Category Archives: Building Self Belief


Taking Inspiration From My Daughter

By Sarah Cooper | Published March 13, 2009

 
Two days ago my daughter Elsa (3 1/2) announced that she’d like to cycle herself to school - a local Chinese kindergarten just round the corner from where we live. Her bike was last year’s birthday present from her ayi (like a Chinese nanny). But Elsa never really got the hang of it before winter [...]

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Are You Watering Down Your Dream?

By Sarah Cooper | Published January 30, 2009

 
One of the things I often notice is how quick we are to water down our dreams. I know that sometimes we do have to bend to reality, but much of the time we don’t even give our dreams a chance. We compromise up front, before even testing the ideal. Or we lose focus, distracted [...]

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Give Yourself An “A”

By Sarah Cooper | Published December 12, 2008

 Benjamin Zander is the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and a teacher at the New England Conservatory.   Zander was concerned that the conservatory’s practise of grading students at the end of their course was causing them to play conservatively – holding them back from expressing their individuality and reaching their true potential.
 
He therefore came [...]

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How To Present Yourself As An Expert When You Feel Like A Fraud

By Sarah Cooper | Published November 28, 2008

 
5 “F-words” to help you quickly believe in and market your expert status! 
 
Facts, Focus, Fees, Follow up, Feedback
 
The 5 Fs are most relevant for those of you who are thinking of starting a consultancy or service business, but I hope everyone will be able to glean something useful.
 
Tip 1 – FACTS
 
When you’re [...]

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Seize Your Wild Want

By Sarah Cooper | Published October 31, 2008

I was re-reading This Time I Dance by Tama Kieves this week when I came across a passage that really rang true for me. I think it makes a great follow-on to my recent leap of faith post.
 
Tama is an ex-corporate lawyer turned creative writer and coach. She has this to say about following [...]

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Why We Sometimes Need To Make A Leap Of Faith

By Sarah Cooper | Published October 24, 2008

  
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a prettily preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways in a shower of gravel and party shards, thoroughly used, utterly exhausted, and loudly proclaiming: “WOW…what a ride!”
 
I love this quote.  I’m not too sure who said it – I’ve [...]

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Just Say Yes And The Fine Art of Faking It

By Sarah Cooper | Published July 5, 2008

 

A few years back my mother and I were hooked on a hugely popular TV show in the UK called “Faking It.”  Each episode featured someone in hot pursuit of a crazy dream. An example that sticks in my mind is the person who wanted to compete in a high level show jumping event, when they’d [...]

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Overcoming Fear

By Sarah Cooper | Published October 11, 2007

In this post, I want to look at what is probably the biggest challenge facing many of us wanting to make career or lifestyle changes: FEAR!
 
I’ve always been fascinated by fear, and its flip side, courage. In my teens I was very shy. Standing on the threshold of the “grown up world”, many things seemed [...]

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