See Their Magic

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Barry

“To love a person is to see all of their magic and to remind them of it when they have forgotten.”

— Author Unknown

Image from Flickr by Linus Bohman

As part of my signature Personal Excellence Training, I spend an entire day with my client, getting to know them well and fully understanding their vision, values, and goals. This investment of time creates a special partnership called coaching, in which, over time, the magic of each individual is discovered and enhanced.

Throughout this coaching journey, most people experience setbacks and doubts about themselves, and their capacity to achieve their most cherished goals. We all need a committed and loving supporter to remind us of our magic when difficult times cause us to forget.

EXERCISE:

How can you demonstrate your love and caring for others by seeing their magic and reminding them of it when they forget?

Who are the caring people in your personal or professional worlds who could play this role for you?

The Smile You Gave Me

Posted on May 9, 2016 by Barry

“By the way, I’m wearing the smile you gave me.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Flickr by ssofija

I must be watching too much TV news! The majority of what I see is negative and destructive, particularly in the political arena. Apparently, it is as contagious as the flu or a bad cold; I see many people coming down with this unfortunate disease.

There is a cure to which we can all subscribe, one on which it is impossible to overdose!

You probably guessed it…

The cure is positivity, and the many forms it takes in bringing smiles to faces, and dramatically lightening the heavy loads many of us carry. It is a kind hello, remembering someone’s name, holding a door, or being helpful in some other way.

We could all use a big dose of positivity these days.

EXERCISE:

Please consider replying to this post with your own examples of the sure bet, smile-generating strategies you share with those you support personally and professionally.

Climate vs Weather

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Barry

“Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get.”

—Mark Twain, American Author and Humorist

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A few months ago I had a wonderful family vacation in the San Diego area, purported to have one of the best climates in the world. We spent a rainy evening with a few of my son-in-law’s friends, who were a bit upset with the weather. Coming from Michigan, we were more than OK with a bit of cool temperatures and precipitation.

EXERCISE:

How can greater awareness and perspective regarding your professional and personal expectations help you embrace whatever the weather brings into your world?

Make the Days Count

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Barry

“Don’t count the days; make the days count.”

-Muhammad Ali

Image from fearlessmotivation.com

We have all heard the adage, “Your days are numbered.” Not many of us fully appreciate the hard reality of that statement. How often do you find yourself—or others you know—looking into the future with the expectancy of an enjoyable weekend, event or vacation?

How often do you look forward to a “someday” when everything will be better than the current moment? Unfortunately, “Someday” is not an actual day of the week!

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways can you make the most of every minute, hour, and day to realize the “present” life can be, making each day count instead of counting the days?

Good Example

Posted on April 26, 2016 by Barry

“If you can’t be a good example, then you’ll just have to be a horrible warning.”

-Catherine Aird, British Crime Fiction Writer

Image from jarofquotes.com

The other day I had a coaching session with a client regarding his parenting strategies. When he examined the behaviors that worked or didn’t, he looked to his own parent’s example for clues.

This man tends to emulate or copy the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of those he admires, and often does the opposite of behaviors he considered as horrible parenting.

EXERCISE:

How can you benefit most from examples set by others to coach yourself toward a more successful professional and personal life?

Where can adjustments in the examples you set coach your children as well as others in your life to lead more successful lives of their own?

Greatness is Within You

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Barry

“Greatness is within you!”

-Author Unknown

Image from conversationswithdoggy-lama.com

Many of us have been told, throughout our lives, that humility is a sign of high character—we should not brag or call excessive attention to ourselves. Many of the Quotable Coach posts point out that focusing on others is a key to success.

Today’s quote, however, is more about your journey to pursue, achieve, and contribute your gifts, talents, and unique abilities—your greatness. Pursuing all that we can be is something we can all do with great passion and purpose. Our efforts contribute and build our characters even more.

EXERCISE:

Request a bit of feedback from those who know you best in your personal and professional worlds.

What good and great qualities and abilities do they say you currently possess that could be even greater if you put your everything into the effort?

The Seed of Triumph

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Barry

“Always seek out the seed of triumph in every adversity.”

-Og Mandino, Author of “The Greatest Salesman in the World”

Image from wonderopolis.org

When was the last time you ate watermelon? Years ago every mouthful came with at least a few seeds. Back then, we would chew carefully and spit out the seeds. Clearly, some clever person disliked that process and found a way to create the seedless varieties we have today.

What if, instead of an undesirable, adverse barrier to your fullest enjoyment, the seeds were actually a more tasty component of the fruit? Perhaps we would all seek out the seeds as a more desirable part of our fruit-munching experience!

EXERCISE:

Where can you more fully examine and realize the growth potential and the seeds of triumph in some or perhaps all of the adversities you may be facing?

Don’t Give up Now

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Barry

“Don’t Give Up Now!”

-Author Unknown

Image from pinspopulars.com

When was the last time you stopped trying, gave up, threw in the towel, or outright quit something? Look deeply at your reasoning, or perhaps your gut-or-heart-based perspectives, on the matter.

If giving up freed you up and relinquished a burden that didn’t fit your life direction, good work! If you experienced regret or an aching soul, perhaps sticking things out may have been a better choice in the long run.

EXERCISE:

Are you at a critical juncture on an important personal or professional matter? How would coaching, or another form of support in not giving up, make a big difference? Sharing your thoughts and feelings on such issues will often provide the added social support that can be so helpful at these critical times.

The Best View

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Barry

“The best view comes after the hardest climb.”

-Author Unknown

Image from emilykjesbo.blogspot.com

When I started my coaching career many years ago, my wife Wendy gave me the gift of a customized license plate that reads “I Coach.” Over the years it has become a conversation starter, with people often asking me what sport I coach.

This leads to a discussion of my role as a business and personal coach. Recently, I noticed that in all these years I have never coached a professional or even top amateur athlete.

This means that there have also been no actual mountain climbers, but we all climb metaphorical mountains every day. Surprisingly, the bigger and more daunting the climb, the more satisfied and rewarded we feel when we reach the summit.

EXERCISE:

What challenging projects or goals are you pursuing these days? How can you more fully experience the growth satisfaction along the way as well as the wonderful views when you reach the top?

You Have to Squint

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Barry

“See the good all around you even if you have to squint.”

-Author Unknown

Image from lasikmd.com

If you are like me, your eyesight is not what it used to be. Perhaps you need glasses to drive at night, or to read. You may even need longer arms as you “trombone” food labels in order to read the ingredient list.

Having 20/20 vision has great benefits, but when we look at the world, including the folks in our lives that are taking this journey with us, it may not always serve us to have clear and complete objectivity. As an example, as we look at the weaknesses and faults in others, we know full well we have our own share.

EXERCISE:

Where would a bit of squinting help you overlook some of the unimportant things around you, and help you see a lot more good available in your world?