By Dr. Philip HumbertCoaching is about being your best. It’s about performance,
about “staying the course” and, in the end, about creating and
living the life you really want. Many people use coaches to make
more money, win the gold prize or do something dramatic. That’s
fun, and when it’s right, it’s wonderful!
But most importantly, coaching is about living up to your own
standards. It is, in Henry Thoreau’s famous words, about
“marching to the beat of your own drum, no matter how faint or
far away.” So, do I recommend you have a personal coach? Well,
duh!
But if you can’t afford one, or aren’t ready for one, why not be
your own coach? Here are a few suggestions:
1. Write Down Your Goals. Review and re-write them once a
week. This is old advice, but there is power and magic in
writing your goals on paper! Write them down, then review
them, think about them and update them every week. It may
only take 20 minutes, but it will double your rate of success, I
guarantee it!
2. Show Up! Many of life’s most important achievements simply
require that we show up, pay attention, tell the truth, work
hard, go the extra mile, and do our best! Superior performance
is not about the future or the past. It’s about doing a superior
job right now on the work that lies right in front of you.
3. Eliminate Distractions. Keep your eye on the ball. Life is full
of frustrations and distractions. Successful people do NOT
tolerate the things that drive most of us crazy—they take the
time to stop, solve the problem and eliminate the distraction
once and for all. Stay focused!
4. Manage Your Environment. Top performers know that space
management is more important than time management, and
they have neat offices, clean cars, orderly appointment books,
and they keep an extra suit at the office, just in case. Make
your office (and your home) a space where you can do your
very best work.
5. Read Every Day. Read something useful, challenging or fun
every day. If you only spend 20 minutes with a book that
motivates, excites and educates you, it will make a world of
difference. I promise! Aim to read at least one book every
month!
6. Attend a “University on Wheels.” Listen to educational,
motivational and fun tapes while you drive. At least listen to
soothing, appropriate music, rather than the “terror of the
day” on talk radio! Fill your mind with the BEST information you
can find!
7. Use a Master-Mind group. The term refers to a group of
people who are committed to helping you be
successful. Often, they meet once a week. Think of them as
your “Advisory Committee.” Bounce ideas off them, ask them
for advice, let them coach you!
8. Focus on Values. Take time every week to review your
values, the things that cost you nothing, but make life worth
living. Write them down, share them with a friend and remind
yourself of what’s most important to you. Remembering your
values will get you back on course!
9. Play more! Play a game of tennis, wrestle with the dog,
shoot hoops with the kid next door. Laugh, get sweaty, have
fun. It doesn’t cost; it pays!
10. Practice Gratitude! Periodically, ask yourself how many
“good” days you’ve had this week. Notice what made the
good ones good, and do more of the good stuff! And, be
grateful. "I was angry that I had no shoes, until I met a man
who had no feet."
Even the most sophisticated modern cruise ships must constantly
monitor their course. On our last cruise, Mary and I took a tour of
the bridge, and were told the ship had no less than five automatic
navigation computers, and that at least two officers were on duty
at all times. Why the redundancy? Because having a cruise ship
get lost, even briefly, is a very bad thing!
How many navigation systems do you use to guide your path?
Having a handful of books, journals, friends and daily routines to
“coach” you is not expensive, it’s the best investment you’ll ever
make! Set up routines and use the best resources you can find to
stay on course. Coach yourself to the top!
Here’s to your success!
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