Free Self-Improvement Topics in Chicago

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  Discover What’s Really Wrong In Your Life And How To Fix It!

  Diane Moca, Television Reporter / Motivational Speaker / Entrepreneur / Working Mother, Working Mom Warrior

  For years, my vision for my life was to HAVE IT ALL -- manage kids, spouse and work successfully. But the harder I tried to accomplish that, the less fulfilled, happy and healthy I felt. I was unaware that I was neglecting a critical component in life that didn't seem important but was eating away at my sanity. By sharing my story and what I did to turn my life around, your group will learn the four main categories and six key areas in life that we must all nurture, and audience members will engage in an interactive session to help each person discover which component they need to fix and the steps to bring their life into balance. MORE >

  My presentation begins with the emotional journey that allowed me to develop my Goal Awareness and Achievement Formula. I explain how drastically life changed when there were so many demands on my time that I felt out of control and in a constant state of frenzy. After having two kids, working as a journalist and developing my own real estate business, I began to feel frustrated and overwhelmed every day. I was having chest pains and yelling at my kids and husband all the time. I realized I had to change my way of thinking or risk continued erosion of my physical and mental health. I began listening to dozens of audiobooks on productivity, passion and joy. I followed the guidance and insights of these authors. Through overcoming denial, becoming aware of what was really wrong, ending the cycle of blaming others, taking on personal accountability for my situation, putting in the hard work of changing my attitudes and habits, and maintaining patience throughout the process, I drastically improved my life.

  I'm now accomplishing more than ever in pursuits that are meaningful, and I have control over my schedule to be able to spend quality time with my family. I am on a mission to help others do the same.

  Many professionals feel we are pulled in too many directions and don't know how to meet the high standards of our bosses, our family, our friends and ourselves. I have discovered some of the secrets for making it all work through books, courses, coaches and interviews with successful professionals. I’ve spent more than a decade of my life studying how to do it all – taking in hundreds of articles about raising happy and healthy kids, about striving for career aspirations and running a successful business, about keeping a marriage fresh and lively yet deeply meaningful and long-lasting. At this point in life I have turned my study to the real-life heroes living their dreams and discovered what they went through to manage everything -- career, kids, spouse, home, health, fitness, style, finances, spirituality, growth, and purpose.

  As a result of interviewing working moms for my Working Mom Warrior YouTube channel, I now have a greater understanding of the motivation that can enrich women’s lives every day. I am creating a community of working moms who share and prop each other up, instead of competing. I am offering their insights and the lessons of my own transformation to groups who would benefit by hearing specific details showcasing how anyone can mold their life to feel invigorated and successful on a daily basis.

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  Developing A Personal Brand for Career and Life!

  Bette Lawrence-Water, Founder and Principal Consultant, Spectrum Strategic Solutions

  Personal Branding is identifying your assets, characteristics, strengths, and skills as an individual. Understanding Personal Branding will provide advantages in your participant’s personal and professional lives. Branding is a mix of how you present yourself and how others see you. It is important to be aware of how you are viewed. MORE >

  During this lively and enlightening personal branding discussion, participants learn to uncover their vision and passions for career and life. Then, find out how to utilize this knowledge through Social Media to define and influence how others see you. You are your brand so protect it. Live it.

  Discussion Objectives:

  • Define your image.
  • Control your image.
  • Understand how to sharpen your brand.
  • Use social media appropriately.
  • Manage your brand in a crisis.
  • Develop a professional appearance.

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  Moving Forward During Turbulent Times

  Jay Kurtz, Chaplain, Chaplain in Action

  I take folks on a journey during the conflict and chaos in their lives. It’s about giving - of yourself - for the greater good. It seems simple, but it takes a great deal of energy and engagement to achieve a framework of commitment, intra-personal awareness and personal sacrifice.

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  The Power of Networking

  Bette Lawrence-Water, Founder and Principal Consultant, Spectrum Strategic Solutions

  According to Merriam Webster networking is “the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically: the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business”. These and other events can become more easily managed with this great workshop. During this lively, and interactive Power of Networking (Outside the organization) discussion, participants will begin to see how important it is to develop a core set of networking skills to get things done. By managing and looking at the way people interact and seeing things in a new light, participants can improve on almost every aspect of their networking strategy.
  MORE >

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  Building From the Inside Out.

  James H. Carpenter Barnes, Ph.D., Life-Imagined, LLC - Author - Personal Development Speaker & Coach - Radio Talk Show Host

  The key to successfully creating anything in life begins with working on the inner-man first. This approach establishes a solid foundation on which to accomplish our goals and build our vision. Here we present three simple but powerful steps to laying this foundation for success. MORE >

  1. “Taking Control of Your Mindset” - It is vital that we get this first step right. This can be viewed as a method for house keeping of the mind. Henry Ford said “thinking is the hardest work we can do”. To think creatively and effectively we must take control of your thought patterns and the images that flood the mind daily. Filter out every thing that runs counter to your vision/dream/plan, replace it with positive thoughts, images and energy. See it as daily mental health cleaning or maintenance.

  Eliminate all language of complaining and thinking either in yourself or others around you. Sometimes to build we must separate from people, places and things which have a nature which opposes your vision. Success results more from who you are, ones state of being - than what you do (the actions we take). Be unique and single minded. Be willing to swim against the tide of traditions, willing endure being ridiculed and judged for your idea(s). Remove competitive envy from your mentality, setting the ego aside; this includes Fear, Resentment, Excuses, Envy

  2. “Creating Winning-Problem Solving Ideas” by spending time connecting to the source of all wisdom through prayer, reflection, and meditation. Schedule some quiet time; especially in the early morning hours. It slows our brain down to be able to hear our own creativity. It is here we receive Direction, Inspiration, Revelation.

  3. “Surrendering to the Creator's for the Execution of the Plan”. It is written, “I always do the things I see the creator do”. During the quiet time always be prepared to take notes when God begins to respond to your communication, this where the partnership begins to become a tangible reality. Then taking the revealed idea, writing out a plan and executing that plan, taking action, step by step (no matter how small) as it develops into a reality. Taking time to create an actionable but practical plan goes a long way to making it happen. Making it a part of your life experience.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson said, A mind once stretched to a new idea can never return to its former dimensions.

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  Dealing with Conflict

  Michael Garlin, Passionate Speaker and Transition Coach, Garlin Consulting

  All of us deal with Conflict almost everyday of our lives. Understanding why Conflict exists and facing it with your own personal style will help you manage conflict in a very diplomatic and strategic way. Conflict can bring out feelings that many of us would like to avoid. Some of us take on conflict head on and many of us avoid conflict as if it's a plague. Let's spend an hour understanding and finding ways to deal with Conflict in new and interesting ways. MORE >

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  Eliminate the Fear of Leaving Your Comfort Zone Post Pandemic

  Susan Neustrom, Ed.D., Life, Leadership Coach, Author, Speaker, Educator, Leading to Action

  Change happened suddenly. You didn’t plan for major disruption. The pandemic turned your world upside down and thrust you right out of your comfort zone, big time. Nevertheless, over the past year you adapted to a different way of working, communicating, and interacting. Of course, now that a vaccine is here restrictions are being lifted, capacity is increasing, and in-person events are occurring. You are ready to get back to normal, whatever normal looks like now and in the future. Relief no doubt, but are you prepared to leave your comfort zone one more time? MORE >

  In this session, Dr. Susan Neustrom unravels the mystery of your personal space called the comfort zone, breaks down the fears that hold you captive even when you don’t know you’re being held captive, and offers strategies to eliminate fear enabling you to move out of your comfort zone and ready to soar to new heights post pandemic.

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  Becoming An Innovator

  Stephen A. Di Biase, Ph.D., President, Premier Insights, LLC.

  "10 Keys To Unlock Your Innovative Self" offers the reader a short, simple, easy and fun treatment teaching anyone how to use the basics of innovative behaviors for becoming a more effective problem solver leading to a higher quality of life. Specifically, this treatise touches on why every human being is an innovator at birth, how we can maximizes, this natural trait, the importance of curiosity, imagination, inquiry, methods of learning, the importance of play and passion and how to use the scientific method while being careful of formal education. MORE >

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  Interpersonal Skills

  Bette Lawrence-Water, Founder and Principal Consultant, Spectrum Strategic Solutions

  We've all met that dynamic, charismatic person that just has a way with others, and has a way of being remembered. Participants will identify ways of creating a powerful introduction, remembering names, and managing situations when you’ve forgotten someone’s name.
  The Interpersonal Skills discussion will help participants work towards being that unforgettable person by providing communication skills, negotiation techniques, tips on making an impact, and advice on networking and starting conversations. Bette will help audience to identify skills needed in starting a conversation, moving a conversation along, and progressing to higher levels of conversation. MORE >

  Discussion Objectives:
  • Understand the difference between hearing and listening
  • Know some ways to improve the verbal skills of asking questions and communicating with power.
  • Understand what is ‘non-verbal communication’ and how it can enhance interpersonal relationships.
  • Identify the skills needed in starting a conversation.
  • Identify ways of creating a powerful introduction, remembering names, and managing situations when you’ve forgotten someone’s name.
  • Understand how seeing the other side can improve skills in influencing other people.
  • Understand how the use of facts and emotions can help bring people to your side.
  • Identify ways of sharing one’s opinions constructively.
  • Learn tips in preparing for a negotiation, opening a negotiation, bargaining, and closing a negotiation.
  • Learn tips in making an impact through powerful first impressions.

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  Childhood Grief

  Lydia Galan, Outreach Coordinator, Pillars Community Health

  Pillars Community Health is available to make presentations regarding childhood grief. Our Buddy's Place is a childhood bereavement program serves the western and southwestern suburbs of Chicago.

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