A total solar eclipse will be visible in many parts of the world today, but not here in my home town in Michigan, USA. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, and the moon fully blocks the sun. Click here to see if and when the eclipse will be visible in your area.
Most people know that looking directly at the sun can lead to permanent eye damage or blindness. Fortunately, looking at the bright side of life and having an optimistic attitude never injures – and usually aides – people in living happier and more successful lives.
EXERCISE:
Write some of the words listed below on a Post-it Note and stick it somewhere in your home, office, or car where you will see it several times over the next 24 hours… or longer, if you wish.
Personal responsibility and accountability are two very important qualities of those who tend to be the most successful in a coaching relationship. People who possess these characteristics know they are the proverbial athlete on the field of their own lives, and only they can put points on the scoreboard.
I often observe, to the contrary, many people playing the victim, putting much, if not all, the blame for their lot in life on others.
President Roosevelt’s statement makes it clear: We, alone, control our thoughts and actions. Hopefully we use them to influence our world for the better.
EXERCISE:
Where would a bit more self-coaching and taking greater responsibility for your current place in life make the biggest difference in your professional or personal life?
Although the smart phone is one of the most amazing devices ever invented, it does have a dark side.
Walk into any restaurant and you’ll see people out to eat as a family, yet tuning out of the experience by looking down at their phones, texting friends or scrolling through social media feeds. What does this mean in terms of the relationships and interpersonal communications that “make the world go round”?
In this YouTube video from Global Report News, we learn that those who are so deeply attached to their phone that they can’t turn it off no matter where they are or what company they are keeping, are less likely to be happy than those who can resist a ring or turn their phones completely off.
A Kent State University Study of 500 students showed that those who were avid mobile phone users suffered from higher anxiety, and their class work was inferior to those who were able and willing to switch off. The phone heightened their anxiety, and many felt obligated to keep in constant touch. I would expect the results to be similar, if not even more profound, if the study were replicated in the workforce.
What if you were to give particular attention today to how often the people around you tune out the rest of the world by focusing on their “magic box”? Great observation spots for this activity would be at the conference table, walking to and from a parking lot, during meals at restaurants or in your home, the library – even in houses of worship. What do you notice?
EXERCISE:
If you could have a meal with any fascinating person in the world – current, or historical – whom would you choose? How likely would you be to answer your phone in the midst of this meal? How would you feel if they cut you off to take a chatty, informal call? How can you become so interested and engaged that you would never think of of answering or checking your phone, without good reason, in the presence of another person?
The discovery process I use to determine if a prospective client and I are a good fit includes 20 criteria. Each item in the survey provides insight into the likely success of our coaching relationship. Over the years, I have placed greater importance on the attributes related to optimism and a positive attitude.
Although individuals who exhibit high degrees of skepticism and judgmental tendencies can achieve favorable results in a coaching relationship, people working with these individuals can find the relationship extra challenging and draining.
EXERCISE:
Examine relationships in your professional and personal lives that you feel are draining. What adjustments could be made to change the relationships for the better? Please take a closer look at your own attitude and propensity for complaining, and consider if working on yourself might be a good place to start.
I’ve become a bit of a regular guest on Chris Holman’s radio show, Michigan Business Beat. A couple of weeks ago, we discussed time management – one of the biggest issues facing many people who hire a coach.
Winter here in Michigan began about a month ago, and along with some of the coldest temperatures in the area due to the Arctic vortex effect, we are experiencing days with the least amount of daylight of the entire year.
A reasonable number of people are affected to some degree in their mood and outlook by the lack of daylight. Some experience a syndrome called Seasonal Affective Disorder that can cause low energy, moodiness and even depression. You can find out more about this here:
Each time you offer or receive a low-cost smile today, think of it as a form of light therapy to help you and others “spring forward” – just as if you were beginning your own personal daylight saving time.
This is an excerpt from my appearance on BlogTalkRadio’s show On the Dean’s List, with host Dean la Douceur.
In this five minute clip, we discuss:
How relationships create opportunities and entry points.
Sending hand-written letters and thank-you notes – and why this is so powerful.
The amount of choice we have today – and how we make choices between different professionals and service providers.
The importance of contributing to your community and helping other people.
Simply click below to play the audio file.
[audio:http://www.dempcoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Barry-Demp-Deans-List-2.mp3|titles=Barry Demp, “On the Dean’s List”]
If you’d like to hear the whole of my interview with Dean la Douceur (37 minutes), please click here to visit the Podcasts page on my Barry Demp Coaching site. You can listen to it online or download it.
We talk about why I chose to go into coaching in 1992, and how I left my role in sales and marketing to pursue a new career as a business coach.
I discuss my early career, including highlights like attending my first coaching conference in Texas, and the gradual process of growing my customer base.
I also explain what a business coach is, what they do, and how the coaching process works from the inside out. Chris and I discuss the key areas I work in, and the types of people I work with.
To listen to the recording, just click below.
[audio:https://www.thequotablecoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013-09-business-beat.mp3|titles=Barry Demp on Business Beat, Sept 2013]
