“How far you go in life

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“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because some day in your life you will have been all of these.”

– George Washington Carver, scientist and inventor

three generation photo

My father, daughter, self, and wife Wendy

At my current age, I find myself often reflecting on my life and on those around me. I consider myself fortunate to be aware of myself and my world as I support others through coaching.

In the past few months, I’ve interacted with babies, seen young teens celebrate their B’nai Mitzvah, celebrated my son’s marriage, partnered with many middle-aged individuals in a variety of professional and personal challenges, and partnered with my wonderful wife in supporting my aging father.

Exercise:

What stage of life do you find yourself in, and how can you partner with those around you to appreciate and generously contribute to all the people you meet along the way?

“I have one life and one chance to make it count for something. … My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have, to try to make a difference.”

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“I have one life and one chance to make it count for something. … My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have, to try to make a difference.”

– Jimmy Carter, 39th President

Jimmy Carter sums up a fundamental need (and value) that most people have. His life is a very strong example of fulfilling the need to contribute and to make a difference. Even at the age of 88, he still puts forth his best in support of a variety of causes that have great meaning and purpose.

Exercise:

Where are today’s opportunities for you to do whatever you can to make a difference in your world?

Given your health status and your capabilities, what are some of the longer-range goals that you will commit to, to make your life count and to leave a legacy of contribution?

“A ‘coach’ remains something or someone who carries a valued person from where they are to where they want to be.”

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“A ‘coach’ remains something or someone who carries a valued person from where they are to where they want to be.”

– Kevin Hall, writer

Someone I admire once mentioned to me that when we define something, we limit it, and when we distinguish something, we open up the possibilities of what it can be.

Hall, in this quote, appears to be defining the word “coach” as either a person, or an event or thing that helps you go from where you are to where you want to be. The attribute of “caring for another” is also inherent in his understanding of the word.

Exercise:

Who are the people in your life that act as support structures for you, helping you to get where you want to be?

What are the things in your world that also act as supportive coaches and assist and support your journey?

Make some efforts this week to both acknowledge the coaches and to expand this list beyond its current scope.

“To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.”

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“To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.”

– A Chinese proverb

As a coach, one of the common projects I help people with is starting a new business.

Approximately 80% of business efforts fail in the first five years. Starting a business can be both an exciting and scary time. Thoughts such as “What if this happens..?” “I don’t know how to …” and general fears of the unknown often cause lots of false starts and second-guessing.

The good news is that few new ventures are without examples of people who’ve been there and done that.

Exercise:

Do your homework well before you jump into the deep end, and study the efforts and outcomes of others who’ve gone before you. This way, you can take the good and leave the bad on your journey.

To dramatically improve your odds, I strongly suggest you seek the support of mentors, coaches and supporters with a track record of success.

“There ain’t no rules around here! We’re trying to accomplish something!”

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“There ain’t no rules around here! We’re trying to accomplish something!”

– Thomas Edison, inventor

How often have you noticed that many projects take quite a bit longer to complete than expected? Sometimes these efforts are thwarted by organizational complexity and misalignment and never see the light of day.

I fully support the use of appropriate systems and procedures when there is alignment among the group. This is often not the case, however, and issues remain unresolved due to the underlying disagreements.

Exercise:

Next time you are part of a committee, task force or project team that’s having difficulty getting something across the goal line, try using the following technique:

Step #1: Ask, “What do you think we should be doing differently, that would work better?”
Step #2: Try on the ideas of others to see if you can align with their suggestions.
Step #3: If for some reason you don’t align with their suggestions, make a counter-proposal and start again.

This iterative process will have the group challenge out-dated or dysfunctional rules – and hopefully get it back on the road to greater accomplishment.

Everything Begins Today

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“Today is when everything that’s going to happen from now on begins.”

– Harvey Firestone Jr., businessman

Image from Pinterest

Image from Pinterest

A considerable number of people who enter into a coaching relationship have a “governor” on their life and career engine that seems to be limiting them from moving forward at the speed they desire.

Their trips down memory lane regarding past accomplishments and setbacks often limit what they’re willing to do at this moment in time.

Exercise:

To minimize these journeys into the past, which may limit your orientation for forward movement, consider creating a number of Post-it notes with the following question. Place them throughout your personal and professional environments.

What is the most important thing I can do at this very moment?

Repeat this question often, to do what you can from where you are.

Thank you for being part of The Quotable Coach. Remember, you can hit “reply” on my emails at any time to let me know your thoughts and suggestions.

“One’s first step in wisdom is to question everything – and one’s last is to come to terms with everything.”

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“One’s first step in wisdom is to question everything – and one’s last is to come to terms with everything.”

– Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, German scientist and satirist

When is the last time you spent at least an hour with a young child? Parents know all too well the litany of questions that can be generated. These little ones are sponges beginning their wisdom journeys, and can renew our own inspiration to be lifelong learners.

Often our questions far outnumber our answers, and it’s not unusual to be upset or even knocked off our games because of this imbalance. Coming to terms with life seems to come with maturity and leads to far greater wisdom – which can help us experience far greater contentment and peace.

Exercise:

What is the right balance of curiosity and acceptance of the world around you that will lead you to the personal wisdom you desire?

“All meaningful and lasting change starts first in your imagination, then works its way out.”

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“All meaningful and lasting change starts first in your imagination, then works its way out.”

– Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist

Loyal readers of The Quotable Coach know one of my favorite quotes is “When patterns are broken, new worlds will emerge,” by Tuli Kupferberg. Here, Einstein is pointing to our imagination muscle as a means of creating these new worlds. In fact, the definition of imagination is the faculty or action of forming new ideas, images or concepts not currently present.

Exercise:

Select a five-minute break in your day for an “imagination vacation” to tap into your creativity and expand your resourcefulness.

“All meaningful and lasting change starts first in your imagination, then works its way out.”

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“All meaningful and lasting change starts first in your imagination, then works its way out.”

– Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist

Loyal readers of The Quotable Coach know one of my favorite quotes is “When patterns are broken, new worlds will emerge,” by Tuli Kupferberg. Here, Einstein is pointing to our imagination muscle as a means of creating these new worlds. In fact, the definition of imagination is the faculty or action of forming new ideas, images or concepts not currently present.

Exercise:

Select a five-minute break in your day for an “imagination vacation” to tap into your creativity and expand your resourcefulness.

The price of Anything

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“The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.”

– Henry David Thoreau, American author, philosopher and transcendentalist

QC #1011b

One of the first quotes I ever shared in The Quotable Coach series was “time is the coin of life” – how we spend our time and who we spend it with literally has a price.

Exercise:

Examine your life domains and ask yourself if each investment of your valuable life equity was worth it.

Consider making a few adjustments by doing more of some things, less of others, and starting a few new and interesting activities – and of course stopping those intolerable ones that you regret the most.