Body and Soul Need New Challenges

Posted on June 27, 2017 by Barry

“Body and soul need new challenges.”

—Paulo Coelho, Warrior of the Light: A Manual

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Use it or Lose it!” As a former science teacher, this reminds me of the concept of entropy, which points to how things decay or fall apart if energy is not added to the system.

New challenges are tests that bring forth the efforts and energies to tackle them. It is through such exertions that we grow, and bring order to our lives.

EXERCISE:

What challenges are you currently rising to in your personal and professional worlds?

How can you initiate and proactively take on new challenges to improve your life in body and soul?

“The growth and development of people…”

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Barry

“The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.”

-Harvey S. Firestone, American businessman, founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company

Image from freightdawg.com

Personal growth and development are among my top core values. Not so surprising is the fact that a very high percentage of people seeking the support of a coach share this commitment.

There is a magical power that reveals itself when we pursue our own personal growth, and support the growth of those around us.

What would be possible if each parent, teacher, and student would embrace and demonstrate these values?

EXERCISE:

How will you pursue your own development as a leader by supporting the growth and development of others today?

“Success is never owned…”

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Barry

“Success is never owned; it is only rented. And the rent is due every day.”

-Zig Ziglar, American author, salesman, and motivational speaker

Photo from zazzle.com

When was the last time you had a really tough day? Have you ever found yourself saying things like:

After all these years, I expected things to be easier.
It’s time for my ship to come in. Surely I’ve earned it with all my hard work.
I’m pretty tired. I was hoping to slow down by now.
Life sure feels like a roller coaster.

Virtually no one lives a charmed life or stays on top of the success ladder perpetually. Perhaps it is these everyday challenges and adversities which actually make our self-earned successes so sweet.

EXERCISE:

How can you take a “Pay as you Go” attitude to suit up and do what is necessary so that you can experience the success you’ve earned when the day is done?

“Teaching others scales right back to us.”

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Barry

“Teaching others scales right back to us.”

—Seth Godin, Author

Photo from Flickr by winnifredxoxo

I have always had a passion for learning. As a child, I remember vividly my mother coming upstairs to read after our evening meal and some family time. Although she had only a high school education, she had the most expansive vocabulary of anyone I knew.

My own family, and my wife’s, were educators, so it was not surprising that my first career was as a teacher. After a few years, I shifted to business and found myself in teaching roles within the company. For the past 22 years, I have continued to be both student and teacher as I pursue my professional efforts as a coach.

Over the years, I’ve learned by watching others, applying what I’ve learned, and learned the most by sharing what I learned with others. The lessons always scaled back to me with even deeper meaning and impact.

EXERCISE:

How can you learn what you most desire by watching people you admire, practice what you learn, and scale these lessons back to you even more by teaching others in your professional and personal life?

As Seth Godin said in his latest book, What to Do When It’s Your Turn, “Teaching rewards us all.”

“Everything you go through grows you.”

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Barry

“Everything you go through grows you.”

—Robert Tew, Chairman at Newcastle Knights Limited

Photo from Flickr by John Llu

How much formal education have you received? Perhaps you finished high school or college, and maybe you went further to receive an advanced degree or certification.

You may be glad that your educational experiences are over because they have little relevancy today, as you navigate your professional and personal pursuits.

Today’s quote reminds us that we are always enrolled in our own 24/7 life classroom, where we have considerable influence and autonomy to choose and customize our own advanced degree in life if – and it is an important if – we pay attention to all the growth opportunities around us.

EXERCISE:

As you enter your day, how do you intend to grow? As you reflect on your day, how did you grow through the experiences of the day?

“Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.”

Posted on October 9, 2014 by Barry

“Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.”

– Jon Acuff, New York Times Bestselling author

Photo from Flickr by kevandotorg

Have you or do you know anyone close to you who started a new job, hobby, or sport?

Although we all know cognitively that it takes time to build competency and eventually mastery, many people compare their own beginning skill level to others who have been on this or a similar journey for some time.

They see where they are limited or falling short because the comparisons they make are not equal, and actually unfair.

EXERCISE

As you strive toward excellence in any area of life, be inspired by the mastery and capabilities of those you admire, yet compare your current capabilities only to those of what you were capable of yesterday.

Growth and comfort seldom ride the same horse

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Barry

“Growth and comfort seldom ride the same horse.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Flickr by Montgomery County Planning Commission

When I was a small boy, I went to a carnival where I had the opportunity to ride a pony. The initial aspect of walking in a circle at a slow pace was enjoyable – however, I found that my bottom got a bit of a jolt when we worked our way up to a trot!

At the start of a new year, very few of us wish to kick things off at a walking pace. Our goals are far more ambitious – and we must gallop forward to reach them with urgency.

Today’s quote suggests that we be prepared for a rough and sometimes bumpy ride to reach our destination before the setting sun.

Exercise:

Identify between two and three primary goals you have for 2014 where you are fully prepared for the possibility of a rough ride.

Share these goals with a coach, mentor, colleague or family member who will support your efforts to reach your destination.

“The potential of the average person is like a huge ocean unsailed…”

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Barry

“The potential of the average person is like a huge ocean unsailed, a new continent unexplored, a world of possibilities waiting to be realized and channeled toward some great good.”

– Brian Tracy, motivational speaker and author

During my initial full-day workshop to prepare my clients for coaching, I have them do a core values exercise where they narrow down a list of 60 values down to 20, then 10, then finally 3.

A very high percentage of the time, the value of “personal growth and development” (living up to the full use of their potential) makes at least the top 10.

Exercise:

What new oceans will you be sailing and what new continents do you plan to explore in the near future? How will you channel the potential within you toward some great good?

Consider exploring the work of Peter Senge, who wrote The Fifth Discipline and The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook, from which the list I use was developed:

www.amazon.com/Fifth-Discipline-Practice-Learning-Organization-ebook/dp/B000SEIFKK

www.amazon.com/Fifth-Discipline-Fieldbook-Strategies-Organization-ebook/dp/B004MPR6PQ

From the Inside

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Barry

“If an egg is broken by outside force, life ends. If broken by inside force, life begins. Great things always begin from inside.”

– Jim Kwik, learning expert

Image from Flickr by Nathan Unstead

In many ways, the coaching process can be compared to helping individuals or organizations come out of their shells.

Just as a bird forces itself to emerge from its shell, the coaching process, with its powerful questions, taps into the power of people’s commitments to help them break free of the confines of their own limits.

Exercise:

Select one area of your life today where you plan to break out of your current constraints, to spread your wings and fly.

Press reply and let me know what happens.

“One can choose to go back toward safety, or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.”

Posted on July 20, 2013 by Barry

“One can choose to go back toward safety, or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.”

– Abraham Maslow, psychologist

What would you do today if you were laid off from your job unexpectedly? Most of us would be jolted from our experience of relative stability into full alert, maybe even panic.

On the other hand, what if each morning, you had a new job or career, where you got to lead and influence your day? What new results and difference could you make? It’s up to you to pursue safety or growth, courage or fear. Your choice!

Exercise:

As you go throughout your day, reflect on the following thoughts:

Faced with X, I usually do Y. Instead, I’m going to choose Z which will support my growth.

Consider writing me back and let me know what “Z”s you took.