Read The Motivator Columns

Ask Well and You Shall Receive (May 2008)

Complete Your Past (April 2008)

What's Your Passion? (March 2008)

Turn On the Charm — And Get What You Want (February 2008)

'Tis the Season to Compete (December 2007)

Remembering a Lost Loved One (November 2007)

The Power of Praise (October 2007)

How What Are You Waiting For? Embrace Your Power (September 2007)

How to Stop Overthinking Your Life and Start Living It (August 2007)

Your Defining Moments (July 2007)

How to Make Yourself Unforgettable (June 2007)

How to Fulfill Your Wildest Dreams (May 2007)

Declutter Your Mind and Think Clearly (April 2007)

Half-Full? Half-Empty? You Decide (March 2007)

Dare to Be Different (February 2007)

Find Your Song (And Sing It) (January 2007)

When Being Right Is Wrong (December 2006)

Follow Your Instincts — They Could Save Your Life (November 2006)

Thriving on Insecurity (October 2006)

Letting Go of Your To-Do List (September 2006)

Worksheets

Worksheet: My Incompletion Inventory

My Warm-up List for Leaving the Comfort Zone

Your Turn

What's your flirting technique? Share your tips online.

What's on your "good-stuff" and "delightful-moments" lists? Share your lists online.

What's on your "good-stuff" and "delightful-moments" lists? Share your lists online.

If you could write a letter to a lost loved one, what would you say? Share your letter online.

What have you made easy lately? Share your stories — and read what others have said.

What have been your defining moments? Share the episodes in your life which proved that you have the courage and strength to do anything.

What did your father teach you? Pay tribute to your dad by sharing his lessons.

Find Your Song Share your theme song and get the iMix of 30 songs that pump up Real Simple staffers.

E-mail the April column, Declutter Your Mind.

When have you followed your instincts? Share your story and read what others have said.

What's your vision? What would light you up so much that you'd do just about anything to make it happen? Share your vision and read what others are passionate about.

About The Motivator Column

Ever feel as if you need just a little push — and a little extra inspiration — to make things work out the way you’d like them to? Gail Blanke has some ideas to help get you going. A personal and executive coach, a motivational speaker and author, Gail has advised everyone from CEOs and presidential candidates to working mothers, career changers, empty nesters, job seekers, and people who are just plain stuck and want to reinvent their lives.

Now, in her monthly column The Motivator, she shares her wisdom with Real Simple readers, offering real steps you can take to make a change. “I believe we already have inside us everything we need to be fulfilled,” she says. “My role is to help people realize they are ready now to take that step forward.”

About Gail

Gail grew up in Cleveland, graduated from Sweet Briar College, in Virginia, and majored in acting at the Yale University School of Drama.

Before starting her business, Lifedesigns (lifedesigns.com), she was global head of communications and public affairs for Avon Products. Now she tours the country delivering motivational speeches for corporations such as GE, MasterCard, JPMorgan Chase, and Citigroup.

She’s the author of three books: In My Wildest Dreams: Living the Life You Long For (Simon & Schuster), Taking Control of Your Life: The Secrets of Successful Enterprising Women (Mastermedia), and Between Trapezes: Flying Into a New Life With the Greatest of Ease, (Rodale, $23, betweentrapezes.com). She also offers career advice on the AOL Coaches channel.

She and her husband, Jim Cusick, a writer, and their daughters, Kate and Abigail, live in New York City.

Contact Gail

If you'd like to get in touch with Gail, please use this submission form.