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	<title>Live Out Loud</title>
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	<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:48:13 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>Resolution Evolution - Exercise Success</title>
		<link>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2010/01/06/resolution-evolution-exercise-success/</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2010/01/06/resolution-evolution-exercise-success/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:48:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mcederberg</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Exercise and Resolutions]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[New Years Resolutions]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Resolutions 2010]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/?p=73</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[“Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self-assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and, ultimately, reinforces humility. Breaking them is part of the cycle.”
– Eric Zorn
 
January 1st arrives and so many of us resolve to lose weight, eat better, decrease stress, save more money. Telling ourselves, “This year will be different.”  A month or [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" align="center"><span class="a121"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">“Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self-assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and, ultimately, reinforces humility. Breaking them is part of the cycle.”</span></em></strong></span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" align="right"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">– Eric Zorn</span></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">January 1<sup>st</sup> arrives and so many of us <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">resolve</em> to lose weight, eat better, decrease stress, save more money. Telling ourselves, “<em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This</em> year will be different.”<em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></em>A month or so has passed, and if you made resolutions, by now you will have experienced one of the following scenarios:<em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></em></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">                 </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">“I’m on track and doing well!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Hooray for me!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">                 </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">“I’ve been pretty good at sticking to my resolution(s) but I feel like they may be slipping away…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">                 </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">“Resolutions?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>They’re<strong> long</strong> gone… Who sticks to them anyways?” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Why is it that some people seemingly breeze through the change process while others struggle?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>When it comes to starting and staying with <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fitness</em>, for many it is a challenging proposition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><a href="http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/020508/d020508a.htm">The Canadian Community Health Survey (2000/01)</a> suggests that while the proportion of people who are active in their leisure time has grown, obesity rates have increased, and upwards of 60% of the Canadian population are sedentary – or engaging in insufficient activity to maintain optimal health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">We all have the best intentions to do better for ourselves with health and fitness, so it can feel like failure when the results don’t come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>When motivation starts to drop – fear not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>An energy injection is as easy as 1, 2, 3…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">3 Steps to Getting Back on Track When Motivation is De-railing You</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">1)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">         </span>Research your Roadblocks</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">If you looked back on all your ‘failed’ attempts at exercise would you notice a pattern?</span></em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Do you plan to exercise first thing in the morning ignoring the fact that you’re not a morning person?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Do you plan a ‘5 minute’ couch break before your walk, even though you know the couch will trap you indefinitely?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Do you religiously sign up for the step class at your gym even though you don’t really like step and you’re not sure the gym is the place for you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Do you keep your exercise plans to yourself even though there are people around you that can help?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The definition of insanity</strong> is doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Unfortunately, many of us go with what we know, and when it doesn’t work, rather than make a different plan, we berate ourselves and throw in the towel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>If you pay attention to the patterns that stop you, you can strategize or plan ways around them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>If you ignore them, they will continue to get in the way of your success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Do your research and make adjustments for your success.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Here’s a tool that can help!</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Download my <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire</em> under &#8216;Just for You&#8217; at <a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/"><span style="color: #800080;">www.michellecederberg.com</span></a>. The questionnaire is a simple tool to increase your awareness around what stops you from exercising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>It also asks you to <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">write down</strong> your top 3 barriers and strategize ways around them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Think, write, do… </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">2)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">         </span>Re-energize your Goals</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">The first step to success, whether it’s in fitness, career, or finances, is realistic goal setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>When you set your fitness goals what sorts of expectations are you putting on yourself?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>If you find your motivation dropping, look back on your goals and ask yourself the following questions:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Were my goals realistic to begin with?</span></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">It’s important to choose your goals realistically, and frame them within your current level of fitness and activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>For instance, a realistic (and healthy) goal for weight loss is a pound or two per week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>If you have set a goal to lose 20 pounds by your best friends wedding two weeks from now you’re setting yourself up for failure and frustration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Think ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Even at a healthy 2 pounds of weight loss a week (which can be on the high side) you can plan to reach your goal in 2 ½ months, and it could take as long as 5 months if you moderate your weight loss to one pound per week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The good news is, if you make your plan and stick to it you WILL reach your goals.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Am I attacking my goals through activities that I enjoy?</span></em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Your chance of success increases greatly when you choose activities that are meaningful to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>You’re more likely to get to your workouts and complete them if the outcome is something that you value.  <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Try something new.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Re-visit a lost passion for dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Take your beloved dog on walks through neighborhoods or parks with lots of hills and stairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Check out sport clubs in your city, and get back on the volleyball court for the first time in ten years. <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Remember… do your research!</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Think carefully about an activity that would really fire you up!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Have you picked a good time to exercise or a great friend to exercise with?</span></em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">I’m fully aware that some of you simply do not like to exercise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>That doesn’t negate the fact that your body still needs it and your mind will love you for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>If you can’t seem to find fitness that fits for you, there are two simple things you can do to improve your chances of getting to the workout you despise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The first is to choose a workout time that has the least interruptions and/or the highest energy levels for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The second is to exercise with a buddy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>On a bad day your buddy will suffer with you, making sure you get there and at least have fun getting caught up on gossip while you’re getting beaten down with your weight routine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Your buddy will hold you accountable when you try to bail out, and your buddy will be there to celebrate with you when the results start to come…and they will.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">3)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">         </span>Beware your Inner Censor.</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">What do YOU say when you talk to yourself?</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Our days regularly start with an internal dialogue (or self talk) that we use to describe ourselves to ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>This is effective if the thoughts we feed ourselves are positive and empowering: “Today is going to be a GREAT day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I’m alive, healthy, and happy, and I AM going to the gym JUST BECAUSE I CAN!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Your subconscious brain believes what it hears most often, and the strongest message always wins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Unfortunately, according to behavioral psychologists, as much as 77% of self-talk is negative, or works against you, <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and </em>it takes as many as 20 positive statements about yourself to counter-act even one negative personal statement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Choose today</em> to start talking to yourself with more kindness and support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Congratulate yourself for every effort at exercise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>If the amount seems insignificant to you, remember that every effort adds up, and it’s better to do a little than nothing at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Eventually your positive attitude will resonate in many aspects of your day, and before you know it you’ll be loving yourself and your efforts to be more fit in 2010! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">A great tool to get you on track in 2010, my <strong>GOT TO IT</strong> Accountability Journal <a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/merchandise">BUY NOW</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </p>
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<p class="CM13" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bliss 2 Regular&quot;; color: #333333; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Michelle Cederberg –</span></strong><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bliss 2 Regular&quot;; color: #009900; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></strong><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bliss 2 Regular&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Your ‘Getting to It’ Guru”</span></em></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bliss 2 Regular&quot;; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: white;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bliss 2 Regular&quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Michelle Cederberg<strong> </strong>leads the industry<strong> </strong>for life balance, health, and stress management programs, resources, and tools that <em>actually</em> conquer procrastination, fatigue, and loss of motivation.  Her expansive education and experience combined with her unique products, platform skills and messaging will ensure individuals and corporations understand that <strong>“It’s not the <em>doing</em> that’s tough, it’s GETTING TO IT!”</strong> and she helps you figure out how.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><span style="color: black;">With a Masters in Kinesiology, a BA in Psychology, and a specialization in Health and Exercise Psychology, Michelle combines mind, body, and practicality to inspire change!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span>She has built her career since 1990, as a college educator, personal trainer, fitness coordinator, author, and business owner.  As a professional speaker, she shares her experiences in a humorous and realistic way with delighted audiences across North America.  Michelle knows her energy has fueled her business success!  Today, through her products and presentations she motivates you to take small steps toward BIG changes, so you can <em>actually</em> <strong>GET TO</strong> the good things – even with a busy schedule!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: white;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bliss 2 Regular&quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: white;" align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Bliss 2 Regular&quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">To book</span></strong><span style="font-family: &quot;Bliss 2 Regular&quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Michelle to speak at your organization please fill out a booking request at <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #003366;"><a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/"><span style="color: #003366;">www.michellecederberg.com</span></a></span></strong></span></span></p>
<p class="CM5" style="text-align: center; line-height: 11.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 11.15pt;" align="center"><strong><span style="font-family: &quot;Bliss 2 Regular&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Corporate/Group Keynotes and Seminars, Fitness Coaching, Workplace Wellness Consulting</span></strong></p>
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			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2010/01/06/resolution-evolution-exercise-success/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Humility and My Own Accountability</title>
		<link>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2009/10/15/humility-and-my-own-accountability/</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2009/10/15/humility-and-my-own-accountability/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:58:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mcederberg</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[accountability]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Accountability Journal]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Just Do It]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/?p=52</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently I was lamenting an accountability agreement I had made with a friend. As I was reluctantly working at the task I’d told him I would complete I realized that I don’t like being under the gun to get work done.  I’m a hard worker for certain, but on my own terms.    Ironically, I always [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt;">Recently I was lamenting an accountability agreement I had made with a friend.</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> As I was reluctantly working at the task I’d told him I would complete I realized that I don’t like being under the gun to get work done. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a hard worker for certain, but on my own terms. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ironically, I always feel great when I complete a long procrastinated task, or do something I’ve always told myself I’d get to, but the slothful person that dwells within me much prefers to get to it in my own time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem with that line of thinking for me and I expect a good deal of the population is that without a little well positioned accountability, life goes by with less tasks accomplished and less success achieved. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Believe it!</em></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
Process versus Outcome: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Most of the items we have on our ‘to do’ lists are interesting and important, more for the outcome they will achieve rather than the process of doing them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t always love <em>getting to</em> our ‘to do’s’, we love striking them off the list. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, it’s good for my business, and I love how it feels to be up to date on my book keeping and accounting, but on most days I’d rather stick bamboo shoots under my fingernails than sort through receipts and reconcile expense claims. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of my past personal training clients would tell you they dreaded coming to their exercise sessions but always felt great when they were done. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as my mother said to me so many times as I was growing up, <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I don’t care if you don’t like your vegetables. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re good for you!”</em><strong></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />
Back in August I was forced to take a closer look at my own accountability practices. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe I wasn’t as committed to them as I should be for my own good, and for someone so wholly connected to motivating others? While meeting with my accountability partner <em>(I use that term loosely given the outcome of the meeting)</em> I discovered – through a brainstorming process – that I have been exceptional at holding myself accountable in all matters connected to my health, be it exercise, nutrition, or even stress management, but in certain of my business practices I have been the queen of procrastination and rationalization: <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I’ll get to it later. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s only a small task.”</em> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’ve seen me speak you know that one of the core messages I repeat again and again is the concept of <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘small steps toward big changes’</em> … anything worth doing is worth getting to <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">today</em> even with a small step, rather than waiting for more time and the hope of a bigger step down the road. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe this to the core of my being and yet when I looked closely at my own efforts as they related to my business I realized I had adopted the <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do as I say, not as I do</em> mentality of a dispassionate, disconnected authoritarian – albeit by accident, but that didn’t ease my mind. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t walking my talk!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>&lt;<em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">humble admission #1&gt;</em></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">My next kick in the proverbial behind came in a meeting with my Mastermind group in September. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When our group first met last April, I proudly presented them all with a copy of my <a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/merchandise"><span style="color: purple;">GOT IT IT! Accountability Journal</span></a> <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">honestly</em> expecting that they would take their copy and put it on a shelf at home, never to be seen or heard from again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told myself most people are too busy for extra-curricular reading. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t think they would <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">actually</em> use it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem with aligning yourself with ‘do-ers’, however, is they’ll <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">go for it</em> in situations small and large, and they did. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God Bless my Mastermind group.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt;">My Humble Turning Point</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">At a future meeting one member of the group sung my praises and told me the journal had <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">changed her life</em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><em>&#8220;Wow. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m good.&#8221;</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>At our September<em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </em>meeting another of the group piped up with the same glowing testimonial and I had to ask myself <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I wonder what all the fuss is about?”</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">&lt;Brace yourself for humble admission #2&gt;</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Up until this point – 6 months <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">after</em> the publication of my own accountability journal, I had yet to put it to use myself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the books first came back from the publisher I opened a box, proudly surveyed my flashy new journal, and promptly placed it aside telling myself, <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I’ll get to it soon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No rush. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wrote it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know what it’s all about.”</em> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I made this admission to my group they were kind and gentle in their scolding and promptly issued the challenge: <strong>USE YOUR OWN JOURNAL. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt;">             </span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt;">ac·count·abil·i·ty</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt;"> <em>n</em>: the quality or state of being <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accountable">accountable</a>; especially : an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/account">account</a> for one&#8217;s actions </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
Accept responsibility for my own actions, <em>indeed.</em></span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I got to it</em>, and that’s when I humbly learned the brilliance of accountability.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">My journal is simple and only takes a few minutes to complete each morning. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each day you’re prompted to write down small goals in key areas like physical activity, nutrition, work, and even fun! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea is that if you can set and <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">consistently complete</em> these goals each day imagine your progress over the course of 365 days?  It made perfect sense to me <em>in theory.  </em>In practice I learned exactly why.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As I began the process of writing my small daily goals in a nice journal versus random pieces of scrap paper I immediately placed more value on getting them completed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interestingly, in those first couple of weeks of use, I was surprised at how few of my goals I actually accomplished. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve always been a list maker, but until I started using my own journal I didn’t realize how often I would transfer small tasks from one day to the next, telling myself <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“They’re just small tasks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll get to them tomorrow.”</em> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Philosopher Lao Tzu once stated that the journey of a million miles begins with a single step. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I looked back on my own micro procrastinations I couldn’t help but think of the miles and miles I might have journeyed through years and years of daily single steps if I’d only placed more importance on the simple act of completion.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">After this revelation I switched my thinking to <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“They’re just small tasks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll get to them RIGHT NOW.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></em>I know this will sound amusing and even self-congratulatory, but my own journal changed my life! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It truly did, and it’s not because it holds a brilliant secret tool that will unlock your greatest potentials – <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">or maybe it does</em>? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through the process of marking and tracking my daily efforts I started doing more and was manufacturing fewer excuses. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began embracing small steps as big accomplishments. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came to understand the brilliance of <strong>‘Just Do It!’</strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt;">Get to It Yourself!</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I’m not suggesting for an instant that personal accountability can only be found in the pages of my journal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a good tool for adding value to the process (as it turns out) but the message I really want to get across here is the humble awareness I gained by simply paying attention to my habits around accountability – and this information is free and available to anyone who chooses to accept the challenge. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Journal or not, here are 4 tips to consider in creating an environment of accountability in your life:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0.25in 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt;">1.  Prioritize your growth.</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take a close look at all the areas you wish to improve in your life, and then decide which are most important. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My journal includes 7 areas for growth, including physical activity, nutrition, work, fun, and relaxation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may choose to include a daily financial goal or do one small thing everyday to nurture your relationship. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember the steps will be small, so 5 to 7 goals shouldn’t be unmanageable.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0.25in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0.25in 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt;">2.  Everyday, plan your day.</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check in with each category every morning, and choose a goal for each of your chosen areas of growth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Write them down and then set out to complete them by days end.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0.25in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0.25in 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt;">3.  Keep track.</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t toss away your daily lists like I used to. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By having all of my lists in one location in my <a title="Purchase your own GOT TO IT journal" href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/merchandise" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple;">GOT TO IT journal</span></strong></a> I started to identify my procrastination habits and work to correct them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Purchase a journal or an empty notebook and carry it with you through the day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a truly eye-opening experience.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0.25in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0.25in 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt;">4.  Adopt a ‘Just DID IT’ mindset.</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It feels so great to check off completed ‘to do’ tasks, so make that endorphin release part of your daily reward. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stay focused on growth in small steps. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
If there was a fifth tip to add</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt;"> I’d say find an accountability partner or two to help keep you on track. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe your dreams will come true in leaps and bounds if you share them with others. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I meet with a colleague regularly (if not reluctantly) to talk business and we hold each other accountable for getting to necessary tasks that will grow our respective businesses. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the fitness realm that might be an exercise buddy or a personal trainer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the business realm it can include a Mastermind group or mentor. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The simple act of sharing your plans and asking for follow-up will ensure you’ll step up your game.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt;">I wish we could all wander spontaneously through life and experience health, wealth, and happiness at the highest levels without effort, but the truth is, change – <em>and the success connected to it</em> – requires structure, discipline, and consistency from you.  It took me awhile, but I finally, humbly <strong>GOT TO IT!</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Don&#8217;t be like me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Begin your own accountability plan <strong>today</strong>, experience growth without delay.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
*******</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt;">If you want to experience FIRST HAND the eye-opening process I went through I <em>really </em>encourage you to check out my new <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/merchandise"><span style="color: #800080;">GOT TO IT! 365 Day Journal for Getting to the Good Things</span></a></strong>.  Now that I have <em>actually</em> used it I know it works, and I’m convinced it can make a difference for you! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt;">It’s every day accountability to help you switch <em>“I’ll get to it”</em> to “GOT TO IT!”  Have better work-life balance, finally fit in fitness, increase your energy, and love your life - one day at a time.  This journal shows you how!  <a href="http://www.gottoit.ca/">www.gottoit.ca</a>  </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; color: black; font-size: 7.5pt;"><a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/wp-admin/www.michellecederberg.com/merchandise"></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; color: black; font-size: 7.5pt;">Are you READY to GET TO IT?</span></p>
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		<title>Never confuse having a career with having a life!</title>
		<link>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2009/07/29/never-confuse-having-a-career-with-having-a-life/</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2009/07/29/never-confuse-having-a-career-with-having-a-life/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:09:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mcederberg</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[get a life]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[life balance]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[real break]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[stress management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/?p=48</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I like my job, and as a result I can be guilty of spending too much time at it &#8230; or thinking about it when I&#8217;m not around it.  I worked straight out of university, went back to school 4 years later to do my grad studies, and when I was done that I went [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I like my job, and as a result I can be guilty of spending too much time at it &#8230; or thinking about it when I&#8217;m not around it.  I worked straight out of university, went back to school 4 years later to do my grad studies, and when I was done that I went straight into building the career I now have - professional speaker and fitness professional.  I&#8217;ve always been in pursuit of more.  I had this idea that if I&#8217;m not &#8216;on top of my game&#8217; the whole show will pass me by.  As a result, my holiday time was usually a week maximum, or an extended weekend, and I&#8217;d always have my email or data device close at hand.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>What kind of break is that?</strong></p>
<p>Back in May I looked at my summer speaking schedule and realized I didn&#8217;t have one.  It&#8217;s pretty typical in my industry as companies elect to delay staff sessions until fall when everyone has returned from holidays.  I would essentially be unemployed for the month of July.  In Calgary, that lull is made worse by our famous Calgary Stampede that slows business down to a snail&#8217;s pace for the first two weeks of the month.  It would be a quiet month of cleaning my office, sorting files, and wishing I was elsewhere&#8230; so I decided to go elsewhere.</p>
<p>From June 25th until July 27th I shut down my office and flew to Europe.  I turned off my Blackberry and created a travel email address which would allow me to be in contact with friends and family and NOT my work inbox.  My voice messages and email replies all said &#8220;I speak on Life Balance and Stress Management so I&#8217;ve chosen to walk my talk and will not be responding until I return.&#8221;</p>
<p>FREEDOM!  I was away for nearly 5 weeks and didn&#8217;t really think of work &#8230; and for me it worked to travel in July, because while I was enjoying Paris, Rome, and the south of France, clients back home were busy eating corn dogs at Stampede, or taking their own holidays.  My inbox remained remarkably empty.  My phone messages were few.  I coudl have taken that as a slight, but it had nothing to do with me.  Summer is for holidays.  Why am I less deserving of a real break than anyone else?</p>
<p><strong>Never confuse having a career with having a life.</strong>  Instead of staying in Calgary and creating &#8216;make work&#8217; projects or waiting for return calls from clients away on their own holidays I had the time of my life travelling to new and wondrous places, meeting great people, literally eating my way across Europe and walking it off in each city I visited.  I felt as though I&#8217;d given myself a big gift by choosing to leave work behind.  <em>It was still there waiting for me upon my return.</em></p>
<p>Yes, I&#8217;m back now and I&#8217;m refreshed, energized, and of course motivated to create the work I need to have a busy speaking schedule this fall <em>and pay for my trip!</em> </p>
<p><strong>What do your summer break plans look like?</strong>  Has it been awhile since you cut yourself off completely from all things job related?  In as much as your work allows, step away this summer.  Take a real break from checking emails, calling in to check messages, or bringing work along.  It can all wait.  You&#8217;ll only truly learn that if you give it a try.</p>
<p>Once fall hits and you&#8217;re back at it, <strong>contact me</strong> about coming in to your workplace and enforcing some of these <em>life balance and stress management</em> concepts with your team.  <a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com">www.michellecederberg.com</a></p>
<p>Enjoy the rest of your summer!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a name="_MailAutoSig"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: green; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">Michelle Cederberg, MKin, CEP,</span><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></span></strong></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><em><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">Professional Speaker</span></strong></em></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><strong></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #003366; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #003366; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">Are you READY to GET TO IT?</span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">Michelle&#8217;s products and presentations help your organization <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">increase energy and productivity and </span></span></em></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><em><span style="font-style: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">actually</span></em></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> GET TO the good things – even with a busy schedule! </span></em></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #003366; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/merchandise/"></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><em></em></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">Her new </span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: green; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">GOT TO IT!</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">Accountability journal is available <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">NOW</strong>!  </span></span><a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/merchandise/"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: purple; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">Click here</span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"> to purchase today! </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">cel) 403.850.5589</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><strong></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">office) 403.984.4509</span></strong></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #003366; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">WEB: </span></strong></span><a title="blocked::http://www.michellecederberg.com/" href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span title="blocked::http://www.michellecederberg.com/"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #009900; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">www.michellecederberg</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; color: #800080; font-size: small;">.com</span></strong></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #003366; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">BLOG: </span></strong></span><a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #009900; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">www.michellecederberg.com/blog</span></strong></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #003366; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #003366; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">To receive </span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #009900; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">&#8216;E-spirations&#8217;</span></em></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></em></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">weekly motivations for free,</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #003366; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></span><a title="blocked::http://www.michellecederberg.com/mailing-list-sign-up/" href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/mailing-list-sign-up/"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span title="blocked::http://www.michellecederberg.com/mailing-list-sign-up/"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #009900; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">click here</span></strong></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #003366; font-size: 10pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <em>and sign up now!</em></span></span></p>
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		<title>Productive &#8216;down time&#8217;</title>
		<link>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2009/05/05/productive-down-time/</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2009/05/05/productive-down-time/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2009 22:21:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mcederberg</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[life balance]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Productivity]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[relaxation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/?p=35</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I spent this past Sunday in complete unproductive relaxation mode.  I slept in, had a lesiurely breakfast, read the paper, took a nap, watched a movie &#8230; I didn&#8217;t do a single task oriented, &#8216;to do&#8217; list, work related responsibility all day!  Those who know me will wonder what came over me.
The truth is I&#8217;ve been [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="mceTemp">I spent this past Sunday in complete unproductive relaxation mode.  I slept in, had a lesiurely breakfast, read the paper, took a nap, watched a movie &#8230; I didn&#8217;t do a single task oriented, &#8216;to do&#8217; list, work related responsibility all day!  Those who know me will wonder what came over me.</div>
<div class="mceTemp">The truth is I&#8217;ve been thinking alot about productivity lately and I think we have it all wrong.  You&#8217;ve heard the common phrase &#8220;Work <em>smarter</em> not harder.&#8221;  Do you take the words to heart or is your version of productivity to overload on &#8217;to do&#8217;s&#8217; until they&#8217;re all done?  I think we plod on with the mistaken belief that if it all gets <em>done</em> we&#8217;ll gain loads of free time, when in actuality,our daily tasks carry over into the next day and invariably get added to.  The &#8217;to do&#8217; list is never done. </div>
<div class="mceTemp">I hate to be the harbinger of doom on this one, but if you don&#8217;t put <em>yourself</em> on your own &#8217;to do&#8217; list, it&#8217;s only a matter of time before the positive and productive you turns into a negative, burned out, and unhealthy cog in the work machine.  <em>That doesn&#8217;t sound very productive to me.</p>
<p></em></div>
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<div class="mceTemp"><em>&#8230;so I took Sunday completely off.</em> </div>
<div class="mceTemp">
<p>When Monday morning came, I woke up refreshed (remember I&#8217;d slept in <em>as well as </em>had a nap) and was actually energized to get to it!  I think I may make &#8216;Slow Sunday&#8217; a regular part of my routine.</div>
<div class="mceTemp">I realize that my kind of down time may be impossible if you have children and busy schedules, but it can happen in small steps.  If you need help I <em>really </em>encourage you to check out my new <strong>GOT TO IT! 365 Day Journal for Getting to the Good Things.  </strong>I&#8217;m very proud of how it turned out and I&#8217;m convinced it can make a difference for you!<strong> <br />
</strong></div>
<div class="mceTemp"><strong></strong></div>
<div class="mceTemp">
<p>It&#8217;s every day accountability to help you switch <em>&#8220;I&#8217;ll get to it&#8221;</em> to <strong>&#8220;GOT TO IT!&#8221;</strong>  Have better work-life balance, finally fit in fitness, increase your energy, and love your life - one day at a time.  <strong>This journal shows you how!</strong>  <a href="http://www.gottoit.ca">www.gottoit.ca</a>  </div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 178px"><a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/wp-admin/www.michellecederberg.com/merchandise"><img class=" " title="GOT TO IT!  Accountability Journal" src="http://www.michellecederberg.com/images/stories/journal-banner.gif" alt="Are you READY to GET TO IT?" width="168" height="139" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Are you READY to GET TO IT?</p></div>
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		<title>Forget Freedom 55: Boomers just want to keep working</title>
		<link>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2009/04/20/forget-freedom-55-boomers-just-want-to-keep-working/</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2009/04/20/forget-freedom-55-boomers-just-want-to-keep-working/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:25:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mcederberg</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[accountability]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[aging work force]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Baby Boomers]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[health]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[wellness]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/?p=28</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[An article with this headline appeared in today&#8217;s Calgary Herald and it really got me thinking.  It reported that the oldest baby boomers showed little interest in leaving the workforce even before the economic downturn descimated their savings.  Financial necessity has made retirement even less attractive. Still, experts believe deferred retirement is more about baby boomers [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">An article with this headline appeared in today&#8217;s <a href="http://digital.calgaryherald.com/epaper/viewer.aspx"><span style="color: #800080;">Calgary Herald </span></a>and it really got me thinking.  It reported that the oldest baby boomers showed little interest in leaving the workforce even<em> before</em> the economic downturn descimated their savings.  Financial necessity has made retirement even less attractive. Still, experts believe deferred retirement is more about baby boomers wanting to stay engaged. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">Whatever the motivation for staying employed, gone are the golden years of retirement, when one would adopt a life of leisure and enjoy the fruits of years in the labour force.  These days we&#8217;re literally working ourselves to death.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">While an older <em>&#8216;willing to work&#8217;</em> force will stave off an anticipated shortage of skilled workers as boomers age, it could also mean more health problems and higher benefit costs, and employers may be compelled to confront the “very delicate” issue of dementia on the job - especially if health and wellness continues to take the back seat among working Canadians. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">Don&#8217;t get me wrong.  I&#8217;m all for having a choice <em>&#8216;to work, or not to work&#8217;</em>.  The problem lies in the choices we then make as busy, working Canadians <em>&#8216;to exercise or not to exercise&#8217;.  </em>Health Canada statistics suggest that it&#8217;s during our prime working years (between the ages of 18-59) that lack of time, energy and motivation sap efforts at getting and staying healthy.  If boomers are in fact delaying retirement in favour of work, I expect the above age range will expand to include 60+ and we&#8217;ll see a further increase in sedentary rates and diseases of lifestyle across the country.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">Work is a necessary part of life, but if it impacts our overall health and enjoyment of life we have to ask ourselves if the long hours and extended working years are worth compromised health?  </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">I regularly present life balance and stress management seminars to busy individuals in big organizations, and since work is non-negotiable, your health should be too.  I encourage workers of <em>all ages</em> to re-prioritize health practices like exercise, eating healthfully, and getting enough rest amidst the busy schedules demanded by today&#8217;s employers.  </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><strong><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">GET TO IT</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">No matter how busy <em>you</em> are, you have the responsibility to grab hold of a portion of each day where you put yourself <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">first</em>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Get over “I’ll get to it when…” by simply making a commitment to begin. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The clincher is you needn’t go big to experience success. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Remember these two truths:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 42pt; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">1)       </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It’s not the <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">doing</em> that’s tough, it’s getting to it! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break" /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break" /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 42pt; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">2)       </span><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Doing</span></em><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> on any level is better than <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">thinking</em> about going BIG.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Once you commit to spending even small amounts of time on daily health practices, you’ll find more time to build the possibilities. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Create the habits that align with energy and vitality, and be ready when the momentum of your actions starts to pull you toward new levels of health, self-esteem, and productivity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It will happen, and I promise you, it <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">is</em> wonderful. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>My new accountability journal</strong> will help you have better work-life balance, finally fit in fitness, increase your energy, and love your life!  <a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/contact">Email me here </a>to learn more, or <a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/merchandise">click here</a> or on the image below to purchase.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">    <a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/merchandise"><img class="alignnone" title="GOT TO IT journal" src="http://www.michellecederberg.com/images/stories/journal-banner.gif" alt="" width="168" height="139" /></a></span></p>
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		<title>Are you READY to GET TO IT?</title>
		<link>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2009/02/17/are-you-ready-to-get-to-it/</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2009/02/17/are-you-ready-to-get-to-it/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2009 05:21:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mcederberg</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/?p=25</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Since 1990 I have worked as a personal trainer, group exercise leader, lifestyle coach, educator, author, and speaker and if there is one singular challenge my clients, participants and students have had difficulty overcoming it has been without a doubt not being able to get to all the things they want and need to do.  [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Since 1990 I have worked as a personal trainer, group exercise leader, lifestyle coach, educator, author, and speaker and if there is one singular challenge my clients, participants and students have had difficulty overcoming it has been without a doubt <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not being able to get to all the things they want and need to do</em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Call it lack of time or lack of motivation, but however you define it, millions of people across North America are regularly putting their dreams on the shelf telling themselves “I’ll get to it when I’m not so busy – tired – overworked…”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The dreams include anything you wish you could spend more time doing – exercise, eating right, building a business, writing, leisure activities, time with family and friends, hobbies, saving money for travel, <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">even </em>sleep – and feel you have no time, energy, or resources to get to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Forget finding <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">enough </em>time, you just need <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a little</em> time <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">every day</em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">What do you want to get to more often?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Why not begin today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>You have nothing to lose but another few years of lost progress waiting for the ideal circumstances to arise, so the choice should be easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>My new <strong>GOT TO IT </strong>journal for every day accountability will help you switch “I’ll get to it” to GOT TO IT!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The information in this book will set you up for success like no journal or book before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>It will guide you to embrace small changes in important aspects of your health, business, and relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>It will help you finally <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">GET TO IT</strong> and grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">The journal will be available mid MARCH and you can order it now by <a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/merchandise/">clicking here!</a>  Once you <em>get </em>it, prioritize a few minutes each morning to connect with your purpose, write in the journal<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">, and commit to one <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘get to it goal’</em> for the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Chart your progress as you go, and celebrate your success … one step at a time, because that’s all it takes</span></span></p>
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		<title>Life Balance?  Where do I start?</title>
		<link>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2008/11/10/life-balance-where-do-i-start/</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2008/11/10/life-balance-where-do-i-start/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:35:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mcederberg</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/?p=22</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
You’re on a path to better balance but from where you’re standing, the trail looks cluttered and steep, and you wonder if you will ever regain control of the chaos that is your work environment.  As you survey the clutter on your desk and sort through dozens of unanswered phone calls and emails, the next [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">You’re on a path to better balance but from where you’re standing, the trail looks cluttered and steep, and you wonder if you will ever regain control of the chaos that is your work environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>As you survey the clutter on your desk and sort through dozens of unanswered phone calls and emails, the next thought that probably runs through your head is, <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Where do I start?”</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The reality of that question is usually enough to cause even the most hopeful person to put the blinders on and ignore the whole mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>“It will never get done, so why bother?!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you wish to continue your suffering or make an effort to change?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Yes I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>You’d clean up, organize, and prioritize if you had more time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Since the mess won’t go away unless you make an effort, why not start small?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><strong>Today<em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </em></strong>choose one area of your work space to de-clutter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Sort through emails and delete all obsolete messages, scan through your phone log and highlight the calls you will return this morning – then call them, or sift through that pile of paper on your desk and put everything in its place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Tell yourself you won’t add any more to the pile this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Once you make an effort at cleaning up one ‘problem area’ you may be motivated to work on other areas too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>If you’re way too busy to even move a paperclip out of the way, hire a professional organizer to make a clean sweep of your work space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span></p>
<h3 style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; page-break-after: auto;"><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></strong></h3>
<h3 style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; page-break-after: auto;"><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">1</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Make a list, check it twice, check them off.</span></strong></span></span></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; tab-stops: 252.0pt;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Lists are helpful to organize and manage the overwhelm of tasks running through your head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>At the start of your day write a list of your ‘to do’s’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>You’ll immediately know whether you can realistically manage all you have on your plate for the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Sort items into ‘immediate’ and ‘by date’ categories, eliminate any unnecessary tasks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>As you tackle each item cross it off the list!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></em></p>
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		<title>Is it really time management we&#8217;re after? Part 2</title>
		<link>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2008/10/21/17/</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2008/10/21/17/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:30:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mcederberg</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/?p=17</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
In my last post I talked about reconsidering the term time management and focusing instead on energy management and reminded readers that the first way to address this is through taking care of personal health through exercise, eating healthy foods, and getting enough rest.  This first step is on-going, and the reminder we need to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2 style="margin: auto 0cm;"> </h2>
<p><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">In my last post I talked about reconsidering the term <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">time </em>management and focusing instead on <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">energy management</em> and reminded readers that the first way to address this is through taking care of personal health through exercise, eating healthy foods, and getting enough rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>This first step is on-going, and the reminder we need to give ourselves is that small daily changes in our health will add up to big improvements in energy over time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>If you want a better outcome, put in a better effort, but keep that <em>‘small steps’</em> mantra in the back of your mind for days when energy and motivation are low.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"></span><a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/contact/"><span style="color: #800080;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Contact me </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">for ideas and tips on how to stay motivated.  </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">The second way to manage energy</span></strong></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> is through day-to-day task management – making an effort to simplify home and work practices so jobs only get done once, or get accomplished with least possible <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">extra</em> effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Let me give you 2 examples:</span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">1)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Email management.</span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><strong><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Problem:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></em></strong></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Do you spend far too much time managing emails?  Maybe this sounds familiar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  Emails</span> arrive in your inbox with a notification that immediately prompts you to look at who has contacted you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>You don’t have time <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">right now</em> to return emails, but you wast 30-90 seconds checking, and clog your brain with information and ‘to do’s’ that could have waited until you were ready to respond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>You may check in with your email in this manner 10 times before you actually get to responding to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>That adds up to 5 to 15 minutes of time wasted and dozens of emails that have clogged your mind and sucked away portions of your energy that could have been used for other more productive tasks.</span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 5pt 36pt 5pt 27pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><strong><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Solution:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Turn off your email notifications so you’re not tempted to check in every time a new message shows up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Choose to check emails first thing to ensure there are no fires to put out, and then commit to checking emails during a scheduled slot when you have time to actually respond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Time and energy restored!</span></em></strong></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 5pt 36pt 5pt 36.75pt; text-indent: -36.75pt; text-align: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 18.0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">    </span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">A place for everything.</span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">“For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">~ Unknown</span></em></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">Problem:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></em></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">Do you complain about being too busy to get organized?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>If you regularly rifle through piles of papers and files every time you need to find something, you may want to take time to tidy up!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>You may tell yourself you’re too busy, but how much time do you waste in search of that missing file, set of keys, unpaid bill, or colleagues phone number?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>In addition, your mind, once again, gets clogged up with <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">processing</em> as you wrack your brain to try and figure out “where the %#&amp;* did that file end up?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Energy wanes under these circumstances, so you can’t afford <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</em> to get organized.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 36pt 0pt 27pt; text-align: justify;"><em><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">Solution:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">The time to organize is the minute you receive something in your hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Find a place for everything, and when you get something new in your hands, put it in its place <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">now</strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>That may mean that unpaid bills get placed in the allotted file for later, but when the time comes to deal with them you’ll know where to look won’t you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>This may mean you schedule an afternoon to ‘clean house’, or hire a professional organizer to create systems, but the investment will pay dividends in time and energy for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 36pt 0pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 36pt 0pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">As you navigate through your day, pay attention to other time and energy traps that regularly sucked you in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><em>Emailing when a call would be quicker?  Letting a call go to voice mail rather than clearing your slate of it by answring it NOW?</em> <em>Scheduling meetings during hours when your staff is most productive…</em></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 36pt 0pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;"><strong>I bet you know if a few time and energy traps!</strong>  How did you work past them?  I’d love to hear your ideas!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/contact/"><span style="color: #800080;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Send me an email</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;"> and tell me how you save time and energy at work and home!</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm 36pt 0pt 0cm;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><em><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">A special request for your </span></em></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: 18pt; color: #ff6600; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">HELP</span></em></strong></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><em><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">!</span></em></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">  </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 27pt 0pt 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have applied to be a <span style="color: #ff6600;">‘<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">W Expert’</span></strong></span> for the W Network which is a Canadian women’s television network that produces a lot of reality based TV shows on health, personal development, etc.,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have posted two video applications and I am asking for your votes on both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The top 20 entries will move to round two of casting, and I want to be among them.  <strong><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The end result could be a TV hosting opportunity!</span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Add your comments, and click on the stars under my video to rate me!  </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"></span><a title="http://experts.wnetwork.com/VideoComments.aspx?ExpertAreaID=4&amp;PageNumber=1&amp;VideoID=5d0374cf-6124-4573-ad2c-74207562d718 blocked::http://experts.wnetwork.com/VideoComments.aspx?ExpertAreaID=4&amp;PageNumber=1&amp;VideoID=5d0374cf-6124-4573-ad2c-74207562d718" href="http://experts.wnetwork.com/VideoComments.aspx?ExpertAreaID=4&amp;PageNumber=1&amp;VideoID=5d0374cf-6124-4573-ad2c-74207562d718"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Click this link</span></strong></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"> to vote on my <strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Health and Wellness</span></strong> video submission. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"></span><a title="http://experts.wnetwork.com/VideoComments.aspx?ExpertAreaID=6&amp;PageNumber=1&amp;VideoID=103a8f49-5021-4b85-ba38-7cf8c30e13dc http://experts.wnetwork.com/VideoComments.aspx?ExpertAreaID=4&amp;PageNumber=1&amp;VideoID=5d0374cf-6124-4573-ad2c-74207562d718 blocked::http:/" href="http://experts.wnetwork.com/VideoComments.aspx?ExpertAreaID=6&amp;PageNumber=1&amp;VideoID=103a8f49-5021-4b85-ba38-7cf8c30e13dc"><span style="color: #800080;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Click here</span></strong></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"> to vote on my <strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Personal Development</span></strong> video submission. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">My video <em><span style="font-family: Arial;">should</span></em> start playing after a moment or two, but if you have difficulty, follow the links at </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a title="http://www.wnetwork.com/ http://experts.wnetwork.com/VideoComments.aspx?ExpertAreaID=6&amp;PageNumber=1&amp;VideoID=103a8f49-5021-4b85-ba38-7cf8c30e13dc http://experts.wnetwork.com/VideoComments.aspx?ExpertAreaID=4&amp;PageNumber=1&amp;VideoID=5d0374cf-6124-4573-ad2c-742" href="http://www.wnetwork.com/"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><strong><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: Arial;">www.wnetwork.com</span></strong></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> and scroll through the pages until you find my video.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK8;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">You have <strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">until October 26<sup>th</sup></span></strong> but I’d be very happy if you go there <em><span style="font-family: Arial;">right now</span></em> and cast your vote in my favor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">THANK YOU so much for your help!</span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
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		<title>Is it REALLY time management we&#8217;re after?</title>
		<link>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2008/10/05/is-it-really-time-management-were-after/</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2008/10/05/is-it-really-time-management-were-after/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:28:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mcederberg</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/?p=14</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I do a lot or presentations on &#8216;Exposing the Myth of Life Balance&#8217;, and it&#8217;s true, I don&#8217;t believe that life balance is possible.  I&#8217;m a motivational speaker, so some would think me a bit pessimistic carrying that belief to my audiences.  People want answers, quick fixes for life&#8217;s day-to-day challenges - they want to believe [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">I do a lot or presentations on &#8216;Exposing the Myth of Life Balance&#8217;, and it&#8217;s true, I don&#8217;t believe that life balance is possible.  I&#8217;m a motivational speaker, so some would think me a bit pessimistic carrying that belief to my audiences.  People want answers, <em><span style="font-family: Verdana;">quick fixes</span></em> for life&#8217;s day-to-day challenges - they want to believe in life balance and the pursuit of more free time.  Well, I do too, but I think we&#8217;re fighting the wrong battles, or at the very least, neglecting to include another important goal in our efforts at better balance.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">I&#8217;m often asked if I can share <em><span style="font-family: Verdana;">tips and ideas</span></em> that would help individuals make better use of what little time they have.  I <em><span style="font-family: Verdana;">do</span></em> agree that many of us toss away precious time on endless emails, text messages, and inefficient business and time management practices &#8230; to many &#8216;to do&#8217;s&#8217;.  <em>If only</em> we could manage that endless list <em>then</em> that balanced lifestyle would finally be ours.  Fair enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">don’t</em> however believe that better use of <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">time</em> is the only answer to better balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I believe we must also work on better use of <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">energy</em> as we navigate through ‘to do’.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Energy management</strong> is as important as time management but our task oriented habits drive us toward the idea that everything will be fine once the work get done, once the inbox is empty, once <em>‘to do’</em> is DONE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;">Have you ever considered what drives your work ethic day in and day out?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>When energy is high things get done, and they get done well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>When energy is low, productivity drops in both quality and quantity of effort.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">There are <strong>two ways</strong> to consider energy management.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The first revolves around how well you’re taking care of your physical machinery to ensure you have enough energy to get through the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Are you exercising regularly, eating healthfully, and getting enough rest?  <em>Most of us aren&#8217;t.</em>  As a nation we&#8217;re inactive, unhealthy, and plagued with diseases of lifestyle such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, and high cholesterol that attack our energy and vitality, and shorten our life span.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">We forgo exercise and healthy eating in the name of getting more work done, and in the process our health suffers.  Is the trade-off <em>really</em> worth the couple of extra hours of output you&#8217;re gaining?  If you&#8217;ve yet to gain control over this first energy management practice - if exercise alludes you, healthy eating scares you, or you don&#8217;t yet know how to wind-down and step away from work in favour of rest - take a step to take care of your health first.  <a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/contact/">Contact me </a>for ideas and tips on how to get started.  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">You can also download this free article <a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/pdf/michellecederberg.com%20Fitting%20in%20Fitness%20-%20Embrace%20a%20New%20Attitude.pdf">&#8220;Embrace a NEW ATTITUDE about your health, starting now&#8221;</a> and begin to shirt your mind set toward finally fitting in fitness.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><strong>Stay tuned</strong> for my second Energy Management focus in my next posting!</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span><strong>Michelle Cederberg and Live Out Loud Speaking and Consulting</strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #333333; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial;">Life Balance is possible, even with your busy schedule!  <strong>Or IS it?</strong>  If only one in four Canadians believes work-life balance is possible, what are the rest of us going to do?  Michelle is <em><strong>EXPOSING the Myth of Life Balance</strong></em> and in her lively sessions she reveals the <em>real </em>secret to better life balance.  She makes you think, laugh, and implement REAL change.  With a Masters in Kinesiology, a BA in Psychology, and a specialization in Health and Exercise Psychology, Michelle combines mind, body, and practicality to inspire change!  She has built her career since 1990, as a college educator, personal trainer, fitness coordinator, and author.  As a professional speaker, she shares her experiences in a humorous and realistic way with delighted audiences across North America.  Michelle knows her energy has fueled her business success!  Today, through her seminars and products, she helps people overcome big challenges through a start small solution that really works!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Michelle Cederberg, MKin, BA, CEP</span></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">To book Michelle for your next keynote or seminar, </span></strong><a title="Booking inquiry" href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/booking-inquiry"><strong><span style="color: #1b57b1;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">click here</span></span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;"> and send us your request!</span></strong></span></span></span><span style="color: #1e607e;"> </span></span></p>
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		<title>I don&#8217;t think that life balance is possible!</title>
		<link>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2008/09/02/from-life-balance-to-self-balance-realistic-steps-for-success/</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellecederberg.com/blog/2008/09/02/from-life-balance-to-self-balance-realistic-steps-for-success/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:12:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.liveoutloud.ca/blog/?p=3</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
I believe that life balance is a myth.  I may not sound like a hopeful ‘life balance motivator’, but the reality is, times have forever changed from the simplicity of the fifties ‘stay at home mom’.  Gone is the 9 to 5 workday with regular weekends off.  I think it’s time we accept that.  We’re [...]]]></description>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial;"><span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span><strong>I believe that life balance is a myth.</strong><span>  </span>I may not sound like a hopeful <a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/energetic-keynotes"><span style="color: #1b57b1;">‘life balance motivator’</span></a>, but the reality is, times have forever changed from the simplicity of the fifties ‘stay at home mom’.<span>  </span>Gone is the 9 to 5 workday with regular weekends off.<span>  </span>I think it’s time we accept that.<span>  </span>We’re working longer hours that ever, with most Canadians averaging <a href="http://www4.hrsdc.gc.ca/indicator.jsp?indicatorid=19&amp;lang=en"><span style="color: #1b57b1;"><strong>36.5</strong> working hours</span></a> per week in 2007.<span>  </span>That translates to a <strong>51.1 hour work week</strong> and means less time for leisure or health and fitness, let alone day to day chores.<span>  </span>We’re working evenings and weekends, taking fewer holidays, taking on more stress, and neglecting our health and well being in the process.<span>    </span>We spend more time trying to <em>find</em> balance than we do <em>experiencing</em> it so maybe it’s time to take a different approach?<span>  </span>Life balance is a myth and I think it’s time to choose a new, albeit imperfect path through <em>‘to do’</em>.<span>  </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #800080; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial;">The pursuit of ‘perfect balance’ will create <a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/pdf/Quick%20Stress%20Quiz.pdf"><span style="color: #1b57b1;">tension and insanity</span></a> in your life as you continually try to do more and be better, only to face dissatisfaction and disappointment when you realize <em>“I’m not there <strong>yet</strong>?!”</em><span>  </span>This is not to say that there isn’t merit in <a href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/i-rock"><span style="color: #1b57b1;">doing our best every day</span></a>.<span>  </span>We have a responsibility to ourselves and our families to stay healthy, go to work, take care of household matters, feed, clothe and love our kids, to be a good person, and live a respectable life.<span>  </span>Refocus your energy from <em>doing it all</em> to simply <em>doing your best</em>.<em><span>  </span></em>Learn the best ways to prioritize yourself and your time, so even if you are busy and off balance, you have the energy and confidence to get through it.<span>  </span>If your day gets out of control, instead of trying to push through and add to fatigue and frustration, you will learn to surrender perfection, and focus on the little things that <em>are </em>already working for you.<span>  </span>Should you choose to refocus from the pursuit of enduring life balance to living an off balance, imperfect life, stay tuned.<span>  </span><strong>An amazing transformation waits.<span>  </span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span><strong>Michelle Cederberg and Live Out Loud Speaking and Consulting</strong></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #333333; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial;">Life Balance is possible, even with your busy schedule!  <strong>Or IS it?</strong>  If only one in four Canadians believes work-life balance is possible, what are the rest of us going to do?  Michelle is <em><strong>EXPOSING the Myth of Life Balance</strong></em> and in her lively sessions she reveals the <em>real </em>secret to better life balance.  She makes you think, laugh, and implement REAL change.  With a Masters in Kinesiology, a BA in Psychology, and a specialization in Health and Exercise Psychology, Michelle combines mind, body, and practicality to inspire change!  She has built her career since 1990, as a college educator, personal trainer, fitness coordinator, and author.  As a professional speaker, she shares her experiences in a humorous and realistic way with delighted audiences across North America.  Michelle knows her energy has fueled her business success!  Today, through her seminars and products, she helps people overcome big challenges through a start small solution that really works!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Michelle Cederberg, MKin, BA, CEP</span></em></p>
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<p></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>To book Michelle for your next keynote or seminar, </strong><a title="Booking inquiry" href="http://www.michellecederberg.com/booking-inquiry"><strong><span style="color: #1b57b1;">click here</span></strong></a><strong> and send us your request!</strong></span></span></span> </p>
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