I’m reading an interesting book called Fast Minds, by Craig Surman, MD & Tim Bilkey, MD. It’s a self-help book for folks with ADHD or who think they may have ADHD. This morning I came across a couple of sentences I want to share with you. “ We want to reiterate here that we feel one of the most important times to protect in life is planning time. Without stepping outside the busyness of the day-to-day activities … Read More
A lot of the work we do in professional coaching is around perspectives – looking at things differently, examining things from a different point of view. This photo was taken from an altitude of about 30,000 feet. It is a great visual representation of the different perspective available from that place. From 30,000 feet we’re able to grasp, ever so tenuously, the enormity of it all. Sensing this enormity invites us into a space where we can … Read More
This is the bookshelf in my office. Over the years, I’ve accumulated lots of books on myriad topics such as Home Staging, Feng Shui, Hoarding, Coaching, ADHD and surprise, Organizing. The top four shelves house reference materials while the bottom shelf holds primarily project materials. Over the years I’ve become more selective about what resides on these shelves. This bookshelf only contains materials I consider to be of value at any point in time. Materials no longer … Read More
I just spent the past few minutes reviewing my best practices. I actually have a “best practice” of reviewing my best practices each morning before I get out of bed. I find that it helps center and ground me by reminding me of what’s most important for a good day. What exactly is a best practice you ask? Well, Wikipedia defines a best practice as, “a method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with … Read More
I’ve been reminded a couple of times recently about the importance of bringing fun and creativity into addressing one’s challenges. The first was by a coaching student in a class I serve as an assistant trainer for, the second was with one of my artistic clients, and the third occurred as part of a coaching clinic scenario I was participating in recently. In each situation, the client was in a stuck place, bogged down by the weightiness … Read More
“Describe what it’s like to be coached by you.” There is a piece of paper pinned to my vision board with these words written on it. It is something that my eyes fall upon every time I sit at my desk. In coaching, asking clients to consider what something is “like” invites them to think in terms of simile, or more broadly construed, metaphor. Metaphor can be a powerful tool in coaching because it provides an additional … Read More
There are a lot of pessimistic people in this world. I know, I used to be one of them. Ok, I wasn’t pessimistic all of the time, but when confronted with a challenge, I found my mind would typically focus on the negative. Or when I had a bad day, I would lie in bed that night and ruminate on what went wrong and worry about everything else that might go wrong as a result. I started … Read More
I keep a gratitude journal and at some point I plan on writing about what a powerful influence it has been in my life. Today though I want to discuss what I wrote in that journal yesterday: “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as witness to the amazing changes my clients are making in their lives.” An individual comes to me when they are overwhelmed by one or more areas of their life. The source … Read More
When I was growing up I loved decorating the Christmas tree. Dad’s job was dragging the tree in, setting it up and putting on the lights. My little sister Amy and I helped him with the lights, but then he typically disappeared while Mom, Amy and I decorated the tree. It was so much fun unwrapping the ornaments and recalling the stories behind each of them. My mom will probably tell you I lost interest in decorating … Read More
Just wanted to share a comment I received from a client recently because it nicely demonstrates the power of coaching: ‘Two days in a row of success! (Getting to work early, at the time I want to be there.) Awesome. This is great. You are supporting me in concrete, real life experimentation. Instead of my preferred abstract method of planning and making lists (spinning my wheels and never going anywhere), you are supporting me in conducting real-life tests. I … Read More