How easily  do you focus on things? Are you able to tune out distractions, or do you find  yourself readily sidetracked by things around you? As I pen this article,  started during a break at the office where I work a couple days a week, there is  a personification of "distraction" at work behind me ... let's call him Tom. Tom  is a very vocal character who wanders into my shared office many times  per day with comments, inane questions, and "lets toss a few" requests for my  co-workers.

Are you a  good communicator? Do people understand you easily? I've had several experiences  lately that made me realize once again the tremendous importance of EFFECTIVE  communication. I tend to forget that everything I do or say, or DON'T do or say,  is an important form of communication. Our words, body language, facial  expressions, silence, and tone of voice all communicate volumes to everyone  around us. What language are you speaking? Does your listener understand  it?

In a recent  coaching class, we discussed the issue of responsibility vs. blame. How do you  feel when you hear the word "responsibility"? Heavy, careful, and busy? Or  relaxed, free, and capable? We started out with this question: On a scale of  one to ten, how responsible are you for your life? My gut reaction was to  say "Oh, about 12 to 15 for me", and the feeling that accompanied it was one of  confinement, weight, and tiredness. I've always thought of responsibility as a  burden to bear, and one that I should carry as much of as I am capable. Not a  very enjoyable way to live, is it?

Thanks to my  friend Bon, I discovered Top Ten lists in 2004. I was certainly familiar with  the concept before, but had never applied it to things I was thankful for. She  shared her 2004 list with her friends, and challenged us to do the same. In  accepting the challenge, I learned a few things about myself and wanted to start  off the new year by sharing my discoveries with you.

Do you  remember the feeling you had as a kid when school started up again in the fall?  I can still feel the excitement of getting ready for 4th grade and shopping for  new school supplies; the jumbo box of crayons, unspoiled spiral notebooks,  colored folders, and clean pink erasers. Everything was fresh, untouched, and  full of potential ... a clean slate.