Tag Archives: Demp Coaching

Sit loosely in the saddle

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“Sit loosely in the saddle.”

—Robert Louis Stevenson, 19th Century Scottish Novelist

Image of a galloping horse and rider

Image from Unsplash by Sergiu Vălenaș

Have you ever ridden a horse? If so, what was it like if you were walking, trotting, or at a full gallop?

Given our fast paced lives, most of us operate at a full gallop. Sitting tightly in our life saddles can be brutal, as if we were riding a rodeo bull.

If you were to seek horse-riding coaching, you would learn that you’re never really sitting at a gallop. You’re more or less standing, and letting the saddle come up and caress your rear end. Your legs get a significant workout as you use them as shock absorbers.

EXERCISE:

What strategies can you use to relax and pull yourself up from the bumpy aspects of life?

Where can you shift from a gallop to a trot, or a more scenic stroll, to enjoy a smoother, more enjoyable ride?

Muddy water let stand will clear

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“Muddy water let stand will clear.”

—Tao Te Ching, Classic Chinese Text

Image of feet jumping in muddy water

Image from Unsplash by Roopak Ravi

Is your mind muddy?

To what degree are your thoughts, emotions, and feelings stirred up by the rapid, moving waters of daily events?

At such times, it seems impossible to see even inches ahead, and we often can feel paralyzed or lost.

Today’s quote – a Chinese proverb – suggests we can all find greater clarity by slowing down and letting those muddy issues blocking our view settle out, so we can once again move forward.

Over the past two years I have instituted the daily practice of a 10-minute meditation, using an app called CALM. This resource continues to get better with additional tools, including their popular sleep stories to clear and settle one’s mind at bedtime.

EXERCISE:

Check out CALM at the website or at the app store. Please consider replying to this post with the mind-clearing strategies that work best for you.

Listen or your tongue will keep you deaf

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“Listen or your tongue will keep you deaf.”

—Cree Nation Proverb

Image of a man's profile, with the sunset behind him

Image from Unsplash by Ashton Bingham

How many ways are there to take in information about the world? Probably first on your list would be the capacity to hear. Take a minute to examine all your other senses to notice how they allow you to fully take in what is happening around you.

Considerable research has been done to demonstrate enhanced perception of the other senses when working without the capacity to hear.

Many of us experience a form of temporary deafness throughout our day in both our personal and professional communities. The act of speaking, and perhaps talking too often or too much, actually diminishes our capacity to hear and fully listen to the ideas and contributions of others.

Consider another wise saying: When you’re doing all the talking you’re not learning anything. (Amy Castro, Performance Communication expert)

EXERCISE:

Where and with whom would a quiet tongue and a far more open set of ears provide the greatest benefit?

Consider sharing this intention to listen more full with at least one key person in your life.

Friday Review About Character

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FRIDAY REVIEW: CHARACTER

What is your definition of character? Here are a few character-related posts you may have missed. Click the links to read the full messages.

 

“If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.”

 

 

 

 

“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.”

 

 

 

 

“Gossip is the Devil’s Radio.”

 

 

 

 

What do we live for

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“What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?”

—George Eliot, pen name of Mary Anne Evans, 19th Century English novelist

Image of a woman holding coins and a note stating "make a change"

Image from Unsplash by Kat Yukawa

One of my most remarkable clients is the CEO of a local non-profit organization called Forgotten Harvest – the second largest food rescue organization in America. Last year, he and his team – and large numbers of volunteers – provided more than 40 millions pounds of food, valued at over 70 million dollars, to people in the community experiencing “food insecurity.”

Recently, he was interviewed on a top radio station in town about his work and the life journey that brought him to his role in this important organization.

Through this interview, I gained an even more vivid picture of his life and his fundamental purpose to make a positive difference in the lives of others within his communities.

EXERCISE:

What is your life purpose?

How do you currently contribute and make life less difficult for others?

What additional efforts can and will you take to more fully realize an even greater purpose with your life?

There’s no ceiling on effort

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“There’s no ceiling on effort.”

—Harvey C. Fruehauf, President of HCF Enterprises

Image from Canva

Are you at the absolute pinnacle of success in all areas of life? If you answered “no,” or “not really,” today’s quote may get you a bit closer to your goals.

I’ll share with you three key attributes to success I learned from a wise coach and mentor early in my life, when I worked in the pharmaceutical industry as a sales person.

It uses the acronym: A.S.K. to point to the elements that lie within us or that can be developed to reach higher levels of achievement in virtually any are we desire.

The “A” stands for activity. It points us to the fact that the level of effort we put forth on any particular task is up to us. I like the idea that there is no ceiling or limit placed on us, and that through persistence, tenacity, and grit, we can all achieve far more of what we most desire.

It is through such massive efforts we can progress on to the “S” and “K,” which stand for skills and knowledge.

EXERCISE:

Where and on what important personal or professional goal can and will you raise the ceiling on your current efforts to gain the skills and knowledge to reach new levels of success?

Education today

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“Education today, more than ever before, must see clearly the dual objectives: Educating for living, and education for making a living.”

—James Mason Wood, 19th Century English Zoologist

Recall the days you got your school report card. What subjects did you study, and how did you do? To what degree did your studies prepare you for life?

Take a moment to look at your career-related studies and perhaps your performance review process for your current work or vocational efforts. How are you doing in these areas? How much do these efforts help you live your life?

What has your educational journey – beyond the focus on career development and making a living – looked like over the years? Who were your teachers, and what grades would you give yourself in the domains outside of work?

EXERCISE:

Give yourself a grad for each of the following subjects in your life – and feel free to add a few more “electives” to pursue your own advanced degree in living:

Health _______ Relationships _______
Emotional Intelligence _______ Fun _______
Adventure _______ Continuous Learning _______
Community Involvement _______ Faith/spirituality/Religion _______
Joy _______ Meaning/Purpose _______

Where can and will you focus your educational efforts in living today and in the future to get a “PhD in Thee”?

Plant the seeds of beautiful ideas

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“Plant the seeds of beautiful ideas in your mind and water them with belief and action.”

—Author Unknown

Image of a hand tending tiny plants

Image from Unsplash by Joshua Lanzarini

The X Prize Foundation’s tag line is “We Make the Impossible Possible by Incentivizing Great Minds to Make a Difference.”

The Foundation and its supporters believe that the solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges will only be reached through the ideation and realization of critical solutions by pioneering individuals and organizations around the world.

Some of the current projects include:

  • Discovering the mysteries of the deep sea
  • Empowering children to take control of their own learning
  • Transforming the lives of low-literacy adults
  • Transforming CO2 into valuable products

EXERCISE:

What beautiful ideas for a better world inspire you?

Regardless of the size and scope, how can your belief and motivation to act help you and others reap the harvest of a better world?

Friday Review on Action

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FRIDAY REVIEW: ACTION

What prompts you to take action? Here are a few action-related posts you may have missed. Click the links to read the full messages.

“The world will never discover a person who is hiding in the crowd.”

 

 

 

 

“It is hard to fly when something is weighing you down.”

 

 

 

 

“Don’t step over dollars to pick up a dime.”

 

 

 

Tweeting has taught me the discipline to say more with fewer words

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“Tweeting has taught me the discipline to say more with fewer words.”

—Adam Grant, American psychologist

Image of Adam Grant's tweet

Image from twitter

The social media site Twitter was launched in 2006 with the original format of only 140 characters. Toward the end of 2017 this limit was doubled for all languages except Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

Regardless of your views on this platform, hundreds of millions of users find it an engaging medium to communicate their views on matters of both modest and significant interest.

Adam Grant, the author of books such as, Give and Take, Originals, and Option “B” with Sheryl Sandberg, has over 200,000 Twitter followers who obviously resonate with his concise and to-the-point nuggets of wisdom.

EXERCISE:

Where in your personal or professional communities would saying more with fewer words have the greatest impact and value? Where can this “Less is More” communication strategy be applied today?