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Mary Dee Freeman/
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Articles by Mary Dee Freeman

Browse published articles attributed to Mary Dee Freeman, with full-archive search.

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By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

Every day's an Adventure! Step outside your box...

I love the scene in Men in Black when they open the locker to find an alien world living inside. The aliens didn’t realize that there was a whole other world outside their locker. They were fine with their box. Imagine what would have happened if they took them out? It would have been overwhelming for them. Some would have like it and some wouldn’t. The one thing that would have happened for sure is that they all would have looked at their world in a different way. That’s us.

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

4,524 views3.6/5 (5)

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

Are you the Tortoise or the Hare?

I walk my dogs every day. After I get past a certain point on the walk I let them off their leashes. Their reactions to freedom are the exact opposite. Barney likes to wander off the path. He’s a three year old Beagle so he will follow his nose just about anywhere. In fact, I have to watch him so he doesn’t wander too far off the path and get lost. Lucy, on the other hand, is 14 years old and a Border collie. She follows right behind me. Occasionally she will stop to sniff and then gets right back on track. Truthfully, she doesn’t even need a leash.

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

2,117 views4/5 (2)

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

Dance Like No One Is Watching!

"Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on Earth." — Mark Twain Isn’t that a great quote? I love inspirational quotes and saying. This one and others like it are everywhere. They’re on posters, key chains, even online. The number of inspirational quotes on twitter alone is shocking. I think they’re great. We need them. They remind us that life isn’t about the day to day grind. It’s about enjoying every moment and living life to the fullest.

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

2,464 views3.5/5 (2)

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

Be Your Best Self!

I love that Army commercial “Be All you can be”. You know the jingle. I like it because it’s about being your best you. Of course, they’re implying that the only place to do that is in the army. I don’t agree with that. I believe that you can be your best self everywhere you go. It’s not about the army or even the people around you. It comes from inside and is a lifelong endeavor. It’s not like riding a bike. You know… once you know how, you can do it forever. It’s about getting better and better as you go along. I believe that once you stop growing and learning, your life is over.

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

1,538 views3.5/5 (4)

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

Life... it's worth the risk!

* To laugh is to risk appearing the fool; * To weep is to risk appearing sentimental; * To reach out for another is to risk involvement; * To expose feelings is to risk exposing true self; * To place your ideas, your dreams before the crowd is to risk their loss; * To love is to risk not being loved in return; * To live is to risk dying; * To hope is to risk despair; * To try is to risk failure; * But risk must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing; * The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing; * He may avoid suffering and sorro

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

2,042 views3/5 (3)

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

People are Innocent

I have to tell you about this friend of mine. She’s been driving me crazy lately. Don’t get me wrong; she’s one of the nicest people I know. The problem is that she is a consummate fixer and can be a little pushy about it. You know the one… She always knows what’s best for everyone. She has an opinion about everything… from where you should work to what you should eat. She isn’t afraid to share her opinions and keeps pushing until you agree with her or scream.

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

1,294 views4.5/5 (2)

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

Communication is a two way street!

We live in the communication age. We can talk to each other faster and easier than ever before. We have cell phones, blogs, e-mail, and social networks like facebook and twitter. There are so many new ways to communicate. So why is it that we have so much trouble communicating? It seems to me that we’re all talking, but no one is listening. We write our opinion or post our status or send a text or e-mail, but we don’t actually talk anymore. I remember when answering machines first came out and everyone HATED leaving a message.

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

2,037 views4/5 (1)

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

Why Hire a Coach?

I’ve had several people ask me that over the years. Why should I hire a coach? I mean, do I really need one? They’re costly, they’re demanding, they’ll tell me things I don’t want to hear and they push me to do things I don’t want to do. Yes that’s all true. However, if you’re not satisfied with something in your life, whether it’s personal or professional, you need a coach.

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

1,481 views3.5/5 (2)

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

You Can Be a Leader. In Fact, You Already Are!

Did you know that only 1% of the population is natural born leaders? So that old saying “great leaders are born, not made” can only be correct if 1% of the population is leading something. That can’t possibly be right! There are leaders everywhere doing everything. The dictionary defines a ...

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

909 views3/5 (5)

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

Stages of a Goal

I hope your new year has gotten off to a great start. It’s interesting how it works. We start out on January 1 fresh and new and excited. This is going to be the year that everything works. We set goals and make resolutions. Everything’s going to be great! Chances are though, by the time many of you read this, you will have given up on your goal for 2010. You’ve hit some obstacles and may be thinking that it’s just too hard. If that’s you, keep reading. If you haven’t and are still barreling toward your goals, good for you! Keep reading!

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

1,417 views3/5 (1)

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

How do you see yourself?

The other day I was talking to one of the strongest women I know and she said, ‘I’m a pansy. I never stand up for myself.” I was shocked. This was the same woman who refused to follow the crowd in high school. You know that one person who always did what she thought was right even as everyone else was trying to convince her otherwise. Not much has changed since then either. She’s easygoing, but if she doesn’t want to do something, she’s not doing it… period!

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

1,363 views3/5 (1)

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

Our Deepest Fear...

I want to share a poem I thought of during my last coaching session. (Yes, I have my own coaches.) At the end of the session, we kind of switched roles and I began coaching my coach. When I mentally switched gears from the client to the coach, I instantly relaxed. It was so much easier to focus on someone else rather than myself. I think it’s because the client role makes me vulnerable. It’s hard to hold up the mirror and reflex on who I am and where I’m going.

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

1,308 views3/5 (1)

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

Adventures in Customer Service... two stories

Good customer service is grounded in its ease of use for the consumer. If it’s difficult to reach you, they will go somewhere else. It’s something I’ve always known. At least, I’ve known it for so long I don’t remember how or when I learned it. It’s such a simple idea. Why is it so difficult for companies to do? I’m not talking about you. Okay, maybe I am, depending how difficult it is for your customers to reach you. I had a couple of experiences this week that reminded me of how vital this rule is. The first story is about a little company called XM Radio.

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

1,300 views2/5 (1)

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

New Year, New... Business?

Aren’t you excited? It’s the first week of the New Year. It’s full of hope and energy. Everyone’s excited about the goals they’ve set or resolutions they’ve made. Once again we get a do over. What are you changing this year? Even if you refuse to set goals or make resolutions consciously, you still make them in your subconscious mind. It could be something small like losing 10 pounds or maybe you’re ready to make major changes in your life. Maybe you’re getting married (or divorced).

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

847 views3/5 (1)

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

Better Communication = Success!

I’ve been thinking a lot about the economy lately. I guess everyone is, but I’m not nervous or worried. I see this as an opportunity. I believe that when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of change is when people change. We’re at that point right now. It’s time to ...

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

1,025 views2/5 (1)

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

Five Steps to Make Your Day Great!

Did you know the average person has 10,000 thoughts every day and 90% of them are negative? I remember a character in a movie I once saw (don’t remember which one, but I’ll never forget the line). She said “It’s easier to believe the bad stuff that people say about me.” Most people think like ...

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

1,604 views

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

Why Everyone Needs a Coach

Have you ever worked really hard at something and couldn’t get it right? You knew you were missing something, but couldn’t figure out what it was? I have. I’ve struggled often in my life… personally and professionally. I kept making the same mistakes over and over again. I would change a little, but it was really doing the same thing with a small variation. I just couldn’t see myself clearly enough to make the changes I needed to make to be successful. Can you relate?

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

1,320 views

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

If you would just do what I say...

I’m so excited! As you know, I’ve recently partnered with another company. When I first found Compass, I thought, “Are you kidding? Affordable coaching with experts in five areas of life; this is the best thing since bread. Not sliced bread, but actual bread! This is great for everyone!!!! I could never do this on my own.” As a sole proprietor, I could only offer individual coaching, group classes and training for business professionals and only in my area of expertise.

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

1,162 views

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

Know When to Say NO...

One of my favorite movie scenes is from A League of their Own. I don’t want to give it away if you haven’t seen the movie, but there’s this scene with Gina Davis and Tom Hanks. She’s leaving and he’s trying to convince her to stay. She said, “It just got too hard.” Tom Hanks said, “It’s supposed to be hard. The hard is what makes it great.” I get Goosebumps just thinking about it. What a great line! All the best things in life are the most difficult to get. The very fact that it’s hard is what makes it special.

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

1,145 views

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

Planning is GOOD!

Remember a couple of years ago during the presidential primary, there was a lot of outrage about Hilary Clinton. It seems that both Clintons had “a plan” to win the presidency! It was even written down! In fact, it had been written down before he was even the governor of Arkansas! First he was going to be president for two terms and then she would join the senate and be president for two terms. The only thing that stopped them was that upstart Obama who decided he wanted to be president in kindergarten. Do you remember? Can you believe the nerve of these people?

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

1,134 views

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

Find the Happiness!

I’m often asked where I get my writing ideas. To tell the truth it’s not always easy, they come from all over, but most of the time they come from the people around me. This week I had a conversation with a friend of mine and was truly inspired to share it with you. In order for you to understand, I need to give you a little bit of her background. I was talking to her on the phone the other day and she explained everything she was going through. I was shocked. Her life has been challenging lately to say the least. Here’s the abbreviated version.

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

1,066 views

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

Build a Better Relationship

I want to tell you a story. One day this woman called me out of the blue and said she was interested in individual coaching. I have to admit I was excited. It’s always nice when unexpected business comes. We agreed to meet for coffee to discuss how I could help her in her business. When she arrived, she wasn’t alone. She was in network marketing and she brought her sponsor with her. At first, I thought great, her sponsor can see how I can help and I may get two for the price of one. Yea! Me! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Some of you see where this is going.

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

955 views

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

Just Do It!

Imagine this situation. You’re at work and you know that you need to make some contacts to market your business, but you don’t really want to. The phone seems to weigh 500 pounds and it’s probably not the best time to call and you’re not really organized and… the other 5000 excuses to not do what you really need to do. Can you relate? So you end up checking your e-mail or going through your paperwork or doing ANYTHING so you don’t have to pick up that phone. Have you ever done this? I call it pretending to work.

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

949 views

By Mary Dee FreemanRecently published1 topic

What's Your Olympic Dream

I love the Olympics. There’s so much ceremony, tradition and history, but what I like about them most are the athletes. They spend hours working and training and the only reward for most of them is the opportunity to represent their country. What do they get if they win? A piece of jewelry and some recognition. That’s it. If they’re really lucky, they’ll get on the Wheaties box.

Primary topic: Success Coaching

Success Coaching

813 views

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