Have you ever wondered how people from other countries end living abroad? If you are looking for a great place to read about other expats' experiences, visit
You'll find great tips, advice, resources and contacts. And, if you have a story of how you became an expat that you would like to share, send it to them because they are currently building their database. It is amazing how much we can learn from others like ourselves!
Here's a thought I had about "being there". Since we come from a "striving to get there" society, we often don't know what it feels like and what to do once we are "there". Where is "there" and what's it really about?
I noticed myself shifting in this respect in the last few years. I used to love to strategically plan my life to a T. I've got the life plan, the business plan, the goals and timelines. However, the more I get into understanding my own path in life, I find I rarely look at them anymore. It all suddenly doesn't matter as much if I reach those specific goals. I've let go of being attached to them. I've come to appreciate and trust myself and the Universe that I am leading the life I'm meant to live.
I've come to appreciate flowing with the here and now. It's a feeling I never really knew before because I was was never where I really wanted to be or though I should be. I felt I had to "strive" to be somewhere else - a "better" place. I was living in my future plans and missing out hugely on the beauty of the present.
What I've learned in the process is that I know I can't plan out most of the really cool opportunities in life because I simply don't know about them. So, I've shifted from "needing to control the future" to being really aware and open to the abundance of opportunities right here, right now. Any given moment has the inherent potential to increase the quality of my life now and move me forward.
So, I've concluded that I'm "there" already....and that "there" is actually "here"....and being Here is much more fun and real than wishing I was somewhere else and I am much more fun and authentic than thinking I should be like someone else.
Globalizing American Society
One could argue that in the face of globalization, it is necessary that we Americans equip ourselves with necessary skills to deal with the global world economy - such as foreign language fluency, an open-minded mentality towards other cultures and cross-cultural communication skills.
The problem is, except for international business people and Foreign Service personnel, I think the average US citizen doesn’t really buy into the idea of “globalizing” themselves, if they don’t have a need to. Most Americans don’t speak a foreign language well and many have never traveled very far beyond our borders, let alone possess skills to deal with professional counterparts overseas.
That doesn’t mean, however, that some Americans don’t dream about working abroad, taking their family on a cultural trip or retiring in a foreign country. Many do. And the good news is that families, professionals and retirees are starting to rethink their priorities in life and put “international experience” on the top of their “to-do” list and as a goal for their children. I know this because I coach many Americans who take the initiative to "globalize" themselves by traveling or moving overseas.
As more people are determined to go abroad to pursue a life more in line with their values, global-oriented Americans now have to find a new way to identify their lives in the face of “global” dreams and realities.
Shifting your identity from being an American to being a Global Citizen (with American nationality) and becoming part of a truly global community has the power to shift your belief of what is truly possible for your life and the kind of global impact you can make in your lifetime.
I truly believe global-oriented Americans are the ones who have the experience and responsibility to educate America about the benefits of globalizing our children, communities and country.
If every American would believe in the globalization of our society, I believe America could lead the world in creating peace, harmony and synergy between all nations and peoples. We have a long way to go, but we have to believe it is possilbe. What do you think?
Last night I watched a very inspiring movie that has the power to change the way the world thinks and acts. It is called The Secret (www.thesecret.tv )and can be watched on DVD or online (for $4.95). I was so impressed with the movie, I've passed it on to many of my clients. It is definitely a "must see"!
Much of what life coaches teach their clients are the Principles of Attraction and Abundance and this is what The Secret is all about. These two principles are so life-changing that, once learned and lived, you will never go back to your previous way of thinking.
In a nutshell, the Principle of Attraction says that our thoughts are energy. What we think about most manifests itself. If we think about, focus on, complain about or somehow give thought energy to everything wrong in our lives, then our negative energy (and behaviors) attracts just more of the same thing we don't want.
Conversly, when we focus on what we want (all the GREAT stuff we can have in life), we can naturally attract ALL that we want into our lives. The key here is being aware of and consciously choosing and envisioning what we think about and where we put our thought energy.
This is where the Principle of Abundance comes into play. Begin from a place of being aware of and thankful for all that you already have in life. Notice how your energy changes when you make a list of what you are grateful for! When you put yourself in a positive emotional space, you are in a position to effortlessly attract what you want. It is an amazing process that has worked for me and for millions of people for centuries!
This past Tuesday I gave a presentation at the Women in Leadership Forum in Munich organized by QS Top Career Forums (www.qsforums.com). The event was a recruiting and networking forum attended by top companies like DaimlerChrysler, Roland Berger, Shell and several others to speak with the best and brightest global women who are expected to be the next generation of female leaders.
The women who attended my workshop were incredibly savvy and intelligent young women from around the world who were interested in finding the perfect job and career. I told them that what I wanted most for them was to not only attract that perfect job and career, but to go beyond that to embrace their true passion and purpose in life so that they could become global role models for others.
We spoke about the personal and professional benefits of becoming Global Role Models in their organizations, families and communities. For me the basis of being a role model is having a strong personal foundation. Practicing that is a life-long process. All of them agreed that they could reach their personal and professional goals faster and more efficiently by partnering with the right life coach, business coach, mentor or support group.
My challenge to them (and to you, if you choose to accept it), is to find a coach with whom you connect well and who can move you forward to an EXTRAORDINARY life!
Coaching can be quite an amusing business. I just got off the phone with a potential client. She told me she felt honored to speak with me because I am doing what she wants to do. She categorizes herself as a "global citizen" and wants to become a global life coach. Then she proceeded to tell me about her wonderfully inspirational plans to someday - in maybe 15-20 years - have a non-profit organization where she can be living out her purpose. Problem is she thinks she'll need money to buy a building for her organization.
After listening closely to the projects she is currently working on and how they match up perfectly with her values, purpose and non-profit's mission, I asked her something like, "So, why will this take you 15-20 years?? It sounds like you've been living your purpose for quite some time now. YOU embody all that your non-profit org is supposed to be about. What is stopping you from having your non-prof NOW?"
After a long pause, which was probably the "shift" sinking in of bringing a 15-20 year goal into the possibility of the PRESENT MOMENT, she said something along the lines of "Nothing...I could do that now....I AM doing that now..." WOW!
It is amazing, and yet amusing, when clients make that big shift! I am wondering how many other people out there are already doing what they want to be doing in 20 years, but just can't really see it?
Amazing!!
My coaching business Global Citizen Coaching derived its name from a book I wrote a few years ago called "The Global Citizen: A Guide to Creating an International Life and Career". As a result of becoming a life coach, I'm finding that I'm expanding my definition. In my book, I describe global citizens like this:
"Global citizens are opened-minded people from any culture who are interested in the world at large and are passionate about living fulfilling lives. The term "global citizen" creates an awarenss of the existence of a whole category of internationally-oriented people who derive satisfaction from life by discovery the world.
The global citizen's philosophy is based on the awareness that stimulating experiences of meeting people from different cultures and living in foreign countries helps us develop as people. As we clarify our understanding of ourselves and our world, we improve the quality of our lives."
As I get ready to update my book and add a coaching guide, I am expanding my definition of what it means to be a global citizen. We are all global citizens in the sense that we are all part of the world's 6 billion population. Yet, few people are consciously aware of how our interconnectedness relates to living our life purpose. For me, being a global citizen has everything to do with being who you are truly meant to be in this lifetime - living your life purpose, which are a reflection of what you really value in life.
Through becoming a life coach, I've come to the conclusion that being a global citizen has nothing to do with travel. It means honoring the calling to be your true self - wherever you live in the world.
Why should we be true to ourselves? When we are in integrity and true to ourselves, we have the power to create positive change not only in our own lives, but also in our communities, families, businesses and professions - and that leads to better communication, synergy and cooperation on a global scale between nations, governments and people at all levels. If all of us do our part to live our purpose, we can be global citizens and "be the change we wish to see in the world (Ghandi)".
What are your thoughts?
An Extraordinary Life: Is it Possible?
Globe trotters who spend several months up to several years traveling and doing various jobs around the globe gain incredible life experience and a new perspective on what the real world is like.
Ironically, when they return home, they feel out of touch with “real world” they left and the job market that awaits them.
Many career-less travelers are left wondering if it is really possible to travel, have a successful career and an extraordinary life.
What do you think?
Ask Yourself the Right Questions
First, the path to living an extraordinary life lies in asking yourself the right questions and then
answering from a place of truth, not fear. The right question is one that speaks to the whole of
you and the integrated parts of your life.
Instead of asking, “How do I get a job and start a career?”, shift to
What are my values and global values that I want to orient my life around?
What kind of person do I want to be in this lifetime?
If I had all the time, money, confidence and opportunities (and whatever else I need),
what do I really, really, want to do with my life?
What does a career, success, traveling and living an extraordinary life look like to me?
Feel free to post your answers here or through my website at www.the-global-citizen.com.
Games of Life
I recently received an email from the President of Coachville regarding the main theme of this year's conference. It is about figuring out the game in life that you coach. Since the life coaching profession grew out of the sports coaching field, it is logical that one could see the job of the coach as coaching a game...in this case, the Game of Life!
As coaches, we need to know which Games of Life we coach. I thought about what kind of games of life my clients are playing, what they want and what I want my coaching to be about. Here are the games I play and coach:
Games I coach:
1. The Survive and Thrive as a Wife, Mother and Professional in a Foreign Country - Game
2. The Figure out Who You Are, What You Want and How to Manifest Wherever You Live in the World - Game
3. The Transitioning to Living Your True Purpose - Game
4. The Moving Abroad - Game
5. The Living Abroad - Game
If you are looking for a life coach, it is helpful to first ask yourself:
"What game am I playing now that I need some coaching on?"
If you are a coach building your business, ask yourself:
"What games in life do I have experience with and am passionate about coaching?"
Your answers might surprise you!
The Global Citizen’s Life Coaching Blog
Welcome to my new blog! It is my playground for life coaching ideas. No real projects going on here, just the free flow of ideas and creativity. I’ll be talking to myself most of the time or to my imaginary friend, which very well could be you if you are reading this!
Feel free to come and play with me and my ideas by commenting…. Or just observe the creativity in progress.
First, I absolutely must thank a very brilliant former client who is now living out her dream in Spain. Erin is now my "blog consultant" and got me started with my new identity as a blogger. She is a traveler, a musician, a poet, a savvy business woman, a blogger and simply a really cool gal! Check her out at http://www.wandering-woman.blogspot.com/.
Well, since I don’t really have a plan, I’ll just write about what coming up for me now….
It’s about
Redefining Work
(sounds kinda heavy for a first post, but what the hey… let’s play…)
A new quote I heard recently from a wonderfully talented woman I coached were the wise words of her father. He told her
“If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
I found out later that it was a paraphrasing of Confucius...
Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. --- Confucius
I love that idea and I really do believe in it!
Do you? Do you think if you do what you love, it will never feel like work?
Like many of my female clients who I coach on work/career topics, this woman made a breakthrough in our coaching session about what “work” and "career" looks like for her now that she has a family. Her vision of her ideal work life now is completely different than the work life she had before kids. Her old view was that "work" was a place you go to and that it was a means to an end. In her new view, "work" is something fun she can do from home or anywhere warm wearing a bandana, shorts and sandals....AND earn money doing what she loves!
This isn’t the first time clients have defined concepts with their own definitions. In fact, I encourage it.
Another client, for example, didn’t even include the “work/career” segment in her wheel of life pie chart where you break up your life into different segments, such as family, health/wellness, relationships, etc. For most people the work and career part is a big piece of the pie.
My client, who had changed her job in the time we were working together, renamed the work/career category to “life purpose”. As her coach, I loved that she made that shift! My heart smiled. She found out who she truly is inside and found out she wasn’t her work. She “cut the emotional tie” with a job and career that were no longer serving her. By doing so, she embraced her life for the richness it offers, while taking time to explore her true purpose.
Empowering stuff! My clients are letting go of old beliefs and definitions around work and career. They have to if they want to create change. People are finding that to succeed, they have to redefine what work, career, success, life and many other concepts mean for them personally, not how society defines them.
What are your new definitions of “work” and “career”?
