FEATURED MAY 2010 GUEST: Tiffany Walke Peterson

Founder and President of The Lighthouse Principles, Inc.

“There are three constants in life: Change, Choice, and Principles. The Change will come. Principles Are Universal. The Choice of how you respond is yours.” - Tiffany Walke Peterson

Q: You are the founder and president of The Lighthouse Principles, Inc. Tell us more about your company and how it can help people from all walks of life achieve their dreams and goals.

A: The Lighthouse Principles is a radiant source of resources supporting individuals and organizations in achieving their purpose, goals, and desired results governed by timeless and universal success principles, habits, and strategies. When we follow principles, we know that our lives, our businesses, and our relationships will be led in alignment with our best selves and the results we build will be long lasting and sustainable. We focus on building a solid foundation individuals and teams can draw upon over and over again to guide their path, decisions, and aspirations as they navigate the exciting and rocky waters of change, growth, and transition in the pursuit of success.

Q: What first inspired you to become a success coach, trainer and speaker in the field of human potential?

A: Interesting question. I’ve been drawn to some form of teaching since I was a teenager, although the platform and focus of my teaching has transformed over the years. When I first went to college, I was focused on studying elementary education, specifically special education towards children with disabilities. I worked for two years in local public school classrooms as I attended college classes. I loved working with kids, yet it didn’t seem like the best fit for me. I switched majors to Communication and specifically majored in Speech Communication (public speaking) although at the time that was more about getting a diploma than any known desire to be a speaker.

I went to work in the professional and personal development industry on the Sales and Marketing side of the business and found myself doing exceptionally well, setting sales records, and creating great levels of success for myself. I fell in love with the business of the development of human beings – whether that focus be professional, personal, or financial.

I was hooked on helping people to grow!

Due to my consistent sales success, I was asked to begin teaching other sales associates my techniques, methods, and strategies on the side of billing business. What started out as training a few classes transformed into many promotions and opportunities within a corporation to become a full time trainer and coach for the employees of this company. It was in this role that my desires to train, speak, and inspire others grew deep in my heart and soul. For me, I felt I had found my purpose in life ~ to edify and inspire others to discover and live their own divine potential in all areas of one’s life. In this role, I often had the clear and distinct thoughts and feelings that strongly spoke, “This is what I am meant to do.”

I feel the most alive, the most passionate, and the most radiantly joyful when I am speaking, training, or coaching individuals, teams, or audiences in supporting them to find clarity and solutions, hope and inspiration, and realistic, proven tips and strategies to create their best life and desired results.

Q: In your experience what holds most of us back from taking a dream or goal from vision to reality?

A: I find there are two key things that hold any individual back from taking action on a goal or a dream.

Clarity – Many clients that I work with are not clear or are fuzzy about what they want. Oftentimes they are more clear about what they don’t want versus what they do want. They will rattle off expressions like, “I don’t want to be fat, broke, lonely, tired of my job, etc.” When I ask them the opposite of what they want from those things, there is often a lack of clarity, vagueness, or uncertainty about what they do want. Janet Attwood has best said, “When you are clear, what you want will show up in your life and only to the extent that you are clear.” It’s rather simple.

Are you clear on what you want? Specifically clear? It’s one thing to state “I want to be healthy” and an entirely different level to clearly state, “I am loving my ideal body weight of 135 pounds by June 1st, 2010.” So begin with clarity – ask yourself questions like, “What do I want? If I could create anything I want, what would it look like?” And then write those responses down with as much detail as you can. If you’d like a new car, new relationship, new job, new house, etc. write as much detail as to what it looks like, how it feels, location, etc. to the ideal.

There are scientific reasons to this in what is happening in the brain. For instance, have you ever noticed that once you’ve begun researching a specific model of car or just purchased that car, you now notice that car on the road all the time? They have been there all along, yet your awareness to a specific detail is different and you now can recognize it. The same thing applies with any other goal. The more clear it is in your own mind, the easier it is to go after that goal, recognize the people and resources in front of you, and for the results to show up in your life.

Fear – If you’re clear on what you want, yet still feel held back from taking action, fear is the likely cause interfering with you being able to move forward. Whether it’s fear of humiliation, being judged by others, fear of failure, fear of change, fear of success, etc., fear is a strong emotion that feels rather real to the person experiencing it.

Fear is often described as False Evidence Appearing Real ~ in other words our mind is playing tricks on us and creating the fear we are experiencing. See, the brain is wired for security and for certainty. Anytime you begin moving towards something new, unknown, or uncertain, the brain responds with fearful feelings because it isn’t sure of the new turf that you’re wanting to explore. Even if you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired of a situation, it still is what you know and therefore, certainty creates feelings of safety. Branching off into a new adventure isn’t certain and therefore, can feel both exciting and scary because it is the unknown.

Two tips to remedy fear: #1: Ask yourself, what is it that you want me to know? Be kind and gentle with yourself and simply ask what this is here to teach you? Give yourself permission that you can always make a new decision so if the new levels of success you achieve don’t suit you, you can always go back to the status quo you’ve been living. I know that sounds silly, yet it’s quite empowering to feel that the decisions aren’t FINAL. Decisions are always flowing everyday.

#2: The quickest way to dissolve fear is to take action. This may sound counterintuitive because the very thing holding you back from taking action is fear. Trust me. Waiting for the fear to subside before you act will never happen. You will wait a long time and then deal with another negative feeling: guilt. The “what if I would have _____” thoughts that can plagued your mind. Even if it’s small steps, that is perfect! Take action everyday. You can always course correct, yet you will never know unless you act. Many of my clients find that by facing their fear and taking action, they become more empowered and confident.

We all have fear – every single one of us. Yet, will you allow the fear to control you or will you control it? This is your life and your dreams. Pursuing your passion, dreams, and goals is your birthright – they are YOURS and it is up to you to honor them by living them. You’ll survive the fear, no matter how big it may feel to you right now. I promise.

Tiffany Walke Peterson

Q: What then, are the three most important steps a person can take in order to create success in any area of their life?

A: Clarity – Get as clear as possible on what you want from life, what experiences you want to have, things you want to achieve and keep that clarity in front of you in the forms of posted goals, affirmations, vision board, etc. to keep your conscious and subconscious mind on the lookout of creating that success for you.

Action – Get into action everyday! The Universe doesn’t pay you for what you know, it pays you for what you do. The quickest way to get what you want is to DO something about it. I like the motto, “Ready. Fire. Aim”. You’ll learn more and get what you want faster than you will thinking about it and analyzing it.

Accountability – Create relationships in your life that will provide guidance, support, and accountability of you becoming your best you. Hire a coach. Find a mentor. Create a mastermind group. Accountability and support combined create a loving and nurturing environment along with focused action on your goals. It will transform your results.

Q: What do you suggest for people who do "great" at temporary change or goal setting, but once they get back in the groove of their normal environment, i.e.: family and friendship dynamics and work related stress or patterns, they seem to get stuck again and again without really moving forward?

A: I t is quite common for people to attend a workshop and have a temporary “buzz” around making new change or going after a goal, yet when the emotion wears off that person is left to their habits or default setting. For instance, a popular and well known example is New Year’s Resolutions. One begins the year with aspirations, commitments, and resolve to create change and achieve goals for that year; however, according to Franklin Covey, most people have already given up on their New Year’s Resolutions by the third week of January. It’s not to say that the epiphany never sticks, it’s simply the rare versus the common. Research consistently reports the concept that it takes 21 days to change a habit and 90 days to change behavior. Therefore, when you stick to a new change or goal for 90 days or longer, it now becomes your new habit ~ and habits equal results. Change the habits and you will change your results!

I recommend that when one is serious about making change or achieving new goals in their life to create accountability in their regime.

Accountability can be in the form of an accountability partner, coach, or mastermind group. I also recommend that this support be a minimum of weekly interaction or more to create consistency and thus a greater propensity for success. When you have the support system set up and structured into your life and into your regular environments, your results drastically change. When it is in place for 90 days or longer, you’ve now crossed the threshold of a new habit in place to sustain success. As a coach myself, I recognize this very need for my own goals and dreams and I have structured into my life accountability partners, coaches, and mastermind groups. I meet with my accountability partner three mornings a week by phone and with two separate mastermind groups each once a week. These relationships are crucial factors and influences in my own success, productivity, and results. It’s best been said that, “Accountability, not ability, determines your success.” I give a loud “AMEN” to that!

Q: How does a person find a great coach or mentor?

A: I encourage those looking for a coach to look at two things: Character & Competence. Character meaning WHO the coach is as a person. Are they honest? Do they follow through? What does your intuition tell you about them? Competence: Do their results speak for themselves? Are they walking the talk? Have they successfully coached or mentored others? When you have character and competence, you’re sure to win.
Identify someone you view as successful or creating in their own results what you want in your life and approach them about mentoring you to do the same. Ask around. Ask others for referrals to coaches that they are ecstatic about.

There are many coaching programs, philosophies, and coaches available today. Get clear about what you are wanting from a coach, ask good questions, and follow your intuition on who is the best fit for you.

Q: What is the best part of what you do?

A: The very best part of what I do is helping others to see their own divine potential, to build their confidence in themselves, to restore hope and faith in their lives and their dreams. I love supporting others to create success habits that always produce the desired results. It’s being the “Lighthouse” for others on their journey, guiding their path with true principles, and watching the joy of them discovering their own strengths, talents, and abilities they didn’t know they had or have forgotten due to disappointments or challenges in their life.

I believe that everyone is the author of their own life – that they have the answers within themselves. I simply light their way on their journey to get them from where they are to where they want to be.

Tiffany Walke Peterson teaching and inspiring others.

Q: Who has influenced and inspired you the most in your own life and successful achievements?

A: It is challenging for me to pick just one person or one influence for there have been many people, mentors, books, and experiences that have positively influenced and inspired my own journey.

When I ask this question, there are three people/groups that my intuition speaks to me: First, Jesus Christ. Regardless of one’s religious beliefs and this isn’t a forum to preach, yet in honoring my intuition to be authentic in my response, I would first and foremost acknowledge Him in my life. His teachings, His life, and His love is a source of constant inspiration and guidance in achieving my goals and dreams. Love is the most powerful, transforming, and healing energy on this planet and I take incredible inspiration in Him.

Secondly, my own mother. I have been blessed with a mother who is the epitome of service, of love, and sharing her life and talents with others. She inspires me and she has always cheered me on 110%!

Third, Jack Canfield and the networks of incredible human beings that he attracts to his work. Jack is a wise, warm grandfather role in my life. He is so wise, kind, and generous with his talents, teachings, and in sharing with others great secrets of success. Due to his incredible influence, he attracts amazing, incredible, and caring human beings into his work and thus, my own network has significantly expanded with simply beautiful and inspiring fellow travelers on the path.

©Stephanie Graham 2010

Mt.Everest Mind Camp