“It’s time to make the donuts!”

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Barry

“It’s Time to Make the Donuts!”

—Dunkin Donuts

Photo from Flickr by Paehder

Readers of The Quotable Coach frequently ask me where I find the quotes. Beyond sites such as brainyquote.com, quotation apps, and the books I read, I often receive quotes, proverbs, and some just plain cool sayings from friends and colleagues.

Today, one of my friends from the health club notice that I was leaving about a half hour earlier than my usual time. He nonchalantly said, “It must be time to make the donuts!,” which is a branding phrase from Dunkin Donuts here in the United States.

The two take-aways for me in hearing this phrase were that I was up earlier than usual to get a start on my day, and that I had an important purpose to fulfill.

EXERCISE:

What important professional or personal project would have you wake up a bit earlier, get a jump on your day, and make some “delicious donuts” of your own?

“The reinvention of daily life means…”

Posted on January 15, 2015 by Barry

“The reinvention of daily life means marching off the edge of our maps.”

—Bob Black, American Activist

#690

When people experience a plateau in life, they generally say something like, “been there, done that!”

Bob Black coaches us, with this quote, by reminding us that personal or professional “reinvention” is to literally venture beyond the edges of our worlds. In doing so, you will likely experience a new vibrancy and excitement as you explore and do different things in uncharted territory.

EXERCISE:

If you enjoy traveling, consider picking up a copy of 1000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz, and book a vacation to a place on your Bucket List.

Should your finances or time be limited, plan some adventures in your own community or state—perhaps within 100 miles of your home, to experience a feeling of rejuvenation and reinvention in your own back yard.

Lastly, explore your inner world maps by proactively altering your perceptions or behaviors in situations that appear routine or predictable.

“A year from now you may wish…”

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Barry

“A Year from now you may wish you had started today.”

-Karen Lamb

Creative Commons photo

Today’s post is to help you get a head start on your New Year, and not wait for the first, second, third, fourth, or even Monday the fifth.

EXERCISE:

Take five minutes to create a list of the top five things you must do the day you return to work after the holidays. Block out a chunk of time today to do just that.

For the greatest benefit, repeat daily.

Happy New Year!

“The world truly does require your help.”

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Barry

“The world truly does require your help.”

—Whoopi Goldberg, Comedian and actor

Photo from Amazon.com

I have a vivid memory of my mom and my older sister Susie reading me a special book titled “We Help Mommy,” when I was about three or four years old. The gist of the book was that all family members, no matter how young or small, could do their part to improve the world around them—in my case, our home.

Some ways I could help were picking up my toys, raking leaves, washing the car with dad, setting the table, drying dishes, and of course, using that powerful torpedo-looking vacuum.

Although I now see that book as parental propaganda, I can still recall the feeling of satisfaction from a job well done, topped off with a hug or acknowledgement from my mom.

EXERCISE

Explore all the worlds in which you participate, from the small and intimate to the large and expansive.

What strengths, gifts, talents, or other contributions can you mobilize and generously offer today in your world that truly require your help?

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”

Posted on October 8, 2014 by Barry

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”

– Mother Theresa, founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity

#625-01

How much of your day do you spend reflecting on the past with either a sense of great satisfaction or perhaps regret?

How much of your day do you spend hopeful about the future or perhaps consumed by worry?

If this time were converted into money – let’s say $100.00/hour, how much would you have spent, or in this case, wasted, with little or nothing to show for it?

EXERCISE

Consider taking Mother Theresa’s coaching to begin spending more time today pursuing and accomplishing what you sincerely desire. What would be possible if you did this each and every day?

To Conquer Ourselves

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Barry

”It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.”

– Sir Edmund Hillary, the first climber to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Photo from Flickr by Popeyed

Sir Edmund Hillary is one of the world’s most famous mountain climbers. His adventures to the top of Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, are legendary.

Hillary knew that we must first face and climb our internal mountains if we are ever to surmount the challenges we face in our outer worlds.

EXERCISE:

What external mountains do you need to face or climb? How will you summon the courage to conquer the internal barriers that appear to keep you safe and limited at base camp?

“Success is a ladder that cannot be climbed with your hands in your pockets.”

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Barry

“Success is a ladder that cannot be climbed with your hands in your pockets.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Flickr by Travis Hornung

The spring and fall seasons here in Michigan require a “clean-up process” of leaves and other plant-related debris. This includes the need to climb up ladders and clear out the gutters on our roofs.

Imagine taking on this task and being told you had to leave your hands in your pockets as you climbed. Would you do it? Of course not!

Notice when, in your personal or professional life, you take on tasks half-heartedly, thereby leaving your hands in your pockets.

Exercise:

Where would grasping the ladder of success with both hands make the biggest difference for you today?

“The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.”

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Barry

“The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.”

– Author Unknown

Photo from Flickr by Paleontour

The quote above has many brother and sister quotes. Do either of the following sound familiar?

• Practice what you preach
• Walk your talk

Imagine your words of wisdom and advice are like boomerangs. When you throw them toward others, with the intention to help and serve, they will always return to you, so you can apply their lessons to yourself.

Exercise:

Pay particular attention to the suggestions and guidance you offer others today, and see how impeccably you follow your own advice and counsel.

Feel free to share any similar brother or sister quotes to the ones above by replying to this message.

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Barry

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank, diarist and Holocaust victim

: Photo from Flickr by Symphony of Love

If you happen to watch the news these days, it sure looks like the world could use some improving. You might ask yourself, “Who am I to tackle such a matter? I am only one person in the world and its challenges seem infinite.”

One strategy that comes to mind is related to that old saying, “How do you eat an elephant?” If you’ve never heard this before, the answer is, “One bite at a time.”

Exercise:

Examine the areas of your own life, including your health, your family, your local community, your workplace, and others that come to mind where you can seize this moment to take a small or big bite and improve your piece of the world.

If we all did this together each day, imagine how much the whole world would improve.

What Weighs You Down

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Barry

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

– Unknown

My health club is one of the largest in the region. It includes all the regular exercise facilities you might expect, plus some extras such as tennis courts, basketball courts, swimming pools, and even a climbing wall.

I’ve noticed some of the fittest and most competitive athletes adding extra weights to their ankles or waists, to weigh themselves down and make their normal athletic efforts even more difficult.

When they remove them and are no longer weighted down, they experience a lightness and an added strength that lets them fly a bit higher and further.

Exercise:

Identify the circumstances and issues that weigh you down.

How can you use these personal and professional challenges as a resource to build your capacity to fly once you remove them completely from your life?