Tag Archives: The Quotable Coach

Sitting on a pin

Posted on by

“Getting an idea should be like sitting on a pin; it should make you jump up and do something.”

—E.L. Simpson

Image from theconversation.com

Image from theconversation.com

Have you ever tried on a new article of clothing in which you mistakenly left a pin? I bet that got your attention, and provoked you into removing it immediately! Only a few things get such a dramatic response, mobilizing us to an immediate reaction, such as touching a hot stove, or being stung by a bee.

What if we gave our best ideas the same “jump up and get going” power? What greater level of productivity and accomplishment would be possible?

EXERCISE:

Select the sharpest idea you have been sitting on, and let it provoke your most committed action within the next minute, hour, day, or week.

What would be possible if you made this exercise a daily habit?

Climate vs Weather

Posted on by

“Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get.”

—Mark Twain, American Author and Humorist

QC #1024.jpg
A few months ago I had a wonderful family vacation in the San Diego area, purported to have one of the best climates in the world. We spent a rainy evening with a few of my son-in-law’s friends, who were a bit upset with the weather. Coming from Michigan, we were more than OK with a bit of cool temperatures and precipitation.

EXERCISE:

How can greater awareness and perspective regarding your professional and personal expectations help you embrace whatever the weather brings into your world?

How Tall Are You

Posted on by

“If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?”

—Author Unknown

Image from leifnorman.net

Image from leifnorman.net

Remember when you were little and your mom or dad would draw lines on the door frame to show how much you grew from year to year? We all lined up proudly with our backs to the wall, often stretching for that extra centimeter!

As adults, we rarely measure our height except when we visit the doctor, or at some point when the numbers begin to go down. My 89-year-old father, Marvin, used to say he was 5’6” and 7/8 inches tall. Today he is 5’4”.

EXERCISE:

Where can you stretch today, personally or professionally, to determine just how tall, great, or capable you really are?

A Leader is one

Posted on by

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”

-John Maxwell, American author on Leadership

Image from johnmaxwell.podbean.com

Image from johnmaxwell.podbean.com

I am a big fan of John Maxwell. Over the years, I have read many of his books, and even subscribe to his “Daily Minute with Maxwell” video series, in which he shares his wisdom with tens of thousands around the world.

In a recent video post, he shared today’s quote, a nugget of wisdom which captures three critical attributes of quality leaders.

Leaders:

  1. Have extensive experience and have learned over the years what works and what doesn’t.
  2. Have courage, and demonstrate this through committed action. They walk their talk.
  3. Share and show others in their world how they, too, can pursue their own journey. They pay their life lessons forward through mentoring, teaching, and coaching.

EXERCISE:

How can you more fully know the way, go the way, and show the way to others in your personal and professional communities?

Who plays this valuable role for you? Remember to thank them today!

Friday Review: ACTION

Posted on by

Do you take action every day in your personal life or business, or are you a procrastinator? Here are a few action-related posts you may have missed. Click on the Quote to read the full message:

QC #1021a

 

“You cannot dream yourself into a character…” 

 

 

 

QC #1011b

“The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.” 

 

 

 

QC #1021c

“When nothing goes right, go left.” 

 

 

 

Leadership is the Bridge

Posted on by

“A life is what we live, a legacy is what we leave, and leadership is the bridge.”

-Jay Goff, Coach, Speaker, Trainer

QC #1020

“The Mighty Mac” Image from Flickr by C. Hanchey

When I Googled the word “Leadership,” 750 million hits came up. Clearly, a lot of folks around the world—including Jay Goff—see great value in this important skill.

When we simplify this widely studied and examined quality, we can agree that it must include speaking about and engendering a desired future in others. The great news today’s quote suggests is that we can all use this bridge to leave a legacy and a lasting difference as we live each day.

EXERCISE:

Where and in what ways can you develop and expand your own leadership abilities to create a more extraordinary life, and leave the personal and professional legacy you desire?

Make the Days Count

Posted on by

“Don’t count the days; make the days count.”

-Muhammad Ali

Image from fearlessmotivation.com

Image from fearlessmotivation.com

We have all heard the adage, “Your days are numbered.” Not many of us fully appreciate the hard reality of that statement. How often do you find yourself—or others you know—looking into the future with the expectancy of an enjoyable weekend, event or vacation?

How often do you look forward to a “someday” when everything will be better than the current moment? Unfortunately, “Someday” is not an actual day of the week!

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways can you make the most of every minute, hour, and day to realize the “present” life can be, making each day count instead of counting the days?

Good Example

Posted on by

“If you can’t be a good example, then you’ll just have to be a horrible warning.”

-Catherine Aird, British Crime Fiction Writer

Image from jarofquotes.com

Image from jarofquotes.com

The other day I had a coaching session with a client regarding his parenting strategies. When he examined the behaviors that worked or didn’t, he looked to his own parent’s example for clues.

This man tends to emulate or copy the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of those he admires, and often does the opposite of behaviors he considered as horrible parenting.

EXERCISE:

How can you benefit most from examples set by others to coach yourself toward a more successful professional and personal life?

Where can adjustments in the examples you set coach your children as well as others in your life to lead more successful lives of their own?

Why is Monday

Posted on by

“Why is Monday so far from Friday, and Friday so near to Monday?”

-Author Unknown

Image from kappit.com

Image from kappit.com

The practice of looking forward is a powerful thing. When there is something desirable in our future, or when we are having fun, time literally flies. Conversely, when the future is undesirable or dreaded, time slows down, or seems to prolong the discomfort.

This is where a magical pair of forward-looking glasses can be helpful. The secret to this visionary tool is to look for, design, and create new and better futures in as many areas of life as possible, where the anticipation of a better tomorrow is always there to be embraced and enjoyed.

EXERCISE:

How can a more creative, optimistic, forward-looking perspective enhance the quality of each of your Mondays and Fridays to come?

Friday Review Friendship

Posted on by

Friday Review: Friendship

We all get buy with a little help from our friends. Here are a few friendship-related posts you may have missed. Click on the Quote to read the full message:

QC #1016a

 

“A friend is a loved one who awakens your life in order to free the wild possibilities within you.”

 

 

QC #1016b

“A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down.”

 

 

 

QC #1016c

“Friends are as companions on a journey, who ought to aid each other to persevere in the road to a happier life.”