I'd be interested to know how many of you reading this took part in the 10 week Webcast course Oprah and Eckhart put on every Monday night? I was very pleased to be able to attend most every course ( and was glad they were all archived to enjoy later). In case you don't know what I am referring to, it was a course based on Eckhart Tolle's book called A New Earth; Awakening to Your Life's Purpose.
Over the many weeks, here's a few thoughts a couple of friends had offered;

this from Sandra:" I couldn't wait for the weekly classes and I read it all at once in a few days. I go to Oprah's site and read the different message boards to see what people are thinking and talking about. On page 305 I liked the idea of saying to yourself that you wanted to inspire and enrich people and thereby keep the energy flowing rather than saying I want to be a great artist, writer, etc. That one line makes quite a shift in my mind and my personal goals in life. It means that you don't need to worry if you are good enough or not to be great because if you just make a few people happier or more inspired by something you do, then you have been successful.

and this from Janice;

I did have an AHA moment yesterday though, from listening to Oprah and Eckhardt (chapter 4), when they were talking about spending too much time and energy wanting to be like someone else, or trying to figure out how to get to the next level... instead of putting my focus on the moment and doing what it takes to get there.

If you have not read the book, perhaps you can put it on your list of "must reads this Summer"


All of the material is still available on Oprah's site for review, as all the Monday night's were archived.

What's LOA, Cathy? short for Law of Attraction.

Here's a really fun example of the power of our thoughts and LOA, and this just happened yesterday to me. It's a the story about How I got the Car I wanted to rent
My car is currently getting a small repair done at the body shop. This has been in the planning for several weeks now. In that time, I decided I wanted a new car. In specific, a Toyota Yaris. More specifically- a 4 door white top end model... that comes with extra body details, nicer wheels, A/C, cruise, power locks... you get the idea. I even have the brochure for this car on my kitchen table and see it every day. Apparently these cars go for miles on 2 thimblefuls of gas!I began to search the web to see what I could sell my existing car for.
Several times, I took myself over to the dealership to see my 'new car' sitting there on the lot. ( they have a LOT of Yaris's, but only one white one- you guessed it, that looked exactly like the one I have been thinking about.

Ok, so now, to take this to the next level- I take my Camry to the body shop yesterday in the morning, and Phil kindly had made arrangements for a rental car for me. I am thinking, gee, I hope they have Toyota's for rent, I'll ask for mine to be a Yaris.
Just as we turn into the lot, what drives out? Right, a Yaris. Good I think, they have them. Just then, a rep drives anotherYaris to the door. I want that one, I say to the girl filling in my papers.

"Sorry, mame, you get the Ford, the Yaris is for another customer.
So all the reps leave to get the cars washed and so I find myself sitting with this older gentleman in the waiting room. I ask him what he thinks of the car they will have for him, and with a funny face he says he really wanted a full-size car, not that little THING. Oh I said, let's trade. He had no belief that my idea could work. He thought that since all the papers had been filled out, well, we were stuck. Oh no, I told him, I have been really really wanting a Yaris to rent. I think they just got mixed up.
Note: then I let it go.
Off I go outside now to do the Ford walk about with the rep to check for existing dings. Part way along, the other rep interrupts us, and says "this man says she really wants the Yaris, and he wants a full-size. (!) I guess he had pondered on this , and decided it couldn't hurt to ask.
"So let's redo the paper work, Carolyn, and switch it for them"
I turn to Carolyn, and asked " so , do you believe in the Law of Attraction?
I do now she says" !!
With that I turn and shake the man's hand a wish him Happy Motoring...

It's a win /win story for sure, and a great way to illustrate the LOA. What you think about, focus on, or give energy to GROWS.
It sure does: and it grew into a Car, for heaven's sake! I complimented the girls for excellent customer service- I plan to endorse the Discount Car rental company to friends who just may have the need to rent a car one day.
...hey - they have Yaris's....

...later that day I went to the Toyota dealership and test drove My car...it feels great. She'll be home with me in just a few more days.

How did this story illustrate LOA?
*focus on what you want - be specific
*take actions, beyond the thoughts, to get the feeling
*let it go
*trust that what you asked will appear
*be happy

Are you in business for your self?
Looking to talk with other people in business? Consider forming or joining a Master Mind Group.
A month ago I joined a master mind group that meets every other Tuesday morning for breakfast. It's focus is to 'talk business' with 10 other local business people. Each person comes from a unique business, so we don't duplicate industries. What I like about the group is that we can share how our past 2 weeks went, and then ask the group questions for help on something . Perhaps a question about marketing, or staffing issues. One fellow asked us all to give him feedback on a plan he had to do a mass mailing- he wanted help on the wording for it, and how to get best coverage of a particular area. One of the other fellows in the group said he has had great success with mass mailings and offered an insiders tip on 'how to'.
We do not charge for being part of the group, and are firm in each member's commitment to the group for consistent attendance and confidentiality.

We all need to bounce ideas off others from time to time. The best form of honest critique comes without emotion attached to it. As a group, we all become each other's impartial listeners. And we hold each other accountable for actions taken between meetings.

Bob Proctor has an amazing overview and simple guidelines for forming a Masterminding Group. Want to read it?

e-mail me if you would like a copy sent to you.
cathy@coachingwithcathy.com

uh, no not green with envy- green; as in eco friendly.
Since last year when my husband bought a hybrid car, we realized we are on this Green Path. It's kind of fun actually.

A month ago, Bill said to me he heard of a great offer to reduce pollution in our gardens. If we took our 22 year gas lawn mower in to Home Depot- they would give us $100 towards a cordless electric mower. We jumped all over that, and are now the proud owners of a quite, smooth running and fume free electric mower for our small front lawn.

Two years ago we took out all the lawn in our back yard - this reduces use of water, and the use of chemicals to keep a lawn green. Let's face it- lawns are not necessary. Now we have so many beautiful flowers attracting birds & butterflies in our back yard than we ever did with a lawn in place.

So perhaps our eco adventure of going Green really began 2 years ago, and we continue to look for more ways to go Green.
I'd be interested to know how you are going Green. e-mail me at
cathy@coachingwithcathy.com

Did you know?: that in the US alone over 800 million gallons of gas is purchased just for lawn mowers- AND that over 8 millions gallons is spilled onto the ground when filling up the mowers!!

" Enthusiasm is half the journey to success
and all of the journey to Joy"
Neale Donald Walsh