goal sisters

The Latest News, Views, and Gurus
Vol. 1, No. 5

Happy Holidays, Readers!

We, Ann Leach and Michelle Beaulieu Pillen, co-authors of Goal Sisters: Live the Life You Want With A Little Help From Your Friends, are coming to you once again from our book’s online home at www.goalsisters.com! This newsletter is our way of supporting you along your path to goal success. Each month you’ll find tips and techniques for incorporating the Goal Sisters process into your daily life.

* * GRATITUDE * *

What a Goal Sisters year it has been! Since the publication of the book we have had the opportunity to meet so many Sisters and hear first hand your dreams and goals. We are pleased that many of you have found helpful suggestions and support in our book and through the groups. We offer a sincere ‘thank you’ for helping us to fulfill our goal of getting our book out to women everywhere!

* * ACTIVITY: LOOKING BACK AND LEAPING FORWARD * *

Now is the time to grab your journal and give yourself the gift of an hour to complete the following 7 statements:

1. The top 3 changes I have made in the past year are:
2. Besides the support of my Goal Sister, I am thankful for the support from:
3. One goal I did not achieve in 2004 but is still important to me is:
4. When I think of a big goal I accomplished last year, I am surprised by:
5. Looking forward to 2005 I intend to feel more:
6. If I really stretched myself and took a big risk in 2005 it would be:
7. One goal I have for my Goal Sister friendship in 2005 is:

* * MICHELLE’S STORY * *

Like many people, December is when I get stressed to the max with all I have to do, and during my sane moments, reflect on the year that’s coming to an end. This December is no exception. Thankfully, I’m traveling to the mainland tomorrow and will have plenty of time to reflect on 2004.

For me and for everyone I know, this year has been an incredible 365 days of ups and downs, beginnings and endings, gains and losses. How about you? What were your ups and downs? What did you start and end this year? What did you gain? What or who did you lose? And how are you incorporating these experiences into who you are and who you would like to become? Tough questions, I know. Nevertheless, I encourage you to reflect on this year and the lessons you’ve learned.

I also encourage you to consider what you held on to during 2004 that you would like to let go of during 2005. Some examples on my “Letting it Go” list are obsessive thoughts, anger over past events, annoying habits, and stuff I don’t use. Once you identify your “Letting it Go” list, share it with your Goal Sister.

Speaking of sharing with your Goal Sister, instead of exchanging holiday gifts this year, how about meeting at your favorite place and exchanging your 2004 reflections? Not only is this a priceless gift, but it’s also one you don’t have to shop for, wrap, or return if you don’t like it. Now that’s what I call a bargain! Happy sharing!

* * ATTENTION GRABBING GURUS * *

One of our honorary Goal Sisters, Suzanne Falter-Barns, has written two books about growing your dream and seeing it to fruition. As a special holiday gift to our readers, Suzanne shares some tips on how to balance work on your dream with your daily work.

How to Find Energy for Your Dream When You Work Full-Time
By Suzanne Falter-Barns

Dedicate your peak time of day to your dream. Do you tend to spring out of bed or hug your pillow when the alarm goes off? Get clear on this key fact, and then add an extra hour in this time zone for work on your dream. Write it into your schedule and stick with it.

Indulge in a three o’clock protein bar or shake. Replace the guilty candy bar in your desk drawer with a protein-rich snack that’s actually got enough mojo to tide you well into the evening hours. (Hint: no caffeine… just protein.)

Keep a lean office/work space. Nothing drains energy faster than clutter, especially that which accumulates on desktops. Keep a running to-do list on a pad, and tuck away files where they belong.

Avoid junk food; drink water instead. Nothing depletes your system quite like junk food. The excess sugars speed up your system so it eventually crashes; go for the good stuff instead. Add large amounts of water, and you’ll be running at peak.

Take your iron. Grains and vegetables provide us with only about seven per cent of their iron, while drinking tea and coffee interferes with iron absorption. Take a supplement, preferably about 18 milligrams per day. Experts say you'll see improvements in energy and mental clarity within three weeks.

Eat your lunch at your desk. Bring a sandwich to work, and do a little work on your dream mid-day; this can deeply increase your commitment to your dream. And that in turn can really fuel your energy, so making time for it becomes easier, not harder. If it’s hard to work at your desk, take your sandwich and dream work to a nearby café, your parked car, a public library carrel, or any public space where you can work.

Suzanne Falter-Barns is the author of How Much Joy Can You Stand? (Ballantine). Her Web site, www.howmuchjoy.com, and her ezine, "The Joy Letter," offer practical tips and tools for finding the time, money and energy to live your dreams.

* * SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT * *

Suzanne and Ann will be teaming up to share ideas on goal setting for 2005 in a special teleclass on Tuesday, January 11th!! By dialing in to a conference line, you’ll be able to attend this hour-long discussion FREE of charge! Here’s what you will receive:

Become More Creatively Alive in 2005! You've got the dream, now is the time to move into action and make it a reality! How? Join Suzanne Falter-Barns and Ann Leach as they share powerful steps for clarifying your creative dream and designing a realistic action plan to make it happen. Full of tips, resources, and extra doses of support, this class will move you into 2005 feeling focused, energized and ready for a creative and happy New Year!

To register, please email Ann.

* * GOAL SISTERS HAPPENINGS * *

Are you ready to start a Goal Sister group of your own? If so, we can help! Ann has created a 30-page manual for group facilitators that can be purchased and downloaded from our Web site. The cost is $10 through our secure PayPal account and is available only on our GS Group page atwww.goalsisters.com!

Want a great gift idea for all the women on your holiday list? Why not give them a Goal Sisters book! Order through our Web site and email Michelle to request a bookplate sent to you or your recipient – it’s a great way to ‘personalize’ your gift!

That’s all for now! Please continue to stop by our Web site for updates and sharing, and let us know how you’re doing. We’ll support you as you take the small steps toward your big goals and celebrate your goal successes with you!

Onward and upward,
Ann and Michelle


P.S. Please forward this newsletter to women you know who are ready to amp up the fun and focus in their friendships while transforming themselves and their lives! Thanks!!


Copyright © 2004 by Ann Leach and Michelle Beaulieu Pillen, Ph.D. All rights reserved. No part of this Web site may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise.
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