Category Archives: Coaching

A good coach can change a game

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“A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life.”

—John Wooden, 20th Century American basketball coach and player

Image from Unsplash by TJ Dragotta

John Wooden was the most remarkable coach in college basketball and perhaps any sport. His many accomplishments include:

  • 10 NCAA national championships in 12 years
  • 7 consecutive titles from 1967-1973
  • Established an NCAA record of 88 consecutive wins
  • Won 38 straight NCAA tournament games
  • He was the first person inducted into the basketball hall of fame as both player and coach
  • Was named “Coach of the Century” by ESPN
  • Developed the famous” Pyramid of Success” leadership philosophy

Perhaps more than any of these accomplishments was his tremendous influence as a team leader and the remarkable character development he offered his players well beyond their playing days.

EXERCISE:

What lessons can you take from Wooden’s career/life to win more games and change more lives in your communities?

Make a pact with yourself. It is up to you to see it through

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Make a pact with yourself. It is up to you to see it through.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by elise storsul

To what degree do you play the role of coach in your life?

Perhaps you coach your children, a sports team, or even your colleagues at work. If you are nodding your head in agreement, you probably find supporting others in their growth and development very rewarding.

How often do you play the role of coach for yourself, taking on worthy goals and pivoting along the way to reach the outcomes you desire? If this sounds like something you would like to do more often, try this three-step process:

Envision a goal or future outcome you strongly desire and write it down.
Break this goal into bite size steps to act upon in the coming days and week. Write these action steps in your calendar or schedule.
Promise and make a pact with yourself and others in your communities to see things through.

EXERCISE:

In what area of your life would you most want to achieve a worthy goal?

How would making a pact with yourself and being your own coach help you achieve the results you deeply desire?

Let me know how things go! Email barry@dempcoaching.com

With continuous practice and focus you are bound to be successful

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With continuous practice and focus you are bound to be successful.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Jeffrey F Lin

Prospective coaching clients frequently ask about the success rate of my client engagements.

Many people focus on the coach and the coaching process, and fail to look at their own role in the process of achievement.

As far as I know, coaches and their clipboards must remain on the sidelines.

Although we often point our fingers toward outside sources of success, it always comes down to the athlete or team’s talent, focus, and continuous practice that leads to putting points on the board in both sports and in life.

EXERCISE:

How focused are you in your personal and professional pursuits?

At what level do you strive and persist in your efforts to master your game or your craft?

How do you and will you recognize and acknowledge how far you’ve come and see the signs of success along the way?

What insights have you discovered from turning inward lately

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What insights have you discovered from turning inward lately?

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Tingey Injury Law Firm

Over the dozen or so years that I have been writing this blog, I’ve referred to many strategies and techniques to journey inward, in order to gain even greater insight into oneself and the world.

Perhaps you have adopted practices such as forest bathing and embracing the natural world, meditation, or finding moments to slip into silence to tap into your own inner voice and wisdom.

Have you ever worked with a coach?

If so, you may also have found the inquiry generated through powerful questions and thoughtful reflection very revealing.

Peeling back the layers of our awareness helps us explore more of own soulful guidance to living a more engaging and meaningful life.

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways do you look within yourself for better answers and insights?

What new and different approaches can and will you explore to aid in your discovery?

You can raise the bar or you can wait for

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“You can raise the bar or you can wait for others to raise it, but it’s getting raised regardless.”

—Seth Godin, American author and a former dot com business executive

Image from Unsplash by Meghan Holmes

The 2024 summer Olympics begin on Friday July 26th. If you’re a fan like me, you’ll be tuned into this global event, watching over 10,000 athletes pursue new levels of excellence and those elusive medals.

My coaching career was inspired by the 5,000+ athletes and 2,000+ coaches at the 1992 Barcelona games.

Seeing the correlation between coaching and the highest levels of performance in sport inspired me to raise my own bar of achievement and help others pursue new levels of success in their personal and professional lives.

EXERCISE:

Where in your world do you see the bar being raised to new heights?

How and in what ways are you preparing for your personal Olympics with the goal of having a gold medal life?

What’s the least I can teach that will be the most useful

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“What’s the least I can teach that will be the most useful?”

—Michael Bungay Stainer, author of The Coaching Habit

Image from Unsplash by Kenny Eliason

My first career after graduating college was as a science teacher. My second career was as a pharmaceutical representative working with physicians and other medical professionals.

For the past thirty-two years, I’ve worked as a business and personal coach supporting individuals and organizations to reach higher and achieve more, personally and professionally. I suppose in many ways I’ve always been a teacher.

These days I am still a coach and teacher to my adult children and more recently as Pop-Pop to our two precocious and rambunctious grandchildren. Today’s quote is especially relevant for these little ones with their often limited attention spans.

EXERCISE:

Where in your life do you play the role of a teacher?

How would focusing on quality versus quantity in your wisdom sharing efforts make the biggest difference with the people you serve and support?

“Can you stay curious a little bit longer?”

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“Can you stay curious a little bit longer?”

—Michael Bungay Stainer, author of The Coaching Habit

Image from Amazon

Michael Bungay Stainer is one of the top coaches in the world. His best-selling book The Coaching Habit is among the most widely read books on the subject today with over 15,000 4- and 5-star reviews on Amazon.

When asked during a recent webinar with Chip Conely of the Modern Elder Academy for some of his very favorite questions he mentioned today’s quote.

As someone deeply committed to the growth and development of others, he points to personal inquiry and staying curious as key catalysts for realizing far more of our potential.

EXERCISE:

Consider tapping into your own inner coach by reading The Coaching Habit to see how this skill can be applied in your communities. Please also explore some of Michael’s other books including…

How to Work with (Almost) Anyone
How to Begin
The Advice Trap
Do More Great Work

There are no traffic jams along the extra mile

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“There are no traffic jams along the extra mile.”

—Robert Staubach, former Dallas Cowboy Quarterback

Image from Unsplash by Kathy

My signature coaching program — Personal Excellence Training — includes six months of weekly one-on-one coaching to support my client’s personal and professional objectives.

Today’s quote encourages each of us to lace up our sneakers and go the extra mile.

It’s not just about reaching the finish line, it’s about how the journey shapes us along the way.

We know we are on to something special when we push beyond our comfort zones, embrace challenges and give our all when so many others settle for less.

EXERCISE:

Where and when do you strap on your determination and ignite your passions?

When traveling these less crowded roads, don’t be surprised if you meet other champions along the way!

“A child can teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be curious, to fight tirelessly for something.”

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“A child can teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be curious, to fight tirelessly for something.”

—Paulo Coelho, Brazilian lyricist and novelist

Image from Unsplash by Jessica Rockowitz

Being a grandparent is the best! It offers us a second shot of youthful exuberance that many of us missed as parents — probably due to exhaustion.

Spending time with these little ones, often on the floor, only has one drawback — getting back up!

They say that the best coaching is a good example.

Who wouldn’t benefit from bigger helpings of happiness, curiosity, and the focused tenacity of pursuing our passions?

EXERCISE:

In what ways could you benefit from some kindergarten coaching from the little ones in your life?

Feel free to share any nuggets of wisdom you have received over the years.

Bask in the wonderment of being a conscious part of the universe

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Bask in the wonderment of being a conscious part of the universe.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Joshua Earle

Over the last 30 years, I’ve met thousands of other coaches who share a mutual commitment of supporting others to lead extraordinary lives.

One, named Jay Perry, has been a pioneer in the field and has influenced and inspired countless other coaches to pursue this meaningful and rewarding profession.

Jay came up with a concept he called a “wondershop” as an alternative to the more traditional workshops many of us have attended over the years.

Exploring new horizons and depths of living turned on many bright lights of insights for those who were lucky to participant.

EXERCISE:

Create your own outline for a wondershop you would like to attend.

Share this concept with people you admire and respect for their ideas to compliment your own.

Set aside some time with these folks to do some wandering and wondering around the universe.