We need a little Christmas (and Hanukkah and Kwanza and…)!

Estimated read time: 30 seconds

I unapologetically LOVE Christmas. The lights. The music. The cookies. Kids giddy with excitement. Porcelain Christmas villages. The way people are kind to each other on the street and in stores.

For years, I said Happy Holidays to folks as a nice, inclusive seasons greeting, and I felt a little "blah" about it. Last year, I reclaimed Merry Christmas, and the spark came back. Saying "Merry Christmas" feels a little risky in our politically correct world.

I LOVE inclusion as much as I love Christmas. And here's the wonderful thing about inclusion. You can love what you love at the same time that you honor and appreciate the things other people love. Inclusion is not about watering down your own beliefs and passions so others won't feel offended. It's about embracing your beliefs and passions which gives room for others to embrace theirs. Then we all live in peace and harmony. Pretty great, huh?

I now proclaim a "Merry Christmas" to neighbors, friends, and strangers. Some people enthusiastically reply and some mumble an uncomfortable "Happy Holidays." Either way, it's great.

So, Merry Christmas to all you Corporate Rebels out there. It's been an amazing, challenging and powerful year. I hope you and yours have a wonderful time whatever you're celebrating.

Merry Christmas!

Christina

P.S. If you know someone who would like to receive this newsletter, they can sign-up for The Corporate Rebel Video Podcast and Newsletter HERE.

P.P.S. I'm taking a couple of weeks off so next Thursday will be the first time in 18 months that there will be no newsletter. Enjoy your time off!

Want more freedom, gratitude + badassery in your life?

Estimated read time: Maybe 1 little minute.

The word badassery is fun to say so let's say it as many times as we can. Badassery, badassery, badassery.

It's Thanksgiving in the USA tomorrow, and I am so, so grateful - for my family's health, for the love that surrounds us, and for all of you. I'll be giving thanks in a big way.

The whipped cream on the pecan pie was being invited to participate in my dear friend, Sandra's, interview series, Unleash Your Inner Badass. What she calls badassery (said it again!), we in Corporate Rebel Land call rebelicious.

Thanksgiving is not a traditional gift-giving holiday, and we don't do things the traditional way around here.

Too many people settle for mediocrity, become victims of their circumstances, and simply complain about the way things are. I don’t think that’s you, though. I think you are someone who sees the value of investing in yourself, training your mind, and taking responsibility for your life and the world around you.

That's why I said yes to Sandra (and because I just downright love her). I'm careful with your time and only put things of real value in front of you. Sandra has produced a series of interviews that are fun and meaningful.

These interviews are packed with info to help you:

• let go of what’s holding you back;
• be more unapologetically you;
• build a new, more badass (rebelicious), reality for yourself.

If you're too busy eating and watching the National Dog Show to catch our entertaining and real interview on Thanksgiving, no worries. It will be available for 72 hours. And all the interviews will be available starting December 1 so you can gorge yourself like a Thanksgiving feast.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Christina

P.S. If you know someone who would like to receive this newsletter, they can sign-up for The Corporate Rebel Video Podcast and Newsletter HERE.

Find Out the One Word That Will Change Your 2016

Raise your hand if you like new year's resolutions….
Looking around I'm only seeing two hands raised.

Raise your hand if you've stuck with a new year's resolution for an entire year.
Hello to the one disciplined person in the crowd proudly waving her fingers.

New year's resolutions seem like a great idea until you decide not to go the gym this once or you tuck into a big piece of chocolate cake or you find yourself saying yes again to something you don't want to do. You feel guilty until March which buys you enough time to forget the whole thing.

Preempt the guilt this year by giving up on new year's resolutions and instead use this simpler and stickier way to make a commitment to the new year, one you will actually keep.

Here's what you do:

Create one word to define your year. Choose something you want to invite into your life or a new way you want to be. Let it be simple and yet profound.

Here are a few examples from my life and from my clients:

• Joy
• Go Big (ok, you can have two words)
• Compassion, Creativity, Come Home (As needed, you can have 4)
• Commitment
• Connection

Keep it simple, and you will remember it. Then pour your decisions and thoughts through your word for 2016. You'll be amazed at the consciousness and intention one word will bring to your year!

Happy New Year!
Christina 

What My Husband and I Do So We Don't Snip (Much) When We're Stressed

My husband and I were staring down a few intense months of traveling and kid hand-offs like ships passing in the night with little time to connect or talk. We feared we’d be snippy with each other from the stress and were not looking forward to spending months doing THAT.
 
Instead of leaving those months to chance, hoping for the best, and gritting our teeth and powering through it (which we've all done many, many times), we decided to design our alliance.
 
A designed alliance is my #1 favorite relationship tool because it’s simple and effective and contributes to the Principle of Escalating Positivity. A designed alliance enables you to be conscious about your relationships and clear about what you need and want in a given situation.
 
Here is when you use it:

• Always. (Just kidding. And not really).
• Your in-laws come to visit.
• You are starting a new project team at work.
• You are hosting a party.
• You are going on vacation.
• With your boss, your direct reports and your colleagues.
• Chores, roles, and responsibilities at work and at home.

 Create a designed alliance any time you want to bring consciousness, creativity, and connection to an event or experience.
 
Here are the simple steps to creating a designed alliance (then I’ll give some examples below):
 
1. Set a time to design your alliance.
2. Name the topic, event or experience.
3. Discuss the following topics:

• Your best hope for the event.
• Your worst fear for the event.
• How do you want it to feel between you during the alliance?
• How do you want to be with each other when one of you forgets or messes up or things go wrong?
• What requests do you have of each other? What agreements need to be made?
• What can the other person count on from you?

4. Appreciate the other person (for their creativity, clarity, willingness, honesty).
 
Some designed alliances are extra simple and don’t use all the steps:
 
Example: A friend calls on the phone and you have 2 minutes to talk. Instead of rushing, making yourself late, and feeling bad that you couldn’t give your friend enough time, say “I have 2 minutes to talk, what do you need right now” or “How can I best help you?” You’ve just designed an alliance and brought clarity to your relationship for those 2 minutes.
 
Example: Some designed alliances are more involved. My husband and I talked for an hour and went through each step of the process consciously. We designed that we wanted things to feel easy and flowing during those intense months. We would use texting as a way to connect when we were apart, and we’d be honest if we were starting to feel disconnected or frustrated. Those few months went by beautifully and easily.
 
So, this holiday season as things ramp up at work and at home, take some time to design alliances to bring clarity and intention to your relationships. You'll be contributing to the Principle of Escalating Positivity!
 
And it will make everything so much easier for you!
 
I hope this helps.
 
Christina

Give Your Relationships a Shot of Holiday Cheer

It’s the holiday season – a time when you are thinking about…relationships!(?)
 
At the holidays your children are home for two solid weeks (and if you don’t have children, your friends with kids need you more than ever), you’re planning (or avoiding) time with your family, and you’re cherishing (or not) those who are closest to you.
 
At work, performance reviews may be coming in January which makes everyone feel warm and fuzzy with anticipation.
 
As a special treat for you, the December theme at Boyd-Smith Coaching is the Principle of Escalating Positivity. Each week, I’ll share tips and strategies for not only surviving  the holidays (including your relationships) but actually thriving and maybe even enjoying yourself and your people!
 
Even our happiest, best relationships can slip into negative patterns or moments when a shot of positivity would have gone down better than what we actually said (I don’t know anything about that. I just read about it).
 
This week’s contribution to the Principle of Escalating Positivity is...
 
Appreciation.
 
It’s so simple. So obvious. And yet we don’t do it enough.
 
Here’s what you do:
 
1. Choose one of your close relationships.
 
2. Vow that you will appreciate that person 3 times a day. Just fill in these sentences: 

• “Thank you for…”
• “I appreciated it when you…”
• “I am grateful that you…”

3. Actually appreciate them (out loud) 3 times a day.
 
4. Up the ante on yourself by adding more people to the list of appreciation recipients. Try your boss, your annoying sister, the driver who just cut you off, or the cashier who is taking forever to ring up your groceries.
 
You will be amazed at the results. Really and truly.
 
Hit reply to this email and let me know what happens!
 
Hope that helps!

Christina