Category Archives: Ambition

“Hard work without talent is a shame, but talent without hard work is a tragedy.”

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“Hard work without talent is a shame, but talent without hard work is a tragedy.”

– Robert Half, businessman


As a business coach for over 19 years, I have worked with over 1,000 individuals in a wide variety of professions. It is a shame when I see people working 60 hours or more each week in jobs that don’t play to their strengths and talents. Many of these people experience high levels of stress, which can sometimes lead to burnout and illness.

As a coach, I help people discover and develop their strengths and unique abilities and apply them in their work. Sometimes, these people have fallen short of their fullest potentials simply because they haven’t put in the time and effort to make the most of their abilities.

Exercise:

How can you further discover and develop your talents and put in the work – which hopefully will feel like play – to avoid the tragedy of not realizing your fullest potential?

“We are capable of greater things than we realize.”

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“We are capable of greater things than we realize.”

–Norman Vincent Peale, 20th Century author of The Power of Positive Thinking

Image from Unsplash by
Paola Aguilar

Sure, we have all heard similar thoughts from our teachers, parents, colleagues and friends. We even believe them to some extent. The question to consider here is “How much more are we actually capable of that is beyond our ability to truly believe?”

If thoughts become things, what must we do with our own thoughts, opinions, judgments, mental models and yes, personal paradigms, to free us from our own limiting beliefs?

Exercise:

As you think about and create plans for the coming year, ask the following questions of yourself and of those who know you best:

  • What am I capable of through the use of my mind in the coming year?
  • What am I capable of through the development and use of my body in the coming year?
  • What new spiritual developmental opportunities will I take in the coming year?

Extra Credit:

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something to gain

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“If there is something to gain and nothing to lose by asking, by all means ask.”

– W. Clement Stone, businessman and philanthropist

 

Just Ask image

One of my wife’s favorite quotes is, “If you don’t ask, the answer is no.” A related famous Wayne Gretzky quote is, “You miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take.”

What’s the worst thing that could happen if the answer you get is “no”?

What wonderful results would be possible if you get a few more “yeses” than you may expect?

Exercise:

Where in your professional life have you been reluctant to ask for what you want?

Place a few post-it notes in your work and home with the following phrase, based on the famous Nike slogan:
“Just ask.”