“The potential that exists within us is limitless and largely untapped … when you think of limits, you create them.”

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“The potential that exists within us is limitless and largely untapped … when you think of limits, you create them.“

– Robert J. Kriegel and Louis Patler, business authors

Recently, I saw the new Star Trek movie, directed by J.J. Abrams. As an original fan of the series, I love the idea of boldly going where no man has gone before.

A key characteristic of Captain James T. Kirk is that he constantly challenges his limits, when those around him seem to insist on them. This quality is perhaps why we find his character so appealing. We, too, wish to have more excitement and adventure, to spice things up.

Exercise:

Where are you currently limiting yourself in your thinking and actions? If some of these limits were removed, where could you boldly go today and in the future?

“An uneasy conscience is a hair in the mouth.”

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“An uneasy conscience is a hair in the mouth.”

– Mark Twain, author and humorist

In the earliest days of my coaching career, only a couple of months after I left my job in the pharmaceutical industry, I joined a small consulting firm. Their unofficial motto regarding income generation was “you eat what you kill” – and unfortunately, I was starving. Of course, if we did “kill” anything, we had an agreement to share a portion of our income with the house.

After about 90 days with absolutely no income, my first client gave me a personal check in my name for $1,000. I literally held that check in my wallet for almost a week, unsure if I should share it with the company who – up to that point – compensated me only with a key to the door and permission to use the telephone.

To say I had an uneasy conscience was putting it mildly. I actually made myself ill to the point of vomiting due to my internal conflicts. Living by the quote “The truth will set you free”, I discussed this issue openly with my colleagues – and I was almost instantly healed.

Exercise:

Where in your personal or professional life are you faced with an uneasy conscience, where summoning the courage of your integrity will remove the hair from your mouth?

“It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.”

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“It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.”

– Sarah Bernhardt, French actress

About six or seven years ago, I attended a coaching conference where one of the keynote speakers was Lynne Twist. Lynn is a global activist and fundraiser who had the audience enthralled with amazing stories and encounters from her work.

Her book, The Soul of Money, offers many revealing insights into our attitude toward money in regard to earning it, spending it, and yes, giving it away as a means of expanding our prosperity.

Exercise:

One of the first quotes that I posted in The Quotable Coach series was “Time is the coin of life” by Carl Sandburg. With this in mind, how can you spend yourself and your time each day – and in the process, become richer for it?

Consider picking up a copy of The Soul of Money and reading it with a close friend or family member, to see what insights it may hold for you.

“You will never stub your toe standing still. The faster you go, the more chance there is of stubbing your toe, but the more chance you have of getting somewhere.”

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“You will never stub your toe standing still. The faster you go, the more chance there is of stubbing your toe, but the more chance you have of getting somewhere.”

– Charles Kettering, former head of research at General Motors

I’ve been learning about the differences between introverts and extroverts in relationship to their various routes to achievement. Given the quote above, you would be correct in assuming that extroverts would probably stub their toe a bit more often. Introverts tend to be a bit more cerebral and cautions about the steps they take, to apparently avoid some missteps.
Regardless of whether you are an introvert or extrovert, Kettering emphasizes the need to act if we wish to move our lives forward

Exercise:

Ask friends, family members and colleagues for feedback regarding your propensity for action. Are you more of a ready-aim-shoot or a ready-shoot-aim person? Hopefully you are not a ready-aim-aim-aim-aim kind of individual!

“If you won’t be better tomorrow than you were today, then what do you need tomorrow for?”

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“If you won’t be better tomorrow than you were today, then what do you need tomorrow for?”

– Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement

A fundamental characteristic about most individuals who seek the assistance of a coach is that they have a strong desire for growth and development. Being their best, realizing their full potential, and testing their limits are common values these people tend to share.

To what degree are you still a work in progress, even if you are many years beyond any formal education?

Exercise:

Explore the list of growth areas below to assess your progress or desire to work on these today to have some better tomorrows:

·         Parenting
·         Health and fitness
·         Career advancement
·         Faith
·         Hobbies
·         Music
·         Art
·         Friendship
·         Leadership
·         Emotional intelligence
·         Home repair
·         Travel
·         Languages

Please add to this list and let me know what categories are important to you, by replying to this email.

“A possibility is a hint from God. One must follow it.”

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“A possibility is a hint from God. One must follow it.”

– Søren Kierkegaard

How often do you dream or daydream? How often do you ask yourself questions that begin with “What if…?” “How can I …?” or simply “What’s possible here?”

Martin Luther King had a dream. John F. Kennedy saw a man going to the moon. Orville and Wilbur Wright saw man-made flight become a reality.

Man is a journeyer; our species has a restless urge to go beyond its limits. What about you?

Exercise:

Ask and answer the question, “What is possible today?” each morning. Take a moment to choose at least one of your answers and follow it.

Feel free to share with me what successes you achieve, by replying to this email.

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

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“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

—Viktor Frankl, Austrian neurologist and Holocaust survivor

Image from Unsplash by Maria Thalassinou

Very few days pass by without each of us experiencing at least a few upsets. It is very common for our desires to be unfulfilled or our expectations to be thwarted by outside events. One way to navigate these bumps in the road is to look inward at our attitudes, so we can maintain our footing and continue to move ahead.

Exercise:

What are a few upsetting or undesirable situations in your professional or personal life that you are unable to change at this time?

What do you need to do to rise to the challenge of changing yourself, in order to make the best of these difficult circumstances?

“There is, indeed, something inexpressibly pleasing in the annual renovation of the world, and the new display of the treasure of nature.”

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“There is, indeed, something inexpressibly pleasing in the annual renovation of the world, and the new display of the treasure of nature.”

– Samuel Johnson, author, literary critic and lexicographer

We are in late spring in Michigan, and it is sure a sight to see. With some much-needed rain, it appears that all the trees, grasses and flowers just took a big drink and decided to put on a full display of their beauty.

For me, this vivid display is a huge eye-opener – however, I’ve realized that it takes a veritable explosion of such beauty to get my attention.

Exercise:

Take at least a full minute each day to fully take in the treasure of nature – no matter how big or small. I hope this small act will provide you with a boost of inspiration and passion to take throughout your day.

Consider displaying photographs of nature at work and home and perhaps bring a bit of nature indoors to enjoy throughout your day.

“I get a chance to be anyone I want to be.”

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“I get a chance to be anyone I want to be.”

– Johnnetta McSwain, author of Rising Above the Scars

As many people know, Oprah has had a phenomenal career of over 25 years, living by the motto “Live your best life.” McSwain’s quote points us to the opportunity to be whoever we wish. One way to explore the possibility of your best future self is to identify people who you respect and begin to practice and express their most admirable skills and qualities.

Exercise:

Develop a list of three to five people in both your professional and personal life, and capture the admirable qualities about each of these individuals. Consider sharing your intentions with each of these people so that they can support your development.

A bonus to this exercise will be an improved relationship with these individuals, due to the acknowledgement they will likely experience.

“Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.”

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“Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.”

– Peter Drucker, management consultant and author

One of the most important elements of a coaching relationship is the gift of feedback. Many (if not most) of life’s greatest lessons occur following experiential learning, rather than head or book lessons. Drucker, who is considered by many as one of the great pioneers of modern leadership and management, knew this well over the course of his distinguished career.

Exercise:

Practice the following three-step self-coaching exercise to gain greater insight into your efforts and increase your effectiveness:

Step 1: Ask yourself what is working or not working regarding your current efforts.
Step 2: Reflect on what your desired goal or outcome is beyond the current status.
Step 3: Brainstorm alone or perhaps with a friend or colleague some new or different actions that will likely get you to your goal.

Feel free to repeat this process as often as needed.