But don't just take my word for it. Check out these "top 10 life strategies" written by one of my coaching clients.

It was the final homework assignment I gave her, as she readied to step away from our relationship to become her own life coach. I wanted her to have something tangible to guide and maintain her newfound confidence, so I asked her to write down the most important lessons she had learned from our work together.

With these principles in ready sight (and use), she'll stay on course, whatever direction that may take:

1. Define your brand. If others define it for you, it's usually not
accurate.

2. Make sure what you do fits into your brand strategy. In life, as in products, if something is off brand, it usually doesn't work.

3. It's okay to daydream and fantasize. One never knows when a fantasy can take root and become a reality.

4. Practice courage in the small things so that courage will be there for the big things.

5. Eliminate the "Yeah, buts . . . "

6. Surround yourself with positive people and positive things. Negativity can grow like weeds, but if you have enough positivity around, it's much harder to take root.

7. It doesn't hurt to ask for something. Most of the time people are willing to do something if you've asked for it. Even if they aren't, you've grown by asking.

8. The answers are always inside, although sometimes it takes a guide to help you find them.
9. There is no such thing as a totally quiet mind. One can, however, learn to turn the tsunami into gentle waves.

10. Take the time to celebrate achievements, large and small. Sometimes the smallest step can be the beginning (or the end) of the longest journey.