Center for Professional & Personal Renewal



	individuals organizations free quarterly newsletter		April 2003 Dear CPPR Client: I hope this note finds you well and engaged in the process of growing and learning. I just returned from an excellent four-day Advanced Coaching Seminar at the Hudson Institute. It was a great opportunity to recharge my batteries and learn new things to improve my coaching work. Santa Barbara was warm and luscious.

			I was particularly impressed with the lectures by the author, coach and seminar leader, Richard Leider of the Inventure Group in Minneapolis. He provided several keynotes on the subject of "calling," as did author and coach John Shuster. Both of them have new books out, both addressing various aspects of calling. Both authors agree that the first step is to become thoroughly grounded in defining your purpose. (Each of you should feel good about that advice, because that is one of the first things I get you to do!) As you pursue your calling, here are five bits of wisdom from theses two masters: Callings are brought TO a job, not found IN a job Callings are a generosity, not an obligation. ("I can't wait to do it") Callings are UNcovered, not DIScovered, and are often attached to golden threads leading back to your earlier life (youth) Callings are usually associated with the use of our own unique life gifts. What gifts are blessed with? When are you in the "gift zone"? (In the gift zone, we lose all track of time, don't hear noises or distractions, and feel in sync with the flow of time) If you are engaged now in the process of redefining your career calling, you will find either or both of these books very engaging and helpful: John P. Shuster. Answering Your Call. A Guide for Living Your Deepest Purpose. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Books, 2002. $15.95 Richard J. Leider and David A Shapiro. Whistle While You Work: Heeding Your Life's Calling. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publications, San Francisco, 2001. $15.95 Despite the turbulence of the time we are living in and the growing horrors of war, strive to find daily time for humor and a little fun. Stay committed to your program for self care and self-nurturing, even if it means turning off the TV news altogether. Especially, stay connected to friends, family and other loved ones. In such times of high stress, we need to be strongly committed to those activities that best support our balance and resilience. Here is my coaching schedule for the month of April. As always, contact me as soon as possible to maximize the chance of getting the dates and times that work best with your own schedule. Ciao, Peter