FRIDAY REVIEW: COMPETITION
How do you view and deal with competition? Here are a few competition-related posts you may have missed.
“If a man does his best, what else is there?”
“If you wish to be out front, act as if you were behind.”
Stay in Business
“I do not believe you can do today’s job with yesterday’s methods and be in business tomorrow.”
—Horatio Nelson Jackson, 20th Century American physician and automobile pioneer
The word “agile” is often used in the software development and project management arenas. Today’s quote points to the need for agile strategies for career development and advancement.
In their 2009 book, Agile Career Development, three IBM human resources innovators show how they support initiatives that benefit the individual as well as the organization.
Critical to this work is the need for adaptability, flexibility, and the ability to change in the marketplace to meet the needs of today’s clients and those in the future.
EXERCISE:
Regardless of whether you work for a multi-billion dollar enterprise, work for yourself, or are somewhere in between, how can you better take an agile approach to your own job and career development to remain in business tomorrow and for years to come?
Don’t Argue Your Path
“Don’t argue your path with other people. Walk it.”
—The Lazy Yogi
Check out this cornucopia of statements that may help reduce arguments and improve your worlds:
- Actions speak louder than words.
- Walk your talk.
- I don’t trust words. I trust action.
- Let your success make the noise.
- Don’t tell people your dreams. Show them.
- Practice what you preach, or change your speech.
- The world is changed by your example, not your opinion.
- Characterize people by their actions, and you’ll never be fooled by their words.
- People lie. Actions don’t.
- What you do speaks so loudly I can hardly hear what you are saying.
- Good words won’t cover up ugly actions.
EXERCISE:
Select at least one of the statements from this list and display it in your professional and personal space, where you will see it throughout the day.
Please let me know which you selected, and how it impacted your day.
The World Must Learn to Work Together
“The world must learn to work together, or finally it will not work at all.”
—Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States
Image from OD4pic
As part of my preliminary discover process, two of the questions I use to determine the potential value of a coaching relationship are:
- What is working and going well in your personal and professional life?
- What is not working or going as you wish in your personal and professional life?
Based on the answers provided, a customized coaching relationship can be used to support going from good to great, or from not good to substantially better.
Perhaps no single factor impacts these areas more than the ability to create mutually trusting relationships and work toward common objectives.
EXERCISE:
Given the state of the world and specifically your worlds, what efforts and actions can and will you take to work more effectively and successfully with others?
keep stillness inside you
“In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside you.”
—Deepak Chopra, Indian-American New Age Author/Speaker
Image from QuoteFancy
What is your current level of stress? How fast is your world moving? How much chaos do you experience in your personal and professional communities?
What strategies do you use to slow things down to find greater calm, and the peace of mind we all seek?
Sadly, the weekend to rest or that vacation we so desperately need to recharge may be days, weeks, even months away.
What can you do at this very moment to keep a source of stillness inside you, to call up and use at a moment’s notice?
EXERCISE:
Check out these links to add new or alternative strategies to your repertoire:
10 Steps to Keep Calm and Carry On
40 ways to achieve peace of mind and inner calm
Friday Review: Vision
FRIDAY REVIEW: VISION
What new worlds can emerge as you utilize the power of your vision? Here are a few vision-related posts you may have missed.
“Who looks outside dreams; who looks inside awakens.”
“Only dead fish swim with the stream all the time.”
“What we see when watching others depends on the clarity of the window through which we look.”
The Best Speech You’ll Ever Regret
“Speak when you are angry and you’ll make the best speech you’ll ever regret.”
—Ambrose Bierce, 18th Century American Writer and Civil War Soldier
Image from Flickr by Sid
When was the last time you lost your temper and really let someone have it? Perhaps you even rehearsed your speech and shared your seemingly justified attack articulately with equally practiced volume and gestures.
What happened after the initial “feel better” burst of adrenaline and getting things off your chest?
If you are like many, you may have experienced considerable fallout, and repercussions much like the aftershocks of an earthquake.
EXERCISE:
Where would counting to ten or a hundred, or simply holding your tongue more frequently, dramatically reduce the number of regretful interactions you experience?
The Spur of Competition
“Without the spur of competition we’d loaf out our life.”
—Arnold Glasow, 20th Century American Businessman
Image from Flickr by Rob Annis
Growing up, few kids wanted to be called a “Loaf.” Although the word has many meanings, in today’s quote it refers to being a procrastinator, or lazy.
Sports, getting good grades, and even entering the working world were the spurs that had me leap into my days with energy and enthusiasm, striving for success.
EXERCISE:
Where in your personal or professional world would a greater spirit of competition spur you on to higher levels of success?
Optimism is a kind of heart stimulus
“Optimism is a kind of heart stimulus. The Digitalis of Failure.”
—Elbert Hubbard, 18th Century American Writer
Image form Pinterest
Digoxin is a drug extracted from Digitalis Lanata, a plant found primarily in Eastern Europe. It is used to treat heart conditions.
Consider how you or those around you define Failure. What if it were akin to a heart condition that could be treated effectively with a drug called Optimism? You’d probably keep a ready supply by your bedside, in your pocket or purse.
How would sprinkling it over yourself or those around you be just the cure to relieve the potential failures of life?
EXERCISE:
How can you more fully and generously share your most hopeful and optimistic qualities and characteristics?
Where can you use it to heal and strengthen your own heart, and the hearts of others? How can you use it to help yourself and others bounce back from the setback and failures that come along?
Behave toward everyone as if receiving a great guest
“Behave toward everyone as if receiving a great guest.”
—Confucius, Ancient Chinese teacher and philosopher
Image from Disney Movies
I enjoy Disney movies – how about you?
My favorite over the last few years is Beauty and the Beast. A highlight of the animated and live actor versions is the “Be Our Guest” extravaganza.
Imagine how special and delightful it would be with the extraordinary level of service, attention, and delicious morsels of food offered at such an event.
EXERCISE:
How would your personal or professional world improve if you were to treat each and every one as a great guest you held with the highest regard?