Tag Archives: Barry Demp Coaching

Your reputation isn’t what you shout

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“Your reputation isn’t what you shout. It’s what people whisper.”

—Shane Parrish, author of the Farnum Street Blog

Image from Unsplash by krakenimages

You can post daily affirmations, list your virtues, or tell the world how honest you are — but eventually, your echo fades, and all that’s left is how others felt when you weren’t performing.

Reputation lives in the quiet corners of conversations — the “He’s always fair” or “She really shows up.”

It’s built in moments too small for applause: a promise kept, patience shown, help offered when no one’s watching.

The whispers aren’t made of hype — they’re made of consistency. The good news? You write that script daily with every small act of integrity.

Whisper-worthy reputations always last longer than shouted ones.

EXERCISE:

In what ways can you stop chasing a great reputation?

What actions can you take to earn it so steadily that eventually it comes looking for you?

When we explore and embrace deliberate slow rituals

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When we explore and embrace deliberate slow rituals, we experience a kind of sacred time not accessible in our everyday existence.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Benita Anand

In a world that worships speed, slowness feels rebellious. Yet when we choose to move deliberately — to sip our morning coffee without distraction, to walk without hurry, to breathe with awareness — we step outside ordinary time.

These slow rituals become portals to what feels sacred, spaces where life expands, and moments that stretch beyond measurement.

In deliberate slowness, we discover presence — the kind that connects us to meaning, not momentum.

The world keeps spinning at its manic pace, but within our chosen pauses, time softens. These small acts of intention remind us that depth, not speed defines a life well lived.

Sacred time isn’t rare; it’s quietly waiting between our breaths.

EXERCISE:

What are some ways that you can introduce more deliberate, slow rituals into your day?

Please reply to this post with the strategies you try and how they enhance your experience of living.

Just about always, our beliefs arise as a result of our actions

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“Just about always, our beliefs arise as a result of our actions.”

—Seth Godin, author, entrepreneur, teacher

Image from Unsplash by Brett Jordan

We like to imagine our beliefs guide our actions, as if we think first and move second. But most days, the opposite is quietly true: what we repeatedly do carves grooves in the mind.

The way you handle conflict, food, money, rest, and risk eventually becomes a story about “who you are.”

Skip difficult conversations often enough and you begin to “believe” honesty is dangerous.

Show up for others consistently and you begin to “believe” you are dependable.

If someone watches only your last 30 days of action, what conclusion would they draw about your deepest beliefs?

To what degree would that be actually what you want?

EXERCISE:

Choose something you “believe” you are not (examples: courageous, disciplined, healthy, creative).

For the next seven days, take one tiny action in that direction — send the email, take the stairs, stretch for a minute.

Each night finish the sentence “Someone who does what I did today must believe…”

Creative output isn’t always the goal

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“Creative output isn’t always the goal; sometimes it’s a side-effect.”

—Stephen St. Amant, author of the Savenwood blog

Image from Amazon

We often chase creativity as if it is a prize to be won — brainstorming harder, pushing longer, demanding ideas to show up on schedule.

But the truth is, creative output isn’t always the goal. Sometimes it’s a side effect. It slips out the back door while you’re busy exploring, reflecting, or just simply living.

Genuine creativity emerges when curiosity takes the wheel and pressure steps aside. It thrives in relaxed minds, not clinched fists.

So, instead of forcing inspiration, engage deeply in what fascinates you. Follow questions that pull you forward. Before long, creativity will appear — uninvited yet entirely welcome — as proof you lost yourself in something real and wonderful.

EXERCISE:

Pick up a copy of Elizabeth Gilbert’s book Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. This best seller offers many wonderful stories and mindset shifts to make creativity far more accessible to just about anyone.

The real danger of AI

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“The real danger of AI is not that it starts thinking, but that we stop.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Steve Johnson

The greatest risk of artificial intelligence isn’t robots taking over — it’s humans quietly surrendering their responsibility to think, question, and choose.

When a recommendation engine decides what we watch, a navigation app tells us where to turn, and a chat bot drafts what we say, it becomes dangerously easy to go on mental autopilot.

The invitation of AI is powerful assistance — the temptation is passive obedience.

The crucial question is not” What can AI do?” But “What will I still insist on doing for myself?”

Reflection, moral judgement, and genuine wisdom cannot be outsourced.

If we stop thinking, it won’t be AI that dehumanizes us, we will have done it ourselves.

EXERCISE:

Consider reading Artificial Intelligence: A guide for Thinking Humans by Melanie Mitchell.

This book offers a balanced look at AI’s history, current capabilities, and future, carefully unpacking where AI genuinely shines and where fears or promises are exaggerated.

Although this book was published in 2019 it is a good starting point for future inquiry.

Cultivate relationships that go beyond your traditional circles

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Cultivate relationships that go beyond your traditional circles to embrace their ability to expand your life and your world.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Francesco Gallarotti

Cultivate relationships that reach beyond familiar circles: The colleagues you know, the friends you’ve had for years, the safe spaces you rarely step outside.

Growth doesn’t thrive in echo chambers — it blooms at the edges, where curiosity meets difference. Every new connection offers a window into a world you’ve never lived, a fresh set of eyes that re-frames what you thought you knew.

When we open ourselves to people with different stories, beliefs, or dreams, our own life expands. We become more compassionate, more creative, more alive. The world is vast, yet connections make it intimate.

So reach out! Cross boundaries! The friction of difference often ignite the spark of real understanding.

EXERCISE:

Once a day, start a conversation with someone — a neighbor you only wave to, a coworker in another department, or even a barista you see often — keep it genuine and curious.

Ask about something meaningful to them, not just small talk.

Friday Review: FEAR

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Friday Review: FEAR

How often do you let fear stop you from achieving your goal? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

 

“No one ever tells you that bravery feels like fear.”

 

 

Examining our fears can help soften them. Taking action can eliminate them.

 

 

 

“Men go to far greater lengths to avoid what they fear than to obtain what they desire.”

 

 

 

“Our lives work only to the extent that we are willing to keep our agreements.”

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“Our lives work only to the extent that we are willing to keep our agreements.”

—Werner Erhard, creator of transformational models and applications

Image from Amazon

Today’s quote points to a simple but demanding truth: Integrity is the quiet engine of a satisfying life.

When promises are routinely bent or broken, something deeper than our schedule breaks. Our self-trust erodes and with it our sense that life “works.”

Every kept agreement — whether with others or with ourselves — is a small vote for a future you can rely on.

This does not mean clinging rigidly to every past promise — it means honoring your word, either by fulfilling it or by consciously renegotiating it before it is broken.

In a world full of uncertainty, the practice of keeping agreements becomes a kind of compass, steadily aligning daily actions with who you say you are.

EXERCISE:

Consider reading or re-reading The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. This classic book has helped millions transform their lives, improve relationships, and find greater happiness and inner peace for almost 30 years.

“Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn’t have the power to say yes.”

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“Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn’t have the power to say yes.”

—Eleanor Roosevelt, longest-serving first lady of the United States

Image from Unsplash by Jon Tyson

Today’s quote is a refreshing reminder to choose wisely whose opinions shape our path.

Too often, we hand our energy to people who can’t see the full picture — or worse, can’t make a difference even if they wanted to.

Today’s nugget of wisdom nudges us to check the source before accepting rejection.

The next time someone tells you “No” pause and ask: Does this person even have the power to say “Yes”?

If not, keep going until you find someone who does. Life’s too short to stop at the wrong gatekeeper.

EXERCISE:

Treat each “No” as a chance to rethink your approach.

Sometimes rejection means the method needs tweaking, not abandoning the goal.

Be prepared to adjust your pitch, timing, or your audience to align better with what will get the “Yes” you want.