What is freedom?

Do you have it?

Do you want it?

During this week's AQ R&D call, we explored the AQ Guiding Principle "Freedom is Always Present". Lots of you turned up for a fascinating discussion on this topic. Here are some of the wrinkles we explored:

How is responsibility related to freedom?

Who is the "owner of choice"?

Is freedom from something truely freedom?

How does fear inhibit our freedom?

What role do permission and attachment play in making our choices?

What two questions can instantly shift us from choosing our fear to choosing our greatness?

You can listen to the call by clicking the media player below:

Share your comments here!

Posted by Kim George at 01:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've been tagged!

My friend, Suzanne Falter-Barns started a game of tag on her fabulous blog all around the "5 Things People Don't Know About You".

This fits perfectly into my theme this year around "Lightness of Being". How fun!

So here goes:

1. When I was going to college in NH, I went to a Red Sox game at Fenway with my roommate. I got hit by the ball. I remember hearing a statistic once that the odds of this happening are like 1 in 3 million or something like that. I guess I had the Law of Attraction working even then and I didn't even know it! (And no, I didn't end up with a concussion like Drew Barrymore in the hilarious movie Fever Pitch -- just a sore shoulder. And no, I'm not even a baseball fan -- shocking, I know!)

4. I'm crazy about great guitar players. A few of you may know this -- I've written about it a little here on the blog. I've seen Eric Clapton 17 times. Here's my top list of "gotta' have" music:

Derek Trucks
Carlos Santana
Buddy Guy
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Freddie King
BB King
E.C. (of course)
Robert Randolph
Joe Satriani

Upcoming shows I'm going to:

Robert Randolph, WebsterTheater, Hartford CT 2/15
Eric Clapton, Phoenix, AZ, 3/11
Derek Trucks Band, Warner Theater, Torrington CT 5/17

3. I talk to trees. Ok, this one may be a bit woo-woo for some of you. I've always had a spiritual connection to trees. To me, the greatest sound in the world is the wind through the trees. Trees are powerful metaphors for life in so many ways - strength, vision, groundedness, beauty, wonder.

Favorite tree quote - "The mightiest oak tree was once just a nut who stood his ground."

Favorite kind of tree - the American elm.

Favorite tree hero -- Julia Butterfly Hill (who is interviewed in my book)

I wrote the first grant for the Friends of Springfield Trees to provide funding for their website and tree plantings in my home town. I've even created a Lens all about trees at Squidoo. Check it out here.

4. When I was in high school, I worked at the deli up at the top of Squaw Valley ski resort in California. Every day i took the tram up the mountain, something like 4,000 feet. I remember one time it got really windy and the tram had to stop midway - just happened to be over the largest drop on the whole ride - and the tram swayed from side to side. We were suspended like that for at least an hour. It made me think of that scene in the James Bond flick, MoonRaker, when Roger Moore was fighting with Jaws on the tram. And yeah, I'm afraid of heights!

5. I love guinea pigs. My secret ambition has been to open a guinea pig rescue when I retire some day. Guinea pigs are some of the most underrated animals in the world. They all have unique personalities. They are loving and affectionate, creative and loyal. When I worked in long term care, I used to bring my guinea pigs in to visit the residents.

Don't forget to visit Suzanne's blog to discover her 5 things, and links to a whole bunch of other fabulous people and their previously unknowns.

Now post a comment and share something we didn't know about you!

Posted by Kim George at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

This is the Year of You!

Set an intention to discover and explore your AQ in 2007!

We're launching another AQ group coaching program in early February:

Discover your personal AQ

Create your Declaration – your public promise of how you choose to be in the world

Live into your greatness – explore how the Illusions and Aptitudes create your reality

Do what you can do!

Only a few spots remain to join this small, exclusive environment. For more information on the group, send an email here with AQ Group in the subject line and plan to join us for a special introductory call Monday, January 15th.

For more information on the introductory call, check out the list of Upcoming events.

Posted by Kim George at 05:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In an earlier post, I mentioned that every year, in addition to looking back on my accomplishments and looking forward to my intentions, I pick a theme.

Why pick a theme?

I've found that having a theme connects the dots between your personal standards and your yearly intentions, or goals. A theme captures who you intend to be in the world and how you want to show up. It's fun, it's a bit lighter. Most importantly, it captures YOU.

In 2005, my theme was to "Step Up and Stand Out." Last year, it was to "Explore My Vulnerability." Each of the year's that I've had a theme, I've found myself being more focused, more intentional.

This year, my theme is "Lightness of Being."

You see, in the past, I've had a habit of taking myself a bit too seriously, working very intensely, almost forgetting the harmony between being and doing.

In 2007, I'm all about putting more fun, freedom and flexibility into my life. Making choices about my happiness -- choosing happiness over success. Because, after all, I'm the one that wrote a book that states "Success is a byproduct of being who you are."

How am I planning to do this?

Well, for starters, I'm consciously making music a bigger part of my life again. An hour or so into 2007, I kicked off the New Year by meeting one of the greatest guitar players ever - Derek Trucks - and giving him a copy of my book. It's an intention I set after first hearing him play in October with Eric Clapton. And it came together effortlessly, easily. (I'm not kidding!)

All because I put my happiness first, approached the intention with a sense of playfulness and wonder, and just had fun with it. I didn't get caught up in the how. I didn't allow the Illusion of Not Enough to keep me from doing what I can do.

I allowed myself to be vulnerable.

To really be seen.

And it was great.

What is your theme for the year?

How will you allow yourself to be seen?

Posted by Kim George at 05:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)