What if you were able to stay grounded, no matter what your day threw at you? Take a look at the qualities and behaviors of The Grounded Woman and The Grounded Man.

The Grounded Woman

␣ Knows how to take a deep breath and a little time to calm down.

␣ Is forgiving of herself in every moment.

␣ Has no problem prioritizing items on her to-do list, or even dropping tasks from the list.

␣ Realizes that she was only given two hands, and is comfortable delegating responsibilities to others.

␣ Knows the meaning of “one day at a time.”

␣ Puts herself up on a pedestal.

␣ Gives herself the accolades due for a day well done, even if others are not recognizing her efforts.

The Grounded Man

␣ Takes good care of his body and mind by making the commitment to exercise and eat in a healthy way.

␣ Has learned to follow his heart in his career/busines path and in love, rather than making choices to meet others’ expectations.

␣ Cultivates good friendships with other men and feels comfortable being open with his emotions.

␣ Knows that feelings of sadness and fear are healthy and will heal faster when they are released rather than suppressed.

␣ Balances his drive with fun and adventure. ␣ Knows that laughter and balance feed his soul and therefore will feed his personal and professional life.

After reading about Mr. and Ms. Grounded, what changes do you want to make that would help you feel less frazzled and more fulfilled? Can you think of any improvements that would help you feel grounded that were not on either of the above lists?

What do you think about Mr. and Ms. Grounded? Leave a comment and give me your thoughts on this topic.

Allison Maslan is the CEO of Allison Maslan International. She was recently named “One of the Top Women Entrepreneurs Who Inspire” by Self Made Magazine. A born entrepreneur and No. 1 Best Selling Author of the book, Blast Off! The Surefire Success Plan to Launch Your Dreams Into Reality, Allison has built nine successful companies from the ground up starting out as a single mom on her own. Get a copy of her Free CD, The 8 Secrets of Successful Entrepreneurs. http://www.myblastoff.com/freecd.html

As a life and business strategist, I take my clients through a process to find their true calling so they can turn it into a business. Or we work to expand the business they already have while making it much more fun on a daily basis. Once we get clarity on the direction, I help them get creative and design what I call, their Big Picture Vision, which is a window into how they want their business and other aspects of their life to unfold.

Most people get very bold during this phase and dream big, which is what I like to see, and honestly what is necessary to take your reality up several notches. They get very enthusiastic about growing a fantastically profitable and fulfilling business, so we put the plan and structure into place.

Then it is time to take this big, bold dream and put it into action, because at this point, it is all fantasy until you take it out of your head and start moving toward it. I call this the “Jumping In With Both Feet” phase. Invariably, they begin to get scared and ask to take it slow and test the waters instead of diving in wholeheartedly. With the best intentions, they might say, “maybe I’m not ready for that kind of success”, or “I’m not sure if what I have to offer is valuable.” They start talking themselves off the ledge saying, “I cannot spend the money right now because I am feeling stuck financially.”

I am here to tell you, that playing it safe doesn’t work in business if you want big results. (Same goes for athletics.) To get unstuck, you need to let go of the training wheels and jump higher than you have before. Try sort of diving off a diving board. Can you say, “belly flop”? Just like creating a successful relationship, you cannot experience true love unless you open your heart fully.

So many people hold on tightly trying not to fail, yet to be wildly successful, you need to jump in knowing you will succeed even if you are not sure how it is all going to come together. An entrepreneur goes after his/her mission because he is determined to make his dream a huge reality no matter what, because the alternative is living in regret or wondering what could have been. To a visionary, this is a slow death.

My father is the quintessential entrepreneur at 81. His secrets: He lives with passion, has an ability to think big and has taught me to say yes to my dreams even when I had no idea where the financial resources would come from or who would help me. At the prime of my dad’s life he ran the largest privately owned women’s clothing chain in the US. He did not accomplish this from taking small steps and waiting for the right time to appear. Instead, he created his own opportunities and went for them full on.

When you say ‘yes’ to your dreams, something magical starts to happen. If you proclaim your vision to the Universe, believe in it at a soul level, and then jump in with both feet, somehow the world rearranges itself to support your intention. The money suddenly appears, you meet the connection you needed while standing in line at the grocery store, and the opportunities start falling at your feet.

So tell me, what are you waiting for?  If you don’t want to be at the same place next New Years wishing things were different, it’s time to jump in and make it happen. Hire the coach, get the support, invest in yourself and take the bold leap. You will be so happy you did.

Allison Maslan, CEO, Blast Off Life and Business Coaching was named one of the top 50 women entrepreneurs who inspire by Self Made Magazine. She helps her clients build or expand their dream into a profitable, fun and meaningful business.

www.MyBlastOff.com

Are you ready to re-invent yourself?

So many people get all enthused at the New Year to start fresh with a whole new ‘go after it’ attitude and then, three weeks or so later, they fall back into old habits that did not serve them the year before, but seem to want to hang on tightly. What can you do differently this time? How can you ensure success long after January?

First of all, you need to have a plan.

When you have a plan you are much more likely to stick to it rather than a wish you casually throw into the sky. Follow these 4 steps to make the process easy, fun and successful:

Evaluate where you are in each area of your life. I recommend being brutally honest. Not to be hard on yourself because there is no point in that, but to give you a starting place.Get a piece of paper and lay it down horizontally. On the left side write a vertical list of the current status of your health, career, financial status, love life, living space, style, fun life and attitude. (Of course, there are more areas, such as our children, pets and so on, but this is about re-inventing you. When you take care of you, it is amazing how those around you begin to shift as well.)

Time to design your new life. This is the fun part… Now, on the right side of your paper write down where you want to be in each of these areas. For instance, you may want to have more energy, create some financial freedom, redecorate your bedroom, freshen up your personal style with some new clothes, add some adventure to your world and shape up your occasional ‘cup half empty’ attitude. (Leave room in the middle of the page.)Now you know where you are and where you want to be. This is crucial. You can’t find the buried treasure if you don’t know what you are looking for.

Now let’s create your treasure map. You need to figure out what it will take to bridge the gap between the two realities. Time for your research and brainstorming.

What will it cost to buy the new clothes you have been eyeing? Begin by making room for the new by getting rid of any out of date styles. If you have not worn it in the last year, sell it or bag it for Goodwill. Do your closet a favor. Let it go.

What can you do to freshen up the relationship you are in now, manifest the love of your life or move on from the one that is not serving you? Ready to upgrade your home? Even if you don’t have the means to buy yet, go do some window shopping at open houses. You would be amazed how your circumstances will begin to change when you have some concrete goals and numbers that are needed to make your dreams happen.

How can you create more wealth? How about inventing a side revenue, or a new one altogether? One way to do this is to consider staring your own business. There is honestly no better direct route to wealth than becoming an entrepreneur. And, you can create fulfilling work on your own terms. There are many ways to start a business very inexpensively. The easiest and fastest way to make this happen is to work with a coach or mentor. This is honestly the secret to my success. I have always reached out for support and wisdom from those that have forged the path before me. Most of all, have fun with this. Make it an adventure!

Ready to stop staring at your skinny jeans hanging in your closet and actually put them on? Studies show that you will be much more apt to stick to a work-out plan when you exercise with a buddy or a trainer. I have had the same fitness trainer for 14 years and let me tell you, he is my savior and worth every penny for my brains and my body! Thank you, Markus. (I always joke that he is the longest relationship I have ever had.)

What can you do to add more fun and adventure in your life? I know there were many hobbies you loved doing as a kid. Time to add a few of them back into your weekly repertoire.To create a more consistent, upbeat attitude, plan to surround yourself with a new crowd of positive, inspiring people. It is said that ‘we are who we hang out with,’ so take a good, hard look at your environment. Nothing can drop your outlook faster than being surrounded with negativity. Attitude is everything. So to improve your external life, we need first tune up the internal one.

Now it is time to take action and turn your fantasy into reality. I have spent years figuring out the best ways to achieve goals throughout all of my business and personal ventures, and have developed many tools to help myself and my clients attain success. You can have access to them in my bestselling book, Blast Off, theBlast Off Workbook and also my online life and goal setting system, Blastation. Or, you can make a commitment to taking three small steps a day toward your Big Picture Visions for 2011.Either way, just do it. There is honestly no simpler way to put it.

Reaching The Pinnacle …..

What if you had the personal and business support directly from me, Allison Maslan, and a group of extraordinary entrepreneurs to finally take your dreams and goals and make them a reality for 2011?

Guest Blogger, colleague and dear friend, Lynn Serafinn, explores the many ways our inner fears contribute to our stopping short of unbridled Joy in our lives.

PICTURED LEFT: photo of an actual wooden “stairway to heaven” ascending more than 50 metres, used by the famous “Voladores de Papantla” in Central America, whose breathtaking annual springtime “flying” ritual is famous worldwide.

A few years ago, I enrolled on a mega-personal-development course where I had to complete a series of physical challenges, many involving heights. One of the first challenges was to climb up to a balance beam about 25 feet high and walk across it–blindfolded. Of course, there was absolutely no danger involved, as all of us had secure harnesses attached to our bodies, with a team of strong people ensuring our safety at all times. But the ego-mind is very good at creating its own messages, even if your logical brain knows you are perfectly safe. And what is so interesting is that the messages it creates might not have anything whatsoever to do with the current situation. In all likelihood, you might find yourself replaying some very old “tapes” in your head that you might not even have thought of for years.

And that is precisely what happened to me. As I got close to the top of the pole I was climbing to get up to the balance beam, I suddenly froze. There was no way I could bring myself to make those few last steps to stand up on that beam.

Why?

Because all I could think of when faced with the prospect of walking across that 25-foot high plank of wood were images of me in 10th Grade, as I wobbled fearfully along a 3-foot high balance beam in my P.E. class, and the teacher made fun of me in front of the class saying, “Serafinn, you’re fat and you’re useless. Can’t you do anything?”

And as I replayed that mouldy, old tape (which I hadn’t even realised I still carried with me), the voices in my head said, You have NEVER been able to walk across a balance beam in the past, and you will NEVER walk across this one either. Your body is fat and useless. Don’t’ even think about this. Get OUT now!

Totally “triggered” by this inner drama, an overwhelming sense of panic, shame and sheer terror made me freeze. I simply couldn’t move. I shouted down to my course leader, “No, no, I can’t do this. I know I can’t. I’m bailing. I need to get down NOW.” And immediately I let go of the pole and sailed down to the ground on my guide ropes (even letting go was a challenge). When I landed, my entire body shook uncontrollably from the adrenaline flooding my every muscle. My legs collapsed under me and my hands were in intense pain from all the stress hormones.

My hands shaking the whole time, I took out my journal and wrote for a few minutes, exploring my flurry of emotions around this strange experience. But later, when I returned to watch some of the others on the course, I noticed that many people started out scared to death, but became elated when they got on top of, and eventually across, the beam. As I watched, I saw they were actually enjoying themselves in spite of–or maybe even because of–the fear.

My sense of “shame” and “failure” made me angry–at myself. I realised I had convinced myself I would fail, and had deprived myself of the elation others were experiencing when they had gone past their own limits.

I harnessed this anger as I approached the next challenge–climbing now a 30-foot telephone pole to the top. It looked REALLY high! But this time, I was not going to stop. I growled with anger. I shouted. I grunted. I swore. I told myself I WILL make it to the top. I will. I will. I will.

And after overcoming a few obstacles here and there along the way, I climbed just high enough to touch the “cookie” on the top of the pole. I was really happy, and felt so proud of myself.

But then, my course leader called up to me and said, “That’s great, Lynn! So, what do you want to do now?

“Now?” I asked. “But I’ve already reached the top. What do you mean?”

“Well, would you like to stand on TOP of the pole too?”

In my head, I was saying, What? On top? You want me to stand up on top of a 10-inch diameter surface 30 feet in the air? Are you kidding?

But what I replied was, “Uh, no thanks, I’m happy enough with this.” And I took a moment to hug the pole, which had carried me to the top.

I came down feeling really proud of myself. After all, I hadn’t bailed out of the challenge. But in spite of feeling happy, I noticed I didn’t feel that real rush of elation I saw others express who did choose to stand atop the pole and free-fall down to earth (on the guide ropes, of course).

After meditating upon this, I began to understand that the thing that had stopped me short of that elation was my perspective. I had viewed climbing onto the top of the pole as a danger that threatened my happiness; I didn’t want to ruin my happiness by trying something so risky. But actually, the Universe was offering me the opportunity to experience more joy. But I chose not to receive it– for the moment.

Fortunately, I had the chance to stretch my limits one last time a few months later. This time, the challenge was a 35-foot high tightrope walk! But this wasn’t just a solo walk. I had to synchronise my walk with a partner who was walking on another rope a fair distance across from me, using a balancing pole.

Well, let me tell you, every single step I took climbing up to the tightrope made my heart POUND with sheer terror! But by this time, I had finally learned how to stop, acknowledge the fear, wait a moment, and continue. When I finally stepped onto the tightrope, I was completely and utterly thrilled. I had never actually STOOD so high up before, what to speak of being on a narrow, unstable wire, and working with a partner to boot!

Every step we took together was a sheer (terrifying) joy.

But then, when we got just past the halfway mark, one of my feet slipped off the wire, and for safety reasons I was instructed to let go of the pole and glide back down to the ground.

As I touched down, I felt, at long last, the rush, the elation, the sheer ecstatic JOY I had previously only witnessed in others. My partner and I were jumping up and down and hugging each other, delighted that we had survived the challenge without quitting, even if we hadn’t made it all the way across. I was buzzing. I was alive. I was so pleased with myself for mastering the art of walking WITH fear instead of fighting          against it.

But then, our course leader came over to us and asked, “You two were the first in the group to do this activity, and other people have learned from watching what you did. Would you like another chance to try it again later?”

And do you know what my brain said?

It said, What if you go up and you cannot get past your fear this time? Then, it will take away all the joy you are experiencing now. No, don’t do it again. You don’t need to finish the task. You have enough joy for now.

Enough joy??

That was 3 years ago, and a heck of a lot about me has changed since then.

Looking back on it now, I can see that while I definitely had made some major breakthroughs during that whole process, what I had not yet fully learned was the depth of my own willingness to accept less than the very best for myself. I seemed to be satisfied with overcoming my obstacles, rather than being passionately desirous of true, unfettered joy. And this was not limited to physical challenges–it actually entered into every aspect of my life: from career and financial success, to health, to love, to fun, to spiritual fulfilment.

And I as looked around me, I saw I was not the only one.

Everywhere I looked, I could see people living lives in which they felt “happy enough” by:

• Focusing on getting out of financial hardship versus wanting to create genuine wealth
• Focusing on overcoming physical ailments versus wanting to create true health and vitality
• Focusing on resolving conflict versus wanting to create true intimacy
• Focusing on “making a living” versus wanting to create a lasting legacy

Nope. Not anymore. Not me. No more “happy enough.”

Now, I’m ready to stand on top of that telephone pole–to feel the ecstasy of reaching “The Pinnacle.”

And on that note, I would like to invite you to join me and my very good friend, Allison Maslan for a warm and wonderful 2-session teleseminar called:

“10 Steps to Reach YOUR Pinnacle”

With Life and Business Strategist Allison Maslan

#1 Selling Author of the book Blast Off!

Wednesday November 3rd and Thursday November 4th*

5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern

90 minutes duration

Register FR*EE at http://tinyurl.com/YourPinnacle

On these two calls, we’ll be talking about 10 secrets that help you reach your Pinnacle in your business and your personal life, so you never find yourself settling for being “happy enough” again.

I hope to see you there!

P.S.: And if you’re REALLY serious, Allison also has a great new mastermind group called “The Pinnacle Program.” It’s starting in January in San Diego, California. I’ll be there (for sure!). Have a look and apply if you want to join us at http://tinyurl.com/PinnacleProgram

One of the biggest roadblocks in creating a soul-matched relationship is that we tend to bring our pain and baggage from past relationships into our present ones, and even into our search for the right one. If you have been hurt in the past, it is understandable that you may have developed issues with trust and confidence in your subsequent partners. The fact is that no partner is the same. Even though you may be holding onto past traumas or disappointments, this does not mean that every partner to follow will behave in this same way.

There is a tendency to project, or put onto other people, the fear, grief or resentment of our past. When in reality, this person does not represent those things at all. However, because you may believe this to be true because of your history, your fear and behavior around this issue may bring the worst out of someone you love.

The result is what we call a self-fulfilling prophecy, in that we end up bringing upon ourselves what we fear most. For instance, if you have fear of abandonment and you hang onto someone too tightly because you are afraid they will leave, they may end up leaving because they feel smothered by you. Another example would be that because you are afraid your love will leave you, you may subconsciously choose people that have commitment issues, just to prove to yourself that, yes, they will abandon you. Sounds crazy, right? Well it happens all the time.

When we start a relationship with clean slate, it will have a much higher chance of flourishing with much less grief and discord.

Here are a few exercises to help you let go and move forward from a clear, strong and healthy place.

Blast Off Practice #1 Write Off The Past

Please write out the emotions and traumas that you have experienced in past relationships that you do not want to bring into your new or current relationship.

By looking at these issues in writing, it helps to separate them from your current situations and relationships. In this way it is easier to become an observer rather than wearing the traumas on your sleeves in your new relationships.

When we can see our partner with 20/20 vision rather than looking through clouded lenses from the past, we will feel much freer to be the best partner possible. The result, we also draw in and receive the same positive, loving energy in return.

Blast Off Practice #2 Open Your Heart To Love

This Open Heart Meditation exercise is in my new best selling book, Blast Off! The Surefire Success Plan To Launch Your Dreams Into Reality.  In this exercise, you will focus, visualize and feel your heart open to receive love, and at the same time let go of the past hurts and disappointments.

1. Get into a quiet space. Sit down and then take some deep breaths until you are feeling calm and relaxed. If soft music and candles help you get into the mood, add these to your environment.
2. Now when you inhale, visualize a golden light coming into your body from the crown of your head and see it flowing all the way down to your toes. Feel it as the warmth and the sparkling light nurtures all the organs and systems of your body.
3. After a few minutes, focus on your heart area. Now put your right hand over your heart and continue to inhale and exhale this golden light. Then as you inhale, only focus on your heart area and visualize a soft, pink, loving energy coming into your heart. Feel your heart opening fully and allowing this pink energy to fill it completely and fully with love.
4. If you have had pain in your heart due to loss or heartbreak, visualize the tears of your heart pouring out as the pain begins to release and subside. Fill any emotional wounds with this pink loving energy. See your wound healing as your heart is surrounded with love. Continue to inhale and exhale deeply.
5. After another minute or two, visualize the pink energy turning into red, passionate, vibrant energy that is continuing to fill up your ever- expanding, open heart. Now feel that love and passion spread from your heart to the rest of your body, up to your head and down through your torso and legs, and through to the bottom of your toes. Feel how wonderful, light, free and uplifting this love energy feels. Continue to experience the opening of your heart.
6. Now I want you to expand this loving energy inside your heart and the rest of your body out to the world and to the Universe. See it expanding for miles and miles. Oh, how lucky the world is to experience your love! Now feel the love coming right back into your heart and hold it there. Your heart is now open and ready to receive love.
7. Repeat this exercise at least twice a week to continue healing and opening your heart so that you may receive all the love you deserve.

It is not that you won’t remember any of these old hurts, you are just choosing not to give them continual power over you and your present and future opportunities for great love.

Now that you have been releasing the past and anything that can get in the way of creating a new and deeper relationship, it is time to get really clear on what you actually do want in your relationships.

Allison Maslan, HHP, CCH is the founder and president of Blast Off! Life and Business Coaching™; an all-encompassing enterprise which empowers her clients to achieve personal and professional goals. In addition to Blast Off, Maslan is an international motivational speaker, a No. 1 bestselling author of Blast Off! The Surfire Success Plan To Launch Your Dreams Into Reality, the inventor  of Blastation™ – an interactive, web-based life coaching software program – and the president of the Homeopathic Wellness Center™.  She has been an avid entrepreneur for the past twenty five years and started nine of her own businesses. Via her numerous enterprises, and successful strategies, Maslan has facilitated thousands of her clients in attaining and maintaining their personal and professional apex . And yes, Allison manifested her soulmate and husband, Mike, with the same formula she teaches in her book and coaching.

Are there any areas in your life that you are limiting yourself? Be totally honest.  In your career, is there something you would just LOVE to be doing, but have no idea how to make it happen? Or maybe you feel intimidated to even try? What if you knew that your new venture or challenge would be a sure thing. You would go for it. Wouldn’t you?

In your relationship, have you settled in your choices because you’re afraid you might not find anyone better? Do you stay in your current relationship because of fear?

There are 3 key barriers that tend to hold people back from venturing out into the wild blue yonder.

Fear. Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of being judged, fear of the unknown, fear of loss of security, fear of not enjoying your choices…I could go on.

Disconnection from Passion. You know that feeling. The one that fills you up with bubbles of excitement and satisfaction. Often hard to get there when you have felt stuck, held back, trapped for some time.

Lack of direction. You may not be afraid. You may know exactly what you want to do. But you have no idea how to make it happen. This is not an uncommon scenario.

Can you relate? I want to hear from you….tell me your stories.

What if you had a book that helped you solve the mystery to all three barriers? I know where you would be right now.

Dancing in the streets!

In my book, Blast Off! The Surefire Success Plan To Launch Your Dreams Into Reality, that is being released on January 19th, I unlock the mystery of  ”what is holding you back from living the life you truly desire.” Then, together, I help you put one step in front of the other as we devise a new plan. Your very own roadmap to a brand new life.

” Blast Off really helps the reader break through their barriers of fear, guides them to tap into their deeper passions, and then gives them the tools to create a step-by-step roadmap toward their big picture visions in their personal and professional life. Then they know exactly what to do on a daily basis to move these dreams from their head into reality. ~ Allison Maslan

My special gift to you… when you buy my book Blast Off! on January 19th, 2010, you will receive over 20 unbelievably awesome bonus e-books, dvd’s, audio’s, courses from top authors and coaches that have graciously teamed up with me to celebrate this momentous occasion. For only $16.00, the price of my book on Amazon, you will receive hundreds of dollars in coaching, support and guidance. www.myblastoff.com/booklaunch It does not get much better than that!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4D_S56g5dI

My dream is to help as many people step outside of their comfort zone and grab hold of life’s possibilities. My book, Blast Off! can change lives.  Help me to get the word out. Pass this link on to your friends, family…. anyone you love that needs a big, bold nudge! www.myblastoff.com/booklaunch. (Sign up for my launch reminder so you don’t miss it!)

Here’s to your radiating success!!

Allison

Comment away!

I was actually sitting in a pretty nice place in my life. After a few too many heartaches, I finally began to really understand who “I” was as a person, and what I loved doing, what I enjoyed thinking about and how I wanted to “be” in this world. And at the same time,  I began to really understand what type of man would be the best match for me. Up to this point, I kept getting involved with guys I was attracted to, or that were nice, but they did not fit my lifestyle, my ideal and values. Then I ended up feeling frustrated, bored, angry… and there was nothing wrong with them. It was me! I just kept choosing the wrong partner. I did not want a male clone of me, (scary thought) but from my vast experience on this topic I knew that an extreme opposite personality, in my case, just did not work either. So I began to create a vision of who my dream man would be.

• He needed to be an entrepreneur also so he could understand my passion for business and  be able to take vacations on a whim.
• He needed to have a zest for life, be adventurous, love to travel, dine out and enjoy the theatre.
• He needed to have an open heart and really be ready for a relationship. (this is a big one that we often forget to ask for) You could find the perfect partner, but if they are not ready, forget it.
• Kind hearted, good sense of humor, independent, yada yada.

I cannot tell you how many times people would say to me, “Allison, what you want in a man does not exist. You are such a dreamer!”  Or  my favorite, “So what if you two have nothing in common. He’s a nice guy!”  The truth is that I never listen anyway, and I never gave up hope. I always knew that my soulmate was out there somewhere. And once I got completely clear on what that right partner would be like, I stopped settling. And I finally began to apply the same formula I used in creating successful businesses to finding my soulmate. I know that sounds crazy, but it worked. We just celebrated our third anniversary.

Allison Shares Insights Into Finding Your Soulmate- Click here to watch video.

(You will be able to learn about that formula on January 19th!)

What does this have to do with launching my new book? Everything. Because once my heart was full, I could be in the head space to write.

Good-night, all.

www.myblastoff.com