FRIDAY REVIEW: READING
How much time do you invest in reading each day or each week? Here are a few reading-related posts you may have missed.
“To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting.”
Friday Review: Reading
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Tag Archives: Barry Demp Coaching
“Don’t focus on only one growth path.”
“Don’t focus on only one growth path.”
—Author Unknown
Image from Unsplash by Vladislav Babienko
To what degree are you a one-dimensional or multi-dimensional person?
Take a close look at how you spend your days and who you spend them with.
In which of these communities are you experiencing the greatest engagement and growth?
Alternatively, where do you feel stuck, stopped, or even regressing?
Over the past several months, some of my clients and many people in my professional networks have seen their growth thwarted. Many of us have had our cheese moved by the pandemic and its economic consequences. Many are exploring other options, or are engaged in what I like to call a dual strategy – pursuing alternative and supplemental career options.
Beyond the working world, many of them are also taking the time to invest in personal and professional growth efforts, to better themselves and others.
EXERCISE:
Consider downloading a copy of Seth Godin’s book, The Bootstrapper’s Bible, to see how you might pursue the idea of starting and growing your own business. The book was originally written in 2004 and while a bit dated, contains many of the fundamentals to get you going.
“When you edit your soul, no one wins.”
“When you edit your soul, no one wins.”
—Erin Loechner, Author of Chasing Slow
Image from Pinterest
To what degree have you done more than a bit of soul searching over the past several months?
What have you discovered about yourself, those you care about, your community, and the world?
It appears that many of us are reading deeper than at any other time in our lives, to a more soulful and sacred place in which passion, purpose, and our very best selves reside.
Another quote from Erin’s book is “Keep slowing down. You’ve got a race to lose.” This may be pointing us to the “rat race” many of us run unknowingly.
Consider your soul as a kind of Pulitzer Prize of Life, which requires no editing. It need only be read and re-read, expressed and shared generously.
EXERCISE:
What are a few soul-searching activities you engage in on a daily basis?
How can and will you bring forth the very best of you so everyone wins?
“Global Warming = Atmospheric Cancer.”
“Global Warming = Atmospheric Cancer.”
Seth Godin, American Author
Image from Unsplash by nikohoshi
For the past century—and particularly the last few decades—most of us have been paying increased attention to climate change.
Signs of our industrialized society include increases in local and global temperatures, receding glaciers, and melting Arctic and Antarctic ice shelves. Even the lessening ability to see a night sky full of stars is an indicator.
One non-scientific observation I’ve made recently is the seeming bluer skies and fresher air I experience on my daily walks. My neighbors and their dogs seem to notice as well.
Perhaps taking our feet off the gas pedals of our lives is giving our beautiful planet time to breathe and begin healing.
EXERCISE:
How can we all continue to take far better care of our extraordinary planet as we continue to combat, treat, and prevent the impact of COVID-19 and other local, national, and global challenges?
“It is named the WEB for a good reason.”
“It is named the web for a good reason.”
—David Foster Wallace, late American Novelist
Image from Unsplash by Robert Anasch
Did you know that spiderwebs don’t just intercept prey but actually attract it?
Many people—including me—have believed that spiders simply set up their traps in a promising area that insects travel and wait to see what happens.
It turns out that many spiders build webs using designs that actively attract other insects. They don’t just trap the unlucky.
How often and in what ways are you lured and trapped by the seductive aspects of the worldwide web?
In what negative ways does it consume pieces of your life without you knowing?
EXERCISE:
What are some good strategies for avoiding and breaking free from the addictive, alluring man-made web?
Friday Review: Community
FRIDAY REVIEW: COMMUNITY
How strong is your sense of community? Here are a few community-related posts you may have missed.
“It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.”
“True compassion means not only feeling another’s pain, but being moved to help relieve it.”
“There comes a time for departure even when there is no certain place to go.”
“Put old wine into new bottles.”
“Put old wine into new bottles.”
—Author Unknown
Image from Unsplash by Markus Spiske
I have always had a passion for learning. I guess that may be why my first career out of college was as a science teacher. Learning how the world worked was a place to explore with endless possibilities.
For me, learning for the sake of learning only took me so far. Over the years, I began to notice how attracted I had become to the actual practical application of this learning.
In the midst of COVID, I have had a lot of time to read and explore what I like to call The Wisdom of the Ages, along with many new books and resources from today’s great writers, thinkers, and leaders.
A common practice in many current books is the use of provocative quotes and engaging stories. They often include many references and expansive indexes that bolster their current insights and messages.
Perhaps there is very little truly unique and original thinking these days. Maybe what the best and brightest of us do is simply put old wine into new bottles.
EXERCISE:
Where and how can you, too, use the knowledge and wisdom you have acquired over the years to navigate your current challenges and opportunities?
Consider exploring my book, The Quotable Coach – Daily Nuggets of Practical Wisdom – with its 365 quotes, coaching commentaries and exercises as a tool to support this effort.
Thank You!
“What is the least I can teach you that would be the most valuable?”
“What is the least I can teach you that would be the most valuable?”
Michael Bungay Stanier, Founder of Box of Crayons
How familiar are you with the developmental and problem-solving tool called a quadrant graph?
Even if this specific term is unfamiliar, my guess is that you use some form of this concept to be productive and achieve your goals.
Take the example above, using effort and result as the two axis of the graph.
By evaluating each quadrant, we can calculate a course of action to optimize a path toward the result we desire.
The Quotable Coach blog series tries to apply a similar approach by offering a nugget of wisdom in about a minute’s read, potentially providing significant value to the reader.
EXERCISE:
Where and with whom could you apply today’s quote in your role as either a teacher or a student?
Please reply to this post to describe the value created.
Friday Review: Praise
FRIDAY REVIEW: PRAISE
Praise packs a potent level of empowerment. Here are a few praise-related posts you may have missed.
“Rain and sun are to the flower as praise and encouragement are to the human spirit.”
“Praise does wonders for our sense of hearing.”
“There is no verbal vitamin more potent than praise.”
“You do not have to be original.”
“You do not have to be original.”
—Seth Godin, American Author
The seven words of today’s quote would have been useful about ten years ago when I dipped my toe into the blogging world. How many of you, like myself, have an inner critic that shuts down your thoughts or at least your voice and what you have to contribute to the world?
Somehow many of us came to believe that unless our ideas were unique and ground-breaking, we would be better off bottling them up and leaving that kind of work to the geniuses and other “special” folks?
Each of us travels a unique path through life. No one else can tell your one-of-a-kind stories with all the ups and downs, twists and turns. Perhaps our own lessons learned and how we applied them makes us quite original after all!
EXERCISE:
How can you take off the pressure and necessity to be a stand-out or a beacon of originality and still put your unique fingerprints on the world?
Please consider replying to this post with your thoughts.