“The most interesting thing…”

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Barry

“The most interesting thing about a postage stamp is the persistence with which it sticks to its job.”

-Napoleon Hill, American Author

Photo from Flicker by U.S. Embassy The Hague

Napoleon Hill, an American author born in 1883, was a pioneer in the New Thought Movement, and one of the earliest producers of personal success literature. His work, which includes his classic Think and Grow Rich, examines the power of personal beliefs as a critical catalyst in personal achievement.

Although at the time of his birth, the United States Postal Service was 100 years old, I’m sure the postage stamp choices were fairly limited. Today, in addition to the “forever” stamp which will always provide an adequate amount of postage for a first class letter, we have a wide variety of stamp images to choose from. We also have the option to customize postage stamps with our company logo or whatever image we choose. It’s astounding.

EXERCISE:

How can you create a unique life stamp for yourself, and persistently stick with this task as the foundation of your current and future successes?

“The Biggest Room…”

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Barry

“The biggest room in my house is the room for improvement.”

—Irma Givens, Detroit-area Communications Specialist

Photo from Flicrk by Phil King

Imagine that you have a second career as an interior designer or architect. Instead of building materials, paints, fabrics, and furniture, you have other tools to beautify your “room for improvement.”

One of my favorite exercises I use with clients to support their personal development planning is having them describe their best future self. As a starting point, I have them examine the qualities and positive characteristics of the people they most respect and admire. They also have the opportunity to take an objective view of themselves regarding the personal habits or behaviors that hold them back from being their best.

EXERCISE:

Consider developing your own “personal improvement plan,” and give yourself plenty of room for this growth. Select a growth partner, mentor, coach, or other supportive person who will encourage you, and even hold your feet to the fire to help you be your best future self. You, in turn, can be a coach and support partner for them.

“I would like to travel..”

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Barry

“I would like to travel the world with you twice. Once, to see the world. Twice, to see the way you see the world.”

—Author Unknown

Photo from Flickr by Nilanjan Sasmal

The majority of my coaching clients would include travel as one of their core values. They want to see and experience more of the world with the precious time they have left. To some extent, they have a bit of regret that they haven’t made a bigger dent in their bucket lists.

Have you ever noticed how much joy and excitement is experienced when a baby is born? Perhaps it is because this new life allows all of us—especially the new parents and grandparents—to start a new life “adventure” with a child who is seeing the world for the first time.

EXERCISE:

How can you be far more intentional in your efforts to see and experience the world, and at the same time, double your pleasure by looking through the eyes of those who share the adventure?

“Forgive them even if they’re not sorry.”

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Barry

“Forgive them even if they’re not sorry.”

-Julian Casablancas, lyricist (from the song “11th Dimension”)

Photo from westerngreatlakesdistrict.org

Perhaps no single human trait causes more damage than the fundamental need most of us have to be right.

When we assume this stance and other have an alternative point of view, they are, of course, wrong.

This vicious cycle often causes both parties to do and say things that are hurtful and often damaging.

Look at your own professional or personal worlds to examine where you see yourself inside this cycle. Notice how long it has been occurring, and just how much time and attention it takes from your days—time which could be spent far more enjoyably and productively.

EXERCISE:

How would the practice of forgiveness—even if those who have hurt you are not sorry —take the additional burden of these events off your shoulders? How would that help you lead a lighter and more fulfilling life?

“Sometimes your only available…”

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Barry

“Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith.”

—Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt Shepard, 20th Century American Heiress

Photo from Flickr by Common Ground Adventures

Helping high-integrity, growth oriented individuals pursue and realize their vision of life excellence is my passion.

This special coaching partnership with each individual includes many aspects, which can be summarized in a three step process, which I call a “Pivot.”

Assessing the client’s current situation, including emotions, feelings, and of course, objective evidence of what is and isn’t working.
Determining their preferred view of the future – where they wish to be at some point down the road – professionally and personally.
Exploring, choosing, and taking committed actions to move from their current reality toward their vision.

EXERCISE:

If you happen to not be progressing sufficiently toward your desired goals, or if you perhaps feel stopped entirely, take the leap to secure a coach or other supportive individual. Find someone who can help you “pivot” to continually and faithfully leap each and every day toward the life you deeply desire.

“All things come to pass.”

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Barry

“All things come to pass.”

—Heraclitus, pre-Socratic Greek Philosopher

Photo from Flickr by Kpcmobile

We’ve all heard the phrase “Nothing Lasts Forever.” This, of course, includes the good things as well as the bad. After each great storm the sun shines again, and then the clouds and storms return.

Given these facts, how might we gain power from Heraclitus’ words of wisdom? Perhaps we can choose an optimistic frame of reference to both maximize and celebrate the good in life, and also minimize the times when life brings us down.

EXERCISE:

How can you accentuate the positive and eliminate or at least minimize the negative, which will come to pass throughout your day?

Consider making the exercise above a daily practice to support you in living an even more extraordinary life.

“Spam is like shoplifting. [It’s] theft…”

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Barry

“Spam is like shoplifting. [It’s] theft of a tiny amount of a very valuable asset – (Time).”

Seth Godin, American author, entrepreneur, marketer, and public speaker

Photo from www.bookwormroom.com

Most people I work with value honesty and integrity. I’m pretty sure that none of them would consider themselves criminals, or in the case of today’s quote, shoplifters.

Consider the current state of your e-mail system. How many messages do you have at this moment? What percent of these messages are valuable and desirable? What percent are necessary but a cause for frustration? Finally, what percent do you consider spam that literally steals precious moments of your day?

EXERCISE:

What actions can you take today to more carefully utilize e-mail and perhaps social media as well, to recapture a bit more of the precious resource of time?

Consider discussing today’s quote with others in your professional and personal communities, to amplify the value of this exercise.

“Worrying won’t stop the bad stuff…”

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Barry

“Worrying won’t stop the bad stuff from happening. It just stops you from enjoying the good.”

-Author Unknown

Not a single person ever got out of this thing called life alive. Bad stuff happens and without question, it happens to everyone.

Someone once told me the reason many people get up in the morning is simply because they didn’t die in their sleep.

What a sad thought.

Worry is something we actually do to ourselves, which very often keeps us from being fully alive and enjoying all the good that life has to offer.

EXERCISE:

Try the More/Less/Start/Stop exercise as it relates to the concept of worry, by answering these questions:

What things can you do to experience more joy, fulfillment, and vitality today?
How can you worry less and not focus on potential bad stuff that could only possibly occur?
Start each day reading some form of affirming optimistic material to set the course for your day.
Stop associating with people who worry excessively in your professional and personal lives. Worry is contagious.

Feel free to modify this More/Less/Start/Stop exercise with alternative questions you would like to ponder.

“Hide not your talents…”

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Barry

“Hide not your talents, they for use were made / what’s a sundial in the shade?”

—attributed to Benjamin Franklin

Photo from Flickr by James Achel

Yesterday’s quote about talent caused me to select today’s quote, attributed to Benjamin Franklin.

One of the values of a coaching relationship is helping the individual more fully discover and express the talents within. In many cases, these talents have been hidden, or kept in the shade.

EXERCISE:

Who are the people in your professional and personal lives most capable of shining a bright light on your visible and hidden talents? How can you—and how will you—play this important role for others?

“One of my greatest talents…”

Posted on April 29, 2015 by Barry

“One of my greatest talents is recognizing talent in others and giving them the forum to shine.”

-Tory Burch, American fashion designer

For my birthday this year, my son-in-law Chris gave me a wonderful book titled The Talent Code, by Daniel Coyle. Chris knows me pretty well and has a knack for finding the perfect gift. It seems only fitting, since we have given him our wonderful daughter Rachel!

Recognizing and developing talent is and will continue to be a critical factor in the business world. This is particularly so as the Baby Boom generation begins to exit from the workforce.

Coyle drew on cutting edge science and first-hand research gathered on his travels to “talent hotbeds.” He identified three key elements that allow us to more fully develop our gifts, and optimize our performance in just about any area of life. They are:

Deep Practice
Deep Practice combines experiential efforts of trial, error, and rapid correction, to increase skill development at rates up to ten times faster than conventional methods.

Ignition
Ignition is that special factor that fully captures the passions and commitments, and is the catalyst for an individual to start and stay with the efforts to master a particular skill.

Master Coaching
Master Coaching reveals some of the secrets and tools used by the world’s most effective teachers, trainers, and coaches to fuel and bring out the best in their students.

EXERCISE:

Purchase, read, or better yet – study – The Talent Code. Recognize and develop your talents, and those of others, so that we can all shine more brightly.