who do you know that is a couple in business? Send their name and email to me if you would like for me to follow up with them.

2. Please read www.marriedtoyourboss.com and share any feedback on this new site.

** Any comments or questions email me at brent@brentspeaks.com . Thanks!

For a tune up or life coaching call now at 903.819.0301 and check out www.360successcoaching.com , www.brentobannon.com and www.marriedtoyourboss.com.

Brent O’Bannon America’s #1 Personal Life Coach

]]> http://www.brentobannon.com/are-you-married-to-your-boss-0232010/feed/ 0 Margins of Success http://www.brentobannon.com/do-you-have-margins-of-success/ http://www.brentobannon.com/do-you-have-margins-of-success/#comments Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:13:36 +0000 Brent O'Bannon http://www.brentobannon.com/?p=425 Do you have margins of success?

The importance of margin of error was first introduced to me as a beginning tennis player at age 14. If you hit the ball too close to the net or to the lines and you were a little off or a gust of wind blew you could have an error. The solution was to clear the net 6-8 feet with top spin and to place the ball a foot inside the lines to decrease errors.
The concept of margins is all around us. Driving down the highway there is typically a shoulder for emergencies. Going over an overpass the lane is wider for safety. Margins in a book create ease of reading. Golfers place their shots with margin of error away from water, trees or out of bounds.
Margin is the space between my current activity and my limits. It is elbow room and breathing space that decreases stress, enhances relationships, and increases success.
I have to admit, creating margins in daily life is difficult for me. I want to live life to the edge. I squeeze too many activities in my day. However I’m discovering that I’m happiest and more successful when I create margins in my day to day life.
How do we create margins of success?
1. Create margins in your daily schedule.
Make time and space for breaks, breakfast, lunch, returning telephone calls, email, running over, and drive time. By arriving early and building cushion in our daily schedule we are prepared for Murphy’s law-what can go wrong will go wrong.
2. Create margins in relationships.
Making time for weekly date’s, a nap, a walk are examples of creating margins in romantic relationships. Building free time so you can play and connect with your kids. Going out to eat, lingering, or having a cup of coffee with friends enhances the relationship. Having a quiet time some time in the day with prayer, meditation, or inspirational reading creates renewal.
3. Do less to accomplish more.
Trying to be all things to all people leaves us empty, frazzled and unfulfilled. Why not focus on 1-3 priorities and free up space in our brain. Creativity and success come from drilling down into one area for deep success. The old saying is “less is best.”
Coaching points:
1. Where do you need to create more margins for success?
2. How will you make sure to follow through with making these changes for more sucess?
** Any comments or questions email me at brent@brentspeaks.com . Thanks!
For a tune up or life coaching call now at 903.819.0301 and check out www.360successcoaching.com , www.brentobannon.com and www.marriedtoyourboss.com.
Brent O’Bannon
America’s #1 Personal Life Coach

 

 

]]> http://www.brentobannon.com/do-you-have-margins-of-success/feed/ 0 Your Coping Quotient http://www.brentobannon.com/balance-matters-minute-%e2%80%93-01142010/ http://www.brentobannon.com/balance-matters-minute-%e2%80%93-01142010/#comments Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:14:52 +0000 Brent O'Bannon http://www.brentobannon.com/site/?p=336
What’s your coping quotient?

When you experience overwhelming changes that knock you out of your routine, a multitude of frustrations that block your goals, infuriating conflicts that test your patience and internal pressures that make you choke, you have experienced what psychologist call STRESS.
How do you cope with stress? One woman said, “chocolate, shopping, and wine therapy.”
It’s unfortunate but in excess these strategies can be unhealthy. We call it “indulging.” In moderation they are self soothing strategies but in excess they cause obesity, debt, and addiction.
Here are some top healthy strategies to cope with stress.
1. Have a supportive family environment.
When you genuinely feel connected, unconditionally loved, heard, encouraged, and appreciated then you have a safe place to fall and recharge. Remember just because you have a family doesn’t automatically create a supportive environment. If you can’t have a supportive biological family be sure and create a family of friends, coworkers, church, and community.
* Give yourself 10 points if you have a supportive family.
2. Bursts of physical activity for 30 minutes.
Exercise and physical activity are still one of the best ways to decrease stress. You increase cardio, deep breathing, and release tension in your muscles.
* Give yourself 5 points for each 30 minute’s of 30 minute burst of physical activity you get in an average week.
Be honest!
3. Stay at your ideal weight.
If you are more than five pounds over your ideal weight for your height and frame you are adding stress physically, mentally, and emotionally.
* Give yourself 15 points if you are within your ideal weight of 5 pounds.
4. Consistent deep relaxation.
Being still and doing yoga, meditation, prayer and deep breathing have been shown through research to lower stress.
* Give yourself 15 points if you engage in some form of deep relaxation at least 3 times per week.
5. Eating nutritionally balanced meals each day.
Starting with a healthy breakfast, eating low fat, a variety of food groups, proper amounts strengthen the immune system, raises energy, and decreases stress.
* Give yourself 5 points for each nutritionally balanced meal you eat each day of the week.
6. Drink alcohol in moderation.
Over use of alcohol increases depression, slows metabolism, inhibits sound sleep, and is expensive.
* Subtract 5 points for each day that you drink more than two drinks.
7. Watch television wisely.
(Also applies to surfing the Internet and playing on technology.) Too much TV wastes time, increases sedentary behavior, and creates isolation therefore leading to more stress.
* Subtract 5 points if you watch more than 10 hours of TV per week.
8. Give yourself something you enjoy.
This sounds contradictory yet there is great value in nurturing yourself with something weekly that you truly enjoy.
* Give yourself 5 points if you do something weekly that you enjoy that is just for you.
9. Relax in your favorite room or place at home.
Having a special room or safe haven in your home reduces stress.
* Give yourself 10 points if you have a special place at home you truly relax.
10. Practice time management daily.
Planning your days and weeks, having a scheduling system, staying focused on your priorities and continuing to improve time management add productivity and decrease stress.
* Give yourself 10 points if you practice time management techniques in your daily life.
11. Eliminate smoking cigarettes (or weed).
Smoking has a short term positive effect of giving stimulation or euphoria but long term creates health problems that create more stress.
* Subtract 10 points if you smoke less than one pack per day. Subtract 10 more points for each additional pack you smoke a day.
12. Eliminate caffeinated drinks.
Caffeine like nicotine has short term benefits and long term consequences. Drinking more water helps your body and mind cope with stress.
* Subtract 5 points for each days you drank 2 cups or more of a caffeinated drink.
13. Separate work and home time.
Bringing work home and taking home to work both increase stress.
* Subtract 5 points for each evening of an average week that you bring work home or 5 points for taking your personal problems to work.
14. Eliminate and decrease medication and chemicals.
Taking sleep medication, chemicals, or any medication increases side effects and potential stress.
* Subtract 10 points for each evening you take any form of medication or chemical substance to help you sleep or calm yourself down.
Add up your scores.
Scoring Interpretations:
20 and below: Ball of stress!
21-40: Stressing sometimes
41-60: Holding it together
61 and above: You’re phenomenal!

 

 
Coaching points:
1. What were your strengths and weaknesses about your coping style?

 

For a relationship inspection, tune up or coaching call now at 903.819.0301 or check out www.360successcoaching.com or www.brentobannon.com.

2. What is your plan to raise your coping quotient? Why not hire Brent as your life coach.

** Any comments or questions email me at brent@brentspeaks.com . Thanks!

Brent O’Bannon
America’s #1 Personal Life Coach
]]> http://www.brentobannon.com/balance-matters-minute-%e2%80%93-01142010/feed/ 0