coaching

Organization is Critical to your Success

Posted on by Geller Coaching

If your business’s success is important to you, you may need to take a deeper look at your ability to organize and create structure on a daily basis. It is not about cleaning up, but about creating a mindset and way of operating that allows you to tap into your true potential of productivity.

In order for small business owners to wear many different hats, they need to balance many tasks efficiently and effectively. When your business system is not properly organized, tasks pile up, paperwork gets lost and valuable time is spent searching, instead of working.

With strong organizational skills, business owners can save time and reduce stress. I have yet to meet a business owner who wasn’t begging for more time in a day or week and while many don’t admit the level of stress, it is present in everything they do. In fact, working in an unorganized environment can make people feel constantly on edge, impairing their ability to be productive.

So now that you know the importance of why organization is critical, where do you begin? Let’s start with some simple questions that will get to the core of your strengths and weaknesses. Then you can begin to make a plan.

You MUST have a plan.

1 – What routines or ritual do you currently have in place that you consistently do?

2 – What time of day do you feel most organized?

3 – What time of day do you feel most overwhelmed?

4 – How do you think having a more structured day would help you be more successful?

5 – What is one thing that consistently prevents you from being as organized and structured as you would like?

Once you have honestly answered these questions you can begin making a plan! Let’s start small.

Starting tomorrow, what could you do that would promote organization and structure for the rest of this week?

Let’s do this.
http://www.GellerCoaching.com

You Might Be Right…

Posted on by Geller Coaching

There comes a time (sometimes more than once) when the stars align in a completely different way due to unforeseen circumstances and you notice a significant shift. Your feet seem to step lighter, the ground feels more absorbent, and the air around seems to be clear. It is in that very moment that you can barely hear your own ego, and suddenly you hear your own voice whisper, “You may be right.”

And for once in your life, you are not talking to yourself. Well, yes, you are, but you are not referring to yourself in being right…again.

After many years of the most challenging life events I have ever had, though clearly not the worst there are to have…I have a sense of clarity I cannot ever recall having. I suppose it is not that surprising. Maybe after you have been stripped of the things you have always ‘known’, what’s left…is true vulnerability.

I am not quite sure what exactly got me to this point since I have been deeply working on myself for the past year and a half, but I know for sure there has been a shift. Not only in the way I see myself, but in the way I see others.

I can see today that what I hear coming at me is actually my perception of what is being given to me, that has first gone through years of being alive. Years of being engaged in meaningful relationships. Some great, some not so much. But all have left me with emotions in regards to how I perceive the present, how I perceive the future and how I perceive my life. That’s a lot of filtering.

It reminds me of the time I put a contact into my eye that already had a contact in it. That’s right. Two contacts in one eye. Now, if you are not a contact wearer, you might think, ‘now that would give you amazing vision!’ Right? Like if you held your eye to a magnifying glass.

But no, that is not what happens at all. It does not give you better vision. It does not provide even more clarity. What it gives you is a murky version of life. And since I did not realize what I had done, my brain tried desperately to make sense of what it could and could not see. Trying desperately to convince me that I had not in fact just gone blind…

If you wear contacts you might be thinking, ‘Well of course you can’t see better if you force your eyes to see through filters not meant for your eyes.’ However, I wrestled with vision for several minutes before panicking that I had just double dosed my eyes and wondered if my eyes had suddenly seen enough and had called it quits.

This is actually quite similar to what happens in our listening. Based on our emotions surrounding this person, this event, this thing, filters cloud our thinking and hearing. While we can hear the words coming at us, we may not necessarily be hearing what is said, but may be picking up on what we think someone is thinking. We may in fact be interpreting what is not being said. Or we may have already decided how we are going to respond before it is even heard, so therefore don’t listen at all. Either way, how we respond gets filtered through millions of past events and feelings and this simple conversation ends up being anything but simple.

It becomes what my eyes experienced, trying to see through a double dose of contacts and not providing an ounce of clarity or truth.

In addition to speaking from a place other than now, whoever you are speaking to will also respond from that far away place. It is then that the whole conversation becomes one hot mess.

So how do we have conversations not masked by previous emotions?
Here are some simple tips:

1- Create an intention. Are you trying to set the record straight? Are you hoping for clarity? Or do you genuinely just want to hear what someone has to say? Design it, commit to it and then set it in motion.

2 – Clean your slate. Come to the table and pretend that your slate has been cleared. Remind yourself that the past has no bearing on this present moment.

3 – Leave your ego at the door. Yes, I know that you know and you want them to know too. However, if you come to the table with that perspective, you might as well call it a day before you even get there. The truth is that you might or might not be right, but more importantly, in order to fully hear what someone is saying to you, you will need to stand in the place, that maybe…just maybe…you don’t know.

4 – Listen. Listen like it’s the first time you are hearing this person speak and then no matter how you are feeling, repeat after me: “You might be right.” Even if you are certain they are not right. Even if you are positive that you are the one that is right. Let it go. Create space for what is possible in the land of the unknown. You will be amazed at the possibility of what comes next. Trust me…

Motherhood. When Giving is not Loving.

Posted on by Geller Coaching

There were many things in my life I didn’t understand right way. There were things I had to study for, take notes on, research and then even start over again before being able to really comprehend it. But being a mother, was not one of those things. Not to say I didn’t do my research, but once my babies were in my arms, I barely remembered the things I had read about. What I knew was a deep love that did not need comprehending. It did not need definitions or explanations.

I will never forget the way my first-born son looked deep into my eyes, as if he could see into my soul. I will never forget feeling like he oddly understood it. Like he was saying, “okay, so you are the one that will always keep me safe.” That look like he too understood…that our eyes meeting, and our souls connecting was all this journey was going to need. Maybe he knew more than I️ did.

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nt I had gone from pregnant, to mom and knew that my job from here forward was simply to love and protect this one sweet angel, which then turned into two sweet angels. I remember constantly thinking, "I will always keep you safe.”

False. We cannot always keep our children safe, nor is that always our job. So what is our job?

It is only recently that I have been able to transform that word into responsibility and only recently that I have been able to ask myself, ‘what is my responsibility?

I never thought of myself as an average mom. I didn't just become a mom, I had an amazing love for my babies that could not be described. I had a yearning to care for, love, and give to them in a way I had never experienced. It wasn’t that I️ thought they couldn’t do for themselves, but was more about the overwhelming joy I got from giving. Whether it was folding their clothes just so, baking the goodies that warmed their hearts (or at least made them smile broadly) or making their lunches just so…was about me. It was how I showed my love for them. It was what I created as the thing that reminded them every day how much they were loved.

So what could possibly be wrong with that? Nothing actually.

When your child can't tie his shoes, you tie them. When your child is too young to use the stove, you cook his meals. When your child isn't tall enough to reach the washer, you wash his clothes. But at some point our definition of being mom gets confusing, and our purpose gets convoluted. The way we give becomes defined by the actual things we give or do…for them.

Giving, is not necessarily loving.

When your 7-year-old comes home and says he needs crayons for school, you get them. That is being a responsible parent. That is not love, though, that is responsibility. When your 20-year-old comes home and says he needs red pens for class and you run out to the store while he sits in front of the tv, that is not love. That is giving, but a different kind of giving. That kind of giving actually robs your child of ‘responsibility’. It crossed the line of helping into enabling.

Helping is doing for others when they cannot do it for themselves. Enabling is doing for others when they are capable of doing for themselves. Enabling – that which hijacks another’s opportunity for success. Ugh!

The first time I heard that I felt sick to my stomach. My brain began to scroll the hundreds of things a day that I had done for family members, that I felt were done simply to show my undying love for them. I was certain that giving was loving. I mean, if I wasn’t giving, then how would they know I loved them?

That is the million dollar question. For myself, what I have learned is that my constant giving was not as selfless as I once had thought. It seemed that if I was giving to others before giving to myself, then I was being selfless. That is what motherhood is all about, isn’t it? Apparently not.

Apparently if we are doing this motherhood thing the way it should be done, in a way that produces 18 year olds that are self-sufficient, independent and successful, then we should be working our way out of a job. What?! Trust me, that was never a part of my vocabulary. I wanted to be ‘mommy’ forever. I loved the job, the title, the satisfaction and pure joy it gave me. There was nothing more rewarding than this…Until, that is, I was forced to look at the aftermath of what I had created.

I was forced to look at how my constant doing was robbing the very beings in my family of their own independence. Stealing their opportunity for success. Convincing them without words that my way was not only better, but that perhaps they weren’t even capable at all without my help.

Neither of those things were true. I never believed my way was the best or only way and always knew they were capable of success without my help.

So why was I️ doing things they were capable of handling on their own? Why was I️ doing those things before they even asked for help? Why was my go-to always, “Oh, don’t worry…I’ll get it.”

Simple. It was how I showed my undying love. Right? Well…no. It wasn’t about that at all. Instead, although I didn’t know it at the time, it was really about me and my desire to feel needed. I mean, if I didn’t do for them, then why would they need me? Seems simple and harmless but actually has some negative consequences. Ones that keep our emerging adults from learning what to do with feelings of discomfort. Ones that keep our emerging adults from learning what to do in the face of challenges. Ones that keep our emerging adults dependent upon us…just the opposite of our hopes and dreams for them.

Motherhood is hard for sure, but finding a balance between helping and enabling is where the rubber meets the road. You can do this. Just keep asking the question: Am I helping because they are unable, or am I stealing their opportunity for success?

If you keep practicing, you will soon be able to see which kinds of giving gestures are simply acts of love…that which build strong family love and success.

Building Support Networks

Posted on by Geller Coaching

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

As a small business proprietor, you probably enjoy moving to the beat of your own drum. But doing everything on your own will keep you from sustainable success, which is why successful business owners have strong support systems. Regardless of where the support comes from, having people to confide in and share ideas with will create the confidence you need to take bold next steps.

What Is a Support Network?

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Your support network can be made up of relatives or close friends. In addition, you should consider including people you have professional relationships with including local networking groups, investors, employees, or former business partners and suppliers.

Having a diverse group of people to turn to will create a variety of outlooks and perspectives. Their prior experiences can offer solutions or strategies with a wide range of perspectives you may not have considered. While it’s important to surround yourself with people who can support and cheer you on, it is helpful to have relationships with people who aren’t afraid to criticize you yet also won’t hold back.

What Can a Support Network Do for You?

Having a dedicated group of people who support you can be helpful in many different ways. They can provide guidance and insight, help bring in new customers by telling others about your company and making referrals, and act as a sounding board if you have new ideas about ways to run your business. In addition, if your marketing campaign for your business fails to capture the attention of the people who are close to you, it probably won’t interest total strangers or potential customers either.

How Do You Maintain a Support Network?

Here’s the hard part: Getting the support you need often involves swallowing your ego. To build a network you have to accept that you don’t always know the answers, and that you have strengths and weaknesses just like the rest of us. With the right support group though, you will have the opportunity to be honest with yourself, and the people who are in your corner, which will ultimately contribute to the sustainable success of your business.

So how can you be certain that the success so far will continue into the future? First, loosen the reigns on your need to control everything, then imagine what’s possible with a team of people supporting your dreams.

Mastery of life is not a question of control,
but a finding of balance between human and being.

Let’s build this together.
The Women’s Lab: Building Support Networks.
September 24, 2017

Connecting with successful female business owners, community leaders, success coaches and charity founders through targeted group activities and keynote speeches that will foster collaboration and inspiration to help you achieve your goals.

I am Just Afraid I Will Forget…

Posted on by Geller Coaching

Truth is that my memory has never been real strong. It wasn’t until I got to college that I realized that in order for me to remember things…any thing…I needed to write it down and see it. It was a tedious way to learn, but necessary.  If I were in school today they would probably slap a label on that, but back then you had to find your own strategies to compensate. Maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing.

Today I began to wonder if this is why I take so many pictures. Long before the era of iPhones and the obsession of everything needing to be at your finger tips, I was documenting my world and the people in it. I was happy to be a part of a world that didn’t rely on film,  because the more I took, the better my chances of getting them just so. But that wasnt what I was going for.

I am highly sensate. Meaning, I feel things more intensely than most. Not just raw emotions from a conversation or two, but even from things I see around me. I am awestruck by beauty, especially things I can relate to or things that remind me of my past. And my incessant picture-taking has been a way for me to access the love of what makes me happy…anytime I want. I never thought of it as any more than that.

Until tonight.

After my first official day of summer at the beach, the 2nd summer without my mom in this world, I noticed the bright pink sky unexpectedly and hurried down the stairs to see the sunset. I paused at the bottom of the stairs, thinking I should at least grab my phone, bu convinced myself that maybe just for today I could simply be present to the moment. I hear that a lot. Like maybe not everything needs a picture as much as being present in the moment.

I headed down the street to see my first ever sunset…without a camera of any sort.

As I walked, I felt overwhelmed with how beautiful it was. The colors were radiant. I tried to analyze it, decipher how many colors there were. I tried to recall if I had ever seen one so beautiful. And while it was hard to stare too long since the sun was so bright, I couldn’t look away.  The way the lines created such beauty in the sky, silenced me.

Within minutes my heart started to race as I watched this bright sunshine fall into the earth, signaling another day gone by.

How would I remember this? Surely no one could ever recall exactly what this one looked like without seeing it in a picture. How would I remember this first sunset of the summer without mom, if I didn’t have the picture of it for later?

I began to have a sinking feeling as I forced myself to watch the sun set and then began racing back to the house as my brain scrambled to hold the memory. I knew this wouldn’t be a memory I could contain and as if to prove myself right, my brain began to run the photo reel it had stored. All I could think about though were the pictures that were missing. Images not as clear as I remembered. Difficulty trying to recall the true colors in my boys eyes, the sweet lines of my moms face when she would smile. The way she looked at me when she held my hand in the hospital…tears began to stream down my face.

My quick footsteps moved into a light jog with a hopefulness that I might make it just in time. I ran the stairs, grabbed my phone and headed for the balcony. Maybe, just maybe something was still left. Something I could hold onto….

And there it was. Not nearly the way I had seen it just minutes before, but just enough, to remind me of how eloquent it was. How much it made me appreciate each passing moment of my life, each ending of the day that continued to give me a brand new tomorrow…


Maybe it isn’t that I’m obsessed with taking pictures. It’s just that…well…without them I am just afraid I will forget…

The Women’s Lab. Not the Classic Meet & Greet.

Posted on by Geller Coaching

 

I know what you are thinking…another networking group. No thank you.
I know because I have felt the same way about networking groups.

Even the good ones felt awkward at best, arriving like the girl that didn’t get invited to the party, wondering if anyone will actually start a conversation with me or if I will have to barge into semi-private conversations to introduce myself. Even the good ones helped me meet one or two people, but I always left feeling like it was more of a billboard meeting. You know, like you show up, place your billboard in the middle of the room stating what you do, and then you leave, hoping someone might need your service in the near future. Small price to pay for some marketing perhaps, but I wanted more than that!

And so we created The Women’s Lab.

I wanted a room filled with like-minded individuals. Women who had an idea, a passion, a hobby or a true craft or specialty, that was in the process, or had already arrived at their own landing spot. I wanted the space to be filled with hugs and support, coffee and snacks, and definitely a place that we could share openly about what we do, or what we are dreaming about doing.

The Women’s Lab evolved.

But it became even more than a special place to be on a Sunday morning in the quiet town of Princeton…we begin at 10:30am just before the rest of the world is even starting their day. The sweet silence and warmth of Tigerlabs sets the stage to a home away from home, with the subtle reminder of workstations in the backdrop and comfy couches in the lounge. The scent of coffee fills the air, home made banana bread for those that are hungry and one large table completely lit up by the natural sunlight pouring in. For me, all of that would be just enough for a perfect Sunday on any given week, but there is so much more than that.

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As the group files in, the room becomes filled with support, affection and an excitement about who we are for each other, as well as who we are as women in business. We do not simply sit and see where the conversation goes, although we surely could since the energy in the room is always inspiring! Instead, there is a focus for each meeting.

Every one is given the opportunity to write responses to directed questions about the challenges and strengths they face in this moment. They are given the opportunity to share their thoughts and topics on their mind. And then we get to the main topic of the month where everyone is directed through an activity to help each and every person create some movement in their business. For some, it might be as simple as needing to create marketing materials, others have thoughts of new hires to help them maintain balance and even some are looking down the road to where does this success lead and how will it lead to retirement.

It is only then that the networking begins, but really it feels like one giant sharing of ideas of our experiences of what has worked and what has not. It feels more like a melting pot of some amazing like-minded women constantly ready to be in action and just needing someone else to say, “You go girl!”

Women empowering women.

The Women’s Lab is so much more than I could have imagined already. It is amazing how grateful everyone feels and how motivated everyone is about taking that enthusiasm into the world on Monday. Yet there is even more than that! This group is not just a local community of women supporting each other, but also supporting women around the world as a portion of the proceeds every month is sent to Humanity Unified, a non-profit organization that empowers communities to rise out of poverty through education, food security projects and economic opportunities.

So the question is not: Another networking group? But instead: Why haven’t you joined us yet?

Register for April’s event and I promise you will agree that this is not just another Networking Group, but rather creating a life by design with a lot of people cheering you on.

May 21st is the next event: Creating a Powerful & Positive Mindset.
We can’t wait to meet you.

Register today!

 

Even the Bad…Has a Purpose and Place.

Posted on by Geller Coaching

I had one of those weeks. You know, like every time you get a firm grip on the handle, the ground slips out from under you? Yeah, that kind of week.

The week filled with frustrations: The perfectly overfilled Starbucks coffee that drips not only on the sweater I am wearing, but also the sweater that is waiting patiently for me at my desk. The coffee machine that decides it needs a day off. The handcrafted salad that chose to jump from my hands and scatter all over the floor, leaving me no time to make another lunch. The half eaten perfect green apple that rolled off my desk and onto the germ infested classroom floor. The perfect morning to write at Starbucks, only to be interrupted by a charging cord that apparently was not in the mood to do its’ job…

Yeah, that kind of a week.

Luckily I am a Life Coach, right? Well, on most days that does help, but this week every one of those events sent me in a downward spiral, until eventually I even shed some tears. Yep, crying.  Sometimes I can cry over spilled milk too when I feel like I can’t keep it all together.

If only we could put everything in a box. Like when packing up for a big move. Put it all in a box, tape it up and mark it with a label! And just like that it would be all neatly tucked away, out of sight and not bothering us at all. If only we could do that with EVERYTHING! Imagine how our perspectives would change.

Imagine if we knew that it actually served a purpose and could be put away at any time? Would you feel less resentful when it came your way? Would you be more willing to lean into it until it passed?

Well here is a new perspective to try on: “Life is giving you exactly what you need practice in.”

At first glance you may scoff at this notion, but when you let it sink in for a few moments, thinking deeply about the things you most complain about, you can see where this makes perfect sense.

Is your universe driving you crazy? Things not going as planned? Feeling short circuited because everyone wants to throw a wrench in your schedule? Perhaps patience is what you most need to practice. Perhaps acceptance is something you struggle with as well. Perhaps this perspective will help you to welcome the challenges that come your way.

The next part is putting it away. This is the real challenge!

While we can’t actually put it in a box, the visualization of “putting it away” can really help. It’s not about attempting to put it out of your mind, but actually trying to reframe it. Same picture, new frame. Lets take my visit to Starbucks. I feel excited beyond words, having been gifted an extra few morning hours to sit and write. I am so excited I can almost taste the first sip of vanilla latte warming my throat as my fingers prepare for the tapping on the keys.  I am so excited I can feel my heart beating in a hurried pattern.

I open my MacBook and notice the low battery. Feeling relieved that I had my charger, I pack up all that I have laid on the table, feel disappointed to leave my favorite seat in the corner and move to a less desirable table that has an outlet. I begin to settle myself again, noticing my excited energy turning on its side and plug-in. Once. Twice. Three times a charm. Or no! Since it seems my charger is not working. My heart begins to pound in a ferocious way as I see the battery icon turn red.  I take several deep breaths, and even when I remember I also have packed my iPad, I don’t feel comforted.

I sit back in my chair and see that I have wasted 20 minutes and I can hear whispers telling me to just go home. Multiple voices begin to chime in, whining about the situation and suddenly feel like I am fighting back tears. Which is often when I criticize my dramatic behavior, blaming it on hormones, losing my mom to cancer and whatever else I can get my hands on.

But then I attempt to find a box. Not a real one, but one that can hold all my irrational feelings for the moment. I put my ear buds in, hit play on Anita Baker and inhale again. This time I unplug the non-charging cord, exhale deeply and move to a more private and comfortable seat by the window. I place my feet on the coffee table in front of me, pull out my iPad, click open my WordPress app and stare out the window. I picture myself with more patience and understanding of the world around me and of myself. I envision all the little things that went awry this week and place them into my invisible box. As I picture taping it up, I allow myself the time needed to heal over the loss of my mom and acknowledge how fortunate I really am, in spite of the story I want to tell about my dark and gloomy days. I put a label on the box: Patience.

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I place my hands gently on my iPad keyboard as the kind young man across from me (who must have seen my struggles) mentions there is an outlet right next to my comfy chair. I begin to tell my “story” but my optimism takes over and I give it one more try. And you know what? It worked! This outlet actually worked. Nothing was broken. Except maybe my heart recovering from many frustrations of the week. But I had already put those in a box, sealed it up with tape, and secured it with a label…so I let the computer charge and my iPad and I carried on.

Maybe all that happens in life IS just what we need practice in. Carry on.

Investments that Matter

Posted on by Geller Coaching

You work hard and are successful.

But what if the success you are truly capable of has barely been touched?

Do you have a support team? Do you have someone to help you expand on your thoughts, support your ideas and hold you accountable for your action plans?

The mind is a dark and dangerous place…don’t go there alone! Get a Coach.

Clearly you have the drive it takes to achieve success, but what if you’ve barely scratched the surface of what is possible? With the support of a Coach, you will experience success more efficiently and effectively. You will find yourself in constant motion, with fresh ideas and new perspectives. You will have two minds, working as one!

In order to be successful as a Business Owner, you will constantly need to assess whether something is an investment or an expense. Investments are critical to a successful future. Expenses can often wait.

So what do you want?  Do you want a successful business that creates consistent financial freedom with the controls in the palm of your hand? Or are you willing to take a gamble and see where it lands?

“Having a Coach is the difference between knowing what to do…and doing it.”
C. Patnick, President of Capella Consultants

A Business Coach is perfect for:

  • Successful business people who want to exceed their expectations.
  • Refining and building upon existing skills and talents.
  • Increasing profitability, projecting confidence and organizing time better.
  • Creating a successful system that fosters business now, while planting the necessary seeds for the future.

The value of having a Business Coach speaks for itself even in the very first session.

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The time is now. It is later than you think.

Passion vs Quota

Posted on by Geller Coaching

Remember that feeling when you first began your dream job? It was an explosion of excitement that probably couldn’t be contained. It came from within and made you wonder how you got so lucky. You often awoke feeling so appreciative of the job that the pay felt like a bonus. Maybe you even said, I can’t believe they are paying me for this!

At the sound of the alarm you rushed into the shower, felt excited to see where the day would lead, and anxious to meet people and create more business. Staff meetings felt like stomping grounds for refueling the tank. Monthly numbers seemed more a way of keeping score. This was more than a job…this was your life!

Yet after several years, that excitement began to wane and the passion became less prevalent. Quotas that once motivated you, now felt like unattainable goals set to make you fail.

So what happened? How did the light switch of passion and motivation transform into pressure and disappointment? Did the job actually change, or did you change? If neither has changed, then how could the same event look suddenly so much different?

Take a close look at your career so far and answer these questions:

  • What made you excited about the job when you began?
  • How successful were you when you began?
  • What was the focus of your selling techniques when you were most successful?
  • What did you do when you weren’t as successful?
  • When were you most successful?

Most likely you were most successful when you first began because the numbers were not the focus. What made you most excited? Was it meeting new people? Telling your boss about the sales you’d made? Or maybe it was just that as you began to taste success, suddenly the stakes would be raised.

But why do higher quotas seem to squelch your motivation? Maybe they don’t. Maybe it is simply fear that you won’t be able to reach the goals?

Fear will keep you small. And a new perspective can be a game-changer.

Without fear, you can lean in and see that selling is merely a game. It is a matter of a goal being set (by you or someone else) and you creating a way to get there. What if those higher quotas were a form of praise and an increased opportunity for success?

If your boss said, “Since your numbers were so high last quarter, we want to give you a raise,” you would pat your own back, feel acknowledged and work even harder next month. But only with a new mindset. If you could see an increased quota as an actual raise (I mean, if you hit the goal you WILL make more money!) then suddenly you may be motivated by the challenge, rather than depleted.

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Yeah, but…what if I can’t meet those numbers?

The truth is that your success so far is directly related to the belief that you can hit the numbers! And the only thing keeping you from making your monthly numbers now, is the worry that you can’t.

Change your words, change your mind.

When your focus was passion and commitment, (not quota and failure) you were successful. So look at the numbers like money in your wallet and then chase that quota down! After all, you do deserve a raise…

Even before Cancer. She was a Legend

Posted on by Geller Coaching

Many called her legendary Ellie because she did what most could not: Create a full and colorful life with Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer. We simply reaped the benefits by listening to the doctors month after month say, “and the miracle continues.” I often told her that if Oprah got wind of her miracle of life, she would probably host a show just so others could be inspired by her courage, strength and will to live smiling in vibrant orange.

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They gave her 3 months to live, with the catch phrase ‘but everyone is different’ attached to the diagnosis. She took that catch phrase seriously and lived 2.5 years. And I do mean LIVED. So yeah, she was an icon. She represented life and the premise that life was for the living and being present was truly about being fully aware of each and every moment.

She was an icon for how to be a mother.

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She was not just Legendary Ellie, though; She was my mom. And what I remember most about my life with her was her ability to listen in a way that made me feel safe in sharing all of my stories. She didn’t share her opinions, or judgments when I spoke. She would just listen. I didn’t realize how amazing of a feat that was, until I became a mother as well.

Cancer and the way she survived it was not what made her a legend. She was a legend way before she came face to face with Cancer.

She was an icon for how to make something out of nothing.

Ellie had 2 years of community college under her belt, a job as a hostess and 2 small daughters, when she found the courage to leave her marriage and begin her search for authentic happiness. She had a pocket full of food stamps, a beautiful smile and a yearning to make it work.

She coined the phrase: Failure is not an option.

She reunited with an old HS flame, had a heart filled with love, and became even more inspired to make this work. Whatever this was. She moved into an inside sales job that involved hundreds of phone calls a day selling hospital supplies. I don’t remember her ever complaining. I recall her coming home around 6pm and being too tired to talk much and being annoyed at the question: What’s for dinner, before both feet even entered the house, but nothing more than that.

As a matter of fact, I don’t recall hearing a word about her job at all, but know she must have done really well, because she then moved up and out to an outside sales job. That would have been a perfect fit if she didn’t have to sell since she was hard wired to organize. She sold organizational systems to pharmaceutical companies and chose commission only, so that she could decide her fate. Her biggest complaint was that she hated cold calling.

Now one might assume that if you hate cold calling, and the entire job was based on that, then in fact this might be a tough place to find success. Unless you’re Legendary Ellie. She was committed to her success and wasn’t about to stop until she found it. In fact, she became the number one international sales rep…the world champ, in fact!

Ellie was an icon for the words: Never give up.

We didn’t need those stats to know she was a champ, an icon, legend or any of that though. We just knew. Even when cancer found her 2 years into enjoying retirement, she continued to live as heartfelt as she had before. Maybe even more so as she spent her days inhaling the gift of life and all it had to offer. Even her last 18 days of life in the hospital were with great intention as each morning she would call every human she could think of, to let them know that she was at the end…sharing just the way that they had touched her life and thanking them for who they were.

She felt blessed to have life and her people on any given day. We were blessed to have her in ours.

Ellie didn’t become a legend because of how she fought cancer, but by the way she lived: She gave 110%, believed she could, dug deep when she couldn’t and lived knowing that even when life was hard, seemed way out of reach, and no one had ever done it before… any at-bat was the possibility for a home run. No matter how it seemed.