Tag Archives: courage

Why In The World Would You Hire A Business Coach?

Now Hiring 91014Indeed, why in the world would you hire a business coach?  There is no simple answer to questions like these as there is for why you would brush your teeth or exercise.  To answer this question requires some personal reflection and then a certain amount of courage to act on it.  Yet business people do hire coaches.  And there may be several compelling reasons for taking that action, which is probably an atypical action for an entrepreneur.

By definition of entrepreneur, you are “one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise “merriam-webster.com

You are a risk taker, an explorer, riding into the undiscovered plains and mountains of the business world.  In other words you have courage, “guts”, and there are times when you fail.  When you fail, you are resilient—you go back at it again.  You don’t need anyone telling you what to do, “I want to do it myself—thank you very much.”

So then the question: Why hire a business coach?

  1. You are committed to accomplishing something that seems bigger than your expertise.
  2. You have reached a plateau in your business and are trying to figure out what to do next.
  3. You want to quit but feel like you still have something great to give and can’t figure out how to do it.
  4. You have tried and failed, but after the independence of owning your own business you know that you don’t want to work for anyone else.  But still, how can you make your business successful?

Hiring a business coach is an investment in success.

So, why would YOU hire a business coach?  I look forward to hearing from you.  Please comment in the space below.

What Happens When You Combine Tough Circumstances With Responsibility?

Processed with VSCOcam with x4 presetLast week’s blog was about taking responsibility at the time you initiate an action not just when you get caught. (When Do You Take Responsibility for Your Actions?)

One of the responses to the blog was a surprising answer and it pointed to the value of taking responsibility.  Responsibility is defined as: the state of being the person who caused something to happen (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

The response was from a reader who has been very ill.  Recently, her adult daughter died.  She was communicating about that in direct response to the blog.  What she said points to the value of taking responsibility, in real time vs in theory, “I am in a place where I need to work hard in my life, and I will do it.”

Clearly, this person is willing to be responsible for her life NOW, not in the some far off future.  This type of responsibility gave her direction and the ability to move forward.  It provided a “not going to happen anyway” possibility for her life.

Does this drawing a line in the sand take courage?  Yes.  Will there be pitfalls as she moves forward?  Of course.  But, because her intention and responsibility are palpable, there will be other people standing with her. Her communication is so real and raw that there is no way that her intentionality can be missed.

I will be there cheering her on.  This is exactly what coaching and mentoring are for.  A coach is a committed listener who knows that you are totally capable of accomplishing your goal, especially at those times when you forget.  A coach is the one who stands beside you as you move forward towards a solid vision that will make a difference in your life.

Although, it took a dramatic life changing event to open up a path for this woman, a change in your life does not have to be so dramatic.  What it takes is seeing what is missing, saying what action you will take, and then being responsible for taking that action.

I look forward to hearing your comments.  Thank you, as always, for taking time to respond.

Where Can I Buy Intention

The Creative knows the great beginnings.
The Receptive completes the finished things.

~I Ching

“And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?”

~Pink Floyd

 

ChingWe have been discussing what it takes to get out of the box that our mind puts us in. It is that box that makes us feel safe and yet keeps us small.  We discussed some of what it takes to operate beyond the limits of our box. This is predicated on the commitment to something bigger than we are, something that calls forth our re-invention of ourselves—in fact, what we are looking at is a commitment that demands that we re-invent ourselves.

Another correlated ingredient to great accomplishment is intention. Webster’s defines intention as: “a determination to act in a certain way”, but we are going to toughen it up a bit to read: “a relentless determination to achieve a certain goal or task—no matter what.”

Being intentional is a determination to act in a certain way. It is this intention that allows you to succeed despite all the challenges that would seem to indicate otherwise. It is intention that keeps you moving forward. It is intention that allows for brilliant actions that defy reality—your reality.

So, where is this intention, and where can you buy it?

Fortunately, we have intention at hand at all times. Reflect on your life. You can see, in hindsight
that you have been living an intentional life all along. You learned to walk,
dance, sing, talk, read, and ride a bike with your reserve of intention.
Unfortunately we are also very intentional about staying safely within the
walls of our box.

It is almost impossible to re-invent ourselves alone. Anything you do alone is inside the box. and did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? -Pink FloydGreat people don’t act alone. They may spend most of their time alone, but they have a world around them that is demanding they be great. How is this? They say what they are going to accomplish—before it is possible—and then they act. Specifically, they tell the people around them—but not just anybody—they tell people who will hold them to account for what they said they are going to do, people who won’t let them quit when the going gets tough. And it will get tough. That is what a coach is for.

In the comments below, please share an instance where your intentionality overcame the obstacle that you were facing.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Why Vince Lombardi Was Wrong Once

Winners never quit and quitters never win.

~Vince Lombardi Vince Lombardi

Really? Really, Vince?  I beg to differ, depending on why and how you quit.  Let me explain.

Four years ago, I coached two people who were partners in a new venture.  We set up the business together and put together a doable, winnable action plan for their success.  After they launched the business they kept in touch.  They let me know about their triumphs, the television show episodes they were in, the really big sale they made.  It sounded as though they were on their way.

Then two weeks ago, I received a call.  They wanted to talk with me.  It was urgent.  Of course, I said “Yes.”

When they came into my office, they were jumpy and nervous.  Their business was bombing big time.  They could not stop the bleeding out of the money they had invested.  They decided to quit.  They both started to tear up a little.  They were thinking that I saw them as losers, while in fact, I saw them in an opposite light—I saw them as winners.  Here is why: they had applied all the principles of good business practice and yet sales were meager and were now, non-existent.  They forecast the probability of sales for the next 5 years and saw that the changed market did not support the level of sales they needed to keep them profitable.  I had to agree with them; the economy could not support there profit requirements.

I also saw them as winners because they were responsible about their employees.  Instead of leaving them to find other work, they found them jobs.  They also met with everyone who had supported them individually and let them know their decision.  That took “winner” guts since each person they saw reacted differently.

In the end, I sat with “winners” who had the courage to tell the truth to themselves and to others.  They had the courage to quit.  I am quite confident that they will start something new and win.

I am looking forward to hearing about your comments about this subject.