Tag Archives: Action

Grab a Star

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“Most look up and admire the stars. A champion climbs a mountain and grabs one.”

—Author Unknown

Image of man on mountaintop grabbing stars

Image from CDP Safe

What stars are you reaching for these days? To what degree do you leap out of bed each morning, eager to jump into your personal or professional quest?

Perhaps you, like many, simply examine and admire the efforts or accomplishments of others through social media, or more traditional methods.

You may also compare yourself to others and get excited to summon your own “Go For It!” perspective.

EXERCISE:

What personal or professional mountains will you begin or continue to climb today, to grab your own star with the heart of a champion?

Talkers are no good doers

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“Talkers are no good doers.”

—William Shakespeare, Richard III, Act 1, Scene 3

Image of Shakespeare with the quote

Shakespeare sure had a way with words!

I had to re-read today’s quote several times, letting it percolate for a while before I chose it for today’s post.

What was your first interpretation?

What other meanings might it have for you?

I first thought about an individual being all talk and no action. Next, I considered whether talkers, or those too busy being interesting to be interested, were bad people, arrogant, with excessive egos.

What is the message you prefer, or relate to the most?

EXERCISE:

What are your views on people who talk far more than they listen?

What would others say about your propensity to talk versus listen?

What relationship does this issue have with what actually gets done, and what you learn?

Feel free to respond to this post with your thoughts and perspectives.

“The fire which seems extinguished…”

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“The fire which seems extinguished often slumbers beneath the ashes.”

—Pierre Corneille, 17th Century French Dramatist

Image of Smokey the Bear

Image from smokeybear.com

Smokey the Bear is an American advertising mascot, created to educate the public about the dangers of forest fires. His famous slogan, “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires” has been revised with the recent wildfires that burned across California.

Today’s quote relates to the flames of our personal or professional lives, and how many people appear to have had their “fire” extinguished.

Coaches and other supportive people often help these individuals discover the slumbering embers below layers of ash. They help find the kindling and fuel action to get the flame burning brightly again.

EXERCISE:

What fires are smoldering beneath the ashes of your life? How can you find the people and resources to make them burst into the flames of a more fulfilling and accomplished life?

Nip it in the bud

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“Nip it in the bud!”

—Author Unknown

Image of fingers pinching off a new leaf

image from haveyoueverpickedacarrot.com

Today’s quote comes from the world of horticulture, where trimming a bud from a plant prevents it from becoming a flower or a piece of fruit.

Since most of us appreciate the beauty of flowers and the sweet taste of fruit, it would seem there would be little use for that advice, but this form of gardening prevents overgrowth or the spreading of unwanted issues.

As a metaphor in our lives, nipping things in the bud is a good practice when we wish to stop a potential problem before it blossoms into a major issue.

EXERCISE:

Where and on what issue would nipping it in the bud serve you best, personally or professionally?

The Perfect Moment

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“Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect.”

—Author Unknown

meme about the perfect moment

Image from blogs.reading.ac.uk

In the past few months, I’ve read several blog posts on the topic of perfection and excellence, all focused on the debate between quantity and quality.

The real question is, how are you wired?

Do you go for perfection through extensive planning, strategizing, thinking, and rethinking?

Or do you jump in and get started making something that can be tweaked along the way?

Given many people’s desire to do it right the first time, some of us wait for the “perfect moment” to begin. Beginning, and the idea of doing many experiments from which we can learn seems to be the way things are headed. Albert Einstein said, “ How do I work? I grope.”

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways can you stop waiting for the “perfect” moment, and instead make more moments perfect?

actions speak louder

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“Actions speak louder than words, but not nearly as often.”

-Mark Twain, pen name of American Writer Samuel Longhorne Clemens

Image from activrain.com

image from activerain.com

Who do you trust the most in your personal and professional lives?

Please name a few people, then examine the basis you have for instilling this level of trust in them. How often do these individuals walk their talk? Do they consistently do what they say they will do?

Who in your world do you distrust? Again, name some names to add greater clarity to this exercise. How often do these individuals exhibit the adage, “Talk is Cheap”?  How often do they over-promise and under-deliver?

Who within your personal or professional communities would place you on the first list rather than the second?

EXERCISE:

Consider taking my 10-minute Trust-o-Meter Assessment to examine the degree of trust you inspire in your friends, family, and colleagues.

Put your light on the table

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“Put your light on the table where it can shine, without blinding others.”

—Laurent F. Carrel, Messages from Melanie

Image of an oil lamp on a table

Image from workwithreema.wordpress.com

Most people would agree that bragging, showing off, and calling excessive attention to ourselves are unbecoming traits. A question to ponder might be how do we toot our own horn without blowing it?

Perhaps if we simply consider our gifts, talents, and creative ideas as a form of light, we can use our own personal dimmer switch to tone things down a bit, not blind those around us, and offer them the opportunity to shine as well.

EXERCISE:

In what ways can you become more aware of how to contribute and illuminate various situations without blinding others in the process?

Consider looking for opportunities to help others shine and add their own contributions as well.

The Best Preparation for Tomorrow

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“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.”

—H. Jackson Brown, Jr. author of Life’s Little Instruction Book

image of archer aiming at a targetr

Image from skimbacolifestyle.com

Virtually everyone entering into a coaching relationship desires a better future. They want to go beyond ordinary, to achieve EXTRA-ordinary results and relationships in all aspects of their lives.

Doing your best and going the extra mile today is one sure bet that you will be further down the road when you take your first steps tomorrow morning.

EXERCISE:

Examine the following areas of your life to decide what extra attention and effort you will take to  support your better tomorrow:

Health Relationships Community
Learning/Skill Development Family Balance
Work Spiritual Growth Hobbies/avocations

Make the commitment: reply to this post to let me know what actions you plan to take.

Heated Situations

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“When you want to fight fire with fire, remember that the fire department uses water.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Flickr by Jeshua.nace

Image from Flickr by Jeshua.nace

When was the last time you were in a heated argument with tempers flaring and things getting out of control? If you cannot recall a specific event, just turn on a local, national, or global news program to see plenty of examples!

Rarely do such interactions result in win/win outcomes. Most of the time, we are left with win/lose or lose/lose results.

When we consider how to put out undesirable fires, all we need to do is take a bit of coaching from professional fire-fighters: use water to reduce the temperature of burning materials and extinguish the flame.

EXERCISE:

What new and more constructive ways of dealing with heated situations can you find to produce a better result for everyone involved?

make it hot

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“Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking.”

-W.B. Yeats, 20th Century Irish Poet

Image from Flickr by Hans Splinter

Image from Flickr by Hans Splinter

Life Below Zero is a TV series on the National Geographic Channel. It highlights individuals and families living fulfilling and successful lives near and north of the Arctic Circle in Alaska.

Throughout each episode the temperature is indicated in the lower left corner of the screen, which, as the show title indicates, is often well below zero degrees Fahrenheit.

One would guess that they would be bundled up every moment, but that is not the case. It is amazing to see how often they remove their hats, gloves, and layers of clothing, because they generate considerable body heat as they engage in daily activities such as gathering wood and securing food in this rugged part of the world.

EXERCISE:

Where in your personal or professional world is it time to make your own irons hot by striking out with even greater initiative and effort?