How the New Brain Science Increases Work Productivity

“The brain is the most complex thing in the universe with over 50,000 neuroscientists studying it each year,” states NeuroLeader coaching expert David Rock. In the last few years, brain research has affected the way we think about addiction, stress, and work productivity.

Here are 3 reasons why the new brain research will directly improve your productivity and reduce stress and anxiety:

1) Let me ask a question: When you’re up against a deadline, is it better to just keep pushing and get it done, or take a mini-break?

Answer: According to Jane Moran, “Seven Big Surprises About the Brain,” when the brain gets fatigued from mental tasks, pushing to stay focused, is like stepping down hard on the accelerator when you’re almost out of gas. Your brain becomes more fatigued and you lose energy and productivity more quickly.

Try this attention replenisher instead: Stand up and stretch and take ten breaths or walk around the office for a couple of minutes while breathing in and out quickly. Then go back to your task and notice the clarity.

2) In Intentional JOY: How to Turn Stress, Fear & Addiction into Freedom, there’s a emotional management strategy called TARA (pgs 164-174) designed to identify upsetting emotions about a situation that’s causing distress. According to neuroscientist Dr. Matthew Lieberman, labeling emotions maximizes cognitive ability because it lowers limbic system arousal. In otherwords, just the act of labeling or naming emotions helps to release them and quiet the brain. Then the prefrontal cortex (used for deciding, understanding & memorizing) is able to function better. In my language, emotional upset gets in the way of clear thinking. Release the emotion, regain clarity and get back to feeling good.

3) True or False. When you’re struggling with a problem, it’s better to seek out lots of information and detail to try figure out the solution versus taking a walk to let the mind quiet itself.

Answer: False Insight requires a quiet mind. David Rock, NeuroLeadership expert, states that “insight requires a quiet mind; literally a minimum of electrical activity.” This is one reason BREATHING is so helpful when we’re stressed. Take ten breaths when you’re in the midst of a dilemma and see what new insights come into your awareness.

Coaches Challenge: Put one of the three strategies listed above into practice in the next week. Let me know about any positive changes you notice. 

Call (209) 492-8745 with any questions or email me atlynntelfordsahl@gmail.com.

3 Marketing Tips for Today’s Economy from Top Business Coaches

I subscribe to Success Magazine and read it faithfully every month. I want to share a few tips with you from some of the marketing gurus of today –

Jeffrey Gitomer – Bestselling author of Little Red Book of Selling

“Every single person in every single company is either in sales or affects sales…or in service. Customers judge every aspect of every transaction and rate everything – from friendliness of people to ease of doing business to quality of product.”

Harvey Mackay - Bestselling author of Swim with the Sharks

The single characteristic shared by all the truly successful people is the ability to create and nurture a network of contacts. It is who you know and how you support each others businesses and goals.

Louise Hay – Hay House Publishing
Louise Hay is the pioneer of the personal development industry and founder of Hay House Publishing.

“Love is all you need. If we really love ourselves, everything in our life works.”

Coaching Challenge: 1) Are you in a networking group? 2) How are you contributing to your own success in the group - do you call and make connections in between meetings? 3) Set an action plan to call and connect with at least 1 new person a week in your networking groups.

At the meeting ask these 3 powerful questions*: 1) Why do you love what you do? 2) What is one of the top challenges your company is facing? 3) Tell me a powerful, passionate story about how you helped a customer.

*(Questions 1 & 3 come from Dawn Lyons a BNI (Business Networking International) speaker – 2 is from yours truly)

What’s the importance of question #2? Your customer’s, or potential customer’s, challenges let you know their needs and how your product or service could be helpful to them.

Share your answers to these questions with your networking associate and ask for what you need.

Call (209) 492-8745 with any questions or email me atlynntelfordsahl@gmail.com.

Personal Note

I love teaching seminars and yesterday’s Money Magic: How to Create Inner and Outer Abundance in Challenging Times was a great success! I sold out of books and that was fun, and had a number of pre-orders for my new Intentional JOY audio, (thank you, thank you), but the most fun was the connection with each of the 18 that attended the seminar. My best friend Victoria was my lovely assistant and Beverly Claussen’s “A Meeting Place” was a wonderful spot to conduct a seminar. Beverly made the setting up easy, so please think of “A Meeting Place” for local functions.

Tomorrow I’m off to visit my daughter Suzann in Long Beach. Many of you know that I placed my daughter for adoption when I was 15 and re-connected with her a few years ago. I am so grateful to have a loving relationship with Suzann. I share about the experience in both The Greatest Change of All and Intentional JOY (a mystery started in GCOA and concluded in IJ).

September Spotlight

Denise Cagel, CCH, Clinical Hypnotherapist “Change Your Mind and Change Your Life.”

Denise is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Member in Good Standing with the National Guild of Hypnotists and the American Institute of Hypnotherapy. She is also a Healing Touch Practitioner and Meditation Instructor, whose experience and practice span a period of more than 25 years.

As a professional hypnotherapist at Alternative Clinical Hypnotherapy, Denise specializes in two areas; personal healing through the use of self-hypnosis, and hypnosis for children's concerns.

I recommend Denise for two reasons – 1) She’s very professional and experienced and 2) She’s very loving. I can always tell when someone is a regular meditator because their energy is peaceful and balanced. You just feel good around her.

Please check out her website: www.alternative-hypnotherapy.com or call her at (209) 968-0027 .

Upcoming Events

Announcing: Money Magic Monthly Teleseminar: The Money Magic Seminar Sat. the 19th was a huge success. To support the excitement about learning how to blend the practical action steps we all need to make and deal with money AND to know how to collapse negative beliefs and create what you REALLY want I’m launching this monthly support group seminar.

The monthly Money Magic Teleseminar will be the 3rd Wed of each month beginning Oct. 21 7:00 – 7:45. You’ll be able to sign up for this on my website and I’ll send out announcements. The fee is $5.95 a month for the first 3 months and then $7.95. Ridiculously low fees for the amount of practical knowledge, and inspiration you’ll receive. If you can’t wait call (209) 492-8745 and I’ll start a list for my V.A. who is putting all this together for me – thank you Carrie!!

New Audio of Intentional JOY

SUPER SPECIAL BONUS: You may pre-order your copy of Lynn's new Intentional JOY audio. This 60 minute audio includes a 30 minute overview of Intentional JOY
and 4 mind-body strategies that you're guided through (get ready to be relaxed) to let go of stress, anxiety or emotional upset and increase JOY & peace.

Regular Rate:  $14.95    Pre-order rate:  $10.95  + SH (call to place your order (209) 492-8745.

West Side Women in Action Women’s Business Conference & Vendor Showcase

Linda Murdock & Jeanne Phillips founded this non-profit that donates scholarship money to young women. It’s a well-run, really WARM event with great speakers, break-out sessions and vendor opportunities. The vendor booths are in-expensive so let’s support this event!!

KeyNote Speaker as Katrina Sawa, The JumpStart Your  
Biz Coach.

When: Oct. 2, 2009 Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Covenant Village Conference Center 2125 N Olive Ave
Turlock, CA 95382 
Contact: Linda Murdock 209 613-7900 info@wswia.org
www.wswia.org

Heart of Change: Breakout session with Lynn. The stresses of life are accelerating. The one constant in life is CHANGE, yet we often fear and resist it. Learn practical mind-body strategies to move beyond fear, resistance or uncertainty to embrace and flow with life transitions and increase JOY, energy and success.

When You Feel Good You Attract Abundance - Why Pay-It-Forward & Gratitude Work

Have you ever crossed the San Mateo or Golden Gate Bridge and had the car ahead of you pay your toll? Doesn’t it make your day?

I read this story recently and I hope it makes you feel as happy & hopeful about humanity as it did me:

“On July 6th, a 32-year-old mother of two pulled up to the Steamin’ Bean drive-through window and…paid $3.50 for the 16 oz. latte ordered by the customer behind her.”* Here’s what’s really fun about this story - the recipient of that first act of kindness paid it forward, as did the next customer and so on for 12 days and counting. As of July 17th, more than 1450 customers had opted to skip a free cup and pass it on to the next guy. So much excitement was created by these good feelings that customers donated $600.00 extra to make sure the chain continued.

Why do acts of kindness benefit us? They make us happy and happiness acts as a magnet to what we want to create. (Conversely the news drains our energy!) Wayne Dyer on the cd The Power of Intention says research shows that whether we’re thegiver, receiver or observer of an act of kindness it boosts our serotonin, one of the body’s feel good neurotransmitters. HeartMath Institute’s research shows that “...the effects of anger versus care and compassion found a single episode of anger and frustration can depress your immune system for almost an entire day.” On the other hand, one five-minute experience “...of care and compassion caused a much larger, immediate rise in IgA, which then climbed above baseline over the next six hours.” (source: Intentional JOY)

Acts of kindness OPEN our hearts and our minds and will certainly transform the fear we’re seeing in the world today.

“How good can you stand it?” is one of my favorite phrases. My coaching challenge to you is to see how good you can allow yourself to feel this month by sharing this story (don’t you feel better just reading it?) and extending simple acts of kindness to those around you. Of course, I’d love to hear what happens for you - just send an email to lynntelfordsahl@gmail.com.

(*source: Modesto Bee July 19, 2009)

Call (209) 492-8745 with any questions or email me atlynntelfordsahl@gmail.com.

Personal Note

Whew. I had a REALITY CHECK at the beginning of the summer. Sick for 5 weeks I finally went to the doctor, (no help there) and then my acupuncturist Dr. Shen, Modesto, CA. (immediately better). I know why I got run down - a year and a half of pushing myself to finish Intentional JOY, get it published and marketed, on top of speaking, coaching, counseling, relationships, grandchildren, life. My intention at the beginning of the summer was to play and replenish my reserves and I’m happy to report I’ve held to it. Taking time off to have fun and REST is the best STRESS medicine there is. I’m re-committed to maintaining this JOY through the remainder of the year by not over-booking. I’m so grateful because I LOVE what I do, but even good stress wears out the immune system.

Intentional JOY: How to Turn Stress, Fear & Addiction into Freedom Special Summer

Special: If you call Lynn to order direct 
SAVE – ONLY $17.95 (+SH) Normally $19.95

Two Amazon Reader testimonials:

“A lot of books will make one think...this book gave me the means to change those thoughts.” Elizabeth Ueland, Bend, OR

“This was a book I couldn't put down...rare for a non-fiction. Lynn's humor and prose…” (go to Amazon.comand read Marilyn Coffron’s testimonial). 

Call 209 492-8745 now to BUY!

August Spotlight

Women’s Networking Rocks:
I want to introduce you to two business networking groups I belong to that are encouraging, supportive, FUN and where lots of business is exchanged. If you’re a woman in business, you MUST network. Both of these organizations are run by sharp, caring and dedicated women.

Women’s Success Network
Modesto, CA Founded Jan 2009 by Donna Versola, National Director for Jockey International. Meets 1st & 3rd Wed. of each month at The Seasons on Fairmont & McHenry in Modesto from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00. Contact: www.meetup.com and search Women’s Success Network. Next meeting Wed. Aug. 19th
Register on-line

I’m an original founding member. There are over 100 on-line members and about 30 powerful, caring women attending each meeting. This is a category specific group and registration is on-line.

eWomen Network
Stockton, CA (& nationwide) Karen Penfold, Chapter Director for Stockton & Elk Grove, Stockton started Fall of 09. Chapter meets monthly on third Thursday at Brookside Golf & Country Club
3603 St. Andrews Drive Stockton, Ca 95219
Contact: Karen Penfold@eWomennetwork.com
Next meeting: Thursday Aug 20, 11:30 – 1:30 Register On-line

Horn Tooting –
It’s always hard for me to toot my own horn, but I’m excited about two LIVE pieces added to my website: Go to www.lynntelfordsahl home page navigation bar and scroll to Listen to Lynn and Watch Lynn.

There’s a four minute TV Clip on KOHD from the Bend book tour and the “Leading Edge” parenting radio show with Sandi Schwartz.

I’m so grateful to the three V.A.’s (virtual assistants) that work with me and make all the technical stuff possible – Carrie Miller, she manages the website, Karen Reddick, who assists with Intentional JOY book matters (upcoming AMAZON BESTSELLER LAUNCH & our local Christine Baily (graphics). 

Upcoming Events

Aug 30: 7PM Central Time – Lynn will be on eWomen Radio on WBAP 820 AM – Tune in or go to http://www.ewomennetwork.com, scroll down to bottom of page and you’ll see the radio “listen” button.

Money Magic: How to Create Inner & Outer Abundance in Challenging Times

With the unemployment rate unexpected to change until 2014
we must look at NEW ways to think about and create abundance.

You’ll learn specific strategies to:
• Focus & sustain your physical, mental & emotional energy
• Shift anxiety about $$ to peace of mind
• Assess your $$ consciousness – are you a money magnet or getting in your own way?
• Charge what you’re worth
• Collapse limiting money beliefs easily
• Design the action steps to achieve your dreams

Join Lynn for a productive, FUN, nurturing morning to enrich, enhance andempower you!

When: Saturday, September 19 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Where: 225 E. Granger Ste. 4, Modesto, CA The Meeting Place
Fee: $37.00 (bring a friend and receive $5.00 off both fees)
To Register: Must pre-register CALL 492-8745

West Side Women in Action Women’s Business Conference & Vendor Showcase
Linda Murdock & Jeanne Phillips founded this non-profit that donates scholarship money to young women. It’s a well-run, really WARM event with great speakers, break-out sessions and vendor opportunities. The vendor booths are in-expensive so let’s support this event!!
Oct. 2, 2009 Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Covenant Village Conference Center 2125 N Olive Ave
Turlock, Ca 95382 
Contact: Linda Murdock 209 613-7900 info@wswia.org
www.wswia.org

Thriving in Transition

Thriving in Transition

“Change is inevitable, growth is optional.”(anonymous)

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” Victor Frankl

If you haven’t noticed, our country and the world is in the midst of tremendous change. The buzzword I’m hearing everywhere is transition. Like the country song that starts out, “Freedom’s just another word”… transition is just another word for change.

In the early 90s I presented seminars in San Francisco to companies like Levi Strauss about how to manage and move through change. But what was happening then is nothing compared to the changes that are happening now. The trigger may be the economy, but the fallout affects everything from business to the personal and the spiritual.

Yes, the only certainty in life may be change and there are 3 tips I’d like to offer that will support you to understand the change process better and relax about it more. Relaxing helps everthing, so take a couple of breaths….how about one more?

The Change Process:

1) Endings occur first: Realize that the change or transition process has a beginning, a middle, and an end. But, every transition begins with an ending; job change, relationship break-up, child leaving for college, illness, death.

2) The Middle: In the middle of a transition, it is the most uncomfortable because there is uncertainty and chaos; anxiety levels are high and nothing is set. The thinking mind (ego) likes to know and be in control. But in the middle, nothing is known or set. It’s a time of inner sorting, the new isn’t yet in place.

3) Beginnings: Finally, things do sort themselves out – the move has been made, the new job found or new business started, the pain of the relationship breakup is waning.
This is when you can look back and say, “Whew, I made it.”

After the new beginning is the time to reflect and ask: What did I learn about myself in this process? What new parts of myself did I discover? What was the lesson I was trying to discover? If I were to do this transition all over again, how would I do differently? As the quote by Victor Frankl implies,sometimes the greatest change is the one that occurs on the inside.

Times of transition and change are ripe for coaching. Coaching supports, encourages, focuses and challenges you to reach deep within while staying on point with your goals and dreams.

Call (209) 492-8745 with any questions or email me atlynntelfordsahl@gmail.com.

Personal Note

Report on Book tour, Tragedies & Heart Openings

On the purely positive, the Bend, Oregon book tour was a huge success. I touched the hearts and spirits of many, was paid to speak to the Entrepreneurial Networking Women and presented an Intentional JOY seminar at Joan Dudley’s place, The Sol Center, in Prineville, sold books and had a blast. The drive was gorgeous, the women incredible, Bend a delight – what a beautiful city – and Joan was an incredible hostess. And, I was so happy to be home. The trip required a lot of energy, flexibility and stretching out of my comfort zone - in other words, it was a growth experience.

On another level, for me a spiritual level, I’ve been struck by how often tragedy is occurring (another transition process) – accidents, murders, suicides, untimely deaths, relationship break ups. I’ve been privileged to “run into” (no accidents there I’m sure) many people who needed an ear in the supermarket, before a talk, at the gas station and what I’ve noticed is that while there is a lot of pain associated with these tragedies, there’s also a heart/spirit opening that’s occurring. In no way am I discounting the pain involved, and yet I’m struck by theconnections that are happening heart to heart because of these events. Learning and growth occur on so many levels and I believe we’re being asked to do the best we can to care for ourselves and each other.

I wonder if others are experiencing, noticing this and would appreciate an email if you’d like: lynntelfordsahl@gmail.com.

This Month's Spotlight

Bill Manville, columnist for the NY Daily News, author of 5 books including Good-bye, a Book-of-the-Month-Club selection, and my favorite: Cool, Hip & Sober- 88 Ways to Beat Booze & Drugs. His newest project is writing instructor for Writers.com under “Writing to Get Published” at http://www.writers.com/manville.html .

Bill and I met while he was doing the radio show in Sonora called “Addictions & Answers.” This show was #1 rated and on the air for four years. I was lucky to be a regular guest and the show was the most professional fun I’ve ever had. Bill is truly a cosmopolitan man, tells the most fascinating stories and is friends with folks like Jack Anderson and Helen Gurley Brown of Cosmopolitan magazine.

Bill is also an exceptionally gifted writer and instructor. My friends and I were privileged to be encouraged, prodded, indirectly and directly, challenged and loved as part of a four-year writing group in Modesto. Without the group and Bill’s support, Intentional JOY would never have been completed.

To give you a hint of his style, from the back cover of Cool, Hip & Sober Bill says he “now lives in California and his hobbies are maligning my friends and working on a new novel – or is that the same thing.” That’s just a taste of my friend Bill.

Coaching Works

The most successful in business hire coaches because it works. Sandra Yancey, CEO of eWomen, reported at a talk of hers I attended last month in Elk Grove, CA that she has 4. I have two coaches and am about to hire a third.

If you’d like to creatively outsmart this economy then coaching is for you. Here are some of the results my clients have achieved this last month: “My secret goal was to double my sales in one month and I DID IT!!” Another reported being “highest over budget this last quarter.”

There are group and individual coaching packages available – I love supporting you to achieve your dreams, hold yourself accountable, find those creative solutions to supposedly insurmountable problems and have more FUN and make more $$ in the process!!! (Call 209 492-8745).

Upcoming Events

June 18 California Marriage & Family Therapists, Modesto, CA

June 20 Speaker: Health, Wealth & Happiness Expo, Fresno, Ca Please See http://www.hwhexpo.com for more details.

Sept 19 Money Magic: How to Create Inner and Outer Abundance in Challenging Times - Modesto, CA - Back by popular demand. This is an IN PERSON seminar held in Modesto with Lynn as your seminar host. This is a 3 hour class that fills quickly so please call (209) 492-8745 to register and hold your spot.

Oct. 2 West Side Women in Action, Turlock, CA - In the Heart of Change (More info about conference next newsletter)

The Fountain of Youth - Exercise

EXERCISE! I just got my cholesterol results and my doctor asked me what I do to keep it so low! Exercise, and eating well, most of the time. (We have to have a little fun!)

Let me share with you why exercise is the fountain of youth. The authors of Younger Next Year -Dr. Henry S. Lodge and Chris Crowley say that 70% of premature death and aging is lifestyle-related.

Heart attacks, strokes, the common cancers, diabetes, most falls, fractures and serious injuries and many more illnesses are caused by the choices we make each day about how we live. Dr. Lodge says we could put off 70% of normal aging problems and eliminate more than half of all disease in men and women over fifty – With exercise!!! We can biologically BE at least 5 years younger than the calendar states. Exercise truly is the fountain of YOUTH!! The only challenge is what? Our will, determination, commitment and finding a way to make exercise FUN!

Gabriele, a coaching client, had the same on and off relationship to exercise that many of you do. I saw her a couple of weeks ago and she said, “I love to exercise.” She has made the leap and exercise is now her HABIT!! She started biking and walking with girlfriends. You know how the time flies when you’re talking with friends!

If you like to dance there’s a new craze going around the gym called “Zoomba” which is like Latin jazzercize. I have to say I felt a bit klutzy the first time, but it was a blast!

Here’s a coaching challenge for you: Make a decision to start NOW – this week, preferably tomorrow to put some type of movement into your life. Commit to three months of walking, biking, dancing,hanggliding (not for everyone) 3x a week. Schedule it into your day and please remember I would love to coach you to make exercise a fountain of youth habit!

Blessings & Lots of JOY & Love,

Lynn

Personal Note

I’ll be traveling next week to Bend, Oregon for my first book tour. I’m so excited (and a little anxious) – all the same energy, right? Just found out yesterday Joan Dudley, of The Sol Center, has booked me on a TV show and so I’ve contacted Bill Manville, a good friend of mine who worked as a Managing Editor of Cosmopolitan Magazine, for tips on how to show up for a TV spot. I’ll fill you in next time about how the trip goes.
My INTENTION is to have FUN, stay peaceful, joyful and in the flow.

Each time I’m faced with stretching into a new experience, there’s a little anxiety – BREATHE – ah…. and stay in the moment. Always works out and I love the challenge.

This Month's Spotlight

Teri O’Neal-Boring of Second Nature, Modesto, CA

Teri has been a Natural Health Coach since 1987. The first time I met Teri I knew we’d be friends for good because she is such a caring, genuine person. Her clients KNOW she is truly committed to their health and many of them have been with her since the beginning.

Teri is a Certified Reflexologist, and practices iridology, nutrition and uses muscle testing to help determine where the body is in or out of balance. She offers Nature’s Sunshine Herbs which are some of the best on the market. I highly recommend Teri.

Website: http://www.terisecondnature.com Phone: (209) 549-0450

Upcoming Events

FR*EE Monthly Master Mind Teleseminar:

Thursday May 28th 7:15 –8:00PM

Testimonial: “One of the goals I shared with the group was to have a friend to share things with and Thursday night I won’t be on the call because I am going to be with my miracle man. This is the man I put on my vision board months ago. Manifesting works.”

Loretta Shaver, Master Mind member since 2008

Master Minding is the power of meditation in combination focusing on goals. Magic happens when two or more are gathered together. It’s also great stress relief to meditate and be with a supportive group for 45 minutes at the end of the week. The call is accessed by calling this bridge line: 616-597-8000 Access Code: 932084#

Lynn's Upcoming Speaking Engagements

May 18 Mom’s Club – Ripon, CA 
May 20 TV appearance Bend, Oregon & book signings
May 20 Speaking at Network of Entrepreneurial Women, Bend,
Oregon
May 21 Seminar – Intentional JOY: How To Turn Stress & Anxiety into Freedom, The Sol Center, Prineville, OR
June 3 eWomen Networking, Elk Grove, CA
June 18 California Marriage & Family Therapists, Modesto, CA