Are you the ‘glass is half full’ type of person? Is it your nature to look on the bright side of things, or do you relate more with the “if it wasn’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all” crowd? While some psychologists believe genetics largely determines whether or not we have a positive or negative outlook towards life, the reality is that we can to a large degree alter our outlook by changing our attitude. Realizing a few years back that my attitude left a lot to be desired, I decided to try and improve it by reading positive books and applying some of the techniques I came across. While the individual authors all had their own particular take on it, much of what I read came back to developing a sense of self worth and gratitude. I have used several of the exercises that follow to help me develop these qualities, and have also found them useful in creating a positive mental state at will.

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With business coaches, executive coaches, corporate coaches growing faster than dandelions during a late spring shower, trying to increase sales may be difficult. One strategy that many coaches use is to give away 30 to 60 to 90 minutes of their time in a free or complimentary coaching session.

Some expert coaches whose practice is to work with struggling coaches suggest that this strategy is not viable. From my experience as a business coach, I believe that those so called expert coaches failed to learn that the giveaway time must be integrated into the sales process.

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Because of our unique life’s experiences everyone has certain prejudices and biases, both good and bad, that we content with. The question is not whether a great leader-coach has prejudices and biases, but how they manage their biases. These biases can pose an enormous obstacle for a leader-coach when they are asked to coach someone who for whatever reason fits into a category that the particular coach has a potential negative bias against. As the workforce has become more diverse, and as companies become more international in nature, leaders may be more challenged in handling diversity related issues effectively. More and more leaders will be needed to coach those who have backgrounds and experiences drastically different from their own. When coaching those of different cultural backgrounds coaches may be totally unaware of the emotional reactions that may occur subconsciously because of the cultural differences and the “different visions of life” that result from those different cultural experiences (Goldsmith & Lyons 2006, p. 133). The potential downside of not being able to recognize and deal with resulting biases can have huge negative consequences to organizations.

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Goal setting turns some people right off! Even people who are serious about personal development and goal setting sometimes voice similar concerns. Why is that? Perhaps the goal is too ambitious for the abilities of the person concerned. And so they begin to stress and worry about never achieving it. That’s a clue to what I believe is the root cause behind the avoidance of setting goals, or of dropping them. Your own peace of mind.

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Who wants to be a millionaire? You could do so much with all that cash. Take care of the family, buy a mansion in Monaco, park a Lambroghini in the garage, cruise the Caribbean and have caviar with your couscous for the rest of your natural days. Or could you?

Perhaps not. Even multi-millions can dry up. Just as if they were hundreds or thousands. The secret to creating wealth lies, not in spending lavishly but in saving and investing wisely and purchasing thoughtfully.

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With business coaches, executive coaches, corporate coaches growing faster than dandelions during a late spring shower, trying to increase sales may be difficult. One strategy that many coaches use is to give away 30 to 60 to 90 minutes of their time in a free or complimentary coaching session.

Some expert coaches whose practice is to work with struggling coaches suggest that this strategy is not viable. From my experience as a business coach, I believe that those so called expert coaches failed to learn that the giveaway time must be integrated into the sales process.

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“If I could only figure this out, I think I could find
happiness.” That was the comment a close friend made during
a recent conversation. This is not the first time, nor will
it be the last that I hear this statement.

Many people believe that finding happiness is based on
finding something else they want. In my experience as a
personal coach, no one has ever found long term happiness
by achieving another goal. Ultimately, to find happiness is
to look within.

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Lessons in achieving goals are all around us. Just today my daughter came home from school all excited because tomorrow is going to be a real special day for the running club she belongs to. These 6th, 7th and 8th graders train 3 times a week and then race against other schools on weekends. And as part of a focus on team building, their coach has requested that they wear their ‘SPIRIT’ sweatshirts during school on Friday.

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Because of our unique life’s experiences everyone has certain prejudices and biases, both good and bad, that we content with. The question is not whether a great leader-coach has prejudices and biases, but how they manage their biases. These biases can pose an enormous obstacle for a leader-coach when they are asked to coach someone who for whatever reason fits into a category that the particular coach has a potential negative bias against. As the workforce has become more diverse, and as companies become more international in nature, leaders may be more challenged in handling diversity related issues effectively. More and more leaders will be needed to coach those who have backgrounds and experiences drastically different from their own. When coaching those of different cultural backgrounds coaches may be totally unaware of the emotional reactions that may occur subconsciously because of the cultural differences and the “different visions of life” that result from those different cultural experiences (Goldsmith & Lyons 2006, p. 133). The potential downside of not being able to recognize and deal with resulting biases can have huge negative consequences to organizations.

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I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacations with better care than they plan their lives. Perhaps that is because escape is easier than change. - Jim Rohn

If you have reached a point in your life where having a break to get away from it all is your only oasis, it is probably worth looking closer to home for a break in the clouds. A break from old thinking or old habits or old lifestyle can be more exhilarating than flying off to Barbados with the same old baggage. Because the trouble with old baggage is that it invariably sags - especially on the way home. So, how can you go nowhere and yet still get away from it all - permanently?

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