Life Coach – Do you have one? Do you need one?

TAYLOR’S TIPS for a more productive you…

Dear Friend,

I’m in a conundrum (that’s a funny word, isn’t it?). 

I was watching a golf program on TV with my husband and they were talking about golfers having life coaches.

Golfers have these people who help them to stay positive, think well about themselves, encourage them not to let the last bad shot affect the next hole, to think of themselves as a great golfer, a great driver, a great putter, even in the face of bad scores or unhappy results on the golf course.

I looked at my husband and said, “Did Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, or Gary Player have a life coach?”

Does the average PERSON have a life coach?

Heck, we all go through those feelings every day. Maybe not on a golf course, but in the course of our life at our job, at our hobbies, at our feelings as a wife, mother, daughter, son, father, husband, employee, boss, writer, singer, painter, speaker, entertainer, actor, actress (the list goes on).

Do you have anyone who does this?

Or this? (if you are a man, picture a male image here…)

I happen to agree we all need support, encouragement, and motivation. I wouldn’t call it a “life coach” as much as I would call these people by one word: friend.

And I am blessed to have more than one. They help me when I’m down, feeling blue, under the weather, under deadlines, feeling sad, angry, hurt, afraid, and they share my happiness and elation, too. Some of these friends go WAY back in years, and some are new ones I’ve just met. Some are writers group members for me, maybe for you they are church members or coworkers. Maybe they are members of a MOPS group or an informal gathering at the playground around the kids.

I think Arnold, Jack, and Gary had their own life coaches, we just didn’t have a name for it back then. It was probably their wives, their parents, other players, or their friends.

Whoever it is that helps to coach you through life, give them a big hug today. If you can’t see them in person, send a handwritten note. And if it’s your husband or wife, give them a big smooch when they walk in the door.

Happy writing and blessings on your work.

Follow your dreams…
B.J.

Sunny Side Up: Inspiring Stories for Dog & Cat Lovers includes a bonus section from Charlie Bear on his life before adoption. It’s a prequel to the book releasing soon: CHARLIE BEAR: What a Headstrong Rescue Dog Taught Me about Life, Love, and Second Chances.

DOG & CAT on Kindle: http://amzn.to/A7FAmC
DOG & CAT on Nook: http://bit.ly/ze6Lna

Also available:

SUNNY SIDE UP: Inspiring Stories for WOMEN
Kindle: http://amzn.to/tchBTI
Nook: http://bit.ly/uNwVSC

SUNNY SIDE UP: Inspiring Stories for TOUGH TIMES
Kindle: http://amzn.to/oWyIIO
Nook: http://bit.ly/q7bNTG

“The Complete Guide to Writers Groups That Work”
Kindle http://amzn.to/qDh28y
Nook http://bit.ly/qZTHIX
In Print through Amazon: http://amzn.to/n3wS5D

What’s Happening…

Antelope Valley Writers’ Conference May 4-5, 2012 Learn about the writing world, mingle with others who share your passion, come away rejuvenated and refreshed. The line-up of faculty looks fantastic. I’ll be there–will you? For more information: www.avwriters.com

Orange County Christian Writers Conference May 18-20, 2012 Registration is open for this fabulous conference and they are going to have intensive workshops running the full day on Friday. And guess what? I’ll be teaching one of them: Writing Personal Experience Short Stories that Sell. I am so excited to share the formula for inspirational writing (the kind we do for Chicken Soup or Guideposts or other publications). You may have attended my class last year (we had 61 people crammed into the tiny room) and want additional help, or maybe you weren’t there but you’d like hands-on help in a small group setting (the class size will be limited–sign up early). You’re going to submit your story in advance, and then we’re going to work on it in the workshop. And don’t worry, I’ll give you plenty of instruction to take with you when the day is done. This conference will have intensive workshops, faculty panels, dining with faculty, consultations with those in-the-know, and much, much more. For more information: www.occwf.org

Blog: www.bjtaylorblog.wordpress.com 
Website: www.bjtayloronline.com
E-mail: bj.taylor@verizon.net