Sydney is an empty neaster, her children are grown and are living there own lives.
She is trying to choose what to do with her life now that it doesn’t revolve around her children.
She has to choose what she wants to do for her occupation and has been trying to decide between:creating products (home fragrances such as candles, reed diffusers, soaps and the like), to increase her part-time cleaning jobs to full time work, or to become a freelance copywriter.
She has some debt from decisions she has made in the past
She is currently in a relationship, but doesn’t see her family much. She has a few close friends who she meets up with a few times per month.
She has a few hobbies and leisure activities: she likes to read and stream series and movies, she likes to crochet and do craft things, she wants to take up a hobby or activity that requires joining a group.
She has recently been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and high cholesterol
She doesn’t exercise as much as she know she should
Feeling in control: for the most part she feels she is in control of her life
Feeling relaxed: except for being a bit restless now that she has more free time on her hand, she is mostly relaxed.
Living conditions: she lives in a tiny house with her partner, they have realised that living in a tiny house isn’t working for them anymore and are wanting to buy a small standalone house in a rural setting.
She doesn’t have another life area that she wants to explore.
One of the forks in my crossroads journey happened on 1 November 2025 some time around 3 to 5pm, the timeframe is a little blurry in my mind. I was driving from my home in Whangarei to Auckland to pick up my big dog Buddy. She had been staying with my Aunty while I had some ground work done, and got a hiab in, to turn my tiny house around to face the view.
I was sticking to the speed limit because a few days before this I had been given a ticket for speeding. I am so thankful for this, things could have been a lot worse otherwise. My small dog Fluffy and I were listening to music when a car pulled out in front of us from the Marsden Point Road intersection that goes to Rurakaka. I was heading south on State Highway 1. At this point everything slowed down. I could see the car pulling out, and I could also see I was not going to stop in time. There was a gap in the oncoming traffic, and the car pulled out of the intersection to cross the road to head north. I tried stopping, but could already see that I wasn’t going to be able to stop in time. Thankfully the only cars involved were the other car and mine.
The impact was loud, then the air bags slammed out of their casing in the steering wheel. I managed to limp my car off the road onto the gravel pit just past the intersection. The other car managed to pull off the road on the north facing side.
I didn’t feel the pain in my chest straight away. I know I kept saying I was in shock. I also tried to phone my eldest son but he was working. He phoned back but by that time I was in deep shock and the pain really started to kick in. A gentleman and his friend had pulled over next to me and I asked him to answer the phone for me. Fluffy was fine if you were wondering.
A passerby was a nurse, or some medical professional, and she looked me over. And an ambulance was called. Maybe by this time more police had arrived, I am not sure. Not long after the accident had happened a police officer was driving north and pulled over to the accident site. By this time I was sitting on the footwell of the ute of the gentleman’s ute who had pulled over to help.
The ambulance arrived and I was put in the back of the ambulance, my neck was hurting, my back was hurting, and my ribs felt like they were on fire. I was asked a lot of questions. Then things get really blurry. Then I was at the hospital, a neck brace put on, then lots of tests, and at some time I had a CT scan, blood work, some pain medicine. My shirt and bra was cut off and I was put in a hospital gown.
My oldest son finally arrived at the hospital, he had driven straight out to where the accident had happened and picked Fluffy up and took her home. Then he came to the hospital, and he stayed with me for about 5 hours while I was there.
My gosh did I hurt.
Apparently I broke my ribs, dented my neck, and hurt my back in the upper section near my shoulder blades, as well as re-hurting my lower back.
After getting released from the hospital my son drove us home, he lived on the same property as me in his own cabin. As we were driving home, the song hurt by Johnny Cash came on “I hurt myself today…” This made me laugh, and my gosh that hurt too.
Once we got home, my son helped set me up in bed. Pillows behind me to support me, he got my laptop and speaker. Maybe got me food, and made me a cup of tea. And for the next few days when he was home if I texted him he would come up and make me a cup of tea.
My ribs were really sore, my… well my whole upper body was in agony. My tiny house is only 8 meters, about 20 steps from one end to the other. It took everything out of me to just walk, well limp, from my bed to the toilet.
For the first few days I stayed in bed and only left if I couldn’t wait for my son to make me a cuppa, or to go to the toilet. To feed the animals I couldn’t bend over so I had to squat to pick things up off the floor, or leave them until my son could pick them up.
After about day three, I decided that I had to start getting my strength back, so I walked from my tiny cabin up to where my gravel driveway joined the shared driveway. This is about 62 steps there and another 62 steps back. I had to hold my ribs when I did this, and I had to take one step at a time. The first day I could only do one of these walks, and I did it about 4 times that day.
I think the next day I did 2 repetitions about 4 times. And it slowly started to get easier. The pain was still bad, like really bad, not as bad as giving birth without pain meds, but close.
I only had a medical certificate for two weeks, so I had to get some of my strength up as I worked for myself as a Domestic Support personal doing cleans. I couldn’t afford to take more time off.
Slowly over time I was able to start walking easier, my ribs started to hurt less, and my body got used to the new levels of daily pain. Some days the pain is tolerable, some days the pain seems unbearable.
Which leads me to the point of this story. I have a goal: in this case I was able to walk well enough to be able to work again. And taking baby steps, literally in this case, to get to the big goal.
Your big goal may be daunting and overwhelming, but if you break it up into baby steps, even extremely baby steps, then you will achieve your goal. Just take that first step.
My next step is getting enough Crossroads Goal Investigators into my program so that I can stop the cleaning work that hurts my body. But right now I need to continue to do cleaning work. Okay that sound wishy washy, lets get real figures:
Hold 4 x 1:1 Goal Investigator Sessions & Sell 4 Tigers Eyes Plans per week OR 17 Tigers Eyes Plans per month & 17 1:1 Goal Investigator Sessions per month
I want to achieve this by 31 September 2026
My Action Steps:
Daily shorts/reels on YouTube and Instagram/Facebook
1 Long form video per week
1 blog post per week
Meta Ads
Google Ads
Roadblocks that are on my path:
I have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, this may have been brought on by the car accident. So I am still dealing with daily pain, some days better than others.
My energy levels are low
I sabotage myself (often).
Procrastination is not my friend.
I am not going to let my roadblocks stop me, I am going to be kind to myself, but I am also going to push through my pain. Because I want to help other people like me who are at a crossroads in their life, and help you to find your path. If you want help on your own Crossroads Journey come join us in the Crossroads Program or get a 1:1 Goal Investigation Session and we can work together to navigate your path.
Learn how to investigate your goals and take the overwhelm out of navigating the crossroads you are currently at, whether that’s in your career, your life, your relationships, or even how you manage your money. This video will step you through getting a look at your life now. Idea Playground of your paths you are exploring. Then you will set up your first short-term goal.
Get a snapshot of your life now
So that you know where you want to go, you will first need to know where you are right now. So in your journal, or if you are part of the HGD Crossroads Program, use the Life Assessment and Reflection Worksheet.
How satisfied are you with your Wealth Life Area: that is your career/job/occupation or business, what you do with your money, any debt that you have, and any savings or investments that you may have.
You will use a scale from 1 (most satisfied) to 5 (least satisfied) [on-screen text: the Satisfaction scale]. And next, how important is your Wealth Life Area to you? 1 being the most important and 5 being the least important.
How satisfied are you with your Relationship life area: this is all of your relationships – family, friends, partner, workmates. Using the same scale, rate how satisfied you are. Now, how important are your relationships to you?
Finally, you will look at your wellbeing life area: this encompasses your health and fitness, your overall wellbeing, your living conditions, what you do in your free time, how relaxed you are, and your feeling of being in control of your life.
Once you have this snapshot, take a few moments to journal a reflection. How do you feel about where your holistic life is right now? What do you want to change? What area of your life are you happy with right now? What area of your life needs attention right now?
Idea Playground
Now that you know where you are, we can start brainstorming where you want to go, or the crossroads that you are at. This will help you with the next step, where you will plan your first short-term goal or trial Crossroads path.
On a fresh page in your journal or in the Idea Playground worksheet, either create a mind map or free-write your thoughts. From your life snapshot, what do you want to explore more? Do you have an idea of what your short-term goal will be? Just dump all of your thoughts out of your brain and onto the page. This will help to free up your brain and help you to gather your thoughts about what you want to achieve.
Your short-term goal roadmap
Now that you know where you are in life, and you have dumped your thoughts, let’s get the goal details fleshed out.
Give your goal a title
Describe your goal
When do you want to achieve your goal? The goal deadline.
What does goal success look like? How will you know you have achieved your goal?
What do you need for your goal?
What do you already have for your goal?
What do you have to do to achieve your goal? Your action steps.
Out of what you have to do, what is the first action step?
Remember to record your achievements and to celebrate them
If you would like to go deeper with your Crossroads Journey, head over to my website and enrol in Module 1: Basics or book in for a 1:1 Video Call Goal Investigation Session. https://hgdnz.online/
Are you ready to start building the life you actually want? Month 1 of Your Dream Plan Action Life in 12 Months is all about Clarity & Confidence — getting clear on what matters most and taking your first small, meaningful steps forward.
This month is designed to help you reflect, prioritise, and begin creating momentum without overwhelm. Think of it as your foundation month: everything you do here will make the next 11 months easier, more focused, and far more intentional.
What to Expect This Month
Your Month 1 journey is broken into four weekly steps, each building on the last. You don’t need to have all the answers — you just need to show up and explore.
Week 1 – Brain Dump + Clarity Starter
This week is about getting everything out of your head. The goal is to notice what matters most, identify the noise, and start to see patterns. You’ll explore your life as it is now, without judgement, and start uncovering the areas that need attention.
Week 2 – Boundaries + Energy Check-In
Where is your energy going? What drains you? What fuels you? This week helps you notice your patterns and begin making space for what supports your goals. It’s about creating a sustainable rhythm — not doing more, but doing what truly matters.
Week 3 – Micro Dreams + Action Planning
Small, intentional goals are powerful. This week, you’ll identify your Micro Goals — the actionable steps that are meaningful, achievable, and aligned with your priorities. These small wins build momentum and confidence.
Week 4 – Progress Review + Next Step Planning
By week 4, you’ll reflect on your progress, celebrate wins (even the small ones!), and shape a personalised plan to move into Month 2 with clarity and momentum.
How You’ll Work Through Month 1
You’ll be supported every step of the way:
Weekly worksheets: Brain dumps, reflections, and goal planners to guide your journey
Check-ins via email: Optional personalised feedback through email packs
Space to reflect and act at your own pace: No pressure, no live calls — just consistent, meaningful support
Your Mission This Month
By the end of Month 1, you’ll have:
A clear sense of what matters most in your life right now
Identified your energy drains and sources of support
Started working on at least one Micro Goal
Built confidence in taking consistent, small actions
A personalised plan to carry forward into Month 2
Remember: this isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress, reflection, and action — one email, one worksheet, one step at a time.
Next Step
Your journey starts with Week 1: the Brain Dump + Clarity Starter. Start exploring your thoughts, feelings, and priorities — and don’t worry if it feels messy. This is your life, your pace, and your path.
By showing up now, you’re already moving towards the life you truly want. Let’s get started!
This is what it looks like to live with chronic pain and PTSD. There are no visible signs that anything is wrong. Like the saying goes, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Just because someone looks like everything is okay doesn’t mean that it is.
Sometimes the biggest roadblocks aren’t the ones people can see. They’re the ones that happen quietly — in your body, in your mind, in your energy levels. Chronic pain, mental health challenges, grief, burnout… they can all slow progress in ways that don’t show up on the outside.
Here’s what I’ve learned about moving forward when your roadblocks are invisible:
Set flexible milestones. Give yourself space to adjust deadlines if your health or circumstances shift.
Use micro-steps. On tough days, even 5 minutes of progress counts.
Plan for recovery time. Build rest into your schedule the same way you build in work.
Celebrate quiet wins. Not every victory has to be big to matter.
Communicate when needed. You don’t have to share everything, but letting trusted people know your needs can ease the load.
If you’re facing roadblocks — visible or not — remember: progress isn’t about speed, it’s about direction. Even small steps can keep you moving toward your goals.
How Email Coaching Can Support the Life You’re Designing
📝 Real Talk Let’s be honest — staying motivated isn’t easy. Whether you’re rebuilding after burnout, navigating grief, or juggling all the hats, sometimes the hardest part is just keeping yourself going.
Here’s the truth: 💡 Motivation will let you down. That’s not a flaw — it’s just life.
The key? Build habits that hold you — especially on the days you don’t feel like showing up. Habits rooted in clarity, support, and kindness — not pressure.
🌿 Maybe You’re:
Overworked
Burned out
Holding it all together for everyone else
Recovering from trauma or grief
Whatever your story, you deserve support. Pause. Take a deep breath. Let’s set you up to take care of you.
💌 Enter: Inbox Investigators
My simple, flexible, email-only coaching program. No Zoom. No pressure. Just gentle, personal support — in your inbox.
Encouragement to take action — even when energy is low.
Examples:
Task check-ins
Mini goal-setting nudges
Gentle accountability
🧠 Mindset
Support to reframe challenges and celebrate progress.
Examples:
Coaching reflections
Reassurance that it’s okay to pivot
Encouragement to rest without guilt
⚡ Motivation
Delivered when you need it most — no Zoom, no judgment.
Examples:
Weekly prompts
Celebrating wins (big and small)
Support without overwhelm
💌 Why Email Coaching Works
Life doesn’t always follow a schedule — and inbox support lets you grow at your own pace.
It’s flexible. It’s personal. And it’s powerful — especially if traditional coaching feels too intense or out of reach.
You don’t have to:
Show up perfectly
Have all the answers
Push through exhaustion
You just need to start — and I’ll meet you where you are.
🎯 Choose Your Coaching Path
Whether you need a light check-in or a full coaching journey, Inbox Investigators has a plan that fits:
✅ Lite Week – A gentle, low-pressure start ✅ Trial Plans – Full access, no ongoing commitment ✅ Monthly or Bundled Plans – For steady support and savings
Hey there, Goal Investigator! If you’re waiting for a sign, a push, or a nudge to start working on your goals and dreams, consider this it. You’ve got this! Sometimes, the idea of taking that first step can be scary, like a terrier. But remember what Mel Robbins says: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, launch. In this case, it’s 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, take action.
Today is a good day to take action
Hey there, Goal Investigator! If you’re waiting for a sign, a push, or a nudge to start working on your goals and dreams, consider this your push. You’ve got this! Sometimes, the idea of taking that first step can be scary and terrifying. But remember what Mel Robbins says: be like a rocket going into space 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, launch. In this case, it’s 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, take action.
Often, we get caught up in our heads on what we should do and get stuck in analysis paralysis. We get so stuck in the research stage that we forget to actually take action and get started. Because at the end of the day, we aren’t going to achieve our goals and dreams if we don’t start taking action. It doesn’t have to be a big, scary action; it can be baby steps. It’s just the first thing you can think of to get started. Often, the hardest part is getting started.
Is there a daily activity you can incorporate to build a habit and make progress? For instance, if your goal is fitness, consider a thirty- to sixty-minute walk before work with your dogs. The initial attempts might be challenging, but if you persist, it will soon become a part of your routine.
Another example is if you are writing a book, is there a time of the day that you can write for thirty to sixty minutes, OR are you more motivated with a number of words? How many words each day can you write at a minimum? My minimum number of words daily is 300. It is a doable amount, and often, I will write more than this.
What I am saying is to set a minimum goal to get you started, and often, once you are started, you will do the full amount or more.
Let’s build a community of support and motivation. Share your tips and tricks for getting started and staying on track. Together, we can overcome procrastination and achieve our goals.
Like many of you, I often feel overwhelmed by a large goal or an extensive Task Tracker list. The sheer magnitude can lead to procrastination, self-sabotage, or a belief that the task is too daunting to tackle. However, I’ve discovered a powerful strategy that brings relief: breaking it down into manageable baby steps.
First, I gain an overview of what I want to achieve by brainstorming the goal and listing all the tasks I need to complete. I also take time to define what success looks like for me. Then, I work backward from the desired outcome, identifying the steps needed to reach it. Once I have a clear destination in mind, the next step is to plan my first move. This simple act of planning helps me feel more in control of my journey.
What is the very first thing I need to do? Is there anything else I can tackle in the meantime? Sometimes, I find myself waiting for someone else to respond. During those moments, it’s essential to practice patience and tolerance. Can I do something else while I wait?
Personally, I start with the big picture and then determine the next step. After completing that step, I move on to the following one. At times, I need to plan several steps in advance, especially if they build on each other or if there are time-sensitive tasks involved.
Can you believe we are already into the second quarter of the year? That means three months have already gone by. Have you done your quarter plan? Or are you winging it? We all know how I feel about this. Have a loose plan so that you know where you are going.
What you will need for the weekly planning session:
Your diary/planner (and any writing instruments you use for a physical planner )
April monthly planner (Planning for April 2025)
Your quarterly planner (Preparing for Q2 and Q2 2025 Quarterly Plan)
The monthly Task Tracker
The steps to planning your week:
I first transfer any appointments from the monthly planner to the appointment section on the relevant days.
Then, in my quarterly plan, I review the plan for April so that I have it clear in my head.
Next, I consult the Task Tracker for April to identify the tasks I can tackle this week. I then allocate them to their respective days, giving me a flexible yet structured plan.I also record anything that I achieved last week in The Quarterly Plan. This could be a project milestone, a personal goal, or a significant event that impacted my plans.Then, I go down to the Goal Tracker section and record up to seven Goal Tasks I want to track this week. For me, that can be
the minimum sales goal with space to write the actual amount
The number of days I walked 6,000 steps
The amount of sales directly from HGD LTD, not other avenues
And I have space for four more items
Remember, the beauty of this planning process is its adaptability. Most of the time, I review the daily tasks on the actual day, allowing for any unexpected changes or additions.
Embark on the Life Assessment, a crucial step in the Create Your Dream Plan Action Life. This assessment, which I’ve shared my own version of, serves as the cornerstone for understanding your current life situation and setting your future goals.
A clear understanding of your current situation is the key to unlocking your future goals. It’s like a puzzle, where each piece represents a different aspect of your life. For instance, my accident led me to rely on government financial assistance. But I’ve set a goal to replace this with my own earnings, not just to improve my life, but to gain independence and self-sufficiency.
Having this figure allows me to set smaller goals (milestones), the first of which was to have a Gross wage of $160, and the next milestone will be $200, and then $250, and so on until I reach the magic number of $700. This also allows me to set business financial goals with the target of $850 (The wage is about 82% of sales). But this is just a starting point. Once the business has reached this sales goal, it can switch to the next financial goal.
I want to add that once I have raised my wage to $700, I need to stay there for at least 13 weeks. Another way to look at it is for an entire quarter, plus the partial quarter if the target isn’t reached at changeover. This is to allow me to get comfortable in my new situation before levelling up again. This can also be referred to as reaching an upper limit. You can find more on this by reading or listening to Gay Hendricks’ “The Big Leap.”
You need to ask yourself, where are you now? And where do you want to go?
Want a planner to help you plan and track your quarterly goals? The Quarterly Planner is for you.
