funschway

Celebrating YOU

patgacutan@yahoo.com (Pat Gacutan) — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 19:09:13 GMT

Be a star in your own show!

Here we are at the end of the year. Time to reflect back and realize we actually made it through a very trying time for all of us. As you reflect back it is important to take a look at what you have actually done for YOU over this past year. It may sound a little selfish, but I really feel that caring about yourself is essential. Trust me you are worthy.

Caring about yourself can come in several forms. Here are a few ideas you might want to consider for appreciating YOU:

· Buy yourself something special just for YOU

· Meditate in a private quiet environment

· Get a massage

· Get together with your closest friends

· Read a book

· Set your goals for the New Year

· Set a regular time in your calendar just for you to do whatever you want (I make Monday Me Days)

· Go to the gym

· Watch one of your favorite movies

The important thing is make sure you take care of YOU. It may seem a little selfish at first, but the benefits both mentally and physically will speak volumes to your soul.

test Susan D, Fair Oaks, CA

patgacutan@yahoo.com (Pat Gacutan) — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 16:47:40 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

BACK STORY:

Stepping Outside of the Box

patgacutan@yahoo.com (Pat Gacutan) — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 23:44:44 GMT

This can be a step in the right direction

Having the courage to do something outside of your normal comfort zone is difficult. It can cause a tremendous amount of anxiety and stress doing something you are just not comfortable doing. However, I have found taking this type of leap of faith can be exhilarating and take you on an adventure that just might be worth its weight in gold.

One of the things I struggle with is asking for help. I know that I have friends and family that would be more than happy to help me but I just often dig my heels in and don’t ask for assistance. As I am trying to build my business I am learning somethings about myself that have really made me ponder what to do. I am very skilled in several aspects of my business but really struggle with other parts of my business. The areas I struggle with really challenge me and I have had to stop and ask myself the following questions:

Are these obstacles worth my time and effort trying to accomplish them?
Would it be worth it to hire someone to do these items which are challenging to me?
At what point should I put these matters in someone else’s capable hands?

I have struggled with this for quite some time. I, like I am sure many of you, want to feel that I can do it all. However, at some point I have realize the skill level I have for doing these tasks are not at a level to enhance my business.

I recently felt courageous in taking the steps to put my fears behind me. I have asked several people with skill sets beyond my capabilities to assess my needs and provide input to resolve my obstacles I am facing with technology. I am anxiously awaiting their responses. I already am feeling relieved that I have asked for help and the results will put me back in a positive space to move forward.

Never be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.

Creativity

patgacutan@yahoo.com (Pat Gacutan) — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 23:39:07 GMT

Indulge in your imagination!

Creativity is tough. Whenever someone says to me “just be creative”, it just stops me in my tracks. I have learned, however, over the years if I can just settle my mind down and just think for a few moments my mind gets inspired. Creativity can come in many different forms. I will list a few that come to my mind when I am trying to think creatively.

• Creative writing

• Art

• Crafts

• Poetry

• Song writing

What I have discovered about myself is if I allow myself to just indulge in the imagination of creativity I can usually develop something amazing. I am always surprised by this. The problem I often face is I get too bogged down in day to day tasks, and going from one shiny object to the next and never take the time to indulge in the value of creativity.

A friend of mine who is a gifted artist focuses on creativity every day. She does amazing artwork just off the top of her head. I have always been so amazed at her creativity. What I am finding out is we all have things in our mind that are genuinely creative. We just don’t tap into our creativity. Here are a few things I have found to help me with my creativity:

• Meditation

• Taking deep breaths

• Relaxing and letting my mind tap into my creative side

• Acting on my creative thoughts

Whether it is creating a new recipe, painting rocks, writing a blog, etc. it all taps into our creative side. So my challenge to you is to tap into your creative side and give it a whirl. I think you will surprise yourself and just might enjoy the creative journey.

Speaking Techniques Made Easy!

patgacutan@yahoo.com (Pat Gacutan) — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 21:58:09 GMT

Grease is the word......

I heard in a presentation today that we speak over 75,000 words a day! Wow, that is amazing. What could we possibly be saying in all those words?

If you have a business or service that you are promoting it is essential that the words we use are productive, positive, serve a purpose and have major impact. Wouldn’t it be great if we all knew exactly how to do that? I have to tell you that that speaking and communication with impact is not an easy process.

In order to grease the skids on your communication technique below are some helpful hints to get you started.

First here are some questions you need to ask yourself:

• What your message is going to be?

• What do you want others to know about your business?

• How can your business help others?

• What communication skills do you have to accomplish the above?

Communication is one skill that can make or break your business. If you are unable to share your passion about your business in a way that others will want your products or services it will be difficult for your business to survive. Taking steps to learn the value and impact of communicating with power is a tool that will serve you well overtime. Realizing your need to improve your speaking skills is a step in the right direction. Do some research and find out what will best serve you in getting this skill set into your tool box. I will be providing a great workshop along with Susan Dakuzaku to hone in your communication skills in record time. Stay tuned!

#speaking

Speaking from the heart

patgacutan@yahoo.com (Pat Gacutan) — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 23:55:29 GMT

...and the beat goes on!

I often get asked what I do to prepare for a presentation. I do give this considerable thought for a number of reasons. Here are the top 3 questions I ask myself before I get started:

1. Is my topic in line with my audience’s needs?

2. What message do I want to get across?

3. What type of long lasting impact do I want this presentation to have on the audience?

It is imperative that when preparing for a presentation you fully understand who your audience is going to be and the overall objective of your speech. This will set the platform of your preparation. The audience is hoping to get something out of the presentation. The more information you have on your targeted topic the better prepared you will be

The information you provide is important but even more important is the message you get across to your audience. After you have gathered your data to present evaluate it to be sure that it addresses the message you want to provide the group. Ask yourself if the message you providing adding value to what the group needs to know. This is key. If information has no value to the group you will be wasting your time providing it. It must add value and provide them with what they can use now and in the future.

The biggest impact comes when you can tap into your audience’s emotion. If you can achieve this in your presentation you will definitely have the audience attention. Being able to build trust, confidence, and excitement is what you should be striving for. Sharing information from the heart is critical. In order to do this here are a few tips:

• Speak to your audience as if you are talking to good friends

• Believe in what you are providing

• Build trust by being confident and authentic

• Add stories to your presentation for more interest

By adding this information to your presentations you will be a step above the rest.

#speaking

Just Breathe

patgacutan@yahoo.com (Pat Gacutan) — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 19:21:57 GMT

Take a deep breath and blow out all the stress!

I used to think that meditation was just a silly thing to do and didn’t really help until I actually gave meditation a try. It was a big adjustment at first because I found my thoughts distracted, and I was unable to just focus. The key came when I just decided to sit quietly with my eyes closed and just breathed. I gave myself 10 slow deep breaths and blowing the air out slowly as a starter. I figured if I couldn’t just take time to take 10 breaths I was too busy. What I discovered was even just taking the time to breathe deeply in quiet solitude was very beneficial.

Here are the benefits I personally received by just allowing myself to sit and take 10 deep breaths.

• A sense of relaxation

• Calm

• Refocus

• Reduced stress

It takes just a short amount of time to take 10 deep breaths. Trust me you are worth it. If you can’t take the time to go through a guided meditation don’t punish yourself. Give yourself the gift of 10 deep breaths and you will experience a great benefit personally and physically.

Speaking on Command

patgacutan@yahoo.com (Pat Gacutan) — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 18:30:41 GMT

Not so different than On-Demand!

“It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.” Mark Twain

Being called to speak on demand is very scary for most people. Whether it is for work, in a meeting, or faced with just introducing yourself to others there are ways you can prepare for these situations and turn them into opportunities rather than a death sentence.

An unprepared speaker will generally be faced with the following symptoms:

• Your brain freezes

• You begin to mumble or ramble

• You appear as a deer-in-the-headlights

• You are unable to speak in full logical sentences

Trust me I have been there, however, I soon realized the value of the impromptu speech aka:

• Speaking off the cuff

• Spur of the moment speaking

• Extemporaneous speaking

With a lot of work and practice I learned the following tips that will definitely benefit your impromptu speaking. If you are surprisingly asked to speak at the last moment, here are a few tips to get you through:

• Speak confidently – you will not die

• Focus on your audience

• Remember less is more – avoid the ramble

• Have a structure to what you are delivering:

o Past/present/future

o Cause/effect/remedy

o Before/during/after

o A story that you have that is relatable and has great impact

• Talk conversationally, slowly and with purpose

If you can get any communication training that includes impromptu speaking definitely go for it. The value of this talent will set you a level above the rest, will instill confidence, and make you a better communicator and leader.

#speaking

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

patgacutan@yahoo.com (Pat Gacutan) — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 20:19:12 GMT

Communicating with Confidence, Connection, and Competence

I experienced a successful presentation recently that made me realize how great it feels to be recognized for your efforts in demonstrating good communication techniques. I felt like I had done a good job but it wasn’t until after the event when I realized that I had an impact on others. I was approached by numerous individuals who told me they were really moved by my presentation. Wow, what a compliment. Exactly what I was hoping to achieve was realized. The power in words and how they are delivered is a skill set that needs to constantly nurtured.

Sadly I have been asked to speak at several Celebrations of Life for some dear friends that I have lost. I was anxious about the presentations because it wasn’t a typical speech presentation. I was more than emotionally involved. Because of that, I found it more than difficult to prepare. My main concern was getting overly emotional during my presentation and being unable to continue. As I was preparing my notes I had a revelation. The presentations were not about me, these presentations were being prepared to do the following:

• Honor a dear friend

• Share treasured memories

• Give legacy to a life well lived

Once I came to this reality I surged forward with my preparation. I got excited about what I was going to share and couldn’t wait to let others know of their lives well lived. My presentations was on point, from the heart, and had great impact. This was exactly what I was aiming for. The accolades that followed were unexpected but richly appreciated. Celebrating my success is so rewarding. I felt like a winner and will definitely use my lessons learned from this experience again.

#speaking

How to Grow Your Funny Farm

patgacutan@yahoo.com (Pat Gacutan) — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 17:17:53 GMT

Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you blow your nose!

Wouldn’t it be great if we could just plant a seed and it would grow our sense of humor? Well since that is not available yet let me provide you with some tips on how to grow your personal funny farm. Let’s take the word LAUGH and break it down into easy digestible parts.

• L ighten the load - create YOUR environment/garden of happiness

o Laughter is the best medicine

o Log your laughs that make you belly laugh

• A cquire what seeds/needs necessary to make yourself happy

o Add laughter to your daily life

o Always look for things that make you happy and smile

• U tilize whatever it takes to cultivate the garden

o Use your positivity to make others smile

o Up your game by spreading your happiness

• G row those areas that will continually provide positivity in your life

o Gather what you need to stay happy and positive

o Get your fun file that you fill with happy, fun/funny thoughts

• H arvest what you need to keep growing in a positive and fun direction

o Have a plan to collect fun/funny things

o Harmonize your life by always keeping a positive attitude and spreading your fun, laughter and humor with others.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

patgacutan@yahoo.com (Pat Gacutan) — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 19:10:59 GMT

Take your medicine happily!

Whoever they are that say Laughter is the best Medicine I totally agree with. My personal experience with laughter has been amazing. I realize that we can’t always be in a state of laughter, but being open to it happening is key. It has always helped me to laugh vigorously when I get the opportunity. It really offers a great release of energy and stress. One way of keeping your options open for laughter is to take note of those things that may have really made you laugh out loud. I often find out when I review my “logs of laughter” it not only brings a smile to my face, but in many instances makes me break into laughter just based on the funny memories of the incident.

Below is a list of things that laughter helps resolve. Consider this list a dose of the right medicine for you.

Laughter ….

• Relaxes our body

• Boosts our immune system

• Releases endorphins (the body’s natural feel-good chemicals)

• Protects the heart

• Burns calories

• Lowers stress

• Adds joy to our life

• Eases anxiety and tension

• Improves your mood

• Attracts us to others

• Helps diffuse conflict

Even a small dose can be helpful. So whatever amount you want to add into your daily life will be a benefit to you and those that surround you.

Confidently Connected

patgacutan@yahoo.com (Pat Gacutan) — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 18:08:21 GMT

The value of connecting the dots!

Whatever type of business or service you are in it is so important that you feel confident in what you are doing. This isn’t an easy thing to do sometimes because we often bring doubt into our efforts. I do this to myself at times and had to finally realize that I was my own worst enemy. In order for me to turn this negative approach into a positive, I began to list those things in my business that I really knew well. It was a long list, and as the list grew I began to realize that I really did have something to offer people that I knew would benefit them. Wow that was a light bulb moment!

So what was I going to do about it? I had to have Hokey Pokey moment with myself and “turn myself around.” Once I realized just how much I knew about my business, felt that I had something special to offer that was of extreme value my confidence skyrocketed. I became more self-assured about my business. It is also important that you do this in a realistic way and not a boastful bragging way. People, clients, customers need to know you are authentic. They need to know love and trust you. So my new found confidence made me feel secure rather than insecure. That is what confidence is all about.

Once I was able to feel confident in my business I needed to take this a step further and make connections with my target audience. Once they knew what I was offering was real, from the heart, and in their best interest the magic happened. Not only was I able to build my business, I was able to make lasting connections with my clients and customers. Their loyalty has continued to grow.

So my moral to the story is to always connect the dots when becoming confidently connected.

Step 1: Build your confidence

Step 2: Connect to your target audience

The magic will happen and you will amaze yourself! Happy connecting!

Sorry I'm Late, I didn't want to come

patgacutan@yahoo.com (Pat Gacutan) — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 00:10:13 GMT

Let Value be the basis of your decision!

A dear friend recently gave me a bag for my birthday that said…Sorry I’m late, I didn’t want to come. It was hysterically funny but in actuality it started to make me think. How often do I feel this way and never truly deal with it?

Since we are starting a new year, I want to be sure that what is happening in my life is beneficial to me. What I want to concentrate on is the Value I am getting out of those things that I allow into my life and calendar. I feel a lot of this is familiar to many of you. Too many times we get busy with things that just are time demands on our schedule and truly do not add value. I get it that there are things that are sometimes out of our control, but not all of it is out of our control.

Time is money. We can’t make time, buy time, create time, but we can command time. Stop and think of those things in your life that you DO have control over. Wouldn’t it be great if you take into consideration the things you have control over and put them into your schedule to benefit YOU! Trust me you are worthy of that. It may seem a little selfish at first, but if you are adding value to your life the rewards will be amazing.

Challenge:

• Write down 5 things that add value to your life

• Put an action plan in place to add these into your life/calendar

• Make this a habit, especially when you are feeling overwhelmed

• Rinse and Repeat

Clarity

patgacutan@yahoo.com (Pat Gacutan) — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 17:28:12 GMT

I can see Clearly Now the Brain is Gone

“Just to be clear” is a saying that we have all heard before. What does that really mean to you? Clarity is such an important part of knowing what we want and where we want to go. Even though we know this it is sometimes difficult to stay focused on this concept. We are often faced with a number of things that cause us to be in a fog and our ability to see clearly is diminished. Here just a few things that can cloud our clarity:

• Information overload

• Current events

• Relationships

• Interactions with others

• Time restraints

• Finances

• Fatigue

Here are 3 things that can help you get the clarity you need to sustain you.

1. Focus – Take a step back, breathe and really put things into perspective. What are your priorities? Are your goals set on getting these things accomplished?

2. Utilize your talents and strengths to get clear on exactly what you want to accomplish. Whether it is that day, or a goal you are trying to reach

3. Now rather than later. If you wait the clarity will be out the window and your fog will continue. You have to act now to get things into the right perspective.

Notice that I have used the acronym FUN just to get you to always remember to add this into all the perspectives so that your journey to clarity is not only clear but adds FUN and positivity into the mix.

Start with the End in Mind

patgacutan@yahoo.com (Pat Gacutan) — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 17:33:17 GMT

It's a Very Good Place to Start

I had always heard the term "Start with the End in Mind" but I never really put this practice in play until today. I have been finding that in 2020 even though we have been facing a pandemic, along with a number of other obstacles I have been facing, I have become so OVERWHELMED that I can't seem to make heads or tails of what I'm doing or should be doing. Starting today, I am going to start from the end and work backwards. It is going to be my new Michael Jackson move and Moon Walk my business strategies for 2021.

The more I thought about this way of organization, the more I am liking it. It has given me a new sense of ORGANIZATION. I just can't stop thinking about it. This is going to be a great TIP for you for 2021. Start with the end in Mind! Below are 5 Key Steps to get you STARTED!

Start with the number 1 thing that is causing you to be OVERWHELMED
ORGANIZE this item by breaking it into pieces that you can see where all your efforts are going (I made a spreadsheet in Excel)
BRAIN STORM all the things you want to get done in the next year. WRITE THESE DOWN
REVIEW the Organization list, AND the Items you want to get done
Put a PLAN OF ACTION - in place so that you can accomplish this. (Include dates/times/means)

HAPPY REVERSE ENGINEERING!

If you would like to follow my personal journey you can learn more step by step instructions on how to make it all happen in my upcoming training course....Reverse Engineering - It's the Way to Go!

Do you have Days that turn into Daze?

patgacutan@yahoo.com (Pat Gacutan) — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 17:35:58 GMT

Focus is the Answer

Have you ever been faced with a day that is just not going the way you expected? You are not alone. There are times when I get dazed and confused too. There are so many things in life that recently have added to this dilemma.

Covid Scare
Not enough time to do all I need to be doing
Information overload
What makes the most sense
Million other things

It is times like these that I just need to calm down and focus. That is easier said than done. But here is the good new.....it can be done. When I am faced with this situation here are a few of the things that I do to get myself back on track:

Breathe
Meditate
Take time for myself even if it is just 15 minutes
Exercise
Go outside and breath
Take a shower and let the warm water calm you down
Watch something mindless on TV
Color a page in a coloring book
Play solitaire on the computer

Whatever works for you is the best. Once you get to that state of reality again it is time to focus. I can't say enough about focus. This is where you do your best work. This is where you can make things happen like magic. This puts you back in control or your day. Now take this opportunity to make the magic happen. You Rock!