Chalene Johnson's Blog, page 126

Slowing Down to Speed Up

As you probably know, my #1 priority is my family – being both mentally and physically present with them.  Therefore, I make a point to limit the number of events I schedule that require me to travel. That's why I booked only a handful of PUSH LIVE events – a seminar where I meet with amazing, driven individuals, and we sit down to plot out their goals and create a blueprint for success specific to each person's life priorities.  Because I'm doing a limited number of these events, I decided to share with you tidbits of information that PUSH LIVE participants in Dallas, TX found helpful.

 

VIP Reception at PUSH LIVE Dallas, TX

 

Readjusting the Plan

I've realized that when setting goals, the things people struggle with most are identifying their priorities and choosing goals that not only align with their priorities but also create balance in life.

 

After slowing down and taking a closer look at their lives, many people at PUSH LIVE were surprised to find that their goals and priorities shifted.  Many participants readjusted their goals…and after giving this some thought, you might, too!

 

Evaluating the Important Areas of Life

Take a look at these 10 areas of life, and think for a moment how satisfied YOU are with each area. 

 

Environment
Fun/Leisure
Personal Growth
Spirituality/Faith
Financial
Friends & Family Relationships
Romantic Relationship(s)
Fitness/Health
Emotional Health

 

Think of each area individually and ask yourself how satisfied you are with that area.  Where do you need to put more focus? Where might you spend too much time?

 

Oftentimes, evaluating your satisfaction level with these 10 different areas of life can make your priorities more clear.

 

Once you're able to identify your top priority, your list of 10 goals for the year will come to you more quickly.  Bring more balance and satisfaction to your life by making sure your list of 10 goals covers each of the 10 important areas of life. 

 

Slow Down to Speed Up

One of the best parts of PUSH LIVE was that everyone was forced to slow down and take a closer look at their lives by evaluating the areas listed above.

 

Sometimes, it can be difficult and even uncomfortable to evaluate your life and make changes.  However, taking the time to figure out what you really want and making a plan to get there saves you loads of time and frustration in the long run. 

 

I love that PUSH LIVE really forced everyone to plot these things out, bounce ideas off of one another, and ultimately create a blueprint for success.

 

We have to slow down to speed up.  Do the dirty work and put a plan in place, and you'll be well on your way to where you want and need to go!

What's Your Pinterest?

Let me introduce you to my new obsession: Pinterest!  Have you joined this social network yet?  If not, you're missing out!  You know how people spend way too much time on Facebook?  Well, Pinterest is another site you will no doubt get lost in. (Be sure to set a time limit on this one!)

 

If you're new to Pinterest, this is a community that's all about pictures. 

People post their own photos, or they post photos of interesting things they've come across on the Internet.  You'll find awesome pictures on a variety of topics organized into what you call "boards."  Boards range from home decorating ideas, DIY projects, and fashion to fitness, sports, and humor.

 

Another one of the Big Boys

Pinterest is a social networking site that's expected to rank up there with the big boys like Facebook and Twitter.  This is no surprise, since people LOVE pictures, and this site has TONS of them!

 

So how do you use Pinterest for fun but also to your advantage for your brand or business? 

Here are a few tips…

 

1.) What Pinterest is all about

Pinterest is meant to be a place where you can organize and share the things that are interesting, exciting, and inspiring to you.  If you're re-decorating your house, you might use it to collect design ideas, or if you're a sports fan, you might use it to collect motivational photographs of your favorite athletes.

 

When you browse the Internet, you can easily add a picture to your board. Pin a picture by clicking the Pin It Button, or by copying and pasting the URL of the page you're on.  You can also upload your own photos and "repin" photos that you like.

 

The whole point of the site is to share interesting photos in a social manner.  However, you can use it to make a statement about your brand as well.

 

2.) Branding

You know a picture is worth a thousand words, and on Pinterest the possibilities are endless!  As a brand, you can use the site to showcase pictures of new products, different aspects of your business, and anything that creatively expresses who you are as a brand and your expertise in your industry.

 

Aside from posting your own photos, you can further brand yourself by re-pinning other people's photos that represent you.

 

For instance, a fitness professional might pin photos of workout clothes and gear, healthy recipes, exercises, and motivational phrases.  A wedding planner could pin pictures of table settings, dresses, flower arrangements, etc.

 

Whatever it is that expresses your brand, style, and creativity, display it on your own boards.

 

3.) Playing by the rules

As with any social networking site, it's important to play by the rules to stay in the game.  Remember, Pinterest is meant to be a social way to share interesting photos and ideas.  While it's also a great place to define yourself as a brand, be careful not to use it solely as a promotion tool.

 

Pinterest is a newer social media site, so in experimenting with different boards, we learned a little lesson about what is and isn't appropriate on the site first hand. 

 

We thought it would be cool to create a board featuring photos of supporters of my newly released book PUSH.  We collected all of the photos people were sending us with the book, and created a board to feature these people, thinking this was a creative way to thank them.

 

However, we soon received a complaint from an angered Pinterest user stating that we were using the site inappropriately for self promotion by creating this board.  While that wasn't our intent, and we have many other boards that feature other people's photos, we did realize how touchy the site can be.

 

Right now, it's safe to say that if you're contributing to the site in a social way, it's also okay to have a few boards that feature your own photos related to your brand.  Just be sure to contribute to Pinterest in a social manner overall.

 

While Pinterest currently provides some basic guidelines on proper etiquette on the site, its newness leaves a lot to be determined.  We will continue to investigate proper use of the site as well as creative ways to use it for your brand.  I have my eye on Pinterest!

 

Setting Goals: Dream Bigger!

 'Tis the season for setting goals!  Each time January 1st rolls around, it seems as if everyone vows to finally get their life in order…again.  New Year's resolutions like "get in shape," "be more organized," "save money" are all too common. 

The first few weeks of the year, the gym is packed – not a parking space to be found!  The house is all cleaned up with everything neatly in its place, and you haven't gone shopping since the day after Christmas.  Things seem to be on the right track!

However, the 3rd and 4th week of January, for most people, things start to slip a back to normal.  The reason for this is often lack of motivation…but our lack of motivation often comes from unfulfilling goals.

So, ask yourself: are your dreams big enough?  Do your goals reflect your true desires?

Yes, you can achieve mini-goals such as organizing your garage or finishing the laundry.  But, how excited are you really going to be?  

We get energized when we do something that we really want – something that we're super-excited to achieve.  So don't limit yourself to a clean garage.  Want more.  Challenge yourself.  Don't be afraid to desire. 

When we start to want and hope and dream we wake up our creativity and we're inspired to do the work to achieve our goals.

Don't put limits on your dreams by reaching too low.  Set goals that are thrilling, challenging and awe inspiring.  Then, take the steps to achieve them.  When you move forward a step or two a day, you'll be shocked at how much you can accomplish.  Dream bigger!

Achieving Goals: Celebrate Your Triumphs!

One of the best parts of setting and achieving goals is celebrating your achievements and rewarding yourself for your hard work.  After all, what's the point of working so hard on achieving goals if you're not going to reward yourself and take a little time to enjoy your success?

 

Stay Positive

When we achieve a goal and go right on to the next, not only does it make the process seem un-fulfilling, but it also takes the fun out of life. 

 

It's easy to get caught up in thinking that things weren't perfect, or maybe our goal wasn't achieved under ideal circumstances. 

 

For instance, after I finished filming the videos for my Turbo Jam workout, at first, I was upset.  I worried that certain parts should have been done a different way, or that I should go back and re-do particular sections.  While everyone else was celebrating because we finally wrapped and did a great job, I was worrying. 

 

Then, a close friend of mine, Jay Blahnik, said this to me: "You have got to celebrate your triumphs.  You have to stop.  You have to take a deep breath.  You have to know that you gave your best and that perfect doesn't exist and you'll take joy in this."

 

Since then, that's exactly what I do – I celebrate my triumphs, big or small!  I know that I gave it my all, did my very best, and accomplished my goal, and I celebrate and reward myself for it!

 

 

Taking Time to Celebrate

As you may know, by PUSH Goal for 2012 was to be a New York Times Best Seller.  Thanks so all of you and your support, I was able to achieve this goal!  This time, you better believe I celebrated this achievement!

 

I did so by spending about 4 weeks snowboarding in Park City, Utah with my family and some close friends.  (Also one of my personal goals for the year.) What a great way to end a year of hard work and roll in 2012! 

 

 

Celebrate your triumphs, whether they're small or huge.   Take a moment to know you gave it your all and that's all that you can ask for.   By celebrating your triumphs, you will feel the confidence you need to take on more. 

Workout on LIVE! with Kelly

My soul mate workout on the LIVE! with Kelly show?! What an awesome way to kick off 2012!

 

On January 2, 2012, day one of Fitness Week on LIVE! with Kelly,  I got an amazing opportunity to share my soul mate workout with Kelly Ripa and her husband Mark Consuelos!

 

 

In my book Push, I talk a lot about the importance of finding your soul mate workout – a workout you put more effort into because you truly enjoy it.  For me, this is Turbo Kick, a workout I originally created for myself, so I could get a killer workout without ever getting bored. 

 

When I got the chance to share Turbo Kick on LIVE! with Kelly,  I was beyond excited!  Mark and Kelly were super fun, very down to earth, and such great sports.  Mark even did the running man!!

 

What an experience!  After wrapping up 2011, I can look back and say that the past year was truly a blessed one. I can't thank you all enough for your support!  With such a great start to 2012, I can only imagine the fun that's in store this year!

Fun at Work

I often talk about reaching goals, making a plan, staying focused and on task, and creating balance.  Each of these things is a really important part of creating the life you want and deserve, but part of having a balanced life is also having time for FUN!  After all, what's the point of working so hard if you're not going to allow yourself time to play and really enjoy life?  In my companies Powder Blue Productions and Team Johnson, we strongly believe that having fun is an important part of what we do.

 

 

Everybody Needs to Have Fun at Work

When we enjoy what we do and the people we work with, our lives become so much more fulfilling.  That's why my husband Bret and I are very careful about who we bring into our offices.  We're a super-fun, drama-free group of people, and we really try to protect this environment we've created.  We work hard and accomplish a lot, but we're also a happy bunch – I think this is due to the fact that we make it a point to have time for fun.

 

 

Not Your Typical Office Christmas Party

For example, our Christmas parties are far different from your typical office party.  Rather than doing the whole dinner and drinks thing in a suit or cocktail dress while making awkward conversation with people from work you barely know, or having one drink too many and embarrassing yourself in front of your boss, why not use your office Christmas party as an opportunity to try something new, bond with your coworkers, and really have fun?   Think about it, not everyone wants to get drunk with the person in the cubicle next to them. 

 

Our Christmas parties are definitely unconventional, but we all have a blast!  Follow along with me as I share with you our 2011 Christmas party – you just might get some ideas for your party next year and how you can have a little more fun at work…

 

 

Here We Go!

The day before the party, we didn't tell our staff where they were going, but we did tell them what to pack for the day:

 

Outfit #1 – Something you might wear if you were to run away and join the circus

Outfit #2 – Your best race car driver outfit

Outfit #3 – Geeky workout wear

Outfit #4 – "Normal" going-out-to-eat clothes

 

I'm sure you can just imagine what we had in store for them!!

 

At 9:15am, we all met at the office and packed into a party bus in outfit #1. 

 

 

We share a love for crazy shoes!

 

 There just so happened to be a pole in the middle of the bus.  Of course, we made the most of it – no alcohol necessary for this crew to have fun!

 

We Could Totally Join the Circus

Our first stop was at a dance studio that holds aerial classes.  We got twisted up in sashes, hung upside down, and spun in hoops.  We had to be the best group the studio ever had – we would totally fit in at the circus!

 

 

Get Out of Our Way

Next stop: the speedway!  We had a blast at go kart racing. 

 

 

Our group is just a little bit competitive – who would've thought?!

 

 

Team Dodge Ball

Our "geeky" workout outfits were for a serious game of dodge ball.  But this wasn't just any kind of dodge ball, this was dodge ball on a trampoline!

 

 

 

After all that Activity, We Needed Fuel

Over dinner, we recapped the day, took time to learn more about our coworkers, and showed our appreciation for one another.  We took turns answering questions like "Who is your alter ego?" and "What's one thing no one here knows about you?"  We talked, laughed, and even shed a tear or two during our toasts in celebration of another awesome year together.  What a great way to end 2011 with a wonderful, hard working, and FUN group of people!