A man, though wise, should never be ashamed of learning more, and unbending his mind

Posted on October 16, 2024 by Barry

“A man, though wise, should never be ashamed of learning more, and unbending his mind.”

—Sophocles, ancient Greek tragedian

Image from Unsplash by Jay Mullings

Today’s quote has a message for all of us.

Although most people would consider themselves fairly wise and worldly, each of us blunders from time to time due to our unbending minds.

Far too many of us have shut the windows and doors of our minds to prevent fresh and new ideas to enter and clear the way for more informed and better choices.

EXERCISE:

Where have you and others in your communities closed the doors to learning more about the issues we all face?

How would greater flexibility and a more open-minded approach to living guide us all to a better future?

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

Posted on September 19, 2024 by Barry

“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.

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

Posted on September 12, 2024 by Barry

“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.

When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know

Posted on August 8, 2024 by Barry

When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But when you listen, you may learn something new.

—The 14th Dali Lama, the highest spiritual leader and head of Tibetan Buddhism

Image from Unsplash by Anastasia Badun

What is your talking-to-listening ratio in your personal and professional life?

Where do you go out of your way to demonstrate and prove your smarts by regurgitating the latest news and current events?

Where might you even participate in spreading gossip within your communities to show that you are in the know?

Shifting our focus from our mouth to our ears seems far more valuable and interesting.

An important factor, however, is to be selective in what and to whom we listen!

EXERCISE:

A coaching phrase I learned many years ago can be summed up in two words. “Questions Only.”

When we apply this concept in our conversations with others, we are far more likely to learn something new.

Please give it a try and let me know what you discover.

The test of a student is not how much he knows

Posted on July 9, 2024 by Barry

“The test of a student is not how much he knows, but how much he wants to know.”

—Alice Wellington Rollins, 19th Century American Writer

Image from Unsplash by Monica Melton

As a proclaimed lifelong learner, I enjoy the idea that in life we are tested first and then receive the lesson.

My school years were not as engaging because the lessons came first, and my desire to be tested on things of low interest seemed pointless.

These days, it’s up to me — and each of us — to decide what we wish to learn.

Having the freedom to choose what we want to know makes the idea of school is always in session far more appealing.

EXERCISE:

In what areas of your life are you an eager student?

Where do you experience the greatest passion and drive to learn more?

Sometimes we need to be cautious about getting into action too quickly and take our time to discover the learning

Posted on January 3, 2024 by Barry

“Sometimes we need to be cautious about getting into action too quickly and take our time to discover the learning.”

— Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Leonard Reese

Have you ever played checkers? How about chess or Go? How long does it usually take before you make a move?

Where do you skip aiming before you shoot in the direction of your targets? How often does being too quick on the draw get you in trouble?

Life is an iterative game in which we are constantly receiving feedback from the world around us. Without taking enough time to examine what we have learned from previous moves, we can find ourselves on the losing end of the many games we play.

EXERCISE:

In what areas of your life are you too quick to act on limited information?

Where would slowing down to embrace more teachable moments help you better navigate your world?

“What is a learning that has changed your perspective or how you operate?”

Posted on November 29, 2023 by Barry

“What is a learning that has changed your perspective or how you operate?”

—Rohan Rajiv, author of A Learning a Day blog

Image from Unsplash by Ruffa Jane Reyes

One lesson I’ve learned over the years is to play with a contrarian perspective on things. This often entails doing things in new and different ways, and at times when other folks don’t or won’t.

This has come in handy when it comes to shopping.

This past weekend it wasn’t possible to beat the crowds with my usual early morning shopping adventure.

I found myself faced with a packed parking lot. Instead of circling and circling looking for those elusive open spots I used another learning of looking for people who were walking to their vehicles so I could take their spot once they’d left.

EXERCISE:

Please reply to this post with a learning that has changed your perspective or how you operate in life.

A mistake is only as valuable as the time you spend learning from it

Posted on August 10, 2023 by Barry

“A mistake is only as valuable as the time you spend learning from it.”

—Niklas Göke, Author of 2-Minute Pep Talks

Image from Unsplash by Daniela Holzer

How do you usually respond when someone points out a mistake you’ve made?

My first reaction is often denial or a quick “sorry,” then I put it behind me.

What happens when the person pointing out this misstep continues to mention the error of your ways?

We almost never appreciate them rubbing it in, do we?

What if rubbing it in is actually what is needed in certain situations?

Where and how would a deeper look and a bit more time to contemplate our mishaps allow a valuable lesson to sink in and stick well beyond the moment?

EXERCISE:

What are some examples of significant mistakes you have made recently or over the years?

To what degree do you take the time to let their lessons seep in and impact your future efforts?

Focus on the shot you are about to take

Posted on May 22, 2023 by Barry

Focus on the shot you are about to take. The game isn’t over till it’s over.

—Calm App Reflection

My five-year-old grandson’s favorite board game is the Hershey edition of Monopoly Junior. Through his play, he is learning numerous life skills as he moves his favorite chocolate bar character around the board. He particularly enjoys rolling the dice, buying properties, passing Go to collect $2, and landing on Chance spaces to see what they reveal.

With each roll of the dice, he sees opportunities to better his chances of winning. When he is a bit behind, he often prefers the other players let him roll again and again. We are still working on good sportsmanship and taking turns.

EXERCISE:

What games are you currently playing in your personal and professional worlds?

Where are you falling behind and becoming discouraged?

How would greater focus on your next shot — and the next — turn things around?