“I’m no longer sure what the question is…”

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Barry

“I’m no longer sure what the question is, but I do know that that answer is ‘Yes.’”

—Leonard Bernstein, American composer, conductor, author, and pianist

One of my favorite and longest standing clients – a man named Stephen – was recently on vacation. This may not ordinarily be remarkable except that he and his family were in Antarctica. On Facebook he posted the ultimate “Ice Bucket Challenge,” by jumping into the frigid waters of the Antarctic Ocean.

How many of us would have said “Yes” to such an experience?

Stephen and I have worked together for 19 years. I admire and respect his “Yes!” attitude and intention to be fully alive.

EXERCISE:

Examine the opportunities that lie in front of you today, professionally and personally. Where would saying “Yes” and leaping into your own life waters help you live an even more extraordinary life?

Consider picking up a copy of A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, to explore the writings of Donald Miller, another individual who chose to say “Yes.”

“Are you working to connect the dots or…”

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Barry

“Are you working to connect the dots or merely collecting more dots?”

—Seth Godin, Author

Photo from www.connectedaction.net

What is your favorite form of social media? If you go in order of popularity, the usage looks something like this:

Facebook has about 1.23 billion users
LinkedIn has about 332 million users
Twitter has about 284 million users

Please don’t respond saying my numbers are wrong, as they aren’t relevant to the point of this post.

Do you know how many friends, connections, or followers you have on each of your social sites?

Without question, the internet and social media have brought about amazing changes, making our world more connected and noisy to the point, for some, of addictive engagement.

Godin’s question asks if we are collecting friends or followers like dots, or are we truly looking to genuinely connect and contribute to other people’s lives.

EXERCISE:

Examine your skills, abilities, gifts, and talents that contribute to those on the other side of the monitor or mobile device. Consider that if you create something truly remarkable, you will likely have your very best friends and followers connecting the dots with you.

“Bad habits are like a comfortable bed, easy …”

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Barry

“Bad habits are like a comfortable bed, easy to get into, but hard to get out of.”

—Anonymous

Photo from Flickr by M01229

As I write this post, it is a brisk seven degrees here in Michigan, and yet I am still going to the gym to exercise.

My bed is comfortable, and far warmer than what awaits me outside. What gets me up and going when staying put would be far more pleasant?

Quite simply, I have made exercise a habit that takes far less discipline these days than it did in the past, before it became part of my daily routine.

The factors that lay beneath my exercise habit is the commitment I have made, and the value I attribute to being healthy.

EXERCISE:

What are the bad habits that no longer serve your professional or personal commitments? How will you embrace any discomfort you might experience by replacing one bad habit with one that will serve you better?

“Dogs don’t bark at cars that are parked!”

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Barry

“Dogs don’t bark at cars that are parked!”

—Ken Blackwell, Former Ohio Secretary of State

photo from freehdw

I’ve been watching a lot of programs lately about northern Alaska. Along with its rugged landscapes and beautiful, diverse wildlife, is the night sky as you head north of the Arctic Circle.

Although the stars and the view of the Milky Way are stunning, there is perhaps no phenomenon as captivating as the Aurora Borealis, commonly known as the Northern Lights. What captures our attention is the beautiful colors, and the fact that they are constantly moving – you might say they dance across the night sky.

EXERCISE:

What actions and activities can you add to your efforts today that will give you and others something to bark about?

“You can’t leave a footprint that…”

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Barry

“You can’t leave a footprint that lasts if you’re always walking on tiptoe.”

—Marion Blakely, CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association

Photo from Flickr by dekade

As you close out January, take a moment to look back at 2014 and the first month of 2015. How bold and courageous have you been in the pursuit of your professional or personal goals?

Should you realize that you have been tiptoeing around and playing it too safe, determine how this year will be different.

EXERCISE:

On what issues and projects will you take a bold stance to leave lasting footprints you will look back on next year with pride?

“One of the sanest, surest and…”

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Barry

“One of the sanest, surest and most generous joys of life comes from being happy over the good fortune of others.”

—Robert A. Heinlein, American Science Fiction Author

Photo from Flickr by Barbara Mazz

Do you like Chinese food? I do.

I must admit that in addition to enjoying the wide variety of tastes, textures, and aromas of Chinese food, I also enjoy the little ritual at the end of the meal. Yes, I very much look forward to opening my fortune cookie.

Imagine, for a moment, that all your future fortune cookies are “good fortune” cookies, and that not only do you get benefit from the one intended specifically for you, but you also get a boost of happiness from those of your dining companions.

EXERCISE:

How can you bolster your own life satisfaction by experiencing the added joy and fulfillment through the good fortune of others?

“Everything you go through grows you.”

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Barry

“Everything you go through grows you.”

—Robert Tew, Chairman at Newcastle Knights Limited

Photo from Flickr by John Llu

How much formal education have you received? Perhaps you finished high school or college, and maybe you went further to receive an advanced degree or certification.

You may be glad that your educational experiences are over because they have little relevancy today, as you navigate your professional and personal pursuits.

Today’s quote reminds us that we are always enrolled in our own 24/7 life classroom, where we have considerable influence and autonomy to choose and customize our own advanced degree in life if – and it is an important if – we pay attention to all the growth opportunities around us.

EXERCISE:

As you enter your day, how do you intend to grow? As you reflect on your day, how did you grow through the experiences of the day?

“Don’t cut strings….”

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Barry

“Don’t cut strings when you can untie knots.”

-Indian Proverb

Photo from Flickr

When I think of cutting strings, I think of the times in my life I broke off a relationship or quit a project, where I might have been frustrated or unsuccessful.

Untying a knot, on the other hand, reminds me of times I was actively engaged in solving a particular problem or simplifying a complex matter.

EXERCISE:

Explore your professional and personal life issues to determine if they truly require a pair of scissors. How could a set of patient and diligent fingers reconcile or resolve selective challenges you are facing?

“All you can do is all you can do.”

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Barry

“All you can do is all you can do.”

-Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle

Tech entrepreneur and self-made billionaire Larry Ellison is one of the wealthiest men in America. He created Oracle, the second-highest selling software in the world.
Clearly he has been, and is, a pretty driven individual, to have reached this level of accomplishment.

What percent of his full mental, physical, emotional, and perhaps spiritual capabilities do you think he summons on a daily basis?

Now it is your turn. Examine your own levels of personal and professional accomplishments and check in with yourself. What percent of your fullest capacities have you accessed?

EXERCISE:

If you left it all on the field today by doing all you can do, what could you possibly get done? What results would you see in your life if you made this a daily practice?

“Don’t think of it as failure. Think of it…”

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Barry

“Don’t think of it as failure. Think of it as time-released success.”

-Robert Orben, speechwriter for President Gerald R. Ford

Photo from Flickr by lu-lu

Before I became a coach 22 years ago, I worked in the pharmaceutical industry, where I had the good fortune to learn a great deal about business through jobs in sales, marketing, and advertising.

One of the industry developments during the 80s and 90s was that of time-released formulations that allowed patients to go longer periods between doses. This improved compliance and, presumably, clinical outcomes.

We have all heard the phrase “take your medicine,” which often means acknowledge, accept, and learn from our experiences—particularly mistakes and failures. Perhaps in this way failures and the lessons they provide are actually time-released sources of success.

EXERCISE:

How have your professional or personal setbacks or failures contributed to your developmental journey and the level of success you currently experience? Where are some of the challenges and obstacles facing you today releasing the knowledge and capacities of your future successes?