Tell me and I’ll forget

Posted on by

“Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.”

– Chinese Proverb

Since my first job as a middle school science teacher in Philadelphia, I have always been fascinated by the process of learning. Back then, the old-school didactic method of teaching did not truly help children to grow in understanding, or to consistently retain information.

As a coach, I engage clients in a multitude of learning experiences, where practical. “On the court” involvement over a six month time frame is critical to long-term understanding.
You can find out more about my Personal Excellence Training here:

http://www.dempcoaching.com/personal-excellence-training

Exercise:

What professional and personal lessons do you most wish to learn that will make the biggest difference in your life?

How can you build greater involvement and real-world experience into the lessons, to support your desire for greater understanding and long term achievement?

“No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.”

Posted on by

“No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.”

– Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States

Who are the most honorable people you know and admire? Take a moment and look at the people in your life that you respect and value.

Look at famous people, past and present, great leaders, and humanitarians – you know, the “Who’s Who” of mankind. Notice what contributions they made to others, to their communities, and to the world.

Exercise:

How will you use your day to give and contribute more?

Don’t be surprised if you happen to receive wonderful things in return.

“When a man is wrapped up in himself, he makes a pretty small package.”

Posted on by

“When a man is wrapped up in himself, he makes a pretty small package.”

—John Ruskin, English artist and art critic

Image from Unsplash by Jose de la Cruz

We all know people who are self-centered, egotistical, narcissistic and arrogant. Most people have at least a trace of these attributes. A typical reaction we have with these people is to withdraw and to avoid them. When people exhibit these behaviors, their worlds become small packages.

When we become far more interested in the lives of others – including family, friends and colleagues – our world expands exponentially.

Exercise:

How many people would attend your funeral, or attend a party that would celebrate your life?

If the people in your life were to write a eulogy for you, what would you like it to say?

“Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.”

Posted on by

“Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.”

– Robert Fulghum, author

We have all heard the phrase “actions speak louder than words.” My wife Wendy and I have been very fortunate to raise two wonderful children who are now on their own as young adults. Although we no longer see them as often as we did when they lived at home, when we do get to visit together, we are pleased to see the effects of many of the lessons we tried to impart throughout the years.

Even though we were not always sure that the messages were getting through, we are delighted to see them living consistently with many of the behaviors we demonstrated through our daily actions.

Exercise:

What do your children and the people in your life observe in your daily actions? How pleased would you be to see them behaving in the same manner?

What adjustments can you make to your actions to have the impact you wish to have?

“Great men are rarely isolated mountain-peaks; they are the summits of ranges.”

Posted on by

“Great men are rarely isolated mountain-peaks; they are the summits of ranges.”

– Thomas W. Higginson, Unitarian minister and abolitionist

In July of this year, we vacationed in New Hampshire. We found it to be one of the most beautiful places in New England. During our visit, we experienced the thrill of taking the famous cog railroad up to the summit of Mount Washington, the highest peak in the North-East United States.

Among breathtaking views, we could also view Mount Adams, Mount Jefferson and many others – all part of the White Mountain range.

Exercise:

Who are some of the great men and women in your life? How have you been part of their greatness?

How have they supported you in being your best? What future great peaks could you pursue together?

“Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped.”

Posted on by

“Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped.”

– African proverb

Where we fall and where we slip are often not the same place. Slipping always occurs before the fall – and therefore happens at a place where there may be something we can do to potentially prevent the fall.

Consider the following:

  • Sensing through a body gesture or the tone of someone’s voice that an important conversation is headed to an icy patch.
  • You step onto the bathroom scale, or your last physical provides you feedback that your health is headed in an undesirable direction.

Exercise:

What clues is your world sending you daily that indicate a fall may be coming?
How can you learn to avoid the slippery patches in the first place?

“I don’t measure a man’s success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom.”

Posted on by

“I don’t measure a man’s success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom.”

– George S. Patton, US general in World War II

My dad loves golf. He loves to play it and he loves to watch it. Recently, while watching a tournament together, I noticed the commentator describing the characteristics of a golfer. In talking about him, they referred to a term known as the “bounce-back factor.” This term refers to the ability to achieve a birdie or eagle after a bogey or double-bogey on the previous hole.

Rarely in golf or life do we experience bogey-free rounds or successes without setbacks. Our ability to experience these events and bounce back with resilience and resolve, as Patton suggests, is a measure of success.

Exercise:

How often and how long do you stay down when faced with life’s setbacks? What strategies can you employ to bounce back even higher and faster in the future?

“No one ever won a chess game by betting on each move. Sometimes you have to move backward to get a step forward.”

Posted on by

“No one ever won a chess game by betting on each move. Sometimes you have to move backward to get a step forward.”

– Amar Gopal Bose, entrepreneur and engineer

Recently, my wife and I purchased an iPad and downloaded a puzzle game that we found difficult and frustrating at first. Our attempts to process through the mazes were often thwarted as we attempted to move forward. As we realized that this strategy was not working, we began to explore alternative approaches to achieve our objectives.

Sometimes moving sideways – and often moving backwards – are the only strategies that prove successful in the end.

Exercise:

In what ways are your life, career, and relationships like a game of chess, where each move is only a small piece of the puzzle? Where could you move sideways, or even backwards, to eventually make forward progress?

“Here is the simple but powerful rule … always give people more than they expect to get.”

Posted on by

“Here is the simple but powerful rule … always give people more than they expect to get.”

– Nelson Boswell, self-help author

I was talking with a fellow coach the other day about my desire to grow the readership of The Quotable Coach, so more people could potentially benefit.

He asked me how much “wow” it provided – so that people would not only read it themselves, but would go out of their way to share this resource with others who might benefit.

Adding more “wow” is a daunting task, in that the bar seems to be getting raised daily. As it pertains to The Quotable Coach, please feel free to share with me how I may provide more “wow” and exceed your expectations.

Exercise:

How can you provide more “wow” and exceed the expectations of those you serve in your professional and personal life?

Please consider forwarding this email to 3 – 5 people, so that they can benefit too. 🙂

“You have to have your heart in the business and the business in your heart.”

Posted on by

“You have to have your heart in the business and the business in your heart.”

– Thomas J. Watson, chairman and CEO of IBM from 1914 – 1956

Over 19 years ago, I was faced with a professional fork in the road that eventually, through taking the road less traveled, has had me pursue coaching as my career and professional purpose.

Up till then, I had what many would consider a successful 12-year career in sales, marketing and advertising with a well-known pharmaceutical company.

Unfortunately, I was unhappy and unfulfilled. My heart just wasn’t in it, and I went into most days with dread and indifference.

Other than marrying my wife Wendy and raising two great kids, the pursuit of my passion for coaching is one of the best decisions I’ve made.

Exercise:

To what degree is your career/business in your heart? What changes can you make to find greater heart in your business?