Thursday, December 27, 2007

Year-End Reflection & Outlook

Hope you're enjoying the holidays -- and perhaps getting some well-deserved R&R. December has proven to be unusually busy for us at InStep Consulting (which is a good thing!).

Christmas came a little early for us this year -- last Thursday, in fact. Our gift was the fantastic performance at the second Debate Day hosted by Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow at the Brooklyn Marriott. Once again, OBT trainees overwhelmed the audience with thoughtful, persuasive speeches on current topics such as the war in Iraq and bans on smoking in public places. Not to mention the compelling arguments presented by over 10 trainees about a fictitious negligence case in the Mock Trial portion of the event. It was so inspiring to see these youth overcome their fears and take pride in their efforts. I'm so glad we had the opportunity to help OBT incorporate public speaking into their job training curriculum.

The winter solstice (December 22) is often a time for introspection and reflection, as is the end of the year. It's particularly poignant to look back now, as 2008 will mark two related milestones -- 10 years of operating the business and 5 years of my full-time dedication to building the company. I never could have imagined back in 1998 some of the things we have accomplished, including the launch of this online community!

I believe we have developed tools and programs that align with our mission:
To help [YOU] use [your] knowledge and abilities to achieve GREAT things.

And, I'm looking forward to many more GREAT things in 2008, including the launch of our Tools page, which will enable you to purchase assessments and workbooks directly from the InStep website. Here's wishing you health, happiness and continued success in the New Year!

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

What Do You Want to Accomplish in 2008?

As we approach year-end, the buzz will soon move to discussions about New Year's resolutions. You know that, at InStep Consulting, we believe you will be more successful in achieving your goals if you:
  1. Plan ahead
  2. Create a roadmap
  3. Find tools and resources to support you

To help you begin the process, we've created an online Personal & Professional Growth Survey. And, it's a win-win for both of us. Not only will it help you with goal-setting; it also will help me know what are your priorities. Then, I'll know what types of events, programs and tools to create or recommend in the coming year.

It will only take 5-8 minutes to complete; but, the return on your time investment could be significant!

Monday, December 10, 2007

NEW Podcast on Healthy Holiday Eating

Now that the year-end holiday season is underway, many of us may be concerned about keeping our fitness goals on track despite the many tempting treats we will encounter at company and association holiday parties, family dinners, gatherings with friends ... etc. You know what I'm talking about! :)

Well, last week, I recorded a podcast with Amy Rivera, a weight loss coach with Keystone Life Coaching. She is also a founding partner of BeWellLiving.com, an online resource for health and wellness. In this conversation, we talked about healthy holiday eating habits and tips to NOT offend your friends or family if their eating habits don’t coincide with yours.

Believe it or not, macaroni and cheese is one of my weaknesses. There is also a strong emotional-familial connection to that dish because it reminds me of my grandma. And, my choice to not eat meat (except fish) sometimes makes it hard to avoid overdoing it on carbs (mac/cheese, candied yams, stuffing, and/or rice). So, I will aim to practice a few of Amy's tips -- exercising before I go to Christmas dinner (pilates has become a near-habit) and eating slowly.

Listen to the podcast and let me know how you will eating healthy during the holidays!