VIP Coaching

Invent Your Future by the Sea with Deirdre Saturday, April 28 in Portsmouth, NH!

admin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:09:56 +0000

“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” – St Francis of Assisi

Join me at : Invent Your Future!

Are you feeling stuck in a rut? Need help breaking out of the same old routine? Ready to make some big changes but something keeps holding you back? You are not alone! I hear this so often at this time of year. The enthusiasm of New Year’s resolutions has worn off and the hum-drum of everyday life sets back in because fundamentally, nothing has changed. No more! Join Deirdre at a workshop designed just for you.

I cannot stress how strongly I feel that life is just too short to feel mediocre. You have every right to be excited about your life, and if you are not, something needs to change. Come join a group of committed, energized individuals with a shared goal: inventing an exciting new future for yourself.

This full-day workshop being held in the scenic, seaside town of Portsmouth, NH, includes lessons, exercises and one-on-one time with not only one but two certified master life coaches:

Deirdre McEachern, author of You Only Live Once: Create the Life You Want … and my long time VIP Coaching business partner Claudette Rowley, author of Embrace Your Brilliance, How to Align Yourself with Your Unique Potential.

During this workshop you will breakthrough the fears, limitations and blocks which have been holding you back from making substantial change and leave at the end of the day with tangible, realistic, written action plans so you can start living your new life immediately.

Where: Marriott Residence Inn, Portsmouth, NH
When: Saturday, April 28, 2012 9am-4pm with a lunch break to explore beautiful downtown Portsmouth
Cost: $137 per person

To register click here , call 207-439-4280 or email your name and phone number to Deirdre at deirdre@vip-coaching.com. Space is limited.

Check, PayPal & Credit Cards accepted.

Don’t Resolve! Plan.

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:56:40 +0000

“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but it is too low and we reach it.” – Michelangelo

Happy New Year 2012! Being a life coach whose work deals often with strategic goal setting, many people ask me, “How do you feel about New Year’s resolutions?” And my answer is: “I don’t recommend them.”

Surprised? Don’t be. Here’s why I oppose New Year’s resolutions:

-Resolutions are chock full of unhelpful emotions like obligation, guilt and shame.

Well-set goals motivate you and pull you forward; you are excited about the prospect of reaching them. I want you to feel good about yourself rather than beating yourself up. They usually entail adding something to your life (freedom, creativity, connection) as opposed to removing something.

-Resolutions are piecemeal.

I prefer to encourage you to take an overall look at your entire life not just one piece or another. To do this, reflect on your past year’s successes, then take a look into the New Year ahead and assess what you really want to add to different areas of your life.

-Resolutions are short lived.

Studies show most people start their resolutions with determination and grit on Jan. 1 and burn out by Feb. 1 (90% burnout in some cases). I would rather you use January for planning and don’t take action until Feb 1^st. That will enforce some strategic reflection, caution, and thoughtfulness. This will also avoid any knee-jerk resolutions related to the overindulgence of the holidays and give a better chance of maintaining your plans by checking-in and adjusting as you move through the year. This way you create slow and steady momentum and progress.

-Resolutions are short sighted.

Most resolutions are often short term and immediate – get my house organized, lose weight or exercise more. Goals are far more effective when they relate to a bigger picture – a roadmap toward a better life. What is the reason you wish to de-clutter, diet, or exercise more? If the larger goal is to feel better about your living space, yourself or your health, you can have a more comprehensive and strategic conversation that is ultimately more effective.

This is your life. 2011 is one more year behind you. Don’t wake up in January 2013 making the same resolutions as this year. Start with some thoughtful planning instead. You will be much more motivated and produce real, long lasting results.

To a great year!

A New Twist on the Christmas List

admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:44:47 +0000

So I admit it, I’m one of those people who listen to the all-Christmas music radio stations this time of year. I love the classic old-time melodies that bring me back to my childhood. I also enjoy the newer songs that come about every now and then (the mix of 12 Days of Christmas & Toto’s Africa is an all-time favorite for me by the men’s a cappella group, Straight No Chaser, see them perform is live on video here!) and the other day I heard a popular song called My Grown-Up Christmas List about the hope for peace in our hearts and in our world.

The title of the song got me thinking about Christmas lists. When I was a child my family did not make Christmas lists, we were more of the ‘you get what you get and your grateful’ tradition. I always thought it a bit obnoxious that my friends made lists of things they wanted. Of course, I was also secretly jealous. Now that I am parent myself, I can appreciate the idea of a letter to Santa or some form of a list (even one mentioned out loud on Santa’s lap) so I will know for certain what will make my little ones eyes light up on Christmas morning. Heck, what is being a parent all about if not reveling in the ability to sometimes make little dreams come true?

Having said that, I did tell my children (age 3 and 5) that they are only allowed to ask Santa for at most 3 items which they really, really want and then Santa decides what (or if) they receive anything beyond that. I wanted to be sure they respected Santa’s need to provide for millions of children around the globe and that, naturally, there are weight limitations on his sleigh, so we have to be fair to everyone.

My musings about Christmas lists got me wondering, as a parent & life coach, what kind of Christmas list tradition did I want to create with my children? What came to me follows. It is equally applicable to kids of all ages – including us grown up kids who remain young at heart.

It works something like this, give this blank list to your kids, along with a cup of hot chocolate, and ask them to complete the whole thing - no exceptions! If your kids are too small for that (like mine), sit with them and fill it out together. If you don’t have kids, do it yourself or with a spouse, partner or friend. Feel free to play with the items or add your own to make it unique to your family values.

For my Jewish friends, this practice can be easily adapted into the Channukah festival of lights. For those of you celebrating Kwanzaa, this list can add to your year-end gift giving tradition. The point is for everyone to feel good about proud moments, design a little personal growth stretch for the year ahead, practice simple gratitude so you feel fortunate and then make thoughtful requests. Even little kids can grasp these concepts. For instance, I asked my kids to tell me their favorite gift they have ever received from the man in the red suit (they had ready answers – a drum and a baby doll) and then I asked how they feel when they give gifts to people they love (really good!).

Use this as a template to get you started!

Deirdre’s New Twist on a Christmas List

1. Three things I feel proud of accomplishing this past year are (i.e. I learned to tie my shoes or I can now shoot a basket):

_________________________________

2. Three things I hope to get better at next year are (i.e. I want to earn an A in English or I want to be able to ride my bike without training wheels):

_________________________________

3. Three things I feel grateful for in my life are (i.e. my loving Mom and Dad or lollipops):

_________________________________

4. Three things I hope Santa brings me on Christmas are (i.e. a model train or an iTunes gift card):

_________________________________

I hope this new twist on a Christmas list gives you some ideas about how to sprinkle a little positive reflection into this holiday season of joyful celebration. Use this tool to give yourself and your family the gift of inner peace this season as the world surrounds you with exuberant outer expressions of color, light and sound. Blessing to you and to all a good night!

Thanksgiving

admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:52:36 +0000

I have been blessed in this last month with several long visits with old and dear friends from New York City, Los Angeles and Dublin, Ireland. Being with people who I have known since I was young is so refreshing and rejuvenating for me. These visits were a great primer for entering the holiday season with a deep sense of gratitude for how fortunate I have been in life – with relationships, resources, opportunities and health.

This past Sunday I attended my Unitarian Universalist church and our minister charged us with a unique and wonderful holiday task: to be satisfied. She encouraged us to savor whatever it is we are experiencing at the moment. It is a beautiful idea and I share it with you today. What is is that you love about Thanksgiving? Is it time with loved ones? A favorite traditional dish? Relaxing in front of a football game on television or maybe going out to run a bright and early 5K with 1200 other Turkey Trot enthusiasts?

Whatever it is that you relish (pun intended) I encourage to first be aware of it so that the item, event or opportunity does not slip through your fingers and second, savor it. For me, it the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I grew up watching the parade, in fact, for years I thought it was called the “Macy’s Day Parade” ( : Now I watch it with my children as the house fills with tempting aroma of roasting turkey. I don’t need to watch the entirety of it but I do make sure I dedicate some time along with a cup of hot coffee and enjoy some of the marching band formations and holiday singers with my little ones.

My dear friend Vera sent me this link to a wonderful article from the New York Times about the myriad benefits of gratitude – take a look, you might be pleasantly surprised.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/22/science/a-serving-of-gratitude-brings-healthy-dividends.html?_r=1

Thank you Vera!

And thank all of you for being a part of my life. I hope you have a joyous and highly satisfying Thanksgiving.

Book Signing Tomorrow Night in Concord, NH!

admin — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:37:09 +0000

I am looking forward to meeting all the great folks at Gibson’s Bookstore tomorrow night (11/9/11) in Concord, NH. I’ll be reading and signing books starting at 7pm. This event is free and open to the public. Come join us!

Signing books at the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Annual Luncheon

I had a wonderful time at the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Annual Luncheon last week in Manchester, NH. Did you know heart attack symptoms are completely different in women than men? Get educated and tell five women you love! There were over 300 heart-healthy woman in attendance. See more pictures on Facebook!

I also enjoyed joining Kiva Leatherman recently on A Woman’s Worth talk radio. To listen to the live radio interview click here.

Last but certainly not least – please join me on Thursday, Dec. 8th from 1-2:30pm for a live Webinar called Happy U. This dynamic, 90 minute seminar will help you build personal happiness into your schedule again – just in time before the holiday rush! You will regain control over your two most valuable resources: your time and your energy and start enjoying more of this one, wild & precious life we all share. During this unique and powerful live event you will determine, design and create space for more of what you want from your life – starting immediately. You will complete thought-provoking exercises, hear real life stories & engage in practical strategy discussions all while learning about compelling medical research to keep you motivated. Sponsored by: VIP Personal Coaching, The Wise Women Network & A Woman’s Worth Talk Radio. Register today for only $37 by Phone: (207) 439-4280 / (603) 978-6344 or Email: deirdre@vip-coaching.com / kiva@wisewomennetwork.com.

Did You Change Your Life After 9/11?

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:26:17 +0000

You can also read this article in the Foster’s Daily Democrat newspaper:

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110904/GJBUSINESS_01/709049942

Did you change life after 9/11?

By Deirdre McEachern
Dollars & Sense

Sunday, September 4, 2011

I remember exactly where I stood when I first got the news of the airplanes hitting the World Trade Center on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. I was teaching a course called Working as a Team for EMC Corporation located in Framingham, Mass.

We had just taken a 10-minute coffee break when one of the attendees came back into the classroom and told us a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. I assumed he meant a small plane like a Cessna had crashed into the world trade center in Boston, near Logan Airport. That seemed possible. He was quick to correct me that it was a large commercial passenger jet and it has crashed into the twin towers in New York.

The enormity of this news and the tension in his voice made all of us in the room immediately want more information. We did not have access to a TV or radio in the classroom so a few people used their cell phones to call someone who might. It was clear within a few minutes that something big and frightening was occurring out in the world while we were walled off in this training center. With the level of panic and distraction so intense (including my own) there was not going to be any more effective learning that morning. I decided to call off the remainder of the course and we all sped to our respective homes.

I drove straight to my future husband’s house — the person I most wanted to be with at that moment — and together we watched the horrors of the day unfold on CNN.

In the days that followed, there was continuing fear of more attacks. I worked in my office listening to the loud and warlike sound of Air Force fighter jet flyovers above my roof. Then one day I received a phone call from a flight attendant named Jennifer who worked for United Airlines. She was one of the few exceptionally brave employees who returned to work as soon as the FAA cleared the skies for air travel again. To her credit, though she was scared for her life, she donned her uniform and walked back on board. She later told me it was the most frightening thing she had ever done.

No one had any way of knowing if more hijackings were in the works. This courageous woman continued to work as a flight attendant for several more months. All the while, like so many of us, she was actively evaluating her life. Was she happy in her life? If not, what needed to change? On top of her list were a new career and a new relationship. We worked together to redesign her career and her life.

She eventually left the aviation industry and returned to school to pursue her MBA.

When 9/11 happened, did you find yourself re-evaluating your life? For so many of us, 9/11 was an unexpected wake-up call to take stock of what mattered to us — things that usually had nothing at all to do with money or materials goals. We asked ourselves if we were spending enough time with the people we loved, living the life we wanted and making the best use of our talents? Overall, many felt it was time to make changes.

9/11 was a national jolt, a confrontation with the realities of terrorism and along with it, the ugly truth for each of us of our human mortality — from any cause.

Where were you on the morning of September 11, 2001? Do you remember what you were doing when you heard the news? In the days after the attack, did you promise yourself you would live differently going forward? Now that 10 years have passed, are you satisfied with the changes you have made or do you need to make more? This difficult anniversary is an opportunity to revisit the many lessons of 9/11. Not only the powerful lessons we all learned regarding community spirit, true heroism and national pride; but also the deeply personal lessons unique to each of us about love, legacy, connection and a meaningful life.

My blessings go out to those wonderful people, people just like you and me, who we lost on 9/11 and it goes out today to those remembering their loss 10 years ago.

Deirdre McEachern, MCC, is an internationally known life and career coach based in Kittery, Maine, and the author of “You Only Live Once: Create the Life You Want.” She welcomes your feedback and comments at www.vip-coaching.com.

Had a blast recording PSA for WOKQ, WSHK and WPKQ today!

admin — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:42:51 +0000

I love radio! If you do to, I hope you’ll keep yours turned on this week. Tune in to WOKQ 97.5FM, WSHK 105.3/102.1FM and WPKQ 103.7 FM to hear me doing a public service announcement I just recorded for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Tea taking place next week in Portsmouth, NH. It will be running on all four stations 24/7 through next Tuesday. Click here twice to hear it: American Heart Association Go Red Tea 0801 091411 MW

First Day of School! Are You Starting Something New this September?

admin — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:35:25 +0000

My little 5 year old son starts his first day of school tomorrow, September 8th in this very classroom. It’s been a date branded on my mind since June since he’s my first to go. Technically, we (he and I) are ready. He has his new clothes, his Sponge Bob lunch box and Spider Man backpack. But am I, really? And is he? How can we ever be ready for big changes in life? We can’t. We just have to prepare the best we can and take the leap. It’s a big lesson – and one my little son is learning tomorrow morning.

He told me yesterday he is nervous about starting school and I responded that everyone is nervous on their first day of something new and it’s okay to feel nervous. I also told him it was okay to be both nervous and excited at the same time. He liked that option. I think as humans we somehow expect to be exempt from nervousness, anxiety and worry and criticize ourselves when we feel them. Yet these are just a few in the wide range of normal emotions that come and go for all of us. There is no blame in that. We must learn to be kinder to ourselves.

I use preparedness (perhaps over preparedness!) to assuage my worry and allow myself to keep taking action.

What big changes are you preparing for this September?

Accept and honor any anxiety you feel, go gently with yourself and always, always continue to take action in pursuit of your goals.

Mini-Seminar and Book Signing at Toodstool Bookshop, Milford, NH Thursday 9/1 at 7pm

admin — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:51:15 +0000

Join me on Thursday, September 1st at 7pm for a mini-seminar and book signing of You Only Live Once: Create the Life You Want. This event is free and open to the public! For more information go to http://toadstool.indiebound.com/event

VIP Coaching

Invent Your Future by the Sea with Deirdre Saturday, April 28 in Portsmouth, NH!

“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” – St Francis of Assisi

Join me at : Invent Your Future!

Don’t Resolve! Plan.

A New Twist on the Christmas List

Thanksgiving

Book Signing Tomorrow Night in Concord, NH!

Did You Change Your Life After 9/11?

Did you change life after 9/11?

More Evidence Linking Meditation to Health Benefits

Had a blast recording PSA for WOKQ, WSHK and WPKQ today!

First Day of School! Are You Starting Something New this September?

Mini-Seminar and Book Signing at Toodstool Bookshop, Milford, NH Thursday 9/1 at 7pm