Tag Archives: The Quotable Coach

“Go and wake up your luck.”

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“Go and wake up your luck.”

-Persian Proverb

Image from popsugar.com

Image from popsugar.com

A few months ago there was a frenzy of activity around the lottery here in the States. The prize exceeded a billion dollars. The number of people in lines to purchase tickets was unprecedented, and many Canadians came across the border into Michigan to try their luck at buying the winning ticket.

Three lucky winners shared the prize. The statistical likelihood of winning is minute, and of course, you can’t win if you don’t play.

Today’s quote suggests that we can, however, create and cause our own luck in life, through our determination and consistent efforts. How much money could you save if you put even half of what you spend on lottery tickets, lattes, and other discretionary purchases into some form of investment account?

EXERCISE:

How and where can and will you wake up and expand your own luckiness today?

Follow that Dream

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“Follow that Dream!”

-Author Unknown

Image from nnbtheatre.com

Image from nnbtheatre.com

I was a young boy in the mid-sixties when Man of La Mancha was on Broadway. My mother, Rose, loved the story about Don Quixote, and loved to sing “The Impossible Dream.” Here are the lyrics, written by American lyricist Joe Darian:

To dream the impossible dream
to fight the unbeatable foe
to bear with unbearable sorrow
to run where the brave dare not go

to right the unrightable wrong
to love pure and chaste from afar
to try when your arms are too weary
to reach the unreachable star

This is my quest, to follow that star,
no matter how hopeless, no matter how far,
to fight for the right, without question or pause
to be willing to march into Hell for a Heavenly cause.

And I know if I’ll only be true to this glorious quest,
that my heart will lie peaceful and calm,
when I’m laid to my rest.
And the world will be better for this:
that one man, scorned and covered with scars,
still strove, with his last ounce of courage,
to reach the unreachable star.

EXERCISE:

Where in your life is it time for you to follow your dream, be true to your own “glorious quest,” and help the world be better because of it?

Collect Moments Not Things

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“Collect Moments, Not Things.”

-Author Unknown

QC #1003

On the ninth of March my family did something magical to celebrate my wife Wendy’s birthday. We went to Disneyland in California.

For me, collecting the moments of discovery, joy, and amazement were the highlights. The beautiful expression on Wendy’s face in today’s photo sums it all up!

By the end of the day our cell phone batteries were completely drained from all the photos we took and the texts we sent. That was a good barometer of how well we spent the day! We also purchased a Precious Moment figurine and a few other things to commemorate this special day.

EXERCISE:

Where would collecting more moments and less things make the biggest difference in your world?

 

I Want to Sing Like the Birds

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“I want to sing like the birds sing, not worrying who listens or what they think.”

-Rumi, 13th Century Persian Poet

Image from Flickr by Matt Knoth

Image from Flickr by Matt Knoth

I am currently writing a chapter for a book on personal development and soul transformation with 30 other authors. My chapter covers the concept of Personal Mastery, which has been of interest to me my entire life. I’ve even developed my own coaching program I call Personal Excellence Training, to help others reach their next level of achievement.

One key to the personal mastery journey of virtually everyone I’ve studied is the bold and often courageous pursuit of authentic gifts, talents, and interests that make their hearts sing. Their efforts at self-expression were frequently met with considerable resistance and outright criticism from their peers and the general public.

Perhaps they were simply singing their own special tune, one that was ahead of its time, that many did not yet embrace or understand.

EXERCISE:

Where in your personal or professional pursuits is it time to be even bolder and courageous, voicing your special tune regardless of whether others listen, or what they think?

Friday Review: Vision

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Friday Review: Vision

Do you have a vision for your life or business? Here are a few vision-related posts you may have missed. Click on the Quote to read the full message:

QC #1001a

“Only dead fish swim with the stream all the time.”

 

 

 

 

QC #1001b

“Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake.”

 

 

 

 

QC #1001c

“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.”

Set Your Life on Fire

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“Set your life on Fire. Seek those who fan your flames.”

—Rumi, 13th century Persian Poet

Photo from freehdw.com

Photo from freehdw.com

Most people and many organizations embark on a fresh and inspired start at the beginning of each new year. Without question, you can feel the flames of their purpose and passions. Unfortunately, many of those fires are smoldering embers by now, or may be extinguished altogether.

Rumi knew long ago about the critical component that social support can provide to help keep those inspired flames alive. The engagement of social support from friends, family, co-workers, mentors, and coaches is like an insurance policy that boosts the odds of successful outcomes many fold.

EXERCISE:

Where would seeking and securing additional social support keep your personal or professional fires burning?

Where can and will you fan the flames of those you care about to return the favor?

One of my favorite books that emphasizes this critical idea is Influencer: The Power to Change Anything by Kerry Patterson,  and Joseph Grenny.

To Have What You Want

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“To have what you want, don’t want it—give it.”

-Author Unknown

Image from Flickr by Alvanman

Image from Flickr by Alvanman

A dozen years ago The Secret was all the rage. Wherever you looked in bookstores, on the internet, and on Oprah, everyone wanted to master the secret to a happier life. Many also referred to it as the Law of Attraction, which is inherent in phrases like, “what you think about comes about.”

Today’s quote puts a bit of spin on this idea in that it suggests we simply need to give what we want to get.

Consider this list of the things most people want, and perhaps add a few of your own:

Love Respect Praise Trust
Loyalty Joy Happiness Pleasure
Wealth Adventure Achievement Acknowledgement
Health Peace Friendship Encouragement

EXERCISE:

How and where can you get far more of what you want by generously giving it to others? With whom could you begin this practice today?

“One must dare to be happy”

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“One must dare to be happy.”

-Gertrude Stein, American novelist, poet, and playwright

Image from Flickr by Blondinrikard Froberg

Image from Flickr by Blondinrikard Froberg

If I double-dared you, would you be doubly happy? The relationship between risk and reward is a topic of interest to many. Stories abound in the media, especially when you examine people who have achieved great wealth or who have lost everything—sometimes repeatedly.

But what about happiness? How does an orientation to risk-taking correlate to moving the needle on the happy meter? This idea fits perfectly with the concept of coaching, in which an individual acknowledges a personal or professional future they wish to realize.

To do so, however, requires taking the risk of leaving their current, often safe and secure realities for some more desired vision they see for themselves. Not to do so is considered by many the biggest reason for a life of regret, which no one would desire.

EXERCISE:

Where and in what ways could you take a more daring approach to your days, to lead a more interesting, exciting, and happier life?

Consider picking up a copy of Happier by Tal Ben-Shahar to examine other ideas to pursue greater happiness.

From ME to WE

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“I’m not interested in competing with anyone. I hope we all make it.”

-Erica Cook, Interior Designer and Blogger

QC #997
A few weekends ago my wife Wendy and I watched the movie, Where to Invade Next, in which Michael Moore compared the views of people from many countries regarding education, healthcare, equality, and business, to those of Americans.

His journey to explore a wide variety of routes to success and bring them back to America was fascinating. He discovered—surprisingly—that there are many ways to succeed that seem contrary to what one might think.

A significant take-away for me was the many examples of happiness and success in which collective achievements and the care of everyone within the community was paramount.

EXERCISE:

Where would a shift from a “ME” perspective to a “WE” approach make the biggest difference in either your personal or professional worlds?

Friday Review: Enthusiasm

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Friday Review: Enthusiasm

How enthusiastic are you as you go about your day? Here are a few commitment-related posts you may have missed. Click on the Quote to read the full message:

QC #996a

“You can do anything if you have enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hope rise to the stars.”

 

 

 

QC #996b

“Though you can love what you do not master, you cannot master what you do not love.”

 

 

 

QC #996c

“Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.”