You ARE Your Environments!The Nine Environments

Kathy PaauwProductivity Consultant

Certified Professional CoachSendOutCards Executive

OBJECTIVES

Learn about 9 environments that shape your life

Learn how to design your environments to achieve your goals

Commit to taking action!

The Nine EnvironmentsThomas Leonard

Memetic

Ideas and beliefs – everything is filtered through your mind

Your memetics touch all other 8 environments

Words > Thoughts > Feelings > Decisions > Actions > Habits > Character > Destiny

Which ideas and beliefs does your mind focus on? How does this impact your ability to play your best game in the game of life?

What we focus on expands. How we play games is how we do life.

Memetic

If you want to change anything in any of your environments, begin with thethoughts you think and the language

you use with yourself and others.

“The stories of your mind become the stories of your life.”

-Kody Bateman

Example

Memetic Environment (ideas)

Upgrades desired: Replace “I can’t” self-talk with “I am.” Clarify and enforce my boundaries with others. Remember that I cannot be all things to all people.

Actions to be taken / by when: Read daily I AM statements while coffee is brewing in

the AM (install new beliefs). Leave the room or end a conversation as soon as

someone becomes disrespectful. Say NO to things that are not priorities for me. Wait 24

hours before saying yes or no to requests of my time that fall outside the bounds of required work.

Financial How healthy is your financial life?

How are you really doing?

Realistic picture of current financial health.

What skills are required to move you in the direction of financial freedom?

Example

Financial Environment(money, wealth, budget)

Upgrades desired: Assess my financial health

Actions to be taken / by when: Identify all assets by (date) Identify all debt by (date) Find out my credit score by (date)

Relationships If you want to know someone really well, get to

know the 5 people they are closest to.

We become like the people we spend the most time with.

Everyone in a person's life acts as a mirror to some part of themselves.

Do the people closest to you reflect who you want to be?  

Example

Relationship Environment(family, close friends & colleagues)

Upgrades desired: Minimize the time I spend with (name of person or

people) Nurture my relationships with (name of people)

Actions to be taken / by when: When ___ calls or emails, let them know that I

have set some goals and in order to achieve them, I will not be available like I used to be.

Send cards of appreciation to (names) each month.

What is

ONE THING --that if you did it consistently

in both your work and personal life -- would yield the

GREATEST POSITIVE RESULT?

EXPRESS APPRECIATION!

Business: Clients/customers Prospects Referral partners Employees Vendors

"The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated."

-William James

Personal:o Friendso Familyo Co-workerso Service Professionals

--Home & auto repair--Teachers--Day care providers--Service professionals (doctor, dentist, lawyer, CPA, etc.)

Appreciation -- the lifeblood of your

RELATIONSHIPS!

Networks

As your goals change, your network environment must evolve and grow.

If you are the role model that everyone looks up to in your network, it’s time to upgrade your network.

Get out of your comfort zone – spend time with people you aspire to be like.

Hang out with those who are doing what you want to do, and soon you’ll be doing it, too!

Are you networked with people who pull you up or who push you down?

Example

Network Environment(professional connections, community, social networks)

Upgrades desired: Meet new people at (event, location). Focus 80% of my relationship-building time on the 20% of

people who can help me stretch and grow professionally (Pareto Principle).

Attract more referrals. (Don’t ASK for them, DESERVE them!)

Actions to be taken / by when: Join (name of group or association) by (date). Identify and meet with top business builders to assess their

mentoring needs with me by (date). Limit my time to no more than __ minutes a day on social media

networking, email, web surfing and other potential time wasters. Connect only with those with whom I have a clear purpose for connecting.

In everything that I do, show up in SERVICE: give to give, not to get! Loosen the grip and ALLOW!

Physical Does your physical space inspire you?

Create space that nurtures you on every level and provides warmth and relaxation, safety and security.

Express your true personality and flair.

Physical space that stimulates spiritual energy and makes you feel at home.

Example

Physical Environment(places, things, sounds, smells)

Upgrades desired: Create a clutter-free office that inspires me. Do my creative work in a room with a window that

provides a view of nature.

Actions to be taken / by when: Take Kathy Paauw’s next FREE Buried in Paper

webinar so I can learn how to make quick decisions about paper and information as it comes in. (www.orgcoach.net)

Find a creative space by (date) to retreat to for writing and planning.

Body

Is your body a source of inspiration to you? Is it strong, flexible and healthy?

A positive body image is one of the most important aspects of happiness and well-being, yet it is an area which often seems to be a challenge for many.

When your health suffers, everything else in your life is affected.

Creating strength, energy and well-being through daily practices is an essential part of winning at the game of life.

You are NOT your body; your body is something you have, and it can be designed.

Example

Body Environment(your energy, appearance, clothing)

Upgrades desired: Feel rested when I awaken. Get fit, toned, and healthy. Reduce stress and increase a sense of peace in my life.

Actions to be taken / by when: Go to bed by (time) each night. Ask (name) to commit to daily 30-minute walks at least

5x/wk. If weather is bad, commit to walking in a mall or other indoor facility.

Meditate 15 minutes a day, beginning (date). Research which meditation recording I will use and select one by (date).

Self

Unique strengths Talents Abilities Character

Are you fully expressing your authentic Self as you were created to?

Example

Self Environment(strengths, talents, abilities, character)

Upgrades desired: Get back into singing regularly. Decide if I will do public speaking.

Actions to be taken / by when: Join choir at church, beginning next month. Visit a Toastmasters group in my area by (date). Decide if I want to begin offering teleclasses or

webinars by (date).

Spiritual Where are you getting your energy

from? Negative points of power such as apathy, grief,

fear, lust, control, overwhelm, clutter, addictions, manipulation, anger

Positive points of power such as love, truth, courageousness, beauty, gratitude, peace

As with all design choices, you can choose to get energy from the highest of sources, which ultimately come from living in a way that honors the soul.

Example

Spiritual Environment(deep connections, sacred spaces)

Upgrades desired: Enjoy a sense of peace, regardless of my

circumstances or experiences.

Actions to be taken / by when: Pray daily: give my worries to God and let

go. Include at least one thing I appreciated

about today in my daily email report to my accountability partner.

Nature

Our spirits are so lifted by flowers, a beautiful rainbow, a breathtaking night sky, or a walk in a lush forest.

Beautiful views, sounds, smells

Humans have a natural deep and compelling desire to connect with nature -- a constant source of inspiration.

No matter what games we are playing in life, connection to nature can restore our

natural sense of wonder.

Example

Nature Environment(the great outdoors)

Upgrades desired: Enjoy a deeper connection with

nature.

Actions to be taken / by when: Go to the beach or the mountains

one weekend each month with (name of person).

Take Action Challenge

Identify what needs to be upgraded in EACH of the nine environments to support you in achieving these goals.(All 9 work together.)

Identify specific actions you will take to upgrade each environment in order to reach your goals.

Accountability

Get an accountability partner: Daily email connection Monday-Friday. Connect once a week by phone

Visit this site for an outline of the accountability process:www.BeThoughtfulNow.com/accountability.html