Why do we want to be successful? That's easy. Because not being successful is hard, sad and no fun. I spend a lot of time coaching people to be more successful and not only do I agree with Ivan Misner, who declares that it's our right to seek Success, I also believe that the personal skills and attributes - such as positive self-esteem, a sense of personal power and disciplined effectiveness - that we develop on our journey to Success are some of the most important achievements possible in life.

Interestingly, however, no one has ever achieved lasting success. It's ephemeral, it's not a place or a thing, and its definition varies according to who is looking. The most important definition of your success will be your own. Before you head out with the laudable intention to succeed magnificently at something, decide what success means to you. Here are two questions to think about:

What do you want success for? If your answer is because it will bring you money, ask yourself why you want the money. Is it to have a beautiful house on the ocean? Then ask yourself what you want that for. Take your time, be thoughtful, and keep asking until your answers become deep, true and meaningful. Chances are, what you really want is peace or a sense of security or a chance to do something that contributes. Knowing this, although you may indeed get rich or have a house on the ocean, you will measure your success in terms of these deeper values, and be far more content.

What in the long run do you want your life to have been for? That's another way of asking what it is you want to have success at doing or being. Some things are personally and ultimately meaningful, and some will pale. Take the time to seek the wisdom of your own heart before you set your goals.

Prosperity and a sense of Purpose. Most of us would feel successful if we had those things. Now New Leaves is offering a course that will provide on-going coaching and support to help you achieve them. See the "10-Week Purpose and Prosperity Class" description below and watch for an e-flyer in your mailbox.

You will not achieve the success you want in the game of life if you fail to:

• Go out for the team
• Practice (develop your skills)
• Run to 1st base (instead, you get distracted or lay down)
• Get advice and accept coaching
• Be disciplined
• Play with energy and commitment
• Reach home plate (instead you get distracted or give up)
• Try and try again (Many successful people have failed repeatedly. They just didn't give up.)

Remember when you were a kid and scared of the monster under the bed, so scared that you wouldn't look? We're still like that as adults. Sometimes the obstacles we face aren't even there!

Take Terry. She needed to earn more money and she was convinced that she would have to go back to school for a degree. Frankly, that was the last thing in the world she wanted to do.

We identified a number of opportunities based on her talents and already-developed skills. Armed with this information, she was able to begin working immediately in ways that delighted her and brought more money.

What 'monsters' are keeping you from your dreams? At New Leaves, we can help you "look under the bed". (If we find any, we can catch and release or de-fang them.)

We all want to have rewarding work, enough money to cover our needs without worry and a sense of purpose in our lives. Many of us have been striving for and working toward these things for a long time, and still they elude us. How can we finally attain what we have been longing for?

Attend a 10-session class and get answers to those questions and coaching to get you "there" from "here". You will receive the information, structure and guidance you need to be able to achieve and sustain your goals for satisfying, purposeful work and prosperity.

I will personally teach the course, and share what works from my own experience.

10-week class
Thursday evenings, 10/9 - 12/18
$1150; $1050 Early Bird registration until 9/22
Call 774-0816 or reply to this newsletter for information on how to register.

• 8-week Career Change course, starting on Wednesday evening, September 24th at USM
• "Being At Ease in Social Situations", a one- day class, also at USM

Classes are held at the Abromson Center. Contact the Center for Continuing Education for more information or to register: 780-5900 or cce@usm.maine.edu.