Tag Archives: Barry Demp Coaching

“When obstacles arise, you can change…”

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“When obstacles arise, you can change direction to reach your goal; you do not change your decision to get there.”

—Zig Ziglar, 20th Century American author and motivational speaker

Image fromUnsplash by Mick Haupt

The navigation app WAZE was acquired by Google in 2013 for approximately 1.3 billion dollars, to complement its own mapping service.

The navigation app sector as a whole was reported to have generated 16.2 billion in revenue in 2022 with projections to reach 36.6 billion by 2028.

Clearly, people worldwide see great value in getting where they want to go and avoiding all the obstacles that could slow them down.

EXERCISE:

Where in your life have your let obstacles stop you from pursuing an important goal?

How would embracing your ability to pivot in new directions help sustain your motivation to press on to get where you want to go?

How can we get to that place where there is no place to get to

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“How can we get to that place where there is no place to get to? In the presence of wanting, it is difficult to be happy.”

—Helen Schucman, 20th Century American Clinical Psychologist and Author

Image from Unsplash by Surface

Today’s quote is often attributed to Rumi, but actually originated from “A Course in Miracles,” written by Helen Schucman.

It is difficult for many of us to stand still and be content with where we are and what we have.

Perhaps our hunter-gatherer ancestors ingrained in us the need to venture out and seek what we don’t have, or think we need.

EXERCISE:

Where and how might you discover many more miracles about life without ever leaving home?

How are you challenging and stretching your capabilities

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How are you challenging and stretching your capabilities? Put yourself to the test to expand your growth potential.

—Calm App Reflection

Barry and Ella

Our granddaughter Ella is an exuberant and expressive little girl.

She looks up to her six-year-old brother and wants to do whatever he’s doing, and more. She has little or no fear and abruptly objects whenever anyone tries doing things for her.

When it comes to buckling her car seat, peeling a mandarin orange, going on an amusement ride, or eating with chopsticks, she’s always up for the challenge.

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways are you challenging and stretching your capabilities?

Where can and will you put yourself to the test with greater exuberance and realize more of your growth potential?

 

Friday Review: ENERGY

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Friday Review: ENERGY

What energizes you? How energetic do you feel most days? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.


Be aware of your attitude and energy. Making mindful transitions helps your mode meet the moment.

 

 

 

“You find yourself refreshed by the presence of cheerful people. Why not make an earnest effort to confer that pleasure on others?”

 

 

 

“Individual willpower is a shallow container from which to draw energy.”

 

 

 

 

 

You have not grown too old, and it is not too late

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“You have not grown too old, and it is not too late to dive into your increasing depths where life calmly gives out its own secret.”

—Rainer Maria Rilke, 20th Century Austrian poet and novelist

The other day a friend asked who was my audience for The Quotable Coach blog. My off-the-cuff response included people looking to live more meaningful lives and those looking to learn, grow, and pursue greater wisdom.

As with many bloggers, we only get a small glimpse of who actually reads our work. We rarely get to see the impact we intend and just hope that it does. I know for sure that the process of writing is definitely valuable to me even if no one else digs into the nuggets being offered.

EXERCISE:

If you are a loyal or even an occasional reader of this blog, please consider replying with a brief note about yourself and let me know why you invest a minute of your day to see what may be there for you.

Thank you.

“Examine the contents, not the bottle

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“Examine the contents, not the bottle”

—The Talmud, textual record of rabbinic debate

Image from Unsplash by Charles Givens

High-end restaurants and those on cruise ships often refer to their spirit selections as Top Shelf by proudly displaying their eye-catching attractive bottles.

The makers of these beverages probably spend as much time in their packaging and marketing efforts as they do making a quality product, maybe even more.

How often does what’s on the outside truly reflect what’s on the inside?

EXERCISE:

Where else in your world are your focusing too much on the packaging of things?

How can you look beyond labels and outward appearances to discover that it’s often what’s on the inside that counts?

“I can” is 100 times more important than IQ

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“I can” is 100 times more important than IQ

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Sean Quillen

When you examine the entrance requirements of our nation’s top schools, you’ll notice only a modest percentage of students are admitted.

Virtually all applicants can document top scores in standardized tests, and GPAs north of 4.0. What most of these schools also want to see is what these individuals have done with their lives through essays and interviews that highlight their extracurricular activities.

Looking beyond raw smarts and even their “I can” attitudes, these institutions are looking for folks that can humbly say “I did.”

EXERCISE:

How have you used your IQ and “I can” to prove to yourself and the world that you have done something significant and meaningful with your life?

What potential still lies within you to be and do more in the years to come?

Contemplate how your inner narrative influences how you see yourself

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Contemplate how your inner narrative influences how you see yourself and the world. Remember, we always have the power to write a new chapter and tell a more empowering story.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Jakob Owens

What are some of your favorite movies?

Close your eyes and visualize the lead characters and the story told through the wordsmithing skills of the screenwriters.

What made these diversions in your day so engaging and memorable?

Consider the idea that you are making a movie and that your inner narrative is the screenplay on which it is based. Who would be interested in seeing this movie and what actor would you want to play you?

EXERCISE:

Write a short story based about a new and more interesting you. How could this exercise add a bit more excitement and engagement to the life you are actually leading?

Friday Review: Effort

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Friday Review: Effort

Where do you put your strongest efforts in life? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

“People can’t jump on your bandwagon if it’s parked in the garage.”

 

 

 

“What is the least I can teach you that would be the most valuable?”

 

 

 

“Do my expectations match the level of effort I’m giving?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Optimism is man’s passport to a better tomorrow.”

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“Optimism is man’s passport to a better tomorrow.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Miki Fath

If the idea Thoughts Become Things is true, being an optimist seems like a pretty good way to manifest a good life.

Consider the half full versus the half empty people in your life.

Who do you prefer to be around and what other people and things seem to be attracted to them?

Explore your family gatherings and the people with whom you work.

Which people light you up or pour cold water on your world?

EXERCISE:

The books Learned Optimism, and Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman, PhD are two excellent resources to expand your optimism to lead you and others to many better tomorrows.