Tag Archives: desire

Desire is half of life

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“Desire is half of life. Indifference is half of death.”

—Kahlil Gibran, 19th Century Lebanese Poet

Meme of today's quote

How do you feel when you are around enthusiastic, passionate, and excited people?

How do you feel when you are around people who lack energy, and pretty much don’t give a hoot about anything?

These groups of individuals act like booster shots or vampires in the way they create aliveness or deaden our worlds.

EXERCISE:

Where and in what ways can you build and fan the flames of desire to experience more of the aliveness you desire?

How can you lessen or completely eliminate the deadening quality of indifference from your world?

Consider partnering with a close friend, mentor, family member, or coach to support both of these intentions.

For everything you have missed you have gained something else

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“For everything you have missed, you have gained something else.”

—Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th Century American Essayist

Book Cover Image

I have some bad news.

You can’t have it all, despite what the media and marketing industry tells you.

I also have an abiding faith that you can have many of the things you deeply desire if you recognize and embrace the concept John Maxwell calls the “Law of Trade-offs.”

As an example, I am an early-to-bed-early-to-rise kind of guy. Given this habit, I fully recognize that I miss late-night events many people relish for their daily efforts. What I gain is the rest and added vitality to wake up refreshed, go to the health club, and be fully present to the clients I am committed to serving.

EXERCISE:

Where can you apply the Law of Trade-offs to intentionally choose things you are willing to miss in order to gain even more of the things you value?

I Want People Who Have to Dance

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“I don’t want people who want to dance. I want people who have to dance.”

—George Balanchine, Founder of the New York City Ballet

Image of a Ballerina on a City Street

Photo by Kevin Lee on Unsplash

It is an unfortunate fact that some 70% of the working population doesn’t care much for the work they do.

Many would actually say they dread the thought of Monday morning, and rejoice in the “TGIF” theme song.

I consider this a tragedy for both employee and employer. A vast amount of time is spent in a spirit of boredom, apathy, regret, or just plain indifference. The accompanying lack of commitment, enthusiasm, and genuine passion for our work sometimes puts a dark cloud over our co-workers, and the organization as a whole.

EXERCISE:

What would be possible for you and your organization if you insisted on attracting people who absolutely have to dance?

Seek and you shall find

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“Seek and you shall find.”

-The Bible, from the Gospel of Matthew

Image from dpselfhelp.com

Image from dpselfhelp.com

When I explore possible quotes for The Quotable Coach series, I always consider impact, imagery, cleverness, and word length. Today’s quote from the Bible hit the mark on numerous fronts.

What are you looking for? Are things like success, peace of mind, balance, love, job satisfaction, and extraordinary relationships on your list?

If, for some reason, your greatest desires appear out of reach or elusive, consider the strategies you employ. One twist that often works magic is to give what you are seeking in order to find more of it for yourself.

EXERCISE:

Where and how can (and will) you passionately offer and generously share what you most sincerely desire?

what is possible

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“What is possible for you is dictated by your hunger, not your history.”

-Brendon Burchard, American Motivational Author

Image from playbuzz.com

Image from playbuzz.com

A few weeks ago, I had an engaging breakfast meeting with a friend who is applying for a new, high profile position. He expects to be vying for this job with a good number of other people.

Through our discussion and inquiry, we fueled the flame of his hunger for this position. He was clear that, based on his history and experience, he was highly qualified for the role. He also saw this position as the role of a lifetime, and that attaining it was his professional destiny.

EXERCISE:

How likely do you think it is that the interviewers will sense his genuine hunger and passion for the position and put him at or near the top of the list?

Where can you use your own insatiable hunger – not just your history – to achieve your deeply held desires?

Reclaim Our Life

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“We must reclaim our life agenda once more.”

-Brendon Burchard, American Motivational Author

QC #0186

Image from Flickr by Roland Urbanek

One of the most fundamental elements of people leading full and satisfying lives is autonomy, or as some might say, the ability to guide and direct our own lives.

For many, the ability to chart our own life course has been taken over, or at least overshadowed, by the professional and personal communities within which we operate.
One simple self-test to see if this is true for you is to examine how often your inner voice says, “I don’t want to…” when you are asked to do something.

EXERCISE:

How and in what small or big ways can you reclaim your own life agenda, to lead a fuller, more satisfying life?

“Give ‘em the Pickle.”

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“Give ‘em the Pickle.”

-Bob Farrell, American motivational speaker

Bob Farrell, Author of "Give 'em the Pickle!"

Bob Farrell, Author of “Give ’em the Pickle!”

About a month ago, while traveling to a coaching conference, I received a pearl of advice from a flight attendant with whom I had shared The Quotable Coach daily blog.

She mentioned that the airline loves positive, affirming thinking, and that I should consider looking into today’s quote.

Turns out, “Give ‘em the pickle” is all about exemplary customer service and going the extra mile to create customer evangelists, and optimal loyalty. This is especially important given the almost unlimited choices people have as consumers.

EXERCISE:

Check out this short YouTube video. Ask and answer this question, for yourself and your organization: What represents that special, tasty pickle you can offer to more fully satisfy and delight your customers? What about those in your personal worlds?

“To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.”

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“To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.”

– Mother Teresa, Catholic saint and Nobel peace prize winner

To keep our bodies going, we must put food and water into them. To keep our cars running, we must put fuel into them. To keep our appliances running, we must plug them into an energy source.

Exercise:

Beyond food and water, what is your proverbial oil that keeps you burning? Consider selecting from the list below – and feel free to reply to this email with some of your own ideas:

  • Quality of relationships
  • The pursuit of knowledge and wisdom
  • Religious and faith-based practices
  • Meaningful goals that inspire your passion and efforts
  • Commitment to community and country
  • A journey toward personal mastery
  • Helping or being of service to others

#67: “Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire…”

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“…sincerely believe and enthusiastically act upon must inevitably come to pass.”

– Paul J. Meyer

How many blogs, newsletters, and books have you seen that tout the “X steps to success” and then go about taking up a few hundred pages to describe them?

Meyer’s quote contains four simple steps:

  • imagine = dreams = vision
  • desire = passion = purpose
  • belief = core values = authenticity
  • action = results = achievement

Exercise:

Select one area of your personal or professional life and go through these steps.

Repeat as often as you wish.

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