“The Things You Say About Others…”

Posted on September 15, 2015 by Barry

“The things you say about others, also say a lot about you.”

—Mark Amend, American Poet

Image from 8tracks.com

We have all heard the phrase “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

As you observe your own behavior and that of others, how well do you think we are living by these words? What is your opinion of others who always seem to be putting others down, or sharing a critical, negative perspective, whether asked or not?

EXERCISE:

Examine the things you say about others, or better yet, ask others to share their objective observation about your behavior in this area. What does this say about you, and what modifications are needed to receive a far better appraisal?

“The answers you seek never…”

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Barry

“The answers you seek never come when the mind is busy. They come when the mind is still, when silence speaks loudest.”

—Author Unknown

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Most of us are familiar with the phrase “Silence is Golden.” Perhaps it is the value expressed in today’s quote that makes it so. It is virtually impossible to explore new ideas and inquire into new levels of thinking when our minds are going a million miles per hour.

EXERCISE:

Try blocking out five to ten minutes today for quiet reflection and personal inquiry. Consider choosing a topic or question worth pondering closely, and see what you discover.
Also consider making this a daily habit and explore the added value of capturing any insight you will likely have in a journal or notebook.

“Your best teacher…”

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Barry

“Your best teacher is your last mistake.”

—Ralph Nader, American political activist

Image from bentleymasterminds.com

I’d like to alter Nader’s quote by changing the word “mistake” to “experience.”

Perhaps one of the reasons the coaching profession has grown so rapidly over the last two decades is that it takes place on the field of our lives through experiential learning.

It is our own self-awareness and self-reflection regarding the experience of our mistakes, setbacks, progress, and victories that can be our most brilliant teachers.

EXERCISE:

Take five minutes at the end of the day today to examine what worked, what didn’t, and why. What did you learn? What new and different actions will you take based on these lessons?

“An arrow can only be shot…”

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Barry

“An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backwards.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Flickr by SteFou!

How familiar are you with Newton’s Laws of Motion? I’ll spare you the physics lesson, and point directly to his Third Law, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

This means that for every force, there is another force that is equal in size, but opposite in direction, which adds to the impact of the full quote for today’s thought:

“An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backwards. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it’s going to launch you into something great. So just focus, and keep aiming.”

EXERCISE:

How will you embrace your personal and professional difficulties, knowing you have the capacity to launch your life in the direction of your goals and objectives?

“Don’t let anyone rent…”

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Barry

“Don’t let anyone rent a space in your head, unless they’re a good tenant.”

—Author Unknown

image from runningisfunny.com

Self-talk is a powerful thing.

It can inspire us to achieve greatness or stop us in our tracks and affect all aspects of our lives.

Where and when did you first notice your own internal monologues? Who in your past or present life is responsible for this programming?

EXERCISE:

What negative voices have taken residence in your head? How can you begin the eviction process, put up the “for rent” sign, and encourage a more supportive and empowering tenant?

“Integrate what you believe in every…”

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Barry

“Integrate what you believe in every single area of your life. Take your heart to work and ask the most and best of everybody else, too.”

—Meryl Streep, Three-time American Academy Award-Winning Actor

Image from yahoo.com

Meryl Streep is one of the most recognized and award-winning actors of the last few decades.

Recently, my wife Wendy and I saw “Ricki and the Flash,” a film in which Streep plays an aging female rock star with family challenges.

Her performance demonstrates her ability to bring her heart and her best to every role she plays. She truly walks the talk of her quote.

EXERCISE:

How well do you integrate your deeply held beliefs into all areas of your life?

How can you bring your whole-hearted self to work, and support those around you to pursue their personal best?

“The problem with doing nothing….”

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Barry

“The problem with doing nothing is not knowing when you are finished.”

—Nelson DeMille, American author of thriller novels

Image from NickyMenarkayaonline.com

We all need a break from time to time to recharge, refresh, and simply stop the frenetic pace most of us keep.

A potential challenge to this usually well-deserved respite is to know, as today’s quote states, when we are finished.

EXERCISE:

Instead of an open-ended period of “do nothing,” please consider actually scheduling it in your calendar. When the time period is up, you can determine if it fits your recharging needs or not.

Consider learning about Dan Sullivan’s Strategic Coach Program, and his concept of Focus Days, Buffer Days, and Free Days.

“Fall in love with the problem…”

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Barry

“Fall in love with the problem, not the solution.”

—Kaaren Hanson, VP of Design /Innovations/ Intuit

QC #853

Through the course of our lives, we have all developed strategies for success which we apply to the daily challenges we face in our professional and personal worlds.

As long as these default solutions work reasonably well, we rarely seek alternative solutions that may actually work far better.

When we embrace, and even fall in love with, the problems we face, we generate a higher ability for innovation and creativity, discovering possible solutions that were previously unrecognized.

EXERCISE:

How might falling in love with your problems help you release some of the “sacred cow solutions” you have used over the years? What new and potentially more successful solutions would be possible?

“Your mind is a garden…”

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Barry

“Your mind is a garden, your thoughts are the seeds, you can grow flowers, or you can grow weeds.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Flickr by My Photo Journeys

At this time of year, the northern hemisphere is harvesting many crops. Due to advances in farming technology, our ability to grow food throughout the year has greatly expanded.

Today’s quote suggests that our minds are always very fertile. We can all do a better job selecting and planting only the most optimal and positive thoughts to help us harvest a healthy and abundant life.

EXERCISE:

Examine how much time you commit daily to your own growth and development. Be specific in minutes and hours. Examine, too, how much time you spend in the weeds of negative or toxic thinking, in your personal and professional worlds.

What actions can and will you take today to harvest far more flowers and considerably less weeds in your world?

Don’t try to keep up with…”

Posted on September 1, 2015 by Barry

“Don’t try to keep up with the leaders. Lap them.”

–Author Unknown

Image from Flickr by William Murphy

Who are the leaders you most admire in your professional or personal lives? What makes them remarkable? What makes them stand out from the crowd?

These special people play an important role for many of us, in that they set the pace, or the bar, of achievement for those a bit further back in the pack. They can also set the proverbial “glass ceiling” for themselves, and those who almost never dare to look beyond.

EXERCISE:

What does “lapping the leaders” look like in your life?

What special talents and abilities can you tap into? How can you exceed your own expectations and set a new standard of excellence for what is possible for yourself?