The only two ways to create change in your life

“First you say to yourself what you would be;

and then do what you have to do.”

                                     - Epictetus

Remember, here are really only two ways to create change your life.

You can make an external change (e.g. you can learn a new skill, change jobs, start a new relationship, get some more ‘know how’, or learn a new strategy for property investing) or you can make an internal change (e.g. change your beliefs, values, emotions, and patterns of behavior, etc).

What people usually do when they set a new goal or strive to create a new life for themselves is that they try to make external changes. “What can I learn or what skills do I need?” or “What new actions should I take to reach my goal?” are just some of the usual ways for people to approach their dreams.

The challenge with that is that if your desired external change doesn’t match your internal world then there will be a conflict on some level in your life and in your business. It can show up in ways like addictions, not following through, procrastination etc. The reason for this is that your external world is not aligned with your internal world (your unconscious mind).

Your unconscious mind is like an anchor on a boat, if you want it to start moving in a certain direction, you need to know how to lift the anchor and release the boat. If you don’t, the boat can only travel a limited distance before the anchor (your unconscious mind) will drag and stop you from moving.

In order for you to create the life and the business that you want, you need to learn how to create your internal world (unconscious mind) and design it to be aligned with your desired external world that you want to create. The ArtSHINE coaching process shows you how to do just that.

“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act.”

“There is no other route to success.”

                                     - Stephen A Brennan

Want to find out more about creating a sustainable Business Lifestyle in your creative Fashion Design Practice?

It’s as simple as 1... 2... 3...

1:Like  ArtSHINE's Facebook page

2: Send an e-mail to this Quantum Compass address: ArtSHINE@QuantumCompass.com.au and get more info about our workshops for creative professionals.

3: Contact Vinh for a no cost, no obligation coaching session: just call Vinh direct on  0410 636 138, Vinh@QuantumCompass.com.au, or go to: 

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ArtShineDiscovery

Knowledge is not Power!

Knowledge is not POWER!

I know you might not agree with me about this, so let me explain to you why I said "Knowledge is not Power".

I had an experience that demonstrates my point, I recently attended a seminar about how to lose fat and stay healthy for good. This seminar was attractive to me so I decided to attend. At the seminar there was this gentleman who seemed to know all the answers to questions that were raised by the gym instructor. I was quite impressed with his knowledge from fat burners to how to stay healthy. So I really wanted to know who he was so I turned around to look at him and to my surprise he was a very obese gentleman sitting on the back roll.

So after the seminar, I couldn't help but keep thinking about this man, who has shown full of knowledge about health and fitness. Then I started to think, if he has all the knowledge to stay fit & healthy then why is he not applying this to his own health and fitness. He was seriously obese. Now, there may be a very real reason for that, but it seems strange to me...

After thinking long and hard, I started to come to the conclusion that your knowledge is not power, it's only potential power. You really need to implement that knowledge that you have gained in order to turn its potential power into real power.

As a business coach we meet many business owners and we also have many opportunities to turn our initial conversations with potential clients. Some of the business owners also demonstrated a great deal of knowledge about how businesses work and with each question we asked they seemed to know all the answers too. Then the "I know syndrome" starts to creep up along with many excuses as to why they are not performing to the level they should. They seem to have all the answers to all the questions. Although some answers are valid and most were pure excuses really!

So my questions to you are: 

• If you have all the knowledge there is, why aren't you applying it to your own business lifestyle?
• If you said you know what to do to run a great business lifestyle and why aren't you doing?
• Shouldn't you practice what you preach?

Okay, you may think the above questions may seem a bit confronting and even make you feel uncomfortable.

As your coach, we want to challenge you and also to make you realise if you are not prepared to implement what you have learnt then there is nothing going to change for you and  your business either.

Having great knowledge is a great thing to have, however, you need to apply it. Another example is you may have known someone who has attended all the self help seminars (Seminar junkies) and buy the latest best selling motivational books there is. At ArtSHINE we call them the "collector" they love collecting information and  top up their knowledge but they won't take action or implement anything that they have learnt.

Would you like to know why?

It's because they are falling into the trap mode and the fear mode is the reason why most people stay where they are...  and not moving forward to where they want to be.

There are people who have all the knowledge and don't know how to apply it into their personal and business life. Others just have a basic lack of discipline and accountability because in their mind they have a big to do list and the list is becoming too overwhelming and so they build up this fear and confusion and therefore procrastinate! We all know someone who always looks busy and they produce poor results and when we ask them about all the tasks they’re meant to do, their answers are‘I am busy with something else and this one is on my list of things to do’. And you know the list they talked about is not a list on paper but in fact it is in their head! 

So, the only way to get thing done is by taking action. Knowledge isn't power, taking action with knowledge is power.

What’s the best way to take action?

Written goals!

You need to set goals and plan all your To Do lists on paper not in your head. Writing down your goals and making a list of tasks on paper will help you track where you are. By having your goals and tasks written down on paper you will have a guide to steer you to achieve the desirable results for you and your business.

Want to learn more about planning for the new year the ArtSHINE way?

It’s as simple as 1... 2... 3...

1: Like  ArtSHINE's Facebook page

2: Come along to the next “Action Planning” workshop. E-mail Quantum Compass: ActionPlanning@QuantumCompass.com.au  for details of the next half day session near you.

3: Contact Vinh for a no cost, no obligation coaching session: www.quantumcompass.com.au/freecoaching.ph 

The 9 Priorities in life

 Do you want a better work-life balance? Or...

Do you feel frustrated that you have less time for your own health and wellbeing because you are spending too much time working in your business lifestyle?

The ideas underpinning work/life balance can lead you to the conclusion that our lives are something to be divided in half. Split into two unrelated, disconnected, and ultimately conflicting pieces.

“My ‘work’ is something I have to do” people say. “Some thing that just brings me money.”

“My ‘life’ is where I’m happiest, and where I want to be. But I don’t really have a life” people say, “because I’m too busy with work!”

Sound familiar?

Here at ArtSHINE we’re not advocates for “Work / Life Balance”. In fact, it’s just the opposite! For us it’s about getting better in what you do with your business and personal life. For us it’s about creating a “whole of life”, or “portfolio” approach to work. It’s about creating a Business LifeStyle, and designing a sustainable art & design practice that supports the creative professional in life and, supports you in work as well.

So the first thing to do is to define & decide what your main life areas are.

From our experiences, we've learned that our lives can easily get unstable, therefore at ArtSHINE we set our goals based on " The 9 Priorities in Life".  These 9 areas will help you create a well-rounded personal and Business Lifestyle.

By diversifying your goals across the 9 priorities in life, you will find your business lifestyle will have a great sense of achievement and life satisfaction.

The goals you are going to set will be full of purpose so that it will empower you to execute those tasks so you can move forward in achieving your goals and reach your dream sooner too.

Consider the 9 priorities in life when setting your goals:

1. (MBS) Mind, Body, Spiritual (Health & Fitness)
2. Relationships
3. Family Connection
4. Business &Career
5. Financial Competency
6. True Wealth
7. Gratitude  
8. Fun &Refresh 
9. Time Leveraging

1. MBS (Mind. Body & Spiritual):

Mind- is “all about our mindset’”-for goals that need to refocus our minds.  Doing Sudoku or a cross word to challenge our minds. Gain more positive thinking by taking lessons to learn a new skill for your business or career.

Body- is “Your body is a temple” – for goals that relate to your health and body. Such as getting fit, losing weight or doing regular exercise such as getting up and doing the daily morning walk.

Spiritual- is “ inspire and bring new & more vigorous life to our soul”- for goals that relate to the human spirit as opposed to material or physical in natural. An example is meditating or yoga or taking Kung Fung lessons.

2. Relationship- is “The state of being connected”- for goals that relate to your partner or love ones.  Example, learn to reconnect your love for your partner.

3. Family Connection- is”The people you care and united by a significant shared LOVE & Characteristics”- for goals that are reconnecting with parents siblings. Such as spending more time with your parents. Make regular phone calls to your brother.

4. Busines and Career:- “A job full of opportunity  & progression”- for goals that relate to career advancement and to find your  ideal job.  

Business: “Your Ideal trade inspired by your Passion, your desire & purpose”-for goals that relate to your business such as set business strategies for you business 

5. Financial Competency- is “free of debt and financial freedom”-for goals that relate to your personal & business financial, like getting out of debt, paying off your credit card, personal loan or mortgage. 

6. True Wealth- is “the State being abundance”- for goals related to grow your assets and living a lifestyle you have always dreamt of. Wealth is not just about getting rich and make more money, It’s about a well balance of your outlook to life and how you can offer your gift to the community, For example helping people get what they want and give back to the community, fund raise for a charity, donation to a foundation with good cause that is related to your inspiration.

7. Gratitude-is "to growth and expand"- Being grateful for what you have. It's important everyday to appreciate what you’ve got!

• Family
• Supportive partner
• Friends
• Food on the table etc.      

A simple thank you to people who help you is being grateful. The more grateful you are as a person the more goodness you will receive. Gratitude is attitude.

8. Inspiration & Refresh- for goals that make you want to do what you love. It's about your desire, passion and purpose (your DPP) It is about rewarding yourself and taking time out to relax, refresh, like taking a mini break or a holiday.  Take a breath of fresh air to learn and get inspired again so you can appreciate your Desire, Passion and Purpose.

9. Time Leveraging - for goals that focus on getting things done .Time is a most precious commodity, and your only natural resource. You can change your effectiveness in time by changing the way you relate to the idea of time. You can chose to live in a world you create where you decide your own priorities. It’s time to own your future. It’s time to focus on what you want by leveraging your time in activities that advance you directly towards your dreams and goals.

Set goals in each and every area. Lasting success of your business lifestyle is how well you cover your goals in these 9 life areas.

When you learn to set goals regularly, you will be less vulnerable to the winds of change that blow unfocused people in all different directions in life.

When I consider these priorities while making decisions about how to allocate time and energy, I keep my life in order, in perspective. If there are questions about which is more important, a business appointment or a family event, it’s clear, the family takes priority. My life has a sense of order and purpose, a sense of fulfilment too.

After all, this is what your life is a bout.

So what are your priorities in life?

All businesses start with an idea!

Remember you said you don’t know where to start with your business.

All businesses start with an idea. An idea is worth pursuing will become your passion. Your passion will give you the real purpose to do what you love. Start to do a bit of your business at a time and eventually it will shine!

Block of Marble

  Statue of David

Like Michael Angelo creating David, he first saw the end result of his masterpiece then he started chipping away at the block of marble every day. Each day his aim was for a better day than yesterday and each day the marble took form and eventually the marble block transformed into the statue of David...his renowned master piece.

Doesn’t it sound so easy and simple? For Michael Angelo it was second nature as he had found his passion and he had plans and systems in place in order for to him to achieve his work.

Once you know what your passion is, everything else seems like a piece of cake and everything sails forward.

In relation to our life and business we do need to set goals, map out where we want to be  and the process to get there too.

So start with the end in mind... Set your purpose goals, write your clear business' vision and learn how to build a great business by having a great plan & system so you have control of your time...

So do you have an idea for a business?

Have you found your passion?

We’d love to hear from you. Please leave us a comment.

Learn more about finding your DPP (Desire, Passion & Purpose)

Part 1:

http://artshineqc.blogspot.com/2010/10/find-your-desire-passion-purpose-dpp.html

Part 2:

http://artshineqc.blogspot.com/2010/10/find-your-desire-passion-purpose-dpp_20.html

What is Head Chatter? & How it comes about???

Where did the voice come from and why is it so hard to have peace and quiet?

 Do you ever sense that the voice in your head is full of self-judgments?

 How come when you try to turn off the voice in your head...it doesn’t seem to go away?

WHY? WHY? WHY???

Firstly, what is Head Chatter or Mind Chatter?

Head or Mind chatter are those voices in your head and that talk to yourself. It is those high intensity inner monologue and in some cases dialogue that distracts or interrupts your activities. In other words, the stuff going on in your head that suggest you should maybe get a second opinion or some kind or reassurance. Does that sound familiar?

There is good head chatter & and bad ones too. These chatters are created by you. When you are in high and positive mood, the head chatter can encourage and give you that confidence that you can do anything! However it also does the opposite for you when you are low, and the negative head chatter could bombard you nonstop. The unwanted thoughts are the most challenging one.

So what do you do about it and how can you stop this?

There are ways to deal with head chatter. I don't think you can ever stop it, however, you can learn to embrace it and control it.

Here are the steps that I've found that work for me: 

• Decide what you want to get out of having this "constant chatter" in your head.
• What results do you expect? 
• What is your intention of creating this chatter? and
• Why the same chatter keeps re occurring?

Honestly, the truth is whatever goes on inside your head is your own doing. You’re creating your thoughts good or bad, your dreams and your own "chatter". You do this for your own reasons. So it's important to find out what they are and if they are important and mean something then you need to take action and if they are not important then stop creating the constant chatter.

If the chatter is too over powering and it keeps going around in circles in your head, then grab a note pad and write those thoughts down. You will be amazed at how this will calm your mind and instead of having those thoughts floating in your mind now it’s transferred onto paper.

Once those thoughts are on paper you can review it and define its priorities and set purpose goals to help you overcome those constant head chatter in your head.

I find this process works for me as I scribe onto paper. It lets me realise why I keep getting the constant same head chatter and gives me options on how to deal with it too. Remember you always have a choice to do something about it. It's up to you at the end of the day.

If you truly want to control or eliminate your unwelcome thoughts, use the "4-S Method" of thought control. It comes from behaviour theorists/therapists Dr. Joseph Wolpe, Dr. Arnold Lazarus and Dr Bob:

Below are the steps that I find very useful and I hope you find them useful for you too:

These are Dr Bob instructions:

1. Stop sign -- When you create a thought you don't want in your head, in your imagination hold up a huge red stop sign, perhaps being held by a stern-faced crossing guard!

2. Shout it out -- Shout at the thought, scream at it, yell at it - not literally but out loud in your mind until you can sense that it is leaving your thoughts. (The nice thing about the mind is that it cannot contain more than a single conscious thought at a time.) Treat it like an intruder in your mind, someone you DO NOT want in there! Get angry at it!

3. Substitute -- Prepare a sentence or thought to put in the place of the unwanted thought. Make it something strong, something positive, and something you really want to believe! (Some people carry such positive or self-encouraging thoughts with them, on 3 x 5 cards.)

4. Sustain -- Keep at it. YOU CREATED THE UNWANTED THOUGHT FOR A REASON! ("Psychology of Use" says you think all your thoughts in order to get something from them!) As you kick the unwanted thought out the front door, it will turn around and try to sneak in a window or down the chimney! DON'T LET IT!

Keep repeating the four S's until you find yourself to be in charge of the thought you don't want. As you become more comfortable with this, you'll find you are more in control of your whole mind, and also of your feelings.

By this time next week you will feel more in control of your unwelcome feelings and thoughts. If not...that's an indication that you actually get something out of having such thoughts and feelings, and that you do not want to give them up yet...

More information about:

Dr. Joseph Wolpe

Dr. Arnold Lazarus 

Dr Bob

What are you attracting in your Business LifeStyle?

What are you attracting???

Let’s be honest. Do you sometimes complain? I stumbled across this really powerful quote this week and I am sure you can relate to it too:

"When you complain, you become a living,

breathing crap magnet."

~ T. Harv Eker

Do you agree this is an awesome and very powerful quote?

Let's sit back and be the observer and have a close look at your Business LifeStyle. Can you see here there have been times where you’ve fallen into this pattern and things just kept getting worse and worse?

I definitely have. Most often, I have noticed this in my Business LifeStyle.  As soon as you start focusing on the stuff that bothers you, the situation you’re in will take a turn for the worse. 

It is the best and fastest way to see that "what you focus on expands." 

That is why I wanted to share this quote with you.

I have to admit that sometimes I am a crap magnet too.  At least now that I am aware of it, I can also choose to snap out of it as quickly as I see it.

So what would you do?

What if, even better is that the opposite is also true?

"When you express positive thoughts and gratitude, you become a living, breathing powerful magnet." This is because "Like attracts Like!" So stay positive in what you do and eliminate negative thoughts as your head chatter will play with your mind and that is the reason why fall into the procrastination mode.

So, if you’re down, you need to snap out of it and re focus on things that make you happy, and your purpose in what you do. So If you have all goals written down on paper is the best option, These purpose goals with keep you focus and on track.

According to Eker's Secrets of the Millionaire Mind; If you have an open mind, think about this: Your outer world is a direct reflection of your inner world. As Eker speaks out, your mental perspective is like the roots of a tree -- a crucial but unseen part of who you are. The tree is the visible result of the root system. Sick roots lead to an unhealthy tree.

Your brain works the same way too. Crap in, crap out. So focus on “Positive thoughts” and you will receive results!

So what would you like to be a crap magnet or a powerful one?

Want to learn more about  purpose goals Setting and action planing the ArtSHINE way? 

It’s as simple as 1... 2... 3...

1: Like  ArtSHINE's Facebook page

2: Come along to the next “Goal Setting” workshop. E-mail Quantum Compass
    (insert link: GoalSetting@QuantumCompass.com.au ) for details of the next half
     day session near you.

3: Contact Vinh for a no cost, no obligation coaching session.  

    www.quantumcompass.com.au/free-coaching.php

Are You a Hare or a Tortoise?

We all know about the story of the Hare and the Tortoise and the moral behind this classic tale right?

And you’re asking - - What has this story got to do with your art and design business?

Before we get to that, firstly we need to establish the different characteristics between the Hare and the Tortoise.

So what is the characteristic of a Hare?

• Rush,Fast pace, an extrovert, conceited andconfident

And what is the Characteristic of a Tortoise?

• Relax, Slow Pace, an Introvert, humble and competent

We all know the end of the story - - the Tortoise wins the race and the Hare is a sore loser.

Now let’s look at this story and bring it into a business context.

So are you a Hare or a Tortoise in your business?

If you think you are a Hare then you will need to think again and if you think you are a Tortoise then you also need to think again too. Why?

In business and in life, we just can’t be a Hare or a Tortoise. In fact we need to have the two characteristics in order to be great as what we do.

                 

+

=

The Haretoise TM

                                       Design By Artist & Designer  Anthony Van Lam

                             

There’s a time where you need to have the Hare’s energy and confidence to get things done quickly  and there’s also  a time where you can appreciate to have the Tortoise’ pace to map out what you need to do like setting purpose goals and to plan your day.

So become a “Haretoise” a combination of both the Hare & the Tortoise. By learning these characteristics you will able to apply it into your business. Learn to switch the two characteristics whenever you see fit in your art & design business.

                                               

What is BFOs? (Blind Flash of the Obvious)

B F O s

Blind Flash of the Obvious

Can you recall a time when you were thinking of an idea or an idea popping up in your mind and then later totally forgetting about it? And sometime later, you encounter something that struck you to recall that idea again and you say to yourself " Oh yeah! That's right I remember it now!”

At  ArtSHINE we call it BFOs.

So, by being attentive to our own behaviours, you might find you recognise a few things thatyou knew but probably forgot!

A key to learning is remembering or recalling. Often when we even know the answers, we just forget or just don't remember how it all fits together. That's why it's a BFO... the opposite is a scatoma... when we can see something right in front of us but we don't recognise it.

How many times has this situation happened to us all...like we tried to find answers or where the answers are right in front of us and we don’t even recognised it.

So, if you come across that moment again make sure you get ready by writing your thoughts or ideas down so you can recall it again.

The best way to record this is in a notebook which you can call anything you want. At  ArtSHINE we call it the "FOIB™ " short for Full of Ideas book. The FOIB™ is like a journal where you can trail blaze away and gather all the ideas or things that you may want to use later.

The FOIB™ works like a charm for artists & designers where you can write, draw or sketch your ideas or design down in the FOIB™

Do you have a BFO that you would like to share with ArtSHINE?