Getting Started - Intuitive Initiation Issue 1 Janneke Jobsis-Brown, LCSW, BA Intuitive Circle www.intuitivecircle.com

In This Issue:

I. Intuition and New Beginnings
II. Seed Thoughts
III. The Four Key Concepts for a Focused and Effective Start

1. Visioning Process/Visioning Statement
2. Mission Statement
3. Synchronicity
4. Strategic Plan for Good Beginnings, and Joyful Completion

I. Intuition and New Beginnings

I believe that spirituality, creativity, inspiration and intuition are key aspects of life
and all successful business ventures. Yet of all of these, especially intuition is rarely mentioned as we reach new beginnings such as a job interview or project proposal. This is a pity because research* shows that 80% of CEO's involved with thriving corporations use intuitions as a vital aspect of their decision making and planning. I am interested in encouraging your IIQ (intuitive intelligence quotient) so that you can have the same excellent results as these CEO's. The same research also shows, that the higher the hierarchical level in the company, the more managers and CEO'S use their intuition as part of marketing decisions, problem solving, and effective team building. So stay open to your own intuitive process anyway; this intuition will enhance all your work experience, life experience, education, and skills.

II. Seed Thoughts

This newsletter comes to you in the fall. A time of joyous harvest and new
beginnings as many go off to school. This is the time for finishing and beginning. Even the darker winter days ahead still hold in warm-deep-earth the seeds of change. In some parts of the world we simply slow down for rainy, snowy darker days. In other parts of the world we hibernate during these darker, shorter, colder days - carefully honing our craft; creating products for the spring. This is a great time to start new enterprises.
Some will say, "…such a slow start!" Remember the excellent business-planning saying, "We will move slow in the beginning so we can move fast later."
You are ready for a jump-start, from a deliberate well-made platform.
This newsletter suggests you keep one foot on ice skates moving quickly and gracefully, your goals ever in front of you. The other foot is on snowshoes slowly crunching over a long field of snow. Since we can't actually split ourselves in half, for a time you will have two selves.
One self is making a commitment to swiftly take sure-footed steps of change. This is management by objectives, taking some small or big action steps toward change daily. This means discovering and making necessary changes as you go along because you keep your objectives in mind. An other self is taking the time to feel in the mood for change, to experience slow organic shifts inside which will support a lasting change, and a new way of being in the work/life balance.
So what is going to keep you skating, and crunching on the snow? Read on…

III. The Four Key Concepts for a Focused and Effective Start

What makes a difference in a focused, sure start? What makes a difference in making the changes deep and lasting? Many of us are great starters, and are often still discovering the ways to keep focus going. Accountability to start and finish is one of the key ways a coach helps with goal attainment. The process of goal attainment often means not being preoccupied with worry if goals and plans change as we move along. This worry can negatively interfere with the goal potential. New ideas are incorporated into the original focus. Potential blocks are seen as challenges transforming into new solutions and approaches. Energy stays and continues when flexibility of this type occurs. Focus is maintained when a strategic plan exists.
Keep in mind as you read on that for work/life balance, business borrows "family systems concepts" (which keep families happy) and families borrow from business concepts (which keep corporations happy). An excellent resource for this is Stephen Covey's book Seven Habits of Effective Families.

1. The Visioning Process/Visioning Statement
2. The Mission Statement
3. The Strategic Plan

A vision statement is an inspiring and unifying brief paragraph. Tom Terez at his
humorous and meaningful website, Betterworkplacenow.com, describes a vision statement as, "a compelling vision of the future (which) draws people in a common direction."

A mission statement describes the larger goals of an organization with general ideas of standards or processes to reach these goals. Terez also comments on mission statements as containing a common purpose, which helps each employee feel that their contribution is important to achieving a unified purpose.

From these descriptions we can gather that engaging in a visioning and mission statements processes can help not just organizations, but also individuals, couples and families too. In the process we form a common inspiration, bond, sense of purpose, sense of meaning of group/individual contributions, and goals for forwarding a meaningful enterprise.

Clearly, as we honor the process (not just the product), as our intuition would suggest - the process of gathering a team/committee (even if you are a sole proprietorships entrepreneur) and forming these statements, is as valuable as the written products. It is always the journey that matters, not the destination. During the journey of forming such statements, each participant learns others' concerns, roles, job descriptions, goals, values and beliefs. Each participant also reflects on current common challenges, strengths, and environment This is why couples and families who want to remain close, and have shared goals often also enter a process of completing such statements.
Here are some diverse examples for your consideration and inspiration. The first are the vision and mission statements from the State of New Jersey, judiciary branch. The second examples are from the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, "NOAA" of Boulder, Colorado.

FIRST EXAMPLE

Vision Statement We will be a court system, characterized by excellence, that strives to attain justice for the individual and society through the rule of law.
Mission Statement We are an independent branch of government constitutionally entrusted with the fair and just resolution of disputes in order to preserve the rule of law and to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States and this State.

SECOND EXAMPLE

I particularly like these examples because the vision statement, as is appropriate to visioning is inspirational, idealistic and unifying. The mission statement is specific to the broad purpose of this organization, and ways to address organizational goals.
Vision Statement A society that uses the results of our research as the scientific basis for more productive and harmonious relationships between humans and their environment
Mission Statement To conduct research, develop products, and provide scientific information and leadership toward fostering NOAA's evolving environmental and economic mission.
An example of a more personal mission, which an individual, couple, family or school might generate, comes from Waverly-Shell Rock (in Iowa) Junior High School. The mission statement was formed after Dick Jensen, principal at Waverly-Shell Rock, reported that 80 percent of the discipline problems he deals with somehow relate to a lack of respect or responsibility. The mission statement of the school, written in 1996, then targeted that concern. It states, "We will respect ourselves and one another, appreciate individual differences, and encourage one another to reach our potential." I know that teachers, parents and perhaps students were actually involved as equal partners in developing the mission statement, and the website notes that teachers felt the time and effort put into making the mission statement was well worth it, because the statement is actually used and referred to!

A Strategic Plan, which hopefully naturally arises out of Vision and Mission statements, is the next step. Those who are the key stakeholders in the mission just set forth also are best equipped to develop this plan. Imagine the support family members would feel when needing help with rest, extra work, or extra work hours if it was known that this was part of a plan which all developed together! How often do we say, "I thought we agreed," and then find we don't really have agreement or 'buy in' from others. A strategic plan, which breaks down goals into doable objectives, methods to reach the objectives, and time lines, consolidates the common effort of change, and ensures accountability and focus to move forward.

4. Synchronicity

Synchronicity is our last, always, and never least item for this newsletter.
This valuable concept will be mentioned frequently as a vital energizing aspect of inspiration and setting goals. One way of thinking about synchronicity is the common thought (source unknown), "A coincidence is actually a miracle in which God chooses to stay anonymous." I would paraphrase this to say, "A coincidence is a miracle in which we chose to have God stay anonymous." Another definition of synchronicity is when events occur together in such a way that the result has special meaning. Such occurrences are very frequent, and all such occurrences are highly susceptible to being ignored. It is the numinous, the creative whole brain, the intuitive leap, which gives synchronicity, it's meaning.
A wonderful example of synchronicity occurred when I was one of the directors associated with a non-profit organization. We were engaging in the process of building our vision statement, and we were seeking metaphors for our inspiration. A number of people verbalized and drew beehives of activity. As we looked up and examined more intensely our organization's historic meeting room, we saw that the beehive symbol was carved into their original artwork describing the organization. This helped encourage our group to value the direction and meaning of our vision.
Another wonderful synchronicity in my life is having been fascinated by hummingbirds since early childhood, having often photographed them (a difficult feat), and having drawn the hummingbird card from the series produced by Sams and Carson, Medicine Cards as one of my totem (life time purpose and guidance) animals. A hummingbird was flying outside the window when my husband and I repeated our wedding vows. The meaning of the hummingbird? Joy. Joy to you as you pursue you life's passion, purpose, and goals.

Nameste,

Janneke Brown

*source: Sandra Weintraub, The Hidden Intelligence: Innovation Through Intuition