From Harold S. Geneen

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“You read a book from beginning to end. You run a business the opposite way. You start with the end, and then you do everything you must to reach it.”

– Harold S. Geneen

I know a few people who actually read the last chapter of a book to determine if they wish to read the book from the beginning.

Yet few of us ever want to be told a joke’s punch line first, to be told how a sporting event turns out, or to know how a popular movie ends. We like to see how things evolve.

Achieving professional or personal goals is different. We like to ensure a happy, successful ending, and therefore this quote suggests that we begin with the end in mind.

Exercise:

What are your personal and professional goals? Take at least two to three minutes to actually write them down.

Take another two to three minutes to write out steps and milestones along the way that will help you reach them.

Consider doing this exercise with family members, colleagues … or a coach. 🙂

(You can find details of my coaching services here: http://www.dempcoaching.com/professional-services

Wise Quote from Henry David Thoreau

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“I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.”

– Henry David Thoreau

One of the most satisfying things about being a coach is that I get to watch and participate in people’s conscious efforts to improve their lives. I get to ask them deep, probing questions about where they wish to move forward – and I get to watch them courageously turning these insights into action.

Unfortunately, some people don’t have adequate support to bring these unconscious commitments to the conscious surface and then provide an accountability structure to realize their goals.

Exercise:

Who can you talk and partner with, to elevate your life more intentionally?

“Behind every able man, there are always other able men.”

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“Behind every able man, there are always other able men.”

– Chinese Proverb

Whether you read the acknowledgements section of a book, observe an acceptance speech, or observe someone who looks back on a life well lived, one thing is clear: no one accomplishes anything great alone.

Who are the family members, mentors, colleagues, coaches, advisors, etc who have assisted you along the way?

Exercise:

How clear are these people about the difference they have made in your life?

Which of these people might you want to acknowledge today?

Of these people, who would put you on their list?

“The winds and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.”

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“The winds and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.”

– Edward Gibbon

Although we all know that it is impossible to control the wind and the waves of life, I do like the concept that as we travel life’s journey, we can still be capable navigators.

Exercise:

What adjustments can you make to your life’s rudders and sails to pursue your personal and professional goals, in spite of rough seas and strong headwinds?

From Douglas Everett

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“There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.”

– Douglas Everett

This quote sums up a primary reason why I am a coach. It may have been the reason I was inspired by the 1992 Olympic Games to pursue a coaching career.

The fundamental idea of turning one’s dreams into reality puts a smile on my face whenever I see the realization of this through the individual and collective efforts of my clients.

Two books related to this subject by Wayne Dyer are The Power of Intention and Manifest Your Destiny.  What will your dreams include as you envision a gold medal life?

Exercise:

Consider reading Dyer’s books and some other recommended books from my website to further realize your dreams:

http://www.dempcoaching.com/recommended-reading

To My Loyal Readers:  The Quotable Coach will be taking a few days off to enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday, and I encourage you to do the same.  You will be receiving my next broadcast on Monday, November 26.  Have a great week!

“The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.”

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“The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.”

–George C. Scott

What does the human spirit mean to you? Consider the following:

  • The capacity to achieve great and wondrous things
  • The ability to learn and apply what you learn
  • The capacity to forgive
  • The ability to love and be loved
  • The capacity to be creative and innovative
  • The ability to dream and envision a better future
  • The capacity to endure pain and life’s difficult or even tragic moments
  • The ability to be resilient and try again and again in spite of repeated failures or defeats

Exercise:

Who are some of the people you know who demonstrate a strong human spirit?

What qualities do they demonstrate that you admire and wish to emulate?

“In the face of uncertainty, there is nothing wrong with hope.”

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“In the face of uncertainty, there is nothing wrong with hope.”

–Dr. Bernie Siegel

Many people would agree that we live in uncertain times. Consider the economy, politics, terrorism, technology and globalization as examples of dramatic and rapid change.

Insert humans into this mix and you find both the reasons for such change, and a solid foundation of faith, security, resilience and hope for a brighter future at our core.

This hope for a brighter future is like a beacon of light from a lighthouse on a stormy day, showing us the way into a safe harbor.

Exercise:

How can you further develop and fully express your most hopeful spirit in today’s uncertain world?

“Act so as to elicit the best in others and thereby in thyself.”

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“Act so as to elicit the best in others and thereby in thyself.”

–Felix Adler

This quote is perhaps one of the closest to the core message regarding coaching, which is “bring out the best in others.” Most people have an inherent desire to be their very best and to realize their fullest potential.

Many of our schools, our religious institutions, even our families, utilize an “outside-in” training method for development. This approach fosters conformity, and often limits creative self-expression.

Coaching comes from the place that many answers and capacities already lie within us. When others elicit these answers and capacities, the growth we experience is both more enjoyable and sustainable.

Exercise:

Who are the people in your life that elicit the best from you?

Where can you be a coach and elicit the best from others?

Forget to be Afraid

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“Become so wrapped up in something that you forget to be afraid.”

–Lady Bird Johnson, Former First Lady of the USA

Image from Pinterest

My journey into the coaching profession is definitely an example of getting so wrapped up in something I almost forgot to be afraid.

At the ripe old age of 35, I threw caution to the wind and left a 12-year career with a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company to sign up for the job of “coach” with:

1. No salary (You ate what you killed!)
2. No benefits
3. No coaching clients
4. No general agreement about or awareness of the profession – it was truly in its infancy
5. A wife and two young children, plus a considerable mortgage
6. Modest savings, with about 6 months of living expenses

In spite of these factors, I found myself enthusiastic and excited to partner with people and help them achieve breakthroughs in their personal and professional life – just as Olympic athletes work with coaches to achieve their full potential.

Exercise:

What can you be so wrapped up in something that you forget to be afraid?

Our Greatest Glory

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“Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

Image from www.imdb.com

Image from www.imdb.com

One of my favorite movies of all time is Rudy,  in which the main character is a small and very feisty football player with a passion for the University of Notre Dame. Through dogged determination, persistence, and a tenacity rarely seen, he takes quite a beating by being a veritable practice dummy for the first team – and eventually rises to glory in the final hours.

Exercise:

What are your passions and commitments to which you give your all, no matter how often you fall?

What inspiring “Rudy” stories have you participated in or observed?

What stories are yet to be written, in which you will experience future glorious moments?