World Laughter Day is May 3

"Laughter can play a major role in reducing stress in the workplace," Dr. Madan Kataria says. I first learned about Laughter Clubs in Dan Pink's A Whole New Mind. Dr. Kataria noticed patients getting better faster when they laughed so he thought if laughter was so good why not start a laughter club?

And don't forget the famous Norman Cousins who is know for "laughing his way to health," a simplified explanation of the healing method he employed when diagnosed as having ankylosing spondylitis. Almost paralyzed, given only a few months to live, Cousins ordered himself checked out of the hospital. He moved into a hotel room and began taking extremely high doses of vitamin C and also exposed himself to equally high doses of humor. "I made the joyous discovery that ten minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep," he reported. "When the pain-killing effect of the laughter wore off, we would switch on the motion picture projector again and not infrequently, it would lead to another pain-free interval."

This is why I advocate laughing! Well that and it just feeeeeels so good! Come and join me on World Laughter Day, this Sunday, May 3, Me and the NY Laughter Yoga Meet Up Group will meet at 12:30 pm at Union Square, at Broadway & 14th St, NYC (across from Whole Foods.) Shoot me an email if you want to go together! Kim@TheCoachShoppe.com

Here is the link to join the Meet Up Group: http://yoga.meetup.com/502/calendar/10243087/ Not in NYC? Info for you: http://www.laughteryoga.org/

Career Transition

I spoke at the Learning Annex's MoneyFest this past Saturday. I was asked to speak about Career Transition. Suze Orman was there as was Donald Trump. I found out when I arrived that me and the Donald would both go on at 4 pm, so I had a little competition or should I say Donald did. ;-)

Here's some highlights:
When was the last time you woke up like a 5 year old does when they wake up in the morning? With that energy and excitement!? They exude over just being able to do this thing called life ALL OVER AGAIN. It's like they wake up and they are ready to GO!

When was the last time you woke up that way? Or even remember feeling that way? If it's been too long -then it's time to do something about it.

Here are my three suggestions:
1.) Write a needs list. Write down all the things you "need." Some Universal Needs: Connection, Acceptance, Affection, Integrity, Play, Movement, Consciousness, Independence, Freedom, Choice, Trust, Love, Sexual expression, Air, Rest, Safety, Beauty, Order, Reciprocity. For more see http://www.cnvc.org/

2.) Identify the things in your life that you are currently doing that you despise. Get really clear on what these things are and how often you are participating in them.

3.) Identify the things you love to do so much that you would pay someone to let you do them.

Start here with these steps when you decide it's time for a career or any transition. Having clarity over these 3 items will ensure that when you do step into something new -you will be sure to be able to do it in a way that will honor your needs and values.

One participant asked how to stand out among a sea of applicants. My advice was BE YOU. Being authentic is so powerful today since we see so little of it. If you show up and confidently be who you are - that alone will make you stand out in a crowd. As Oscar Wilde says, "Be yourself everyone else is already taken."

Kim's Fortune Magazine Interview

http://money.cnn.com/2009/04/10/magazines/fortune/emotional_bailout.fortune/index.htm

Kim on CNN.Money.com

50 min for $50

I was interviewed by CNN Money last week and what did I tell them? I told them I want a world where coaching is available to everyone who wants it. I want it to be affordable. So do you know what dawned on me?!

"I must be the change I wish to see in the world."

If you email or call me in the next week I will offer you a 50 min coaching session for $50. A 75% savings.

PS I have over 700 people on my email list so there are just so many I can do - reply quickly if you're interested in a 50 min coaching session for $50. A 75% savings.

Mallomars Are Easter

Let me explain. My mama was one of those mama's that really DID up the holidays. Every Easter my sister and I would get ourselves a beautiful pastel wicker basket filled with good jelly beans, quality chocolate bunny rabbits, yellow marshmallow Peep chicks, a brand new stuffed animal (my sister would get a aqua blue ribbon trimmed one and I a pink trimmed one) along with our own box of Mallomars. Back then they came in two cardboard boxes and I'd usually have polished off an entire box, feeling slightly ill on the way to church.

We would also search in the morning for the Paas decorated hard boiled eggs that our mom would have hidden the night before.

A new purple or white dress from Sears my sister and I would be excited to wear along with the white patent leather Mary Jane's, since officially as of Easter Sunday, white shoes could be worn again.

Those times were like Normal Rockwell in so many ways. Of course things weren't perfect, but my mother had the ability to create tradition such that whatever was going on these holiday times were magical.

I appreciate these traditions, now more than ever. There isn't a box of Mallomars or a package of the yellow Peep chicks that doesn't fill my heart with the love my mama had for me and my sister.

Easter, Passover and Spring Equinox have this all in common: New Life thanks to Love.

We all have choice every day we wake up, to live our life anew. As the flowers begin to blossom, as the leaves begin to grow back, bring your favorite memories with you into your New Spring, into your New Life. Spring is a fresh start. Where in your life do you want that fresh start? It's yours for the taking! So go for it.

And while you're at it -bring along those mallomars!

Mallomars
In the US Mallomars [19] are produced seasonally at Nabisco. A circle of Graham cracker is covered with a puff of extruded marshmallow, then "enrobed" in dark chocolate, which forms a hard shell. Mallomars were introduced to the public in 1913, the same year as the Moon Pie (a confection which has similar ingredients). The first box of Mallomars was sold in West Hoboken, NJ (now Union City, NJ). Nabisco discusses it with a short story printed on Mallomar boxes.

Because Mallomars melt easily in summer temperatures, they can become difficult to find during the summer: they are generally available from early October through April. [20]Devoted eaters of the cookie have been known to stock up during winter months and keep them refrigerated over the summer. Seventy percent of all Mallomars sold are sold in metropolitan New York.

Please listen to this man: Gary Vaynerchuk

Go past the lanquage, Web 2.0 and the wine...What this man is talking about IS YOUR LIFE!

Kim the Columnist

Kim is now a columnist for The Mann Report and Mann on the Street.

Here is what President & Executive Editor Jeff Mann has to say about Kim:

"We've added a new Contributing Columnist to Mann On The Street. Kim Ann Curtin, CEO and Founder of The Coach Shoppe, will be your dose of inspiration each month. With the style and ease of a friend, Kim will steer you in a positive direction when it comes to bettering your life. This month, Kim tells us that, despite the worries that surround us, we should remain positive; and finding that will to proceed and succeed in life is within us." ~Jeff Mann, Mann Publications

For more info: http://www.mannpublications.net/magazines/mann-on-the-street/

A Line for Coaching Today on Wall Street

Today was colder than I would have liked it to be but all the rain last week kept me from my almost weekly coaching gig down here on Wall Street. So many people today wanted coaching, that I actually had a line at one point.

Today was interesting as well because a CNN Money film crew interviewed me and some of those folks that were coached. They wanted to interview those I coached to find out what the experience was like for them.

Folks are so nice to me down there. I see the same people all the time now and they wave when they pass me by. I even know the cops on the beat there - and they want to know where I've been when I'm not down there. It's like a little community down there. I love coaching down there. For me it's easy.

This is easy for me because I love coaching.

May I ask you what you love to do? What is easy for you? How could you give back right now, to those who are stressed out, that's easy for you? Things that come natural to you - giving back doesn't have to be a big deal or big production - but the impact it will have on another will be more profound then you realize.

Here's an example of an impact someone had on me, two weeks ago I met a woman at an art show and within 5 min of speaking with me, she looked me up and down and said, "You've got one beautiful shape on that body of yours!" And she wasn't hitting on me either - just giving me a compliment. BOY OH BOY she made my DAY! I'm still leaning into that compliment! I can't tell you how good it made me feel and still makes me feel. (Especially since I was feeling upset over the recent 5 pounds I've gained.)

We really have an impact on one another. So I ask that you be intentional with that impact. And easy and simple is all it needs to be.

Lars and the Real Girl

I'm late on this bandwagon. Two years late. But I can tell you that in spite of seeing two of my fav actors in this film (Paul Schneider & Patricia Clarkson) I didn't feel that drawn in by this trailer. I had heard a little something way back when about it from one or two people but nothing remarkable. Then recently someone really WENT OFF about how amazing it was. I watched it the other night.

This is a GORGEOUS film. The message is profound. The acting is superb. Ryan Gosling is spot on brilliant!

I love it so much because at the heart of it - nobody makes Lars wrong. That is what is so profound about it. He receives unconditional love and acceptance. What would it be like if everyone around us didn't try to change us or our peccadillo's but just let them be? And when you were ready to move on you would. Not out of guilt or shame but because you were ready.

What if every one loved and supported you until you were ready? What would that be like? What would it be like if we threw away all the labels we use? Would all of us breath easier?

This movie shows us that we do know what we need to heal. And trusting in that. This movie is also about mercy, love and laughter. Who could ask for anything more?

Suze Orman, the Learning Annex & Me!

I've been invited to present at Moneyfest where Suze Orman, author of Young, Fabulous and Broke, will be speaking! I'm very EXCITED! The Learning Annex's Moneyfest is an all day event on Saturaday, April 25.

Click here for more info: http://www.moneyfest.com/course_detail.tml?course=careers_for_people

I will be on a panel discussion of Career Transition for 45+ but ALL career transitions -no matter the age- will be discussed. If you want me to address any of the issues this topic brings up for you, let me know in an email kim@thecoachshoppe.com.

The Learning Annex will be featuring a slew of other panels all day as well on all sorts of money making ideas. I hope to see you there!

Meeting Bill Murray; Deep as well as Funny

I was having a drink in the Time Warner Center tonight when in walks the one and only Bill Murray, I heard his distinct voice before I even saw his face and recognized it immediately. As he and his friends were waiting for seats at the bar, I caught his eye and asked him if I could buy him a Santori. (The Japanese whiskey his character promotes in Lost in Translation.) He laughed and said, "Now that would be something!" since finding it anywhere out of Japan is nearly impossible.

As my friend and I were leaving, I decided to thank him on the way out for all the joy he has given me - so I hesitatingly approached him and he graciously stopped the conversation with his friends. I thanked him for all the laughter he had given to me and how grateful I was to him for it. Then I told him that I thought Lost in Translation was one of his best films. He was so kind and engaging! I even told him when I was in Japan I'd visited so many of the places that were featured in his film.

As I was about to leave I handed my business card to him and as he looked at it and turned it over he read the back out loud: The Privilege of a Lifetime is Being Who You Are. And he thought for a moment and then said to me, "Actually, being who you are, is the obligation of a lifetime."

Whoa. Yes indeed, he is quite right. It is the obligation of a lifetime.

Thank you Mr. Murray, not only your wit but for your wisdom. Thank you for living up to your obligation of being who you are. We are all the better for it.

(SIDE BAR: When I was visiting The Park Hyatt Tokyo's New York Bar -the one featured above - to have my glass of Santori Whiskey, I was very fortunate to hear the one and only jazz singer Angela Stribling. Angela has performed there for the past four years. Lucky for me I sat down that night next to her handsome boyfriend, now fiance, and he invited me to join them. Angela is one talented lady! Check her out! http://www.angelastribling.com/ Love to you girl!)