“Life is fragile, handle with prayer.”

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Barry

“Life is fragile, handle with prayer.”

—Harold B. Lee, eleventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Photo from Flickr by NASA

I am constantly amazed by life. Here we are, living on our beautiful blue planet with the perfect set of conditions that support an astounding diversity of plant and animal life. From the deepest oceans to the highest mountains, from the frigid cold of the poles to the searing heat of the tropics and deserts, life abounds.

Yet, if we look back in time, we see events that eliminated a wide variety of Earth’s creatures.

People who seem to navigate life better than most have, at their core, a strong sense of spiritual purpose, faith, and a set of beliefs that guide their lives.

EXERCISE:

As one of over seven billion stewards of this world, how can your prayers, positive interventions, and actions support and sustain our beautiful and fragile world?

“Patience is the Companion of Wisdom.”

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Barry

“Patience is the Companion of Wisdom.”

—St. Augustine, early Christian Theologian

Photo from Flickr by Thomas Mues

When was the last time you watched a great leader give an inspiring speech? If you are like me, you occasionally enjoy a provocative TED Talk. The TED tagline is “Ideas Worth Spreading.”

Over the years, I’ve seen that the best leaders and presenters talk a bit more slowly than most. They measure their words carefully, to achieve the impact they desire. As I listen to them, I find myself slowing down, and leaning in to hear every morsel of wisdom they present.

EXERCISE:

Where would greater patience, and slowing down your busy life help you contribute and capture the wisdom of the moment?

“Talk is cheap because supply exceeds demand.”

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Barry

“Talk is cheap because supply exceeds demand.”

– Author Unknown

Photo from Flickr by Cindy Mc

Unless you live in northern Alaska, the Australian Outback, or on some secluded island, you are probably engaged in our hyper-communicative world. Examine, if you will, all the means by which you are inundated by it and drowning in it.

When I was young, people would say, “A penny for your thoughts.” Even then, the value of talk was cheap, and yet we all believe that what we have to say has value and is worth much more than a penny!

EXERCISE:

Pay particular attention today to the value of what you and others share in your interactions.

See what you and others actually desire or demand. Speaking to those matters will likely generate more golden nuggets and pearls of wisdom, which are in limited supply.

“Everyone needs help from everyone else.”

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Barry

“Everyone needs help from everyone else.”

– Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev, 19th century Russian novelist

Photo from Flickr by Michael Hawkins

In late January southeast Michigan was hit with a major snow storm. My neighborhood got its fair share, with drifts close to two feet in some areas.

At first light the next morning people were out in force with their shovels and snow blowers, beginning to free themselves from their snow-bound driveways.

My neighbor Steve, who drives a modest sedan—not an truck or 4WD SUV—was stuck at the bottom of my driveway, spinning his wheels and unable to move forward or backward.

In an instant, a number of neighbors—including yours truly—came to his aid, releasing his vehicle from its snowy prison.

EXERCISE:

One of my best coaching clients has a mission and purpose statement asserting, “We Help” in all they do. How would an “I / We Help” attitude impact your professional and personal communities for the better?

A Continuous Part of Life

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Barry

“Education is not something to prepare you for life; it is a continuous part of life.”

—Henry Ford, American industrialist

Photo from Flickr by CODnewsroom

When you completed your formal education – whether it was grade school, high school, college or an advanced degree – how prepared were you for the professional and personal roles you have today?

Henry Ford knew as well as anyone that our education depends significantly on the continuous, iterative lessons we learn through life experiences. This form of education puts us to the test before we capture the lessons we need to live successful lives.

EXERCISE:

When and in what ways can you embrace the idea that lifelong learning, and being a continuous work in progress, is the best form of education to prepare you for your future?

“I always wondered why…”

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Barry

“I always wondered why somebody didn’t do something about that. And then I realized I was somebody.”

—Lilly Tomlin, American Actress

Photo from Flickr by Nomadic Lass

Do you have pet peeves, things that annoy you or drive you to distraction? Most people do.

One of mine is litter. I notice it most often when I’m leaving a movie theater and see empty cups and popcorn containers strewn about, and in the parking lot of the gym I visit every morning.

Some years ago, I noticed myself complaining about litter fairly often, without my complaints making any difference whatsoever. That day, I promised myself that if I came across an empty water bottle or other not-too-nasty litter, I would pick it up with a plastic bag and place it in the trash.

EXERCISE:

Although picking up a single piece of litter is hardly going to alter the environmental challenges we face, what do you think might happen if you and seven billion other “somebodies” took initiative on the issues you/they assumed were meant for someone else?

“Liberate yourself from the need to be right.”

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Barry

“Liberate yourself from the need to be right.”

-Seth Godin, in “Unleashing the Ideavirus”

Photo from Flickr by Jamison Wieser

Have you ever been in a prison? I hope not. Freedom, and the desire for it, is a fundamental value shared by people throughout the world. Unfortunately, many of us are trapped to some degree in self-generated prisons.

In today’s quote, Seth Godin says the need to be right, and thus making others wrong, imprisons us in a world of judgement and dysfunctional relationships at work, at home, and within our communities. You’ve probably heard the phrases, “Dead Right,” or “Dead Wrong” applied to people in your world. Just watch the evening news to see how this thinking has generated some of the domestic and global issues facing us today.

What I observe personally and professionally is that these behaviors exact a very high price in our relationships and our organizations.

EXERCISE:

Consider the following questions as you go through your day, with the intent of liberating yourself from the insatiable need to be “right”:

What is my inner voice saying about the situation I’m facing?
Are my thoughts supportive or critical?
How open and receptive am I to what others are saying?
What value or goodness can I find in their words?

By diligently applying this exercise, and agreeing to bring these practices to others in your world, you can virtually guarantee yourself a new level of life satisfaction.

“Eating an artichoke is like…”

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Barry

“Eating an artichoke is like getting to know someone really well.”

—Willi Hastings (attributed)

Photo from Flickr by sterotyp_0815

I have never prepared or eaten an entire artichoke, only the hearts from a can or those marinated in a jar.

Hasting’s statement peaked my curiosity and I wondered, “How difficult could this be?” If you are like me, you simply go to your favorite search engine and query the universe.

I learned that there is an eleven-step process to preparing and eating an artichoke. If the process is not followed closely, you could experience considerable digestive challenges, and problems with your garbage disposal as well.

How is eating an artichoke like getting to know someone really well? If you truly wish to get to the heart of another and develop a close, quality relationship, it takes time, patience, care, and attention to detail.

EXERCISE:

Examine the relationships you hope to make or take to a new level, professionally or personally. How would a patient and somewhat methodical approach yield the lasting, substantial relationships you desire?

“It’s not that I’m so smart; it’s just that… ”

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Barry

“It’s not that I’m so smart; it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”

-Albert Einstein

Illustration from Flickr by donkeyhotey

Albert Einstein has a fan club. He was launched into international super stardom when Arthur Eddington’s work confirmed his General Theory of Relativity, which eventually brought him the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Einstein’s name has become synonymous with genius, and in 1999 Time Magazine recognized him the “Person of the Century.”

Applications of his theories are seen in daily use in such devices as the television, remote control devices, automatic door openers, laser technology, and DVD players.

Einstein attributed much of his success to good old hard work and sticking with problems far longer than most people.

EXERCISE:

Where would sticking with a current problem or challenge longer than you normally would help you discover and realize your own genius?

“Teaching others scales right back to us.”

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Barry

“Teaching others scales right back to us.”

—Seth Godin, Author

Photo from Flickr by winnifredxoxo

I have always had a passion for learning. As a child, I remember vividly my mother coming upstairs to read after our evening meal and some family time. Although she had only a high school education, she had the most expansive vocabulary of anyone I knew.

My own family, and my wife’s, were educators, so it was not surprising that my first career was as a teacher. After a few years, I shifted to business and found myself in teaching roles within the company. For the past 22 years, I have continued to be both student and teacher as I pursue my professional efforts as a coach.

Over the years, I’ve learned by watching others, applying what I’ve learned, and learned the most by sharing what I learned with others. The lessons always scaled back to me with even deeper meaning and impact.

EXERCISE:

How can you learn what you most desire by watching people you admire, practice what you learn, and scale these lessons back to you even more by teaching others in your professional and personal life?

As Seth Godin said in his latest book, What to Do When It’s Your Turn, “Teaching rewards us all.”