Winfrey is signing off network TV next January and launching her OWN – yes, OWN, network.  And, yes, again – everybody’s dreaming about becoming the new Oprah. Or – at least – getting their OWN TV talk show.

That’s because Winfrey and reality TV producer Mark Burnett are tantalizing the women of America with nationwide auditions to do just that. 

And, as they’re asking if YOU think you have what it takes, I’M getting calls!

Why?  Because people are spending serious money to prepare for their chance in front of the NOW panels that are showing up in major cities across the country.

It’s probably the biggest long-shot in the world for anyone to think they’ll be plucked from obsurity to the new NOW network to replace Oprah, but here’s the good news.

Anyone who is preparing to compete for this slot is going to find out a lot about herself that can truly enhance her life – win or lose for NOW!

Just yesterday, I spent double time with a gorgeous, talented young woman who is flying to Atlanta to audition.   As I prepared her for all the possibilities – well, those we could imagine – she became more and more aware of her own magical back story. 

As I quizzed her about her origins, her dreams, her talents and her motives, helped her become aware of her meaningful experiences and frame of reference, it became clear that she had great story.

By the time she left,  I (as a former special interest film creator/producer)  had created an exciting show for her to present.  A meaningful, motivating, inspiring REAL possiblity for NOW to consider.

Whether she makes the cut or not, she walked away with a whole new perspective on her OWN life!

So if you ever wonder what makes a Coach’s life really exciting – that’s it.  I get people to see how meaningful, interesting and exciting their own lives really are with or without their own TV show. 

That’s a real win-win. 

I say – bring ‘em on.  And. by the way, thanks, Oprah!

WOW –  It’s been way TOO long since I last blogged!  Moving home/office merely an excuse! It’s OVER!  As you can see – I’m OPEN FOR BUSINESS – NOW!

Wall Street Journal blogger Alina Dizik reports, “For many employers, presenting a resume with too much experience can cost you the job. To get your foot in the door, it’s important to present a streamlined resume to potential employers. When constructing a resume, job seekers should “consider reducing emphasis on or eliminating impressive achievements which might be viewed as outside the needs of the current job, along with removing more high-level awards and recognitions,” Joyce K. Reynolds, an Executive Business Coach, says. Here, Ms. Reynolds shares advice on how job seekers can streamline their resume.”

Read the full article: http://blogs.wsj.com/laidoff/2010/01/11/advice-overqualified-simplifying-your-resume-to-land-the-job/

Given the challenging current U.S. unemployment rate, it can be increasingly difficult for those out of work to stay motivated and optimistic as they search for their next position. Staying focused, organized and disciplined on a daily basis is essential. 

 Next, the advantage will go to the person who totally ignores the ‘competition’ and stays relentlessly out of negative or defeatist territory. This alone will create an attractiveness to such a job candidate. Refusing to dwell on thoughts of how long one has been unemployed or the fear of how long this status might last will also help keep job seekers in a positive frame of mind. In fact, it’s imperative to concentrate on BEING EMPLOYED.  Seeing one’s self going to work and being productive. 

In addition, there are a couple of things that will help those out of work stay in good mental frame of mind during such a search. 

First, find a dedicated ‘action’ partner. There are critical qualifications such a person must fulfill including being gainfully (and appreciatively) employed and being willing to be a relentlessly positive, just take-the-next-step oriented source.

Next, in the midst of the job search, plan a full day a week to ‘adventure.’  For the full-time job seeker, it is imperative to get relief from the fear and stress of being unemployed. Therefore, setting aside a planned day to support a passion or hobby or do things that could not be enjoyed if one were employed can provide enormous benefits.  Finally, be open to finding the job opportunity ANYWHERE.  That means connecting with joggers in the park, fellow dog-walkers, friends in that photography, music or art class you’re going to attend or in any number of other situations your daily life offers. And, believe it will happen SOON.

For publishing this vitally important story. 

Unbearable Darkness?

Why negative emotions are good for your health

by Miriam Karmel Feldman 

September/October 1998

Emotion phobia. That’s what psychotherapist Miriam Greenspan says we have. We’re afraid of our feelings, at least our darker ones, she writes in Common Boundary (May/June 1998). In a denunciation of what she sees as a growing cultural trend toward trashing the so-called negative emotions, Greenspan laments the widely held belief that good emotions can cure, while bad ones make people sick. Putting a negative label on dark emotions “is like blaming Pandora for opening the box,” she writes. “What’s in the box needs to be known.”   Read the entire article here: http://www.utne.com/spirituality/Darkness-Negative-Emotions-Health-Healing.aspx  

Sometimes it feels diffcult. Scary. Even impossible.

We have such high expectations of ourselves that we simply can’t face the truth.

That often we’re not positive, helpful or nice. 

Far from it, we have unkind – even ugly – thoughts.

Instead of hiding from our imperfections, it’s more helpful to realize that we all have wrong or bad thinking. Mental glitches. Prejudices. That’s part of being human. 

But, when we shut our eyes to our flaws – most notably the things we find exceptionally disturbing – we stunt our growth. Thwart the process of discovery and change.

Instead of shutting down, the better challenge is to uncover the things about ourselves that might be harmful to us or others.

Stop being afraid of our own thoughts. Stop judging them and ourselves and start understanding and accepting that we are simply imperfect as human beings are designed to be.  That’s when we begin the real journey into self-discovery, change and victory over things that overshadow our good and comfortable selves.

Facing the truth about ourselves is the most helpful, healthy, freeing thing we can do.

My father used to love telling me to keep my chin up.  Let them keep hitting away, he’d say. 

Like my being able to withstand that kind of invited torture was a virtue.

Oh, I knew what he meant. That the world is going to take shots at us. 

That we have to be strong. Show we can take it.

But, surely, we don’t have to invite that kind of challenge.  Even innocently.

Keeping my chin held high in that manner probably conveyed some kind of unnecessary pride.

Or arrogance.

Or ego.

In looking back, it was most definitely not helpful.

If we’re talking about showing resilience and healthy self-respect

maybe it’s not so much about keeping our chin up as it is about keeping it

beautifully, confidently level.

A study I recently read stated that the average person’s anxiety is focused on:

40% — things that will never happen.

30% — things about the past that can’t be changed.

12% — things about criticism by others, mostly untrue.

10% — about health, which gets worse with stress.

8% — about real problems that will be faced.

Another study stated that less than 1% of the things we are anxiety-ridden about actually happen.

So, do the words ‘needless worry’ take on new meaning?

You bet they do.

Just think – 92% of our precious, irreplaceable time wasted. 

I, for one, REFUSE to do it anymore.

One of my friends mentioned that part of the homework he was helping his 7-year-old do involved looking at a picture of a glass of water.

First, the kid was asked to label it either half-full or half-empty.

Next was to address whether or not there was any clear difference between the two.

My first thought was – I would have loved to have that teacher or – at least – been asked that question as a 7-year-old.

The second was to actually try and make the differentiation.  No luck there.

Which takes us back to the lesson.

It’s entirely up to us how we view it – half-full or half-empty.

Pity for many of us that we don’t automatically see the advantage in choosing the former.

Fortunately, there’s always opportunity to change. 

I, for one, am working on it.