“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful. Welcome it in every face, in every sky, in every flower.”

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“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful. Welcome it in every face, in every sky, in every flower.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson, American writer and philosopher

507Image from Flickr by Parvin

We are a couple of weeks into spring and with daylight savings time here in North America, the hours of sunshine and even the temperatures are headed in the right direction. Just this week, I’ve noticed a broader smile on the faces of many of my clients as they walk in the door.

Emerson knew that beauty from virtually any source has a transformative power that can add a special and very noticeable boost to each and every day.

Exercise:

Imagine that the windshield of your car, the lenses of your glasses (if you wear them) and even the lenses of your eyes enhance your ability to see beauty by 100%.

Consider capturing this awareness in a journal, or even in your smartphone by taking a photograph.

Sometime this week, bring a bit more beauty into your physical world, at home or at work, to enjoy the boost it provides.

“If you want to keep your memories, you first have to live them.”

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“If you want to keep your memories, you first have to live them.”

– Bob Dylan, American singer-songwriter

506Image from Flickr by shutterhacks.

Over the years, one of my strategies to get to know others better and deepen relationships has been to take a sincere interest in their interests.

One method I’ve used to get to know my daughter Rachel is to read books she has enjoyed. Among these are:

1. The Greatest Salesman in the World, by Og Mandino (http://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Salesman-World-Og-Mandino-ebook/dp/B004G8PIQ8)

2. Take the Stairs, by Rory Vaden (http://www.amazon.com/Take-Stairs-Steps-Achieving-Success/dp/0399537767)

3. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, by Don Miller (http://www.amazon.com/Million-Miles-Thousand-Years-Learned/dp/1400202981)

The last one made a particular impression on me, in that its focus was on a life well lived and the fantastic memories that can accompany it.

Exercise:

Consider picking up a copy of A Million Miles in a Thousand Years for yourself and turn up your “memory meter” of life.

Consider reading books and exploring other forms of shared experiences with those you care about to take this memory-sharing and memory-developing journey together.

“The best way out is always through.”

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“The best way out is always through.”

– Robert Frost, American poet

505Image from Flickr by Erik Cleves Kristensen.

Someone once told me that when you’re going through hell, keep going!

Who doesn’t have their daily personal and professional challenges? Many people seek the support of a coach to deal with such matters in a more effective and efficient manner so that they experience greater fulfillment, satisfaction and joy.

Frost is suggesting here that rather than avoiding or escaping our difficulties, we work through them to get to the other side.

Exercise:

Consider using my three-step coaching technique, the pivot point exercise, to work through at least one of your front-burner issues or challenges.

You can find it on The Quotable Coach site here: www.thequotablecoach.com/action/theres-always-some-further-action-to-take

Feel free to reply to this message and let me know how things work out.

“You’ll never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life.”

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“You’ll never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life.”

– Zig Ziglar, best-selling author and motivational speaker

504Image from Flickr by Benson Kua.

A few weeks ago, I received a nice note from a woman named Tammy, providing the quote above. Other loyal subscribers have been kind enough to take a few “moments” of their day to acknowledge the impact these quotes are having in their personal and professional lives.

These comments give me a great boost to continue my efforts to make them available, having now reached the milestone of my 500th post.

Exercise:

Please take this moment to share The Quotable Coach or another resource you value with others in your world who could benefit. Hopefully you too will reap the personal satisfaction of this pay-it-forward strategy.

“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.”

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“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.”

– Ferdinand Foch, French soldier and writer

503Image from Flickr by mattewvenn.

When I first read this quote, I wanted to dismiss it immediately. I’m a pretty peaceful person and I’m not a fan of weapons. So with some editorial privilege I’ve given myself, I’d like to change the word “weapon” to “force” or even “resource”.

One of the most attractive things about being a coach is that I get to express and tap into the passionate fires within myself and others and help mobilize them in the world to produce positive personal and professional results.

Exercise:

How can you add an extra log or two to your flame (and others’ flames) to have them burn even brighter?

making successful human beings

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“It is not what you do for your children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.”

– Ann Landers, famous advice columnist

502

Image from Flickr by EWULibraries

Consider for a moment that effective parenting is like coaching. Instead of simply pouring ourselves into our children or our clients, we take an inside-out approach to help them discover the wisdom within – and thus help them discover who they truly are. Lessons learned in this manner seem to have a far greater influence and impact.

Just five minutes ago, I received a call from my daughter Rachel, who was finishing her workday serving her clients at 9.30 p.m. on a Friday night. Listening to her go the extra mile to serve others was a very satisfying moment for me as a proud dad.

Exercise:

How can you use your coaching skills to bring out the best in your children, colleagues, friends and even clients?

“Words empty as the wind are best left unsaid.”

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“Words empty as the wind are best left unsaid.”

– Homer, Greek poet

501

Image from Flickr by goldberg

To say that we live in an over-communicated world is an understatement. Homer, who lived around the eighth century BC, suggests through this quote that some words are full of value while others are empty and worthless.

If you had to pay the people you met and spoke with today for the value of what they shared, what would that value be? Take a moment to review some of these interactions to assess their worth. Which were of least or even negative value, and would have been better left unsaid?

Exercise:

Consider your communication with others in your world. How often are you sharing pearls of wisdom and value? How often should your inner thoughts be left unsaid? Imagine the impact on the world if everyone did this.

The 500th Quote From The Quotable Coach – Enjoy and Share!

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“People give one another things that can’t be gift-wrapped.”

— Nadine Gordimer, South African novelist

500Image from Flickr by kelly.sikkema

Today marks a landmark on The Quotable Coach’s journey. The adventure began two years ago and today we’ve reached the milestone of our 500th post. (We couldn’t find a cake with 500 candles though!)

We’ve only scratched the surface of the nuggets of wisdom that have been given to us by so many insightful and remarkable people of the past and present.

Exercise:

If some of the best things in life are not things, what gifts do you have to give to others in your life?

Please consider sharing the gift of The Quotable Coach series as one option.

With sincerest thanks,

Barry Demp

“Of all our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language.”

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“Of all our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language.”

– Walt Disney, American businessman, producer and director

499Image from Flickr by BigTallGuy.

This morning, following one of my workouts, I received a very nice compliment regarding The Quotable Coach series. The individual emphasized how he enjoyed the photographs that I now include to exemplify the concepts described through the written word.

Perhaps a picture really is worth a thousand words. Considering the popularity of sites like YouTube and Pinterest, I probably should’ve gotten on board from the get-go. I’m learning from you, the readers, how to make The Quotable Coach more valuable. Keep your feedback coming and please share these emails with others who could benefit.

Exercise:

How could you use pictures and other visual media to enhance your ability to communicate with people in your personal or professional life?

A trick I’ve found helpful is to ask someone considerably younger for assistance!

“Wisdom is learning to let go when you want to hang on. Courage is learning to hang on when you want to let go.”

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“Wisdom is learning to let go when you want to hang on. Courage is learning to hang on when you want to let go.”

– Mark Amend (attrib.)

498Image from Flickr by Martyn Wright.

The coaching process often involves a deep dive into both the inner wisdom and the courage of an individual. Amend’s quote points to two fundamental ways to develop each of these qualities in yourself and others.

Where are you or others being stubborn, closed-minded or even obstinate on an issue, where there is little or no likelihood of a good outcome?

Where are you involved in a difficult or challenging endeavor where summoning the courage to persist will, with sufficient tenacity and persistence, pay off in fulfilling some deeply held value or commitment?

Exercise:

Pick up a copy of Seth Godin’s little gem of a book The Dip. It will help you see opportunities in your life where you should quit and where you should stick.