The Road Up and The Road Down are one and the Same

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“The road up and the road down are one and the same.”

—Heraclitus, pre-Socratic Greek Philosopher

Image of Mayan Ruin

Image from Flickr by Ryan Jones

When was the last time you took a hike up a steep hill or even a mountain? If you can’t recall, imagine climbing the tallest set of stairs you have ever faced.

What was the journey like going up? What was your level of anticipation of reaching the top, and what amount of effort was required?

What was your experience of going down? What was the level of effort required, given the assist from good old gravity?

Avoiding the “what goes up must come down” effect requires far more effort and energy in virtually all areas of life. Knowing what is important in your personal and professional worlds helps you maintain the steady climb that can take you to new heights of excellence.

EXERCISE:

Examine where you are on the roads of life in areas such as health, relationships, career, family, and faith. How will you continue the climb upward and avoid the factors that can easily take you in the other direction?

Never Ruin an Apology

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“Never ruin an apology with an excuse.”

—Ben Franklin, American Founding Father

Cartoon saying "I'm so so so sorry!"

Image from LinkedIN

Don’t ever add the word “But” to an apology. The act of making excuses or justifying your actions has you actually blaming the other person for your poor behavior rather than offering a genuine apology.

Here are a few suggestions to consider when apologizing:

  • Beginning your apology with the words, “I’m Sorry,” or “I Apologize” expresses genuine remorse. Make sure you do this as soon as possible.
  • Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and imagine how they felt. The ability to empathize with others makes it far easier to admit responsibility.
  • Take action to make the situation right. You can ask the person you wronged what you could do, beyond your apology, to make things right.
  • Promising that you won’t repeat the action or behavior helps rebuild trust in the relationship.

EXERCISE:

Examine a situation in which you can summon the courage to offer a sincere apology to someone who matters in your life, personally or professionally.

Feel free to reply to this post and let me know what happens.

Retirement

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“Should we retire the concept of ‘retirement’?”

—Author Unknown

Sign about retirement

Image from ucsandiegoextension.wordpress.com

Take a look at these definitions and references to the word “retirement”:

  • Removal of something from service or use
  • The act of leaving one’s job, career, or occupation permanently, usually due to age
  • A place of seclusion or privacy

If you are like me, trying on this concept of retirement makes you feel blue, or sad. If, on the other hand, looking forward to withdrawing from an undesirable vocation consumes your current life, you might also be sad.

EXERCISE:

What if there were no such thing as retirement?

What if it was your job, each day from birth to death, to live as fully and richly as possible?

What actions can and will you take today to launch your life to the highest heights, no matter your age?

Friday Review Reflection

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FRIDAY REVIEW:  REFLECTION

Do you give yourself adequate time for reflection? Here are a few reflection-related posts you may have missed. Click on the links to read the full messages:

Image of a candle

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”

 

 

 

image of a sunset

 

“My sun sets to rise again.”

 

 

 

image of a second chance road sign

 

“Life always offers you a second chance. It’s called ‘tomorrow.’”

 

 

 

become a cause not a company

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“How can we become a cause and not just a company?”

—Tim Ogilvie, New York City-based Entrepreneur

Image of Daniel Pink's book "Drive"

Employee engagement is a hot topic. Every day, I meet with business leaders pulling their hair out over the challenge of attracting and retaining top talent.

In his 2009 book Drive, Daniel Pink explores factors that engage and motivate employees to be their best, to be attracted to the organizations that fulfill their need for meaning and purpose.

Some companies do a better job than others at making a profound impact on the stakeholder groups they genuinely seek to serve.

EXERCISE:

Where and in what ways can you ignite and expand your company or organizational purpose?

How can tapping into this desire for a passionate purpose set you apart from your competitors?

How might it generate a waiting list of eager talented applicants who want to be part of something extraordinary?

A Beautiful Question

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“A beautiful question is an ambitious yet actionable question that can begin to shift the way we perceive or think about something.”

—Warren Berger, American Journalist

"ask more questions" sign between two clocks

Image from Unsplash by Jonathan Simcoe

Coaches love beautiful and powerful questions.  In fact, if coaches were Batman, our utility belts would be filled with them!

What if you were to begin questioning all areas of your life, to determine what is truly working and what is not? What might your answers show, and what choices or actions might you take moving forward?

As a reader of The Quotable Coach, you are astute and have probably noticed that I’ve filled this post with questions!

EXERCISE:

What are a few of your favorite, most beautiful questions? What questions keep you on your toes and move your life forward? How might you use coaching questions to support the lives of those for whom you care?

The mind is like a garden

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“The mind is like a garden. Plant flowers, you get flowers. Plant weeds, you get weeds. Plant nothing, you get weeds.”

—Author Unknown

Image of a greenhouse full of weeds

Image from Unsplash by Sandis Helvigs

The garden metaphor has been overused in describing the fertility of our minds to grow whatever is planted there. Today’s quote provides a special twist in the event we decide to take a “bench-sitter” or laissez-faire approach to life.

Imaging driving through an area in which no lawn service or landscaper has been seen for years. What do you see when you examine the grounds surrounding the buildings in this area?

Although I prefer to see the beauty of all living things, sometimes the winds of change bring unwanted forms of growth, things which we would prefer to live without.

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways can you take an ongoing, proactive approach to planting only the most beautiful thoughts in your head?  What do you think will bloom?

He Who Trims Himself

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“He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away.”

—Raymond Hull, Canadian Playwright and Lecturer

Image of a person whittling on a piece of wood

Image from Unsplash by Nathan Lemon

In the best selling book, Give and Take by University of Pennsylvania professor, Adam Grant, we learn the pros and cons of being a “giver.”

Grant divides givers into two groups:

The first group have high other-interest and low self-interest. This can work against their giving nature; they burn out, or as put in today’s quote, whittle themselves away.

Conversely, the group Grant calls “other-ish,” maintain high self-interest along with high other-interest. This keeps them on an even keel and provides optimal results for themselves and others.

EXERCISE:

How can you more fully maintain your own self-interest and well-being while generously contributing to others in your professional and personal worlds?

Friday Review Success

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FRIDAY REVIEW: SUCCESS

How do you define Success?  Here are a few success-related posts you may have missed. Click on the links to read the full message:

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“Every wall is another fence that thins the herd.”

 

 

 

 

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“Your best teacher is your last mistake.”

 

 

 

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“Great leaders don’t blame the tools they’re given. They work to sharpen them.”

 

 

 

highest success levels

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“The slogans ‘hang on’ and ‘press on’ have solved and will continue to solve the problems of humanity.”

—Ogwo David Emenike, Nigerian Author and Speaker

image of a man on a mountain top with a flag that reads "Keep Exploring"

Image from Unsplash by Justin Luebke

Are you familiar with the word grit? There has been a media frenzy over this buzzword, which some claim as the key to success.

Believers in this concept suggest that if one is to reach the highest levels of success, talent must be combined with hard work, determination, and perseverance.

Angela Duckworth, author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, emphasizes the importance of passion. She stresses that without passion, dogged determination, and tenacity, hard work simply becomes drudgery without direction.

EXERCISE:

In what way does your passion fuel personal or professional projects, giving you the energy and desire to “hang on” or “press on”?