Confusion causes you to stand still--and that means putting your dreams on hold. Clarity brings your life into focus. By completing this series of fifty-two journal exercises in this workbook, Business coach Clara Capano will help you unlock your potential, releasing your fears, and helps you decide where you want to go personally and profesionally. After reading each entry, note key takeaways and the action steps you are taking to capitalize on your learning. These exercises will allow you to: - free yourself of excessive mental baggage - manage your energy instead of your time - embrace and overcome challenges - conquer the limits you've set for yourself Filled with motivational and inspirational stories, this workbook will inspire you to think bigger and bolder. Opening you up to growth and exploration, and become the best version of yourself as you are Finding Your Focus. Find Your Focus 52 Weeks of Clara-ty By Clara Capano Abbott Press Copyright © 2017 Clara Capano All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4582-2099-8 Contents Foreword, ix, Introduction, xi, 1 Let Go of the Peanuts, 1, 2 Wildebeest and Endurance, 4, 3 The Salesman and the Shoes, 6, 4 Don't Be Perfect-Be Yourself Perfectly, 8, 5 Be Responsible, 11, 6 What's in Your Suitcase?, 14, 7 Fill Up Your Tank, 16, 8 Embrace the Wobble, 19, 9 Jump, 21, 10 Let It Happen, 23, 11 The Law of the Garbage Truck, 25, 12 Struggle a Little, 28, 13 Break the Leash, 30, 14 Puzzle Pieces, 32, 15 Cracks of Gold, 34, 16 Limitless, 36, 17 168 Hours, 38, 18 Ask the Horse, 41, 19 Light the Logs, 43, 20 Where Are You Flying To?, 45, 21 Look in the Dark, 47, 22 Sweet and Sour, 49, 23 Crack the Shell, 51, 24 Commitment Is a Choice, 53, 25 Fall, 56, 26 Spider, Spider, 58, 27 Set Sail, 61, 28 Off to See the Wizard, 64, 29 Emergency Brake, 66, 30 Bamboo Tree, 68, 31 L Is for Lion, 70, 32 It Is Possible, 72, 33 Feed the Right Wolf., 74, 34 A Lesson from Our Smartphones, 76, 35 Five Foot Seven, 78, 36 Open Window, 81, 37 You Have Enough, 83, 38 Be Proud, 85, 39 Welcome to the Dark Side, 87, 40 The Black Dot, 89, 41 Welcome Home, 92, 42 The Bumble Bee, 95, 43 A Storm Is Coming, 97, 44 What If?, 99, 45 Change the Lens, 101, 46 Move the Boulder, 103, 47 All of Me, 105, 48 Let Me Tell You Your Future, 107, 49 Plant the Tree, 109, 50 The Orange, 111, 51 Standing Still, 114, 52 Grow, 116, Closing Thoughts of Clara-ty, 119, CHAPTER 1 LET GO OF THE PEANUTS Years ago, a group of scientists observed monkeys in their natural environment. In the study, large glass jars were left out. Each jar had a small opening and was filled with peanuts. The opening was large enough for the monkey to put its hand in but too narrow for it to pull its hand out if it was holding a handful of peanuts. Monkeys love peanuts. Time after time, the monkeys would come to the jars and reach in for peanuts, and each time, their fists would be too big for them to remove them from the jars. They had a choice to make: drop the peanuts and move on, or stay with their hands stuck in the jars. Time after time, the monkeys would not relinquish the peanuts. Hours would pass, and they would be stuck with their hands in the jars, holding on to the peanuts. This story reminds me of how we often operate our businesses. We take on clients who have unrealistic goals, are not ready to move forward, are disrespectful, or just plain don't fit into our business model. Instead of dropping them and moving on, we hold on to them like the monkeys to the peanuts. We hold on so tight that we are paralyzed and can't move forward. Why? I think we're afraid that if we let the peanuts (our clients) go, there may not be any more peanuts. But guess what? There are. The world is full of peanuts. They may be in another jar, in the next village over, or even right under our noses. We just have to know that we have the choice — and the courage — to let go and move on. So the next time you have a client who is keeping you from moving forward with your business, think about the monkeys. Don't be like the monkeys. Let go of the peanuts. Journal exercise date: ____/_____/____ Quote: Be strong enough to let go and patient enough to wait for what you deserve Takeaway from entry: __________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ How does this entry relate to my life (personal or business)? _________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ What action steps can I take this week based on this entry? ___________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ What would make this week great? ______________________________________