The Coaching Toys Blog

Collage Making Software - Cool!

 I found a great way to make collages on your computer with images you have on file.

It's called Picture Collage Maker and you will find it at www.picturecollagesoftware.com

The simple collage on the left was created with the free version  however the fee based versions have a LOT more tools and options to play with. There are a ton of templates, you can put picture frames around your images, choose from a varity of masks, play with color, backgrounds and shapes and add text or clip art.You can print your collage, email it and convert it to a jpeg.

There are so many ways to use Picture Collage Maker - here are a few:

1. Use for creating a vision board

2. Create a collage for each value that you want to honor (works for goals too).

3. Create a collection of images from an event to use on a thankyou card or newsletter follow-up

5. Create a customized calendar (there are some cool calendar templates)

6. Create a collage image for a blog post or maybe an ebook cover

7, Use for scrapbooking or greeting cards (templates for this too).

A creative outlet and great way to create coaching structures and reminders. It's fun and they offer a free 15 day trial on the fee based versions - FYI - you do get a watermark on the free trial version.

Surviving the Roof fundraiser.

My husband Rick and I are reaching out to our community this week for help and the response so far has been amazing and deeply humbling.

It's not easy to ask for help but sometimes situations require it and Ricks fall off of our roof last December put us in that kind of situation.

I've posted an open letter on the Coaching Toys site.

Here is an excerpt:

"I never imagined my home would need to be wheelchair accessible or that a hospital bed and commode would be parked in my dining room. It's amazing how an event like this changes everything; our routines changed, our environment changed, our priorities changed, our financial situation changed.

AND something deep within kicks in and you do what you need to do on a daily basis. My focus is on Rick's healing, in fact it's hard to think of anything else and I'm doing everything in my power to help him literally get back on his feet again. With mounting medical bills, Rick's inability to work and my attention pulled away from my business to take care of him – it's pretty scary."

You can read the full letter here: Message from Marcy 

The fundraiser runs March 12 through March 17 via the Coaching Toys Store. Many of the Coaching Toys vendors are donating 100% of the proceeds of sales during this week. There is also an option to make a straight donation.

If you feel called to contribute or to spread the word, it would mean alot to us. Visit www.CoachingToysStore.com

Thanks,

Marcy

 

Next UnBoxed Brain - A Powerful Fable for Clients

Our Next Unboxed Brain Call features the mother daughter duo who authored the book: A Princess and Her Garden, Becoming the Queen of Yourself. The book is a powerful fable of awakening and arrival.  The books authors, Patricia Adson PH.D and Her daughter Jennifer Van Homer BS MSC CHIC, are committed to helping women protect, nurture and care for themselves in new and empowered ways.

I had a conversation with the two of them recently and you will be moved by their passion and wisdom! If you tend to care for others and neglect yourself the material will touch you personally.  You will also learn how to use this powerful fable with your clients. There will be a wonderful experiential component to the call so  you will want to be there in person for it.

 

You will walk away with:

• An understanding of the difference between self-care and selfishness.
• A new vocabulary to use to in talking about dependency and people pleasing that doesn’t sound like psychobabble or make the listener feel guilty.
• A practical do-it-yourself way to re-write their own life stories and design their own futures by using a guided journal to apply these metaphors to their own lives.

The Call is TODAY

Thursday Dec. 8, 11am Pacific - 2pm Eastern

It's not to late to sign-up

It promises to be a great call. Hope to see you there!

Register Here:  UnBoxed Brain, A Princess and Her Garden

Love working with Images? Try this cool new tool!

 

 

 

 

 

Images open the mind to new ways of thinking, new insights and new perspectives. If you want to explore something deeply with a client, especially when the logical mind resists, try using images.  The reason they work so well is that they get past the linear censor and go right to the right brain, intuitive wisdom place.

This new deck  - JICT images, offers 72 evocative images, open-ended questions and a guidebook with tips on how to use the deck.  And even better news - it's on sale this week as part of the CoachingToys holiday sale  (save $15)

Check it out here: JICT Images

A new updated MindMeister

Mind Maps are a great way to think through ideas, brainstorm new ones and create plans to move them forward.  Having cool online tools like MindMeister makes it very easy.

 

MindMeister has been around for awhile but they have just launched a new and improved version. 

 

They have updated the visuals, you can now share your mindmap via email and twitter, it's easier to use and there are more templates. One of the cool features of Mindmeister is that it can be used collaboratively. Depending on the package you get, you can have a team working on the same mindmap in real time. Mindmeister is now also available for the ipad, iphone and android platforms.  Very cool.

 

Check it out: www.mindmeister.com

Cool New Relationship Tool

If you are a relationship coach, you want your clients to have healthy, vibrant, dynamic relationships. And if you are in a relationship - you want that too!

The Relating Game card deck is an inquiry based conversation tool that offers lots of ways for partners to engage with one another. There are 4 "suits" or categiories filled with conversation prompts and activities.

 

One of my favorite features of this deck is the Competencies suit.

 

As you explore competencies you identify the ones you have and the ones you need to grow in order to achieve specific relationship goals - this is where it takes on a uniquely coaching flavor.

 

There is a lot to this deck and it's hard to get a feel for it's richness by looking at the box so I created a video that gives you a close up look at whats inside.  You can see it here: The Relating Game Demo

 

 You can learn more and purchase the deck here: The Relating Game

Prospecting for Perspectives

Whether designing a business or working on a project, our thinking can sometimes get in a rut. If you are feeling the urge to drop everything and get away from the work  - DO!  Playing "hookey" can be good for business.

 

Doing something you don’t normally do or that is different from your normal work routine definitely gives you a break from the “work”.  It also opens you to new stimulus, which with a little intentional play can suggest new ways to think about something.

 

Hobbies, sports activities, politics, the arts all offer possibilities. The raw material for your creative process lies in the language, process and structures of the new activity. Then, it’s all about making connections and finding parallels.

 

Perhaps your hobby is gardening.  How do you think about gardening? What are the tools needed? How do you create a garden that blooms from early spring to late fall? What are the steps to prepare the soil?

 

Take your knowledge and wisdom around gardening (insert your stimulating activity here) and look at language, processes, steps, fundamentals and structures, then find ways to apply or overlay those with your business or project.  

 

In the case of gardening: What would "blooming all year" look like in your business? What is the connection between preparing the soil and the project you are working on? What needs tilled? What would be a good fertilizer? Are there weeds that need to be removed? What about dead heads? What are the annuals? What are the perennials? You get the idea.

 

Now go ahead and give it a try.  Take your hobby or something new you are learning or experiencing and find the connections with your business or project.

 

This process can give you new metaphors, new perspectives and even ideas for innovative new products or programs. AND, it gives you a solid business reason for taking time off!

Birthing Creative Projects

Calling all women!

Your voice, your wisdom and your gifts are needed in the world!

Imagine turning your gifts and wisdom into a visible form that can be out there working for you and touching more lives than you can by yourself. The Creativity in Motion Group program is designed to help you birth a creative project of your choice. One that embodies your deep knowing and authentic power. It can take the form of a product, a book, a program, a process, a retreat, a new brand, even a movement - whatever gets you excited and that will move you and your business to the next level.

 

The 5 months will be filled with helpful content, the support of like-minded women and a product mentor, powerful master mind sessions, resources and how-to guidance. It all culminates in a co-promoted launch party. Nothing like a deadline to insure completion!

 

I'd love to have you join us. The next group starts Sept 21st and early bird pricing is currently in play.

You can learn more here: Creativity in Motion

New Values Deck - Video Demo

My first product demo video and hopefully many more to come.

 I love this new deck called Road to Resilience Values Deck. It's really two decks in one as you will see in the video demo. Great for coaches, counselors and consultants. Use the card sort process in your first session with clients to build the foundation for powerful work together.

Check out the video:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJOUjTAP4uo

To learn more and purchase the deck click here; Values Deck

Let me know what you think!

 

The Right Brain Business Plan

  Business building for creatives and artists of any sort just got a lot easier. Jennifer Lee's new book - The Right Brain Business Plan speaks the language of visually oriented right brainers and combines that with practical business practices. It's filled with creative flair and exercises to help creatives succeed. What a gift!

We are thrilled to be carrying it in the Coaching Toys Store.

By the way - Jennifer Lee will be our UnBoxed Brain guest on June 7. Stay tuned for more info.

Check it out here: The Right Brain Business Plan