“Every human has four endowments – self-awareness, conscience, independent will, and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom … The power to choose, to respond, to change.”

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“Every human has four endowments – self-awareness, conscience, independent will, and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom … The power to choose, to respond, to change.”

– Stephen Covey, self-help author

Last year, we all lost a legend in the personal development world in Stephen Covey. Among his many accomplishments, he was recognized as one of Time Magazine’s “25 Most Influential Americans.”

He dedicated his life to demonstrating how every person can truly control and influence their own destiny – and the quote above sums it up pretty well.

Exercise:

How are you currently doing in your personal mastery journey to improve your self-awareness conscience, independent will, and creative imagination, to maximize your power to choose, respond, and change?

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

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“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

– Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States

The people who know me best know how much I love to learn. Learning is part of my fundamental fabric and is one of my signature strengths. Perhaps that is why, over 20 years ago, I was so attracted to the profession of coaching, where personal and professional growth and development is a top priority.

Not only do I enjoy learning new things each and every day, I find sharing this learning and supporting others on their own growth journey amazingly satisfying.

Exercise:

Select one or two things you would like to learn about today. Ask others around you to teach you things – or simply tap into the web and dig in.

Share what you learn with others in your world to compound your interest.

If a man does his best, what else is there

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“If a man does his best, what else is there?”

—George S. Patton, U.S. General in World War II

Image of a track starting line

Image from Unsplash by Kolleen Gladden

We live in a highly competitive society in which winning seems to be all that matters, in so many areas of our lives. Just look at sports, business, and even politics. However, if we examine how often any one individual or organization wins, we are often surprised at the modest or even low percentages.

This pursuit of winning and the pursuit of the perfect outcome leaves far too many of us falling short, often with negative views of ourselves and others.

Exercise:

Be your best self today and all this week, and use that as the only standard you measure yourself against.

Don’t be surprised by how great you feel, and by the considerable results you produce.

“There’s no greater power than to be in harmony with oneself.”

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“There’s no greater power than to be in harmony with oneself.”

– Panache Desai, spiritual writer

Do you like music? Me too. Great music has the power to move all of us. Think of some of your favorite songs, along with those smooth and often catchy melodies. I bet you could hum or sing some of them.

The action of tuning an instrument demonstrates that there is a certain frequency of vibration that resonates perfectly to make it sound just right.

Exercise:

Imagine you are a special and unique instrument of God that resonates at a particular frequency based on your unique abilities, gifts, values and beliefs.

Your job today is to take note 😉 of this special tune and play away.

“The wisdom of the wise and the experience of the ages are perpetuated by quotations.”

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 “The wisdom of the wise and the experience of the ages are perpetuated by quotations.”

– Benjamin Disraeli, 19th century British Prime Minister

We have now been working on The Quotable Coach series for over 24 months with over 350 posts. It is now your turn to do some “quotching”!

In the coming weeks, we will be selecting quotes, with coaching commentaries and appropriate exercise, from our loyal readers to be included in the series.

To submit a possible guest piece, please use the following guidelines:

  • Quotes of one, two and a maximum of 3 sentences are preferred.
  • Share a real world story or piece of useful information that demonstrates this quote’s application.
  • Provide a simple and straightforward exercise to help the reader apply this idea in their own personal and professional life.
  • Include a sentence of biographical information (with your name or pen name). We encourage you to use this as an opportunity to link to your website, LinkedIn profile, or other web presence.
  • Send your finished piece to me (barry@dempcoaching.com). We may make minor edits for house style or space requirements.

Thanks in advance for your participation. I look forward to reading your quotes, commentaries, and exercises!

The Brains I can Borrow

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“I not only use the brains I have, I use all the brains I can borrow.”

– Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States

We have all heard the phrase, “two heads are better than one.” Research on this subject demonstrates this is a general truism in which there is a high degree of openness and communication regarding individual perspective and points of view.

However, in cases where this openness and collaborative communication is missing, or less than optimal, more brains can actually produce worse results.

Exercise:

Consider picking up a copy of Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats to support both your own individual and group collective thinking.

This is a great example of putting on your thinking cap (or hat). 😉

Reply to this message if you’d like a one-page summary of de Bono’s tool.

Barry Demp on Business Beat with Chris Holman

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I was interviewed on the Michigan Business Network radio show Business Beat by Chris Holman.

We talk about why I chose to go into coaching in 1992, and how I left my role in sales and marketing to pursue a new career as a business coach.

I discuss my early career, including highlights like attending my first coaching conference in Texas, and the gradual process of growing my customer base.

I also explain what a business coach is, what they do, and how the coaching process works from the inside out. Chris and I discuss the key areas I work in, and the types of people I work with.

To listen to the recording, just click below.

[audio:https://www.thequotablecoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013-09-business-beat.mp3|titles=Barry Demp on Business Beat, Sept 2013]

“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”

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“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”

– Phyllis Diller, late American comedian

Image from Unsplash by Petr Sevcovic

I recently attended a seminar where the speaker suggested that using Google was a great idea catalyst. From my research on the importance of smiling, here are a few interesting facts I’d like to share:

Smiling…

  • Slows the heart rate and relaxes the body.
  • Releases endorphins and diminishes stress and improves our mood.
  • Must have been used by the Seven Dwarves to increase their productivity as they whistled while they worked.
  • Improves relationships by increasing trust and building empathy.
  • Makes us more appealing and attractive – yes, smiling makes us look younger.
  • Improves our immune system and lowers our blood pressure.
  • Conveys optimism and positivity that helps us be more successful.

Exercise:

How can you smile more and turn that frown upside down to improve your life and, as Phyllis Diller suggests, to set everything straight?

“One thought driven home is better than three left on base.”

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“One thought driven home is better than three left on base.”

– James Liter

It’s hard not to be a baseball fan if you live in the Detroit area. We love our Tigers. In years past, when the team did not quite have it all together, they stranded many a base runner. Today’s team seems to have a greater confidence and the capacity to bring those runners home.

In a world of business, this quote from James Liter suggests that our ideas and creative solutions may be like these baseball runners – and we often leave them stranded.

Exercise:

Select at least one professional or personal idea, objective or goal that you simply must bring home.

Create a compelling, enthralling vision of this idea so you can get buy-in from your communities. Work with them to achieve it together, celebrating their hard work along the way.

“A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.”

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“A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.”

—Sir Francis Bacon, 15th Century English Philosopher

Image of an "ask questions" button

Image from killerinterventions

One crucial tool for most coaches, including myself, is the question. Below are some of my favorites:

  1. What results in life are essential for you to see yourself as a success?
  2. What qualities do you hope to expand or develop to be your best future self?
  3. What would you like people to say about you at the end of your life?
  4. What inspires you?
  5. What are you passionate about?

And of course… #6. What else?

Always ask “What else?” to help you layer into each question, to reach the full depth and rightness of your answers.

Exercise:

To reap the other half of wisdom, answer at least one of these questions today and others over the course of the coming week.

Share this exercise and your answers with those you care about in your personal and professional life.

Coach and support one another in living life each day consistently with your answers.