$ = $ = $ = $ = $ = $ = $ = $ = $ = $ = $ = $ Intentional Investing Newsletter May, 2004 $ = $ = $ = $ = $ = $ = $ = $ = $ = $ = $ = $ IN THIS ISSUE: 1. Note from Your Editor, Lynne 2. Article: Slowing Down to Speed Up: The ROI of Summer Meanderings 3. Light Summer Reading for the Intentional Investor 4. Intentional Investing Announcements ^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^ -=- Note from Lynne -=- Dear Reader, Summer has definitely arrived here in Washington, DC., ushered in by the familiar heat and humidity, as well as the rare appearance of the 17-year cicadas. What do you typically associate with summer? Besides "h & h," I think of long-awaited vacations, weekends at the beach, puttering in the garden, cooling off at the pool, and light, light reading. Nothing heavy. Slowing down to avoid overheating. In this issue, we focus on making the most of this natural "rhythm" of summer. See the feature article "Slowing Down to Speed Up: The ROI of Summer Meanderings" and our recommmendations for light reading for the intentional investor. As always, I love to receive your comments and ideas for future issues. Keep cool and enjoy yourself! Lynne ^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^ Lynne Hornyak, Ph.D., Editor e-mail: Lynne@LMHServices.com Coaching successful professionals to greater financial freedom and well-being. ^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^ -=- Feature Article: Slowing Down to Speed Up: The ROI of Summer Meanderings -=- Slowing down to speed up. That seems the anti-thesis of the "on-the-go-to-get-ahead" attitude in our culture. Yet as a coach, I know that *action* is only one component of the forward-motion cycle of change and success. Another essential component is *reflection.* When we get busy with "doing," we can lose perspective on WHERE we are heading and WHY we are doing whatever we're doing. However, we can use the natural rhythm of the calendar year to regain perspective. -$- Seasonal Rhythms -$- Traditionally, the early months of a new year are the time to gear up at work and home. In the financial arena, we make New Year's resolutions to be more responsible with our money or set new financial goals. As April approaches, we spend time gathering our documents and preparing tax returns. We may worry about or carefully track our investments, hoping to recover from the losses of previous years. Lots of "doing." Thank goodness when summer arrives. Just as spring is a time of gearing up, summer is traditionally a time of slowing down, of taking a vacation from the fast pace of our lives. It's the rhythm of the school calendar, breaking between June and August. It's also a natural response to the rising temperature. Who wants to be doing heavy lifting - physical or mental - in heat and humidity? So, the slower pace of summer provides the perfect opportunity to engage the playful, creative side of your mind in the service of "intentional re-investing." Most of us have experienced regaining perspective after taking a break from our everyday busy-ness, right? That's what can come from allowing your mind to wander, observe and reflect this summer - whether you're at the beach or simply taking a quiet hour for yourself at home. While "mental meanderings" don't feel like heavy lifting, they CAN yield a significant ROI (return on investment). They allow us to take a step back and see the big picture. They can reconnect to the WHERE and WHY of our lives, including our financial lives, giving us direction and momentum. And they can lead us to new possibilities and perspectives. So, how can you access the playful, creative side of your mind for productive mental meanderings? -$- Five Paths for Summer Meanderings -$- 1. Observe your daydreams. Simply notice where your mind goes as you relax and unwind. Better yet keep a journal. Periodically read your entries. Ask yourself: * What do my daydreams reflect about WHERE I want to be in life? * What gives me meaning and joy (the WHY)? * Thinking abundantly, what is possible for me? Thinking even bigger. What more is possible for me? * What have I lost sight of in the day-to-day of my life that I want to recapture? 2. Tend to your envy. Envy is a useful emotion. It lets you know what you want and value. Pay attention to times when you feel envy. Ask yourself: * What does that person have that I want? * What are they doing that I wish I was doing? 3. Notice what catches your fancy as you read. Read broadly. Read books and magazines that you normally wouldn't pick up. Notice what articles, ideas and images catch your attention. Ask yourself: * What am I responding to in these words and images? * What themes or patterns keep appearing to me? * What do these themes mean to me about my purpose or direction in life? 4. Wander in your favorite book store. Take an afternoon to meander among the stacks and tables of books. Check any urge to go directly to your favorite section. Explore what else is there. Notice what titles jump out at you, what topics pique your curiosity. Take a few books to a comfortable chair or spot on the floor. Flip through the pages. Ask yourself the questions listed above. 5. Imagine that you're 10 again. Maybe you'd rather be 6 or 8 or 12. That's fine. Pick a time when you were very curious and asked lots of questions. Go through your day, looking out through the eyes of that "young you." Ask yourself: * What is....? * How? * Why? * Why not? All those curious questions. Listen to the answers that your questions evoke, or the directions they lead you in for greater discovery. -$- Returning to the Forward-Motion Cycle -$- You may want to spend all of your summer meandering and reflecting. In that case, put this newsletter into your September follow-up pile because we're going to focus now on the third important component of the forward-motion cycle: learning. Learning means mining your data for valuable information. Take three pieces of paper. On the top of each, write one of the following words: GOALS, VALUES, INTENTIONS. First, review your meanderings for what you learned about your goals - big picture and short-term; personal, professional and financial. Reconnect with WHERE you are heading. Are they the same goals that you identified at the New Year? Are they different? Slightly tweaked? Notice how your sense of perspective is renewed or sharpened. Next, write down the values that are reflected in your meanderings. What gives you a sense of meaning and purpose? What gives you satisfaction and joy? How do, and can, you live those values as you achieve your goals? How do you express those values in the way you earn, spend and invest your money? Notice how your sense of purpose is renewed or clarified. Finally, write out your intentions. Intentions are the steps that you will take on a daily or weekly basis to put your goals and values into action. Post them where you will see them every day. Notice how your sense of momentum is renewed and that you cycle back to *action.* Now, pour yourself a cool drink, find a comfortable spot and reward yourself for re-investing in your self. ^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^ Like what you're reading? Then send this newsletter to friends, family, and colleagues who are interested in moving toward greater financial freedom and well-being. They can subscribe at www.lmhservices.com, or by sending an e-mail to Lynne@WLMHServices with "subscribe newsletter" in the subject line. ^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^ -=- Light Summer Reading for the Intentional Investor -=- Being a money coach, people frequently ask me what books I read and recommend. While I have many favorites, I don't consider them to be "light summer reading." In the summer, I carry a bag of magazines with me whenever I travel. They usually are issues that arrived, and remained stacked on my floor, during the past six months. My lastest financial favorites are Smart Money and Kiplinger's. I also read magazines related to my passions - Conde Nast Traveler, Food and Wine, Golf for Women, Metropolitan Home, Fast Company, Spirituality and Health. They are the "fuel" for my summer meanderings. I keep an "idea file" of articles or images that capture my attention. I periodically flip through my clippings for inspiration. Many "specialty niche" magazines today include financial columns on topics of interest to their readers. I often pick up financial tips for myself or my coaching work from them. So, check out magazines and newsletters written for audiences with your interests and characteristics. I would love to hear what you are reading this summer - what inspires you on your journey toward financial well-being. I'll share your recommendations in next month's issue of Intentional Investing. ^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^ If you are interested in coaching, contact me for a free half-hour consultation at Lynne@LMHServices.com. or (202) 387-5923. Please include your name, e-mail address, phone number and brief description of your interest in being coached. ^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^ -=- Intentional Investing Announcements -=- Have you been to the Intentional Investing webpage lately? Go to www.lmhservices.com and click on "Changing your Relationship to Money." On the Intentional Investing webpage, you can take a self-quiz on Your Relationship to Money, participate in a survey on gender and money, access articles written by Lynne as well read previous editions of this newsletter! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Teleclasses will resume in July. ^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^ PLEASE NOTE: Intentional Investing [TM] is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for financial, legal, accounting, psychotherapeutic, or other professional advice and consultation. ^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^ Copyright 2000-2003 Lynne Hornyak. All rights reserved. The above material is copyrighted but you may retransmit or distribute it to whomever you wish as long as not a single word is changed, added or deleted, including the contact information. However, you may not copy it to a website without my permission. Reprint permission will be freely granted upon request. Advance written permission must be obtained for any reprinting of this material in modified or altered form. ^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^`^ $=$ CONTACT INFORMATION $=$ Lynne Hornyak, Ph.D. LMH Services Coaching and Consulting 3818 Klingle Place, NW Washington, DC 20016 Phone: (202) 387-5923 Fax: (202) 244-3373 e-mail: Lynne@LMHServices.com Web: www.LMHServices.com