Part 1 of 2: Is it better to give or to receive? Gratitude vs. Debt

I am a woman in the service industry, as are most of my clients, colleagues, friends and family so I am moved by the concept of giving and receiving.  I have been focusing on the feeling that I cultivate when I am being of service.  As a professional consultant, I am often called to be a diplomat or, as I like to say I’m the elephant woman.  “There is an elephant in the room and we’re going to figure out how to get him out.”  In addition to diplomacy, clearly problem solving is creating a new avenue where one didn’t exist before.  I have been honing this skill for 15 years and it’s brought an amazing outcome, big picture vision building skills.  I have to admit that I am still being very clear about the goal, the mission and that all elements that are supporting and growing this process remain.  It is often a humbling experience to realize that there is movement or there are results where one did not exist before and this is a result of a partnership that I create with my client.  It is such a reward to have the outcome being realized and being present in every moment leading to that time, and the following are some of the factors that I must be mindful of in order to create this bubble of catalyzed intention!

1)      Always doing my best.          

Sometimes I have good days, and there are challenging days and experiences as well.  My process is one of being as focused on self-care and self-support as much as possible so I can be the best in my role.  I have a few tricks for sleep debt, puffy eyes, and…well you get the idea!

2)     Staying grateful for all of the assets that are present.

I was representing the clinic for an event with the Executive Director and I forgot the clipboard!  I don’t like to panic, and usually I take a moment and think about the lesson that I needed to learn in the moment (Get really colorful clipboards!).   I adapted, and now know that large magazine will serve as a mini-clipboard in a pinch.

3)     Focus on the solutions in each and every scenario and positively so!

If you pay attention to all that you are not happy about the rest of what is working seems to shrink in comparison. This is a tool of drawing boundaries and being realistic and present with what is happening…’cause being stuck on what you want is not going to bring it to you.  Being present to the solution will bring an even more amazing outcome, I have discovered…the journey is just as important as the destination young paduans!

4)     Don’t take anything personally (and if you do, you’re really not focusing on what your role is being of service Period).

Don’t get me wrong, it is not an always perfect day, or an ideal outcome.  However, the progress is definite and the action is happening so you are being in the right place.  I ask a few questions when a situation like this arises including; Have I done all that I can do?  Is there anything I’ve left un-done that I can do to solve this problem?  If the answer is no, then you’re golden on your path and totally complete with the right intention in, right action, while having a right livelihood. I’ll be speaking a little more about debt vs. gratitude next time. 

Micaela Cordoba is also the Patient & Community Relations Coordinator for the California Community Clinic for Acupuncture (CCCA) www.ccc-a.us  http://on.fb.me/CCCALS

Round #2 ~ 3 Steps for You to Get Over Boy-MEN, Ladies ONLY!!

Sister’s,

We have been going through it lately and believe me when I say, I have been hearing it. I do support those who are in the throes of love, break-up, break-down and break-thru. Recently, I decided with a lot of encouragement from my professional community to share what has been insightful about the shift that our world, literally is experiencing http://poleshift.ning.com/ but more on that later. I wanted to really get into in the world has happened and is happening to Men? I have been getting calls with the same running theme’s and we’re all saying the same thing.

“He says he loves me but…”; “We had an argument, and he’s moving out.…” or my favorite that is the winner, the excuse that always wins “What did you say?” Right you are not even listening to me. That is really the issue isn’t it…that men are just not checked-in. Now I’m not making some sweeping overarching decision. I am just making a point on what I’ve heard and been experiencing on the field, the love field.

We need our to step it up, for real! Here are some tips from the Goddess;
Steps to Get Over Your Men~ This is Your Wake Up Call Ladies!

I will be sharing a few of the quips & quotes from the Goddess of the Week let’s call her Nana as I have to just commend this sister for not only stepping her game up, but making me realize that it was time to share some goodies for ya boy-men. {Goddess Nana, you are hereby gifted a FREE WEEKLY READING from me…you know who you are, looking forward to speaking with you sister…good work! }

1) If he’s not calling, don’t wait! Keep your life moving.

When speaking with the Goddess this week she said to me, ” I blocked his number, I decided that he wasn’t going to give me what I needed, nor was he going to share the energy time, and well, himself with me, I knew that it was time to end it. We were just not linking up at all. I was so frustrated I decided to stop putting my energy there…with him!

Goddess Tip: You are a perfect, whole and complete all by yourself. Yes I will say it loud and proud we women have both the X & Y chromosome, men are only 1/2 of a complete being…but we won’t hold that against y’all.

2) When in doubt, check in with yourself and find out where you are, how do you feel about yourself and your relationship. The answers are always right within you.

As I expressed to the Goddess Nana, who was in the car safely calling from her cell, you are changing your perspective. As she drove to the city by the Bay, she was remarking on how much better she felt already.

Goddess Tip : Take notes on yourself, figuring out what your triggers are, how you are able to support yourself is the only way to make a positive change in your life for yourself.

3) Indulge, and be like the Goddess Nana, create the world and the relationship that you want for yourself.

Return of wonder, awe, passion, vitality and excitement!

Learn to ride the beast of your life, not the other way around. Women, we are often dealing with so many other people in our relationship, our family, friends, community, ex’s. It’s very important to create boundaries in your life, and like the Goddess did when she expressed today, “I called him and said I hope that you are missing me.”

Goddess Tip: Speak your truth, be honest, and in integrity with yourself. It is the only way to truly have a Man in your life. Not to fall on the Golden rule but one of the first lessons I received was from the pearls of Grandma’s wisdom Treat yourself as you want those around you to treat you.

Take yourself to dinner, get dressed up! Now, if you want to dress down and hang-out with yourself, sounds amazing too doesn’t it? I have always found that as soon as the attention turns within and when you begin to release the EXTRA elements, the discipline of being on your own schedule, creating an exercise/meditation/wellness, taking a new class, or reading a book that you’ve always wanted to. There are so many dynamic ways for you to enrich yourself. Remember that, the right man, will find you engaged in your life and feel the vibration of COMPLETION on your own.

Now, take those three steps, exercise them for 21 days ( have to break our pattern’s /habit’s take I find a good 3 weeks to work it out)  Remember to: give yourself time to heal, sever and mourn your heart ties Move forward at your own pace. http://bit.ly/advmd I’m online women and gentlemen, and I men Gentle-Men, who are connecting with their ability to emote and have an emotional experience I can be reached most nights and I will speak your truth with you and couples, need a little support please reach out and Call Me, Micaela !

Next up…well, we’ll have to see if I have any response from the MEN reading this. I do love a great dialogue, so please leave your Comments & Questions. I would be happy to post them ASAP. Off to build a fire and create some real heat of my own. Oh ladies!!! I just have to share this one with you,  Tevin Campbell who knew?? http://t.co/5PqRGb2 for those nights to indulge and prepare for your new mate! I say put this on, and turn off the phone!

Blessings & Ecstasy,

Reverend Micaela
http://bit.ly/advmd – Goddess Love Line
(First 3 Minutes are gratis!)
http://bit.ly/luvgm – The Love Goddess Blog
http://bit.ly/cmicaelatweet –
http://bit.ly/cmicaelafb

How to turn a break-down,into a break-through ~ Client & Consultant Series (cont’d)

When you complete anything, there is a break-down or completion process. There is a lot to be said for the ending and completion of a project, with grace. It is often left to the project, how it is going to be handled. When I say that I mean, the entire time, you are on a live project it is a living and breathing entity; has its own personality, likes and dislikes. In addition, to the personality of the project, there is also the reality of the players in the project, the vendors, the client and the reason you took the project on. In the last six months, I have taken a more deliberate approach to my business. In doing so, I am very committed to supporting the client. Tip: Create your own system and structure to breaking down a project. From a Production/Development perspective this is usually the only thing between chaos and getting paid!

I am in agreement with Dr. Linne in using the New world approach to creating business, and conducting myself. It is such a challenge when you are working on a project and need to be your most creative and you’re dealing with doubt, worry and fear. Now, this is the key to the Old world state of being. I’m going to use FEAR to generate a response from you. Now as a Consultant, being requested to bring your ability to a project that without would not thrive or excel, it is confrontational and destructive to throw wrenches in my process. I confess, I’m not who I say I am. I mean, you’ve all been hearing that I’m working in Social Media PR, which is true, I am however, I should also say that it is 15 years of experiences, projects, opportunities and personalities that creates the work that I do and am requested to do. It is magic like my nephew says when he feels the wind, not to be sold, taught or bottled. My niche is the way I approach a project, and all the community connected to it. Tip: Toot your own horn!  I recently was reminded that we are here to bring our special skills to serve.   When you know your skills with-holding them, will uphold your good and your abundance.

I respects and honor  the time, degrees, expertise of my clients, and they in turn need to acknowledge and appreciate my specialty as well. Given the sensitive and often seriously acute time factor, the reality is that if my plan, the plan of action that I created, and inquired how to cultivate the project is not upheld, it’s going to have a serious impact on how I do my job. My skill is subtle, connected and works on the support and the energy of a fully functional and realized being.   Challenging to say the least, a skill that most people do not have the patience or the capacity to handle. Being a master of many areas, means that you are aware when the ball gets dropped. If you remove the ball from the game all-together no one can have the chance to play. Tip: Focus on the goal of the project, why did you take the project on to begin with?  What inspired you about this particular community?  This is what remains clear even when the client is fighting the process, doubting you, that goal is the only thing that matters.

My grandmother used to say “if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all”. Often in any industry we become jaded, despondent and set in our ways.   However,  this resolution prevents your business from thriving and shifting, as change is the only thing that is inevitable.  Embrace it, express your gratitude even when it is not ideal. We’ve got to take the high’s with the low’s, and thanking the process is always necessary, without it, you would cease to create a business!  The wonderful opportunity I have as a consultant is that I don’t have room from the break-down to stay there, I’m a small light universe, and being a sole consultant means that I don’t create on the ‘industry standard’ protocol. That’s not who I am, or what my skills represent. I re-define what ‘industry standard’ means, as there is not standard except the one I set. For example, if the standard way of being puts payment to vendor’s at 30, 60 or 90 days after the completion of the event/project, I want nothing to do with those standards. You get the job done, you deliver on your process and follow-through with me, then your time, your ability are valued. Payment is imminent. If there is any delay of your payment, take into consideration how you would feel if your income was being with-held. (My standard is 5% for any delay over 7 days) Tip: Create your own standards, and stick with them. Your clients, and your bottom line will thank you for it.

My grandfather used to say something to me that would be I think an ideal way to complete this conversation…’you can’t work for free’. When there is any break-down in communication, funding, flow, there always has to be a boundary that you as a consultant sets. The line that sometimes must be drawn gets easier and more clear as your experiences grow, however, one thing is always present, that you have to set it. Tip: Being a good consultant does not always mean being ‘liked’ this is not a popularity contest. It is a challenge to know when to draw the line, but that’s life.. full of challenges and in these, with these break-down’s the aha moment that is revealed in the break-through is priceless, and without question worth all the bumps to achieve.

Happy Planning & New Guest Interview Next Week…Lots of great changes on the horizon!!

Micaela

The Client must always be happy but, how about the Consultant?

Part II-

So, when I initially wrote this Rule 1 I was totally real about my perspective and my opinion…but I left one important factor out…the happiness of the Consultant! Often called in to complete miracles in an abbreviated and or new project, the challenge is actually never getting the work done, but being prevented from getting your work done.  It is a wonderful experience to have the work and the knowledge of well, time and experience; but personality, and resources are what makes the Consultant’s job possible.

Tip: Definitely communicate with your team, and your vendors on a regular basis so they are familiar with you, your work ethic and style of conducting business.  Frequently, without a safety net you are responsible for completing, and engaging in a high level of conversation and commitment and this must be met with integrity. All we have is our word in this life, so when people know your word, and how you handle your projects, when a problem arises, it can just be that, a problem and not reasoned as your issue.

Also, check in with yourself.  Are your needs being met to complete the project?  When you are you starting, stopping, being paid for wrapping-up?  Be sure to get the  necessary information, supporting documents, and calendar.  There is nothing worse than attempting to run, and support a Social Media Campaign and you have not been brought current on the Who, What, Where, When Why and How?  Take the time to air and ask  for a  time-out, to express what is in need of shifting in order for you to fulfill your role, in the project.

Tip: Create an overall intake sheet for running acute projects. Implement your favorite techniques, color, games, contests, etc to gain support, interest and fun in your work/professional mode. Utilize the format that works best for you as well.

Finally, this is a fly by the seat of your pants business, but just cause everyone else is jumping does that mean that you have to?  Invest in yourself, listening to your inner voice, and instinct on when it looks wrong, feels wrong and is too hard; Occam’s Razor, the thing that is the most obvious is usually the answer.  Following your internal pole is what will keep you on course and without issue when the time, resources and responsibility all come to a grinding halt.

I was just reminded of how tenuous this life and work can be.  It is never a guarantee that all will end smoothly but what is guaranteed is your ability as a consultant, as a steward of service, to rise to the challenge, as it is and surpass it!  You are resource that must be the eye of the storm.  Go forth and be the all-seeing eye, keeping your head, your thoughts and your mouth focused on creating a Win-Win scenario in every discussion.

I remain on the path of the “Corporate Mystic” & trust in my ability and possibility to always get the job done. Blessings to my fellow Mystics & entrepreneurs and please take a look at my earlier positing from 4.30.10!

Part 1: (April 30th Posting)

I recall when I began working with clients, it was my sophomore year of college. I got a job during my Work-Study as a Personal Assistant, to the Director of the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Project, on campus. It was such a relief, I admit, as being on Work-Study, you were responsible to find a place that would fit you and your schedule every year! What a feat, as you are dealing with the personalities of campus offices, administration, bureaucracy and so many hoops to jump, I had no idea how wet my feet were getting with experience. My enjoyment was in seeing and knowing that every day, no matter how crazy class was with my reading or assignments, that I could carve out 4 hours a day, and manifest completion out of chaos.

My supervisor was the best opportunity that a young, and entrepreneurial woman like myself could have asked for. She was not savvy about computers, or email or using the phone system. This lack of technological know-how, put me in a position of learning how to break down a procedure to use a program step-by-step, what needed to be noted, and ignored, and most importantly how to allow my supervisor to be more efficient and have more time for her patients.

It was a sad day when I left, after being in service to the ADAP office through my 3 years of my college career, an allegedly rare scenario in Work-Study. I had amassed so much knowledge, nuances in conduct on a confidential level, as all the patients were my fellow peers on campus. In addition to putting the entire office, online, and systematizing all of her patient files, and personal files, I also managed to learn what it was to work with a client. My supervisor had to choose to hire me back every single year, and she was challenging to work with as she had no want to step into utilizing technology, a tool that we know now is a part of making an office, a project or a person work with discipline.

It is always my goal to work with a client until they are totally satisfied. This means that you create a clear and direct line of communication, responsibility and goals, as both of us need to know what we’re getting into. When you have this primary and vital rule followed, the client’s happiness above all else, the process will be effortless and easy. If you enjoy what you do, like I enjoy being of service and starting with a great idea, and working it through till the champagne is being poured. So, think about your goals, be real with your client, and please from the perspective of a Professional Consultant, we can’t read minds…at least not all of us can, so honesty is the best policy, with your Vendor/Consultant.

Good luck out there and Happy Planning…

Micaela