Polka Dot Coaching » Lifestyle Design

5 Big Questions for Uncovering Your Passion

Nailah — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:51:21 +0000

I’m a firm believer that we all have unique talents and strengths to bring to the world. We have specific passions that totally light up our worlds. But all too often we shove those passions deep down inside and venture out on careers and lives that are less than fulfilling. In the 9-minute video below, I reveal my 5 Big Questions for Uncovering Your Passion. These questions will get you well on your way to creating a more fulfilling, passion-filled life.

Don’t forget to share your passion in the comment section below. Annnnd if this video was helpful, feel free to share it with your friends.

Get Out of Your Way.

Nailah — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:00:29 +0000

What’s stopping you from doing your best work? Living the life you deserve? Going after your Big Idea?

Is it that the odds are stacked up against you?

Or could it quite simply just be you?

This summer has been an explosion of awesome for me. I’ve traveled to new places, met new people and tried new things. Most importantly I have learned boatloads about myself through these new experiences. And the realization that hit me like a sack of bricks – I am the only one standing in my way. I’m the only one underestimating myself. And I’m the only one who is playing way small when I can be playing way, way big. Everyone else believes in me – even strangers.

It’s the same for you. Chances are, you’re the only one who is failing to notice your epic brilliance.

Everyone else is just waiting for you to step up to the plate and own it.

I talk a bit more about this in this post about my mountain climbing adventure.

Let’s make the rest of this year about really stepping into our brilliance.

Let’s take compliments at face value.

Let’s start taking action towards the life we’ve been dreaming of.

Let’s begin seeing ourselves in the same way that others do – as incredible creatures capable of taking on anything.

Creating Purpose.

Nailah — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 03:31:32 +0000

image credit: workisnotajob

What you were meant to do won’t always be packaged neatly with a gorgeous bow. No one is going to hand you the life you were meant to have on a platter.

Do you want to live a purposeful, insanely fulfilling life?

You are going to have to go out there and make it happen for yourself. You have to roll up your sleeves and get dirty. You have to get off your arse and do something.

You have to run and jump and soar. You have to stumble and fall.

You have to create.

But most importantly, you have to start.

Are you up for the challenge?

What purpose are you creating for yourself today?

How To Do Awesome Work.

Nailah — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 05:06:30 +0000

Here at Polka Dot Coaching, I’m all about helping you get unstuck so you can get your awesome work done, whatever that awesome work happens to be. It seems like such a daunting task – getting your awesome work done, doesn’t it? But it doesn’t have to be. In fact, I know the secret to going from stuck to awesome. I know the one thing that will help you do amazing stuff:

Do what you say you’re going to do.

That’s it. It’s that simple. If you say you’re going to do something – do it. This approach works two-fold. Following through helps to get things out of your head and into the real world. It helps you get things done. It’s easy to create lists of all of the things you’re planning on doing. But what’s most important is you actually do them. Doing what you say you’re going to do creates accountability. Better yet, it creates a fire within you whenever you state your goals aloud.

Secondly, when you continuously follow through on what you say you’re going to do, you build mounds of integrity and trust. People come to know that if you say you’re going to do something you truly will. They expect it. And once that reputation is built, the last thing you want to do is ruin it by becoming a person who falls through on their commitments.

Getting your awesome work done is simple. Just get your dream in place, devise a plan and then follow through. Simply do what you say you’re going to do.

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This is YOUR Year!

Nailah — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 03:24:31 +0000

Happy New Year to you and yours! 2010 was a crazy, fun, fast-paced year filled with lots of accomplishments and loads of laughter. For those of you following along with my #Reverb10 posts, you know that 2010 was a year of ‘Yes’ for me. The theme I’ve chosen for 2011 is explosion. I want to have explosive growth in all areas of my life. And I want you to join me.

This is YOUR year. This is YOUR time to take hold of your big, juicy, delicious dreams and make them happen. No more sitting along on the sidelines. No more coulda, woulda, shoulda. No more Excuses. 2011 will be the year when you fight for the life you deserve.

Because we’re all fighters deep down inside. We all should be kicking and punching for what we want and need in life. It’s so easy to get passive in life. It’s so much simpler to just ignore your gut and just bow out of the fight. It’s takes energy and courage and balls to fight but it’s oh so very necessary if you don’t want your own dreams and desires to get steamrolled.

What do you want to be remembered for? Do you want to be remembered as someone who watched life pass them by? No – you want to be known as that awesome creative force or that innovative businesswoman or that powerful storyteller. You want to be remembered as someone who lived life with vigor and passion.

Which is why, my friends, it is time to make 2011 your bitch (in the most positive way possible, of course).

It is time to take charge and get sh*t done. It is time to have an utterly explosive year. But don’t worry. You don’t have to go at it alone. I have a ton of awesome workshops, teleseminars, coaching groups and programs coming up to keep you on track. Here’s a peak at what is coming up in the coming month:

1/12 Coaching Cocktail Hour Call 6pm PST – sign up here!
1/15 Saturday Morning Momentum (LA) 11:30am PST
1/26 Goal-Setting & Motivation Workshop (LA) 7pm PST
2/8 8 Weeks to Lift-Off – Group Coaching Program – (details coming soon!)
2/22 Exciting New Online Program – (more details coming soon!)

Need individual attention from me? No problem! Schedule a 30 minute coaching consultation with me for Free. I still have space for 3 clients to start up in January. So go ahead and schedule your consultation today and let’s rock this year together!

Are you excited about the upcoming year? Any exciting goals you’d like to share?

Just Jump!

Nailah — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:25:46 +0000

My husband was obsessed with the show ’24.’ It was hands-down his favorite show on television. And so he was pretty bummed when Jack Bauer hung up his spy gear for good and the series ended. So you can only imagine his delight when he heard that this new show ‘The Event’ was supposed to a cross between ’24′ and ‘Lost.’ Well, after watching the first 3 episodes of the new show, I could tell he had lost interest and that this would not be taking the place of his old standby. When I asked him why, he told me that the show had too much intrigue. There was too much mystery and not enough action. It was boring.

Image Credit: The Welsh Poppy

Which got me to thinking, where else in our lives is there not enough action? Are you spending too much time talking about what you’re going to do and not nearly enough actually doing it? Have you been in the ideation or planning or researching phase for far too long? Maybe you’ve been perfecting your image or mastering your expertise, instead of just learning by doing.

My challenge for you is to Take Action. Identify your goal and take a step in the direction of it. It doesn’t have to be big or flashy, it just has to be a step. Don’t get stuck on perfect. Sometimes the best thing to do is just jump in. Feet first.

Let me know if you need help, I’d be happy to give you a push in the right direction.

PS – If you were on my mailing list you would have read this delightful post plus other juicy tidbits 3 weeks ago! Sign up today – don’t keep missing out.

Stop Wanting What You Don’t Want.

Nailah — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 01:37:30 +0000

Every day we are faced with a multitude of choices. We choose whether to go to work or to stay in bed. We choose to be happy or to be miserable – yes, that’s a choice. We make insignificant decisions – burger & fries or soup & salad – and monumental ones – move or stay.

There is no shortage of choices in this world. It seems that the one thing that we have more of than choices are options. And that can get crazy confusing. Because we’re faced with all of these options in life, it can be easy to lose sight of what it is you really want. It’s easy to just start wanting what others want. Or to start wanting what is expected of us. It becomes easy to second guess your own gut and choose the option that goes against your own north star. We all need to make choices, that much is true. But we need to be conscious of what we actually want so we can make the choice that is in line with our core values.

Stop wanting what you don’t want.

Don’t go after that promotion when you know you hardly like the job. Don’t buy that fancy car because all of your friends have one. If the choice doesn’t line up with your true values don’t make it. If you’re honest with yourself, you will discover what you do and do not want. Stop focusing on the things you don’t want and pour all of your energy into those you do. It will be difficult at first but the more you start listening to your gut and start ignoring all of the outside noise, the easier it’ll be to continuously make the choices that fit best into your life. And the easier it’ll be to just stop wanting all those things you don’t want.

What have you recently been wanting that you really don’t want?

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There’s still time to sign up for my FREE coaching call this Wednesday 10/27 at 9pm EST. Come get some quick laser coaching on any issue you’ve been experiencing lately. Sign up here!

Let’s Get Authentic!

Nailah — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 04:12:54 +0000

So, I have big, exciting news for you all! A lot of you took my survey (Thank You!!) and you told me what your biggest issues were. And so I spent weeks in my lab – mostly Starbucks & Borders’ cafes – creating a tool to help fill your need. I’m launching my very first online workshop called The Authentic Happiness Guide! AHG – as I fondly call it – is a unique home-study program that allows you to delve deep into what really makes you tick and helps you craft your ideal life. It’s 4 power-packed weeks of thought provoking exercises, journal prompts and worksheets. And because I know that soul-searching can be difficult, I’ll be there to guide you along. You’ll gain access to an exclusive online Polka Dot Coaching community where we can share & support each other. The ultimate goal? Uncover your true passions and begin working towards your best life.

Who should care about the Authentic Happiness Guide? YOU should! Well, you should if you’re a passionate 20-something or 30-something woman who is ready to live your best life. Whether you’re facing a full blown quarter life crisis or you just need a tiny – or massive – kick in the ass, The Authentic Happiness Guide will help unlock your true passions so that you may begin living your life authentically. Everyone deserves a life in which they are utterly and completely satisfied – The Authentic Happiness Guide can help you get to yours.

And just so you know, if you were one of my beloved newsletter subscribers you would have gotten the full skinny on the program a week ago. Not only do newsletter subscribers get to hear about it first but they’ll also be receiving exclusive discounts and bonus materials. Don’t be left out, join my mailing list today!

Be on the look out in the coming weeks for more juicy details. I can’t wait to share more with you!

One last thing – I want to get this program into the hands of all you awesome quarterlife woman out there. I’m opening myself up to any and all ways of getting the word out about The Authentic Happiness Guide. I need your help. Want to interview me for your blog, YouTube channel or podcast? I’m down. Want me to come out and speak to your group about the quarterlife crisis? I’m there! I’ll accept any requests you can throw at me. Just email me at nblades[at]gmail[dot]com or hit me up on twitter. I’m ready to start a movement – Let’s start one together!

What Are You Waiting For?

Nailah — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:09:09 +0000

What’s stopping you from reaching your big dream?

Is it time? Money? Shoddy planning? Lack of confidence?

Take the time to think about it. And I mean really think about the reasons why you’re not going after your vision. Be brutally honest with yourself.

And then once you have that stumbling block clear in your head, Fix it.

No time? Schedule the time. No money? How can you make or save more money? Whatever it is that is standing in your way needs to get gone, pronto. And you’re the only one who can make that happen.

Today’s your day to take charge. Go ahead and seize it.

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In So Cal? Then join our brand, spanking new Meet-up group: The Polka Dot Connection. Being a 20-something in LA is hard. Add a quarter life crisis to the mix and you’re likely to be on the edge. The Polka Dot Connection is here to help by providing a way for 20-something women to connect, learn and grow so you can kick that quarter life crisis to the curb. Check us out!

7 Steps To Turning Your Passion Into A Fulfilling Career

Nailah — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 04:04:27 +0000

“One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested.”
— E. M. Forster

You may have already read my Super Quick Guide to Finding Your Passion. (If not, go read it, I’ll wait.) And you may have already come up with a list of possibilities as to what your true passion is. But you might be stuck as to how to transform these passions into a viable career. Check out the simple process below to start living your dream.

Submerge yourself – Choose 3-5 options on your list that excite you most. Now go and learn everything you possibly can about each subject one at a time. Read books on it, talk to people who are experts in that field, read relevant blogs. Do everything you can to learn about the subject at hand. Start taking notes on what skills you’d need to master and what else you’d need to learn to become an expert in this field. Live, eat and breathe your topic but be careful of analysis paralysis. Don’t spend too much time in this phase of the process.
Narrow things down – Take a look at your shortened list and be honest about which items you’d like to keep on there. You may have already eliminated options after you started researching them. Be careful not to nix subjects because you don’t feel they are realistic. Only get rid of the options that you don’t feel as passionate about or wouldn’t fit in with what you want from your life.
Test it out – Here’s the most important step. Now you may be left with 1 – 3 options. Prioritize which possibility you’d like to experiment with first and start doing it. Do you want to become an author? Start writing. A speaker? Start speaking. You can start small but try to make it public as soon as you can. By going public you’ll be motivated to improve, you’ll get feedback from others and you’ll begin building your reputation. Going public doesn’t have to be something grandiose. It can be as simple as letting your friends and family know that you’re dabbling in image consulting or as easy as starting a blog on photography. Focus on the feeling you get when you’re doing your thing. Does it get you excited? Do you look forward to doing it?
Evaluate – After you’ve tested out each of your remaining possibilities. Evaluate how each of them made you feel. Which gets you the most excited? Which of these can produce something that people will pay for or get excited about? Which can you see yourself doing for years? Don’t worry about whether or not it’s a traditional career path. Pick one – or two at the most – and focus on that.
Confront your fears & limiting beliefs – Facing your fears can be challenging. After all, our fears often act as a defense mechanism to ensure we don’t get hurt or disappointed. The first step is acknowledging what you’re afraid of. Then think about why it is there. Is your fear trying to protect you in some way? Next dispute your fear – think of examples that challenge your fear. For example, if you believe that you could never make money doing what you love think of examples of others who are doing precisely that. Ask yourself. “what’s the worst that can happen?” Most of the time, it’s nothing you can’t handle. Lastly, plan and prepare for taking your next steps. If you have a solid plan, there is less to fear. Take small steps and focus on the present. Make sure to congratulate yourself on your small victories as you move forward.
Decide what you can sacrifice - Now it’s time to find the time to pursue your passion. If this is something that is truly important to you then you’ll be able to find time to squeeze it in. Prioritize your life so that you have the time to put in the work you need. Maybe this means you have to wake up earlier or stay up later. Or maybe you have to work through lunch or on your weekends. Figure out what it takes and get it done.
How to make a living doing it - Ah, this is the biggie. This won’t happen overnight. You’ll have to discover your passion and become great at it. It might take time – months or years – but if this is truly what you’re passionate about then you’ll enjoy the ride. There are a lot of ways to make a living through your passion. You may have to change jobs or go back to school. Perhaps you just need a certification or an apprenticeship. Or you can work for yourself. You can look into consulting or freelance work. You can develop a product – either an information product like an e-book or a physical product like dresses. You can even make a living through writing a blog. The world is your oyster. Be creative and seize the day.

None of this will be easy. It takes a lot of soul-searching, experimentation and courage. Most of all it takes a lot of commitment. But it’s definitely worth it so that you can look forward to Mondays instead of dreading them.

Until Next Time,

Nailah

Need more help discovering your passion? Or have you figured it out but have no idea how to incorporate it into your daily life? Contact me [nblades@gmail.com] about my coaching packages designed to help you live the life you deserve!