“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today.”

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“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today.”

– Francis of Assisi, Italian Catholic friar and preacher

541Image from Flickr by Quasifly.

A few weekends ago, I saw the movie “Heaven is for Real”, based on a true story where a four-year-old boy experienced a visit to heaven related to a near death experience. His father is the local pastor of their community church. The community in which they live (and the pastor’s family in particular) were tested through considerable economic and medical challenges along the way.

Of particular note were the many small and not so small good deeds the pastor and members of the community exhibited on a daily basis as they lived and practiced their beliefs.

Exercise:

What deeds can and will you do today to demonstrate your highest held values, in order to contribute to others in your professional and personal life?

Pay particular attention to other people’s good deeds taking place in your community, to notice the daily sermons all around you.

“I get by with a little help from my friends.”

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“I get by with a little help from my friends.”

– John Lennon, singer/songwriter and member of the Beatles

540Image from Flickr by betsyweber.

Over the past month, Wendy and I received more than a little help from our friends. I’m happy to say that with this help, she and my father are now safely back in Michigan to spend the spring, summer, and fall seasons.

We had various medical, personal, and logistical issues, and our friends sure came through to help us through some difficult times.

Exercise:

Take the time today to thank those close friends who have been there for you to provide that “little help” that is so often needed.

Make a point to both reciprocate these gestures of kindness whenever possible – and to watch out for others who need a hand, even if those individuals did not help you previously. Imagine how the world would look if we all followed Lennon’s coaching.

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

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“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

—Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States

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Image from Flickr by dustpuppy

One of the challenges facing some of my business and executive coaching clients is the issue of internal conflicts and the lack of alignment within their organizations’ leadership and management ranks.

You can imagine the energy drains and loss of momentum that result when these groups don’t focus their collective efforts on their customers, markets, and even their competition.

Exercise:

What efforts could you take to align and unify your organization, communities, and even your family, to stand together to fully realize your collective goals?

Through these efforts, you will not only become one, you may even experience synergy, when the results achieved are far greater than the sum of each part.

“A jug fills drop by drop.”

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“A jug fills drop by drop.”

—The Buddha, spiritual teacher and founder of Buddhism

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Image from Flickr by Shan Sheehan

The other evening, I was watching a science program on television: “How the Universe Works.” The subject of this particular episode was how the Earth formed over 4.5 billion years ago.

Surprisingly, I learned that in the early years, the Earth had no water at all. The constant bombardment of water-containing meteors and asteroids filled our rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans drop by drop over billions of years.

Exercise:

What efforts are you adding, drop by drop, to your personal and professional “jugs” each day, to have a more fulfilling life?

“Every time you subtract negative from your life, you make room for more positive.”

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“Every time you subtract negative from your life, you make room for more positive.”

– Unknown

537Image from Flickr by katerha.

One of my favorite coaching exercises is “More, Less, Start, Stop.” The objective is to rebalance our professional and personal worlds by imagining how our lives would be more fulfilling and happier if we could only start, or do more of, the activities that fit with our visions and values.

Of course, to make room for these efforts, we must do less of, or completely stop, those activities that are unfulfilling or negative.

Exercise:

Do your own “More, Less, Start, Stop” exercise with a close friend, colleague, family member, or coach, to help you make room for more of what you desire from life.

Consider reading Marcus Buckingham’s book The One Thing You Need to Know (www.amazon.com/One-Thing-You-Need-Know/dp/0743261658) to see how this idea relates to your professional and personal success.

Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later

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“Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.”

– Og Mandino, 20th Century American motivational author

Image from Flickr by symphony of love.

Image from Flickr by symphony of love.

Asking people to do their best, to seek excellence, on a key project or top priority seems like the ultimate cliché of coaching. Blogs, books, and quotes related to this simple idea abound.

What does doing your best truly mean? For most of us, it often seems impossible, given the image we have in our minds about how our “best” can look.

Consider the idea that we all have a “best continuum,” in which what we’re capable of varies depending on the day or time. Consider, too, that your actions are like planting seeds and tending a garden, where all efforts count and add up.

Exercise:

What does your best effort look like today? Take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate yourself, knowing that the sum total of all your daily bests will bring you the harvest you seek.

“It is more important to know where you are going than to get there quickly. Do not mistake activity for achievement.”

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“It is more important to know where you are going than to get there quickly. Do not mistake activity for achievement.”

—Mabel Newcomer, economics professor

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Image from Flickr by joeflintham

Today’s quote makes me think about the words “effective” and “efficient.” Many people today aim to quicken their pace at lots of daily activities – including eating, work, and most forms of interpersonal communication.

A critical downside of our multi-tasking, fast-paced society is that we are often focused on doing things efficiently, without being sure we are accomplishing what we intend to achieve.

Exercise:

During your day, take a few moments to ask yourself the following question: Is what I’m doing (or about to do) moving me toward my desire?

By focusing on where you truly want to go, you won’t mistake activity for achievement.

“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.”

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“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.”

– Alan Cohen, American author

534Image from Flickr by evoo73.

Inertia is a key concept in physics. It represents the resistance of any physical object, including us, to any change in its state of motion. The word “inertia” comes from the Latin word for “sluggish”.

Momentum is also a key concept in physics. It describes objects in motion and is defined as the mass times its velocity. To change an object’s momentum, we must exert a force on it.

Exercise:

Where are you currently waiting in your professional or personal life for the conditions to be perfect? How can and will you overcome this inertia and generate momentum toward your goals, to make these conditions more perfect?

“Tact is the ability to describe others as they see themselves.”

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“Tact is the ability to describe others as they see themselves.”

– Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States

533Image from Flickr by Dhinal Chheda.

Whenever the subject of great presidents comes up, Lincoln is almost always included. As part of The Quotable Coach series, I have quoted him more than any other president.

Daniel Day Lewis won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of this remarkable leader in the 2012 movie Lincoln. Of particular note was Lincoln’s ability to be tactful in working with members of both parties during some of our country’s most challenging times.

Exercise:

How can you use the ability to better “describe others as they see themselves” to demonstrate greater tactfulness and build stronger relationships in your professional and personal life?

Consider renting Lincoln to allow you to observe Lincoln’s mastery for yourself.

“Attitude is the current that defines our dreams, enriches our thoughts, and shapes the landscape of our lives.”

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“Attitude is the current that defines our dreams, enriches our thoughts, and shapes the landscape of our lives.”

– From Successories, www.successories.com

532Image from Flickr by Celestine Chua.

Over 35 years ago, when I began my second career in the pharmaceutical industry, I distinctly remember a multi-day seminar I attended: “Adventures in Attitudes.” This is a bit surprising, because few learning and developmental experiences are such lasting experiences.

I really like the idea of our attitudes being metaphorical streams and rivers that sweep us toward our dreams, carrying along the enlightening sediments of knowledge and wisdom that literally shape the landscape of our lives.

Exercise:

Take your own “Adventures in Attitudes” journey. Please consider visiting the two following excellent sources of attitude quotes to further define your dream, enrich your thoughts, and shape the landscape of your life:

www.brainyquotes.com/quotes/topics/topic_attitude.html

www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/attitude