Bridges Edition of 9/9/2004

Welcome to Bridges, a monthly newsletter published by Robin Fogel, Career and Business Coach. My goal is that this newsletter be filled with practical information that you can use in your work and in your life. If you enjoyed the newsletter please forward it to your colleagues, friends and family.

If you would like to know more about coaching, please email me at robin@coachrobinfogel.com and/or visit my website www.coachrobinfogel.com. **************
I think of September as a month of new beginnings. It's a time for one of my favorite activities- buying school supplies. It is also harvest time and a time of new and continued growth. Children return to school. We return to work with renewed energy after vacation or a slower summer schedule. Before jumping back into things full force, take a moment to plan out the month and ask:

- How do I want to use that renewed energy?
- What do I want to accomplish?
- Is this the time to begin that new project, find that new job or pursue that new client?

One of my favorite books is "The Miracle of Mindfulness, by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk. He reminds us, in our hurried world, to be mindful of every day, every moment. While I believe it is important to plan so we use our time and energy constructively,(this coming from the person who for years had a Ziggy cartoon on her refrigerator saying "today I plan to be spontaneous"), Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us to breathe and be aware of every moment.

This weekend is the anniversary of September 11th, a date that has come to symbolize a time of great upheaval. As you reflect on how your life may have changed since then, remember to be grateful for every day. And each day ask: Am I spending time on what matters most? Am I making enough time in my schedule for friends and loved ones?

A Good Read
Now for something completely different, this summer I read a number of books by Laurie Colwin, a novelist and food writer who died unexpectedly in 1992. She specialized in writing about life, food and eating (my favorite subjects). My favorite was "Goodbye Without Leaving", described as "an hilarious look at a woman who drops out of her graduate program to bare her soul as a backup dancer in a rock and roll band". It's a light read and very much about living in the moment.

Upcoming Program
If you are located in the central NJ/SE Pennsylvania area, watch the October newsletter for dates and locations for "Leaving the Nest", a program for parents of college bound seniors.

New Service
Performance Enhancement Coaching is a new coaching program designed to support and develop high potential employees and managers. It is a collaborative effort between the employee or manager, their supervisor and the coach. If you think this service may have application for your organization, please contact me for details.

Enjoy the bounty that September brings.
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COPYRIGHT: 2004, Robin Fogel & Assoc., LLC. All Rights Reserved. May be distributed and reprinted in its entirety with copyright, subscription instructions, and contact information intact. However, you may not copy it to a website.