Consider your career thus far. Here are a few career-related posts you may have missed. Click on the links to read the full messages.
“It’s a beautiful thing when a career and passion come together.”
“All the arts are apprenticeship. The big art is our life.”
“I do not believe you can do today’s job with yesterday’s methods and be in business tomorrow.”
Image from Unsplash by Stas Ovsky
Compared to traditional school, life is a paradox. It gives you the test first, before you learn the lesson.
What are some of the most difficult things you have gone through in your life? You know – the things that challenged you physically, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually?
Take a moment to actually picture yourself before that experience, and look again at your capabilities today.
What time in your life are these memories from? To what degree have you experienced these tests and challenges professionally or personally in the past year?
Regardless of whether challenges seem to find you or you initiate your own life-stretching circumstances, how can you more fully acknowledge and appreciate more of these growth opportunities?
I recently watched the Netflix documentary, Genius of the Ancient World. The three-part series focused on The Buddha, Socrates, and Confucius.
Surprisingly, they all lived about 2,500 years ago, but worlds apart geographically. Many of their teachings and influences are still very apparent in our world today.
Who are the brilliant and soul-touching teachers from your past? Who are the current teachers and mentors that continue to make a meaningful difference in your life?
Where have you, and are you, that brilliant and perhaps more importantly, soul-touching teacher for others, personally or professionally?
Reflect on the questions above, and determine some meaningful way to show your gratitude for the teachers who influenced your world.
In some ways, we are all in the entertainment business. Personally or professionally, it is our intention to bring attention to our important thoughts and ideas.
Over the years of The Quotable Coach series, I’ve encouraged our readers to focus on being interested rather than interesting.
Let’s face it: Sometimes we just want others to be interested in what we have to say. Unfortunately, our thinking is not always as attention-worthy as we think it is.
If we are reasonably well read and informed, we can utilize the originality and clever thinking of others to break through and make the point we deem relevant and important.
Where can you share the wisdom and cleverness of others to have the influence and impact you desire?
Please give credit (where credit is due) to the various sources of such cleverness, and they may reciprocate by using a quote from you at some point!
Are you a life-long learner?
Are you attracted to excellence and personal mastery?
Have you ever explored the biographies and life stories of acclaimed masters such as Benjamin Franklin, Charles Darwin, Leonardo DaVinci, Mozart, and Einstein?
If you have, you may have noticed common patterns and similarities among them. Most notably, they all dedicated their lives to the process of continual learning, growth, and contribution. Occasionally they had masterpiece moments that were recognized by others more than themselves.
My guess is that it was the many twists, turns, and efforts along their passionate journeys that made them so remarkable.
In what areas of your life are you most excited about and engaged in, being a work in progress?
What would personal mastery look like in these areas?
What steps can and will you take to make more of your life a masterpiece of living?
Consider reading Robert Greene’s 2012 best-selling book, Mastery, to explore this subject in greater detail.
How often do you review and reorganize the beliefs you hold? Here are a few belief-related posts you may have missed. Click on the links to read the full messages.
“A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.”
“Sometimes you just need to be reminded: ‘You Got This!’”
“The truth you believe in and cling to makes you unavailable to hear anything new.”
Image from Unsplash by Sabri Tuzcu
In his book, Give and Take, author Adam Grant points out that in many situations, the givers of the world are more successful and fulfilled.
There is, however, a particular exception to his observation. He makes a clear distinction between two types of givers, which he calls “Selfless,” and “Otherish.”
A critical difference between the two is that Selfless givers give to the point of being an empty cup, while Otherish givers put on their own oxygen mask before assisting others.
Where in your life are you running on or near empty?
What Otherish strategies can you use to retain some reserves for yourself, so that you can continue your generous and contributory efforts?
With ever increasing competition and transparency in the business world, buyers of products and services seem to have the upper hand. We are all just a few clicks away from having reasonable, accurate, and objective information on just about anything and anyone.
Have you ever heard of the “So What Test”? If not, imagine going to a networking event in which you are given 30 or 60 seconds to introduce yourself, your service, and perhaps your product. Now imagine if the person you are speaking with actually was rude enough to say, “So What?” aloud, instead of keeping this thought to themselves.
What is truly unique, special, and distinctive about you, your product, or service?
What could you share about what you have to offer that would raise a few more eyebrows?
What are the reasons people may be saying Yes to your competition and No to you more often than you would like?
Image from Unsplash by Caleb Frith
In the book QUIET: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, Susan Cain indicates that about one half of the population fits into this group.
For a wide variety of reasons, introverts prefer, and often function better, when the volume of life is low.
It appears that all people – not just introverts – need to withdraw into periods of solitude and quiet, to rest and awaken their inner peace. Without such moments, we all wear out and burn out, and that isn’t good for anyone.
In what way can and will you start carving out more moments of solitude and quiet to discover greater calm, balance, and peace in your life?
Over the past few years I have gained a great interest in history, with a particular emphasis on the lives of remarkable people who have shared our world.
In his book, The Road to Character, author David Brooks focuses on the deeper values that inform the lives of numerous pivotal figures. I had no knowledge of many of them before reading this book.
Introducing the terms “resumé virtues” and “eulogy virtues,” Brooks points to the external achievement of wealth, fame, and status, comparing them to qualities that lie at the core of our being, such as kindness, bravery, honesty, and faithfulness. How we balance the two types of virtues along our life journey represents the road to character we can choose to navigate and explore.
Who are the leaders and special individuals – today, and from the past – that helped you become the person you are today?
What examples did they set through their daily efforts as well as their words?
What sermons are you delivering each day in your personal and professional communities?