LifeTrek Coaching International Center for School Transformation

Exhaustion Matters

2012-01-22T19:07:00.002-05:00

Laser Provision: There is a time and a place for exhaustion. I have spent a number of years leading my annual 4:45 pace team at the Baltimore marathon. Afterwards, and at some points during the race, there are moments of exhaustion. Exhaustion can be a sign of having pushed oneself to get something done that is important, difficult, and/or fun. Leaders have to do that at times. Then it's time to renew, relax, and restore. But some leaders get addicted to exhaustion – a dangerous trait to be sure. If that sounds like you, if it seems like you are always exhausted these days, then read the entire Provision here...

Coaching Inquiries: How exhausted do you feel right now? What kind of rhythms are reflected in your daily and weekly patterns? How might you take charge of your calendar in order to better serve yourself and your commitments? Who and what could help you to make it so?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact Form to arrange a complimentary conversation. To learn more about LifeTrek Coaching programs, Click Here.

Experiments Matter

2012-01-16T16:35:00.002-05:00

Laser Provision: One might say there are two ways to learn: theory to practice and practice to theory. The first way, known as deductive learning, starts with a set of accepted premises and applies them to particular situations. The second way, known as inductive learning, starts with a set of experiences and generalizes them into a way of doing things. Both ways of learning are constantly at work in both children and adults, but inductive learning – practice to theory – is clearly the original genius and instinct of us all. Young children are insatiably curious and inveterate researchers. They learn by conducting experiments. Great leaders would do well to rekindle that spirit in our people. Don't be afraid: the benefits far outweigh the risks. Click here to read the full Provision...

Coaching Inquiries: How much are you willing to trust yourself in the action-learning process? What kind of experiments would you be willing to conduct in order to find out? How could you become more venturesome in conducting experiments? What is one thing you would like to explore and try out in the week ahead? How could you plan that out right now?

Design Thinking: Lessons for the Classroom by Betty Ray

2012-01-08T15:19:00.003-05:00

There are a variety of ways to put design thinking into practice and Betty Ray's blog provides some great info about how design thinking can be used in the classroom. Betty Ray's blog shares how the concept was covered at the Big Ideas Fest 2011 ...

One of the core components of Evocative Coaching is design thinking for educators... check out The Center for School Transformation to learn more!

Our Organizing Minds

2012-01-08T15:07:00.003-05:00

Laser Provision: Today's Provision is an appreciative review of a new book co-authored by my friend and colleague, Margaret Moore, the CEO of Wellcoaches Corporation and co-director of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. The premise of the book is simple: to organize our lives we must first organize our minds. What that means and how to get it done is what the book and this Provision is all about. If you've been looking for a fresh approach to long-standing problems of disorganization and distraction, then I invite you to fasten your seat belt and read on. In one Provision we will cover all six Rules of Order. Click Here to read the entire Provision...

Coaching Inquiries: How would you describe the state of your organizing mind? Is it on autopilot or have you taken control? What would help you to be more aware and active? How could you get more sleep? How would you describe your priorities in life and work? How could you pay more attention to them both now and in the future? Who could coach you through the conversation?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, Email Us or use our Contact Form to arrange a complimentary conversation. To learn more about LifeTrek Coaching programs, Click Here.

Unbidden Desires

2012-01-01T17:46:00.003-05:00

In the Western calendar, today is New Year's Day: a traditional time for looking back on the past year and looking forward to the New Year. Both activities have real value and it's a shame that the start of every quarter does not arrive with the same reflective energy. To ponder how the past year went and to set goals for the future are quintessentially human activities. So don't squander the day!

Many people come to coaching because they want assistance with these two reflective practices. In thinking about the past, we all have blind spots and critical voices. By offering honesty and empathy, coaches assist people to see and to value what is there. It is incredibly liberating to stop, or even just to pause, our avoiding, exaggerating, and berating tendencies. That's what a good coaching conversation can do for us, and I encourage you to contact LifeTrek Coaching for a complimentary session: Click Here.

The real genius of coaching, however, lies not in reflecting on the past but on the future. Coaches assist people to set and achieve goals. That may be the simplest of all definitions when it comes to the work of coaching. We don't set goals for people and we don't tell people what to do. We don't nag people or make people do what they are "supposed" to do. We rather invite people to set goals for themselves and assist them to navigate the journey.

That's where the name "LifeTrek Coaching" came from. It was my goal, all the way back in 1998, to help people with their goals in life and work. That trajectory represents the trek of coaching. It is a moving target and, at least this side of the grave, it never ends. Which is why some people always have a coach. There's always another aspiration to unleash and another possibility to consider.

Which brings me to the subject of today's poem. For many years, I have been in the habit of writing and sharing a poem with the readers of LifeTrek Provisions on the first Sunday of the New Year. Lately, I have been thinking about the relationship between bidden and unbidden things. The dictionary defines that relationship in terms of choice, intention, and will. Unbidden things are uninvited, not asked for, neither commanded, ordered, nor summoned.

"I bid you to come forward," on the other hand, is an obvious invitation and request. We often think of bidden things as desired things and of unbidden things as undesired. Health and family emergencies or natural disasters, for example, are unbidden. So, too, with things that disrupt or interfere with our plans. When a campaign or strategy goes awry, the military refers to that as being "Overtaken By Events. And being OBE is definitely not desired.

Yet coaches, who are in the business of that most bidden of enterprises, setting and reaching goals, have learned to be on the lookout for unbidden desires. All that is bidden is not good and all that is unbidden is not bad. There are things that well up inside us to guide us, and we would do well to acknowledge and appreciate those things as the source of ambition itself.

Where do goals come from? Why do we bother with them at all? It is from the deep reservoir and churning energy of unbidden things that the bidden arises. So before we run too far away, pause with me for a moment to consider the treasurers of the unbidden:

Unbidden
©2012 Bob Tschannen-Moran

Things happen
Overtaken by events
Emotions race
Unbidden

Blocks happen
Stifling creativity
Urgency impairs
Unbidden

Insights happen
Discerning truths
Clarity emerges
Unbidden

Feelings happen
Spilling over
Provoking thoughts
Unbidden

Heartaches happen
Gasping for air
Confusion reigns
Unbidden

Dreams happen
Revealing secrets
Hope arises
Unbidden

Breaches happen
Sudden terminations
Swelling grief
Unbidden

Connections happen
Awakening hearts
Restoring souls
Unbidden

Yearnings happen
Moving mountains
Cleansing spirits
Unbidden

Inklings happen
Subtle noticing
What must be
Unbidden

Shifts happen
So unsettling
The sun rises
Unbidden

Dreams happen
Unleashing aspirations
Possibilities emerge
Unbidden

May you find your own treasures in the unbidden things of 2012.

Coaching Inquiries: What things are unbidden in your life right now? What things are welling up inside you? What things are happening around you? How could you learn from them and collect the treasures these things have to offer? Who is your coach on the trek of life?

If you would like to reply to this Provision, we encourage you to use our Feedback Form. If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Hereor Email Us. Top

Example Matters

2011-12-26T18:30:00.008-05:00

Laser Provision: Do you set a good example? If you are a leader in any organization, whether in a school, a corporation, a congregation, a club, or a marching band, then I hope so. People are watching our every move as leaders, and what they see matters. Do we work hard? Do we express caring and empathy for people? Do we make wise decisions in both ordinary and extraordinary times? If the answers to those three questions are all the same – a resounding "Yes!" – then our leadership is sound and will inspire people to greatness. If we fall short at any of those points, then we're headed for trouble. Want to learn how to avoid that eventuality and optimize your leadership? To read the entire Provision click here.

Coaching Inquiries: How would you describe your work ethic? Do you overwork, under work, or is it just right? How would you describe your emotional intelligence? Are you too soft, too hard, or just right? How would you describe your decision making? Do you focus on problems to the exclusion of possibilities, or is it just right? How could you set a more positive example in all three of these regards? Who could help you make it so?

Qualms Matter

2011-12-19T06:37:00.010-05:00

Coaching Inquiries: How would you describe your commitment to quality? What helps you to continuously improve that quality? Are reflective practices a regular part of your life? How could you strengthen and derive more benefit from those practices? What part could coaching play in the equation?

Challenging Education Paradigms

2011-12-06T19:36:00.003-05:00

Sir Ken Robinson challenges us to change education paradigms, waking up kids -- and educators -- to life. Huzzah!! You have to watch this RSA Animate Video.

Quality Matters

2011-12-03T11:10:00.006-05:00

Laser Provision: Few, if any, leaders would disagree with the title of today's Provision. Quality matters. Quality matters not only in our goods and services, it also matters in the way we carry and conduct ourselves as leaders. If quality is so important, then, it becomes a key work of leadership to continuously maintain and to constantly be on the lookout for ways to improve quality. If that doesn't always define your leadership, or if you're not sure how to do it, then this is the Provision for you. To read the entire Provision click here.

Coaching Inquiries: How would you describe your commitment to quality? What helps you to continuously improve that quality? Are reflective practices a regular part of your life? How could you strengthen and derive more benefit from those practices? What part could coaching play in the equation?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, Email Us or use our Contact Form to arrange a complimentary conversation. To learn more about LifeTrek Coaching programs, Click Here

The Power of Positive Coaching

2011-11-30T17:41:00.000-05:00

Finally: athletic coaching is catching up with best practices in professional coaching. Read the power of the positive. It's not just about yelling at your players! http://t.co/FL0ytImN

Questions Matter

2011-11-30T17:33:00.000-05:00

Laser Provision: Leaders often think of ourselves as answer people. We are, almost by definition, the go-to people in organizations and we think it is our job to generate ideas, solve problems, and keep people on track. But what if the best way to do all that is not by answering questions, but by asking questions? What if our role is best understood as that of a conversation starter and question asker rather than as an information provider and decision maker? When leaders understand ourselves in this way, everything begins to shift – from how we talk to ourselves to how we talk with others to how we get things done. That may seem less efficient than simply telling people what to do, but looks can be deceiving. Read on if you would like to see things anew. Read entire Provision...

Coaching Inquiries: What is your orientation in life and work? How often do you choose to take the Learner Path? What would help you to get on that path more often? Who do you know who embodies that orientation? How could you partner with them to learn and grow together?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Memory Matters

2011-09-05T07:45:00.000-05:00

Laser Provision: All leaders know the importance of remembering names. Being able to call someone by name, especially after it has been a while since we have seen them, is a form of acknowledgement and affirmation that says: "You are important to me." People feel great when we give them that sense. But did you know that being able to remember the past derives, in part, from our ability to anticipate the future? Both functions utilize the same processing centers in the brain, and the stories we tell about the past are as much about sense-making as they are about reporting. In our minds, all human beings are time travelers. If you want learn how to leverage that ability for leadership, then I encourage you to read on. Read entire Provision ...

Coaching Inquiries: What is the nature of your relationship to the past, present, and future? Are you aware of how your own optimism bias plays out in life and work? To what degree would you describe that bias as irrational and to what degree would describe it as predictive? How can you become better able to bolster the self-confidence of others?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Moods Matter

2011-08-04T06:13:00.000-05:00

Laser Provision: Are you in a good mood? If you are a leader, I certainly hope so. That's because moods, like emotions, are contagious. People pick up on and attune themselves with the moods of leaders. When leaders are persistently anxious, frustrated, or depressed, for example, such qualities come to define the culture and climate of our organizations. Any thought that people will rise above the mood of their leaders is largely an illusion and certainly an exception to the rule. Most of the time, leaders set the tone. It behooves us, then, to set a tone that will lead to organizational success. And moods cannot be faked. Self-management is therefore a key work of leadership. Read the entire Provision if you want to buff up your own mood and set yourself apart as a leader.

Coaching Inquiries: How would you describe your mood in life and work? What would assist you to cook up more positivity? Where do you go to find clarity, calm, confidence, and hope? Who could help you to find those energies today and to stay with them tomorrow?o reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form.

To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Mindfulness Matters

2011-07-27T19:58:00.000-05:00

In her extensive research and writing on trust in schools, my wife, Megan, notes that trust is hard to define because it is easier to describe the absence than the presence of trust. Trust is like air: we take it for granted until it becomes polluted or scarce. Mindfulness works the same way. So many definitions describe mindfulness in terms of what it is not: not distracted, not judgmental, not reactive, not bored, and not attached to an outcome. Although these statements are all true, they do not help us very much when it comes to incorporating mindfulness into our life and work as leaders. What, exactly, are we supposed to do and how, exactly, are we supposed to be? Read the entire Provision to get some answers....

Coaching Inquiries: What is your decision when it comes to mindfulness? How do you show up and carry yourself in life and work? How well do you embody the six attributes of mindfulness identified in this Provision? What could help you to embody them more fully? What is one thing you could do right now that would make you more mindful? Who could join and support you on the journey?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Learning Through Listening

2011-04-09T19:00:00.000-05:00

According to the International Listening Association:

45 percent of a student’s day is spent listening.
Students are expected to acquire 85 percent of the knowledge they have by listening.
Yet only 2 percent of the population ever receive formal listening instruction.

To change that, Learning Through Listening has developed a variety of downloadable lesson plans, strategies and activities, as well as case stories for teachers. The lessons plans use poetry, music, stories, and interactive activities to help K-12 teachers meet the diverse needs of their students.

Perhaps it would help if we all took a few listening courses. To that end, you might enjoy listening to a 30-minute podcast on The Science of Listening from WNYC. Although the focus of the program is on the biology of listening to music, it makes clear how the affective components of listening come into play and influence what we hear. That's as true for verbal messages as for musical tracks, so keep that in mind as you listen to the program. Enjoy!

Coaching Inquiries: What is your relationship to music? How can listening to music make you a better listening leader? How could you learn how to be a better listener? What would you like to listen to right now?

We invite you to Contact Us using our Feedback Form if you are interested in learning more about LifeTrek Coaching or participating in our Evocative Coach Training Program.

Belief Matters

2011-03-10T22:39:00.005-05:00

Laser Provision: Do you believe in what you are doing? Do you believe that you will be successful? If not, then it's time to look again at your life and work. Self-belief is what separates leaders from followers. Leaders not only believe in the mission, we also believe in the ability of people to achieve the mission. I know how this works. In less than a week, my wife and I will be on our way to Asia for a whirlwind tour during which time we will be presenting on 14 different occasions in 4 different countries. Along the way, we will also be attempting to conquer the summit of Mt. Kinabalu – a high-altitude climb to almost 4,100 meters or 13,450 feet. Sound crazy? It would be if we didn't believe in the cause and in our capacity. This Provision explains the connection. Read entire Provision...

Coaching Inquiries: What do you believe in? How do you put your beliefs out in the world? How attractive is your energy? What stories do you tell about the future and change? How confident are you that change is possible? Who is a part of your tribe? What movements do you connect with? What movements would you like to start?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Beauty Matters

2011-03-04T19:08:00.000-05:00

Laser Provision: Many people think of leadership as hard work. "I wouldn't want to be in her or his position!" is an oft-repeated refrain. That notion is reinforced whenever leaders get in trouble. Just think of the leaders in the Arab nations of northern Africa and western Asia. Who wants to be them! Closer to home, at least closer to my home, who wants to preside over looming deficits and divided constituencies? From political leaders to school leaders to church leaders, the refrain sounds like something from a Rodney Dangerfield movie: "We just don't get no respect around here." When times are tough, it's tempting to see everything through the lens of enemies and struggles. But there is another side to life: beauty. Great leaders look for that beauty and make it plain. Could you do that? This Provision might help. Read entire Provision...

Coaching Inquiries: What helps you to see beauty in every situation? How can you better point that out and share what you see with others? What effect do you think that might have? Who do you know who is that kind of leader? How could you interview them to find out their secret?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Juice Matters

2011-02-20T11:19:00.001-05:00

Do you have juice? If you are a leader, then that would be a good thing to have. I don't mean fruit juice, of course. I mean the joie de vivre, the joy of living, that adds energy and excitement to any situation. With all the travail in the news lately, including both natural disasters and political upheavals, it's easy to lose our juice and forget our joy. Yet that is the first responsibility of leaders. It is our job to show up with juice and to share it with others. How do we do that? By noticing the good stuff in life. In every situation, great leaders always find things to celebrate. Such mindfulness refills the glass for leadership. Want to pour some of that juice for yourself? Read entire Provision...

Coaching Inquiries: What kind of attitude do you bring to the work of leadership? Do you inspire people and lift them up or do you discourage people and tear them down? How would others answer that question about you? What has been your best experience with serving as a catalyst for positive energy? How did you muster that spirit? What would it take to muster that spirit on a daily basis? How could you make it so, right now?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Check Out Past Issues

2011-01-26T19:39:00.000-05:00

It's been too long! Check out the issues you missed of LifeTrek Provisions, since our last post in November, by visiting our Web Archive. We're in the middle of a series on evocative leadership, the kind that calls out the greatness in people. Like what you see? Sign up to receive your own weekly emails! Thanks!

Touch Matters

2010-11-01T09:33:00.000-05:00

Laser Provision. When it comes to leadership, it's not enough to have a clear vision and lots of ideas. It's not enough to have lots of technical skills as to how to get the job done. One must also have the high-touch skills to galvanize teams and bring people together. That's especially true when we seek to bring about change in organizations or society. The more of a change-agenda we have, the more important those people skills become. Want to learn what that looks like? Read entire Provision...

Coaching Inquiries: What kind of leader are you? How would you rate your ability to touch the hearts of the people you lead? What would help you to develop your emotional intelligence? How could you become more sensitive to the people side of the equation? Who could assist you to make it so?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Trust Matters

2010-10-10T19:34:00.000-05:00

Laser Provision: Today's Provision could not have been written without the research and work of my wife, Megan Tschannen-Moran. For the past 15 years, Megan has made trust one of her primary academic and professional interests. But trust is not just a theoretical construct to be studied, understood, and described. Trust is a way of being in the world. My wife embodies that way of being as does every great leader. Trust matters. Read the entire Provision to see just how much it matters and how it works.

Coaching Inquiries: On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate yourself when it comes to trustworthy leadership? What examples do you have of standing in trust and experiencing its transformative power? How could you strengthen your understanding and practice of trust? How could you make your school or organization more fully embody the five facets of trust? What is one thing you could do today that would move things forward in a positive direction?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Happiness Matters

2010-10-02T22:25:00.000-05:00

Laser Provision: As someone concerned about the future of education in America and around the world, I have watched with increasing dismay the strident calls to get tough with teachers. There's no hiding the behaviorist philosophy: punish the low-performers and reward the high-performers. But are such threats and incentives the best way to change behavior and reform the system? Twelve years of coaching adults to higher-levels of learning and performance tell me the answer is no. Happiness matters. That's the most important incentive of them all. Read Entire Provision...

Coaching Inquiries: What framework do you come from? How can you make life and work more positive? What is one thing that could make you happy right now? How can you meet more of your needs for autonomy, competence, relatedness, and well-being? How could you assist others to meet those needs as well?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

What Is Servant Leadership?

2010-09-11T20:55:00.000-05:00

The connection between being nice and servant-leadership can be seen in the earliest writing about servant leadership from Robert K. Greenleaf. In his 1970 essay, "The Servant as Leader," Greenleaf wrote:

"The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions…The leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme types. Between them there are shadings and blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature."

"The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant-first to make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and difficult to administer, is: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society? Will they benefit or at least not be further deprived?"

In his second major essay, "The Institution as Servant," Greenleaf articulated what is often called the "credo":

"This is my thesis: caring for persons, the more able and the less able serving each other, is the rock upon which a good society is built. Whereas, until recently, caring was largely person to person, now most of it is mediated through institutions -- often large, complex, powerful, impersonal; not always competent; sometimes corrupt. If a better society is to be built, one that is more just and more loving, one that provides greater creative opportunity for its people, then the most open course is to raise both the capacity to serve and the very performance as servant of existing major institutions by new regenerative forces operating within them."

That sounds very nice to me. There are many excellent books and articles about Servant-Leadership. You can download a bibliography from the Greenleaf Center for Servant-Leadership. Or you can go straight to the source, and read Greenleaf's seminal book on Servant Leadership for yourself.

Coaching Inquiries: How would you describe the power of leadership? Where does that power come from? What does it lead to? How can you best embody the power of servant-leadership? What difference would it make if you carried yourself that way today?

We invite you to Contact Us using our Feedback Form if you are interested in learning more about LifeTrek Coaching or participating in our Evocative Coach Training Program.

Needs Matter

2010-09-03T08:19:00.002-05:00

Laser Provision: When it comes to leadership, needs matter. Leaders who are more concerned about their own power, position, ego, agenda, perks, pocketbooks, smarts, or solutions, than about the needs of their people and the people they serve are not great leaders at all. Great leaders take a "seventh generation" perspective. We think about the impacts of our decisions not only on the needs of people today but also in the needs of people seven generations in the future. Where are we taking our people? If you haven't thought about that lately, then read on. You just might get inspired. Read entire Provision...

Coaching Inquiries: What needs are you most acutely aware of right now? What are people trying to tell you about how you are treating and respecting their needs? How could you do more listening before taking charge? What would have to change in order for you to get into that frame of mind? Who do you know who models respectful servant leadership? How can you get to know them better?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Evocative Coaching = School Transformation

2010-07-24T06:39:00.000-05:00

We just published our new book titled Evocative Coaching: Transforming Schools One Conversation at a Time. This book grew out of our passion for human learning and our confidence that all schools can be catalysts for that learning. Not just some schools, but all schools. Not just schools with favorable demographics and resources, but schools with the right attitude, culture, and approach. That approach, the coach approach, has served us well throughout our personal and professional lives. Our best experiences in education have motivated us to develop our skills and to pursue our aspirations. Such experiences have opened doors to spirals of creativity, innovation, and accomplishment. They have made us what we are today.

Yet that is not the way education works for many people. The discourse regarding school failure has become all too familiar. Unfortunately, such discourse tends to shift educators into a defensive crouch that limits or even prevents them from making progress. They become so concerned about the consequences of failure and so focused on fixing what’s wrong that they lose confidence in their abilities and awareness of their strengths. Once that happens, the prospects for performance improvements dim and the politics of individual and collective resistance grow.

Although many books have been written and many speeches have been given on the subject of how to turn around this dynamic, we prefer to start with the most basic of building blocks when it comes to school performance and culture: how teachers talk to themselves and to others about their classroom experiences. When those conversations value teachers as collaborators and partners, who need not fear the consequences of sharing their stories, expressing their feelings and needs, exploring strengths, imagining new possibilities, and experimenting with how best to meet the educational needs of students, then resistance diminishes and energy grows for the teaching task.

That is our hope for those who learn and practice evocative coaching. We hope it will transform schools, one conversation at a time. This happens when teachers, coaches, instructional resources, staff developers, and other educational leaders make two significant conversational shifts: from evaluation to valuation and from problem-solving to strengths-building. These shifts are not easy, especially for educators who are so accustomed to grading performance and providing guidance, but when it comes to adult learning these shifts have proven their worth. Adults like to figure things out for themselves, building on what they already know and do well, without receiving judgmental feedback that calls into question either their intentions or their abilities.

To facilitate that kind of learning, we have to turn the tables on the questions we ask, the listening we do, and the reflections we make in our thinking and in our conversations. We have to move beyond old methods of supervision and professional development in order to dance with teachers in ways that generate openness, awareness, understanding, and change. In Evocative Coaching we choreograph that dance as having two turns (The No-Fault Turn and The Strengths-Building Turn) and four steps (Story Listening, Expressing Empathy, Appreciative Inquiry, and Design Thinking). We provide the research base as well as practical, hands-on descriptions for each step. By the end of the book, we hope readers will have a good idea as to how to facilitate an evocative coaching conversation.

To that end, we have launched the Center for School Transformation and a companion website with additional resources, http://www.schooltransformation.com/. The Center offers a training program in Evocative Coaching that takes place in a convenient virtual classroom created by advanced telephone conference technologies. Anyone who can make a long-distance telephone call can participate in the training program. This 20-hour program across 13 sessions provides critical opportunities for people to practice and become more familiar with the techniques. The program has already been well received by trainees in 9 states and 6 countries. The Center also offers on-site training workshops, leadership coaching, and whole-system transformation initiatives.

Drawing upon the best in adult learning theories, growth-fostering psychologies, and organizational development, the Center aims to evoke excellence in education and school transformation — one conversation at a time. We invite you to join us on the journey.

Creativity Matters

2010-07-03T07:06:00.000-05:00

Laser Provision: When faced with significant constraints, it's easy to make them the center of attention. After all, they're getting in the way. But focusing on the problem is not always the best way to solve the problem. It's often better to focus on the possibilities. That shift, from problem to possibility, unleashes creativity and generates enthusiasm. The more significant the constraints, the more creativity and enthusiasm we need. So let this Provision be your guide. Creativity matters when it comes to making dreams come true. Read entire Provision...

Coaching Inquiries: What holds you back from being creative? How could you empower and trust others to think outside the box and contribute their strengths? What could you offer the world that would make a difference? How could you test that hypothesis? Who do you think of as a creative role model? How could you draw yourself closer to their circle of influence?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Wisdom from Maya Angelou

2010-06-26T21:36:00.000-05:00

Tis' the season for wisdom from famous people. Last week, we had ten lessons from Steve Jobs. This week, we feature eleven lessons from Maya Angelou, an American autobiographer and poet extraordinaire.
In April, Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older. She talked about it as exciting and amusing, especially all the physical changes which seemed to be occurring day. The audience laughed so hard they cried as she talked about the different parts of her body which were sagging in a seeming race to her waist. She is a plain-spoken and honest woman, with much wisdom in her words. Consider these life lessons:

I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.
I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a life.
I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.
I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug or just a friendly pat on the back.
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Coaching Inquiries: How do you make people feel? What would people learn about you by watching how you handle a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights? What would it take for you to start making a life? How could that be more wonderful and life-giving?

We invite you to Contact Us using our Feedback Form if you are interested in learning more about LifeTrek Coaching or participating in our Evocative Coach Training Program.

Lessons from Steve Jobs

2010-06-19T21:05:00.000-05:00

One of my clients recently alerted me to an article titled "10 Golden Lessons From Steve Jobs." I encourage you to read the whole article. For this high-level summary, I give you the ten quotes from Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple Computers, around which the article is written. Enjoy!

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower."
"Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected."
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it."
"You know, we don't grow most of the food we eat. We wear clothes other people make. We speak a language that other people developed. We use a mathematics that other people evolved… I mean, we're constantly taking things. It's a wonderful, ecstatic feeling to create something that puts it back in the pool of human experience and knowledge."
"There's a phrase in Buddhism, 'Beginner's mind.' It's wonderful to have a beginner's mind."
"We think basically you watch television to turn your brain off, and you work on your computer when you want to turn your brain on."
"I'm the only person I know that's lost a quarter of a billion dollars in one year…. It's very character-building."
"I would trade all of my technology for an afternoon with Socrates."
"We're here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?"
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma -- which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

Coaching Inquiries: Which of these lessons speak most powerfully to you and your situation? Of everyone who has ever lived, who would you like to spend the afternoon with? What questions would you ask? What truth would you contemplate? How can you follow your heart and intuition more fully?

We invite you to Contact Us using our Feedback Form if you are interested in learning more about LifeTrek Coaching or participating in our Evocative Coach Training Program.

Persistence Matters

2010-06-13T07:04:00.000-05:00

Laser Provision: The military has a term for what happens when priorities and planning go awry: OBE -- Overtaken By Events. John Lennon put it this way: "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." We all know that feeling and experience. It is universal because no one controls life. But we can control our response to life. Do we quit or do we persist? Do we give up or do we hang on? Although it doesn't help to do the same thing over and over again expecting different results, it also doesn't help to stop looking for alternative approaches and goals. With lots of engaging quotes from notable leaders, this Provision shows you how. Read entire Provision...

Coaching Inquiries: What kind of mindset do you take in life and work? Would you describe yourself as more or less resilient? What brings out your resilience? What enables you to hang in there until you discover new possibilities and new ways forward? Who can be your persistence partner in whatever challenges you are facing?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Priorities Matter

2010-06-03T11:01:00.000-05:00

Laser Provision: What things do you spend most of your time on? If you are like most people, you spend most of your time reacting to crises, deadlines, and pressing problems. No one gets away from such matters completely, but great leaders learn both how to set priorities and how to organize and execute around priorities. By taking a proactive stance in life and work we are better able to generate vision, perspective, balance, discipline, and control. We have fewer crises because we plan ahead. If that sounds like the third habit of highly successful people, then you're on to me! I hope you enjoy the Provision. Read entire Provision...

Coaching Inquiries: What kinds of activities do you spend your time on? How much time gets spent in Quadrant 2 activities? What rituals could you develop to help you get in that Quadrant more frequently? How could you get started today? Who could you talk with to identify the possibilities?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Stress Relief

2010-05-29T20:30:00.000-05:00

A friend recently passed along these thoughts on stress. Give my own writing on Vital Rhythms, they fit right in and easily generate smiles. Enjoy.

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?" Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance."

"In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes," he continued, "and that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry all of our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden. So, whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can. Don't pick them up again until after you've rested a while. They will then seem so much lighter."

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.
Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
Always wear stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be "recalled" by their maker.
If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.
Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
Nobody cares if you can't dance well; just get up and dance.
When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Coching Inquiries: What burdens are you carrying right now? How could you set them down for a while? Who lightens your spirit and makes you laugh? What would it take to connect with that person right now? What might get you to smile?

We invite you to Contact Us using our Feedback Form if you are interested in learning more about LifeTrek Coaching or participating in our Evocative Coach Training Program.

Making Ideas Happen

2010-05-22T20:30:00.000-05:00

There are many systems in the world for turning dreams into deeds. One of the better known is David Allen's, Getting Things Done. A more recent take on the subject is Scott Belsky's, Making Ideas Happen. Here is what Seth Godin, author of Linchpin, has to say about the book:

"Should you buy a book that will make you uncomfortable?

More questions: Why is it so difficult to ship good ideas out the door? Why do committees show up and wreck the purity of your idea? Why do people avoid doing the hard work of actually bringing their work to the market?

I'll tell you why: Because it's safe. Ideas that never ship are never criticized. Faceless committees accept the blame for tepid products that were probably better off in the warehouse. And managers in search of a place to hide can best hide behind the unshipped product, the unrealized idea and the system gone wrong.

Scott Belsky has your number. He's seen it all before. He knows your excuses, he's seen your shtick and he knows all the ways to avoid doing the work. In this book, Scott's not giving you any place to hide.

There. Do you still want to read his book?

If you care about your art, your job or your market, you really have no choice. This is strategy and tactics, concepts and how-to, all in one on a topic that's often overlooked."

Sound intriguing? I encourage you to give it a look.

Coaching Inquiries: How do you do when it comes to making ideas happen? Are you better at coming up with ideas in the first place (creativity) or following through on your ideas to make them happen (discipline and delivery)? Which muscle would you like to strengthen this week? Who could help you to make it so?

We invite you to Contact Us using our Feedback Form if you are interested in learning more about LifeTrek Coaching or participating in our Evocative Coach Training Program.

Mindful Eating

2010-05-08T20:51:00.000-05:00

In many respects, great leadership is mindful leadership. We cultivate the ability to stay in the moment, without distraction or criticism, in order to bring out the best in ourselves and others. Great leaders therefore adopt mindfulness practices in all areas of life and work. To that end, I found the following tips on mindful eating by Dr. Jennifer Daly in the April issue of the Health Journal to be helpful:

Always eat in a clean and quiet place either alone or with people you like.
Look at your food and appreciate its appearance and smell before you eat.
Chew your food slowly and attentively, concentrating on and appreciating its subtle qualities.
Eat without distractions such as television, radio or other media.
Only eat when you are truly hungry.
Do not eat within 2 hours of bedtime.
After exercise wait a while before eating to get an accurate gauge of your hunger level.
Walk about 100 steps after a meal to aid digestion.
Do not eat when you are angry, depressed, bored or otherwise emotionally unstable. Instead, try to resolve these feelings first through stress management tools such as exercise (including yoga), meditation, or seeking the support of friends, family, a spiritual adviser or a mental health professional.

Now, have some fun with this list. Substitute the word "lead" for the word "eat," and the word "people" for "food." Read the list again. What new ideas do those substitutions bring to mind? Hopefully, the exercise will encourage you to become both a more mindful eater and a more mindful leader at the same time.

Coaching Inquiries: What does mindfulness mean to you? How can you become more mindful in how you relate to eating and leadership? What benefits might you experience? What benefits might others experience? Who can join you on the path to mindfulness? How could you make it so today?

We invite you to Contact Us using our Feedback Form if you are interested in learning more about LifeTrek Coaching or participating in our Evocative Coach Training Program.

Rituals Matter

2010-05-06T19:06:00.000-05:00

Laser Provision: Our effectiveness at work declines if we are always on the go. That's why great leaders develop regular, reflective rituals. We find ways to step back and to connect with purpose, plans, and people. That's what makes great leaders so refreshing to be around. Instead of wearing people out with nonstop performance momentum, great leaders infuse people with energy by knowing just when to push and when to pull back. It's an intuitive dance but it doesn't materialize out of thin air. It's cultivated one day and one ritual at a time. If you don't have such rituals, then this Provision will give you at least 11 ideas. I encourage you to go out and make at least one of them your own. Read entire Provision...

Coaching Inquiries: Who do you think of as a great leader? What do you know about the things they do when you're not around? How could you find out more? What questions do you have? How could incorporate your discoveries into your everyday life? What rituals make the most sense for you?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

We Are What We Celebrate

2010-05-02T05:42:00.000-05:00

Great leaders understand not only the importance of developing our own reflective rituals, but also the importance developing collective rituals that help to bring out the best in the people and organizations we lead. A collection of essays that takes this to the level of religious, national, and cultural traditions is titled We Are What We Celebrate: Understanding Holidays and Rituals by Jared Bloom and Amitai Etzioni.

Here is the book description; I encourage you to look into it if you can.

How did Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday become a national holiday? Why do we exchange presents on Christmas and Chanukah? What do bunnies have to do with Easter? How did Earth Day become a global holiday? These questions and more are answered in this fascinating exploration into the history and meaning of holidays and rituals. Edited by Amitai Etzioni, one of the most influential social and political thinkers of our time, this collection provides a compelling overview of the impact that holidays and rituals have on our family and communal life.

From community solidarity to ethnic relations to religious traditions, We Are What We Celebrate argues that holidays such as Halloween, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, New Year's Eve, and Valentine's Day play an important role in reinforcing, and sometimes redefining, our values as a society. The collection brings together classic and original essays that, for the first time, offer a comprehensive overview and analysis of the important role such celebrations play in maintaining a moral order as well as in cementing family bonds, building community relations and creating national identity. The essays cover such topics as the creation of Thanksgiving as a national holiday; the importance of holidays for children; the mainstreaming of Kwanzaa; and the controversy over Columbus Day celebrations.

Compelling and often surprising, this look at holidays and rituals brings new meaning to not just the ways we celebrate but to what those celebrations tell us about ourselves and our communities.

Coaching Inquiries: What are the celebrations and rituals in your organization? How can you influence them or even set up new ones? How can you make them more celebratory and regular? Who could you involve in the process of stimulating a ritual makeover?

We invite you to Contact Us using our Feedback Form if you are interested in learning more about LifeTrek Coaching or participating in our Evocative Coach Training Program.

Relationships Matter

2010-04-23T12:58:00.000-05:00

Laser Provision: Great leaders don't just get things done; great leaders get things done through people. That's the definition of leadership. Unfortunately, all too many leaders neglect or even violate the people side of the equation. We become so focused on getting things done that the needs of people get stepped on or trounced in the process. "Do whatever it takes!" If that sounds like you, then I encourage you to read on. This Provision is an invitation to think again. The needs of people must always be respected, honored, and met; otherwise, results suffer and leaders fail to get things done. Read entire Provision...

Coaching Inquiries: What kind of attention do you pay to relationships? Do you inspire trust in the people you work with? What needs do you naturally pay attention to and honor? What needs are you more likely to overlook or neglect? How can you become a more holistic leader? Who can help you to get where you want to go?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Seven Archetypal Stories

2010-04-21T06:20:00.000-05:00

It has been said that there are only seven archetypal stories. In his book, The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories, Christopher Booker describes them this way:

Overcoming the Monster
Rags to Riches
A journey -- the Quest
A journey -- the Voyage and Return
Comedies
Tragedies
Rebirth

In the context of organizations, these stories often answer the following questions:

What happens when someone breaks the rules?
Is the big boss human?
Can the little person rise to the top?
Will I get fired?
Will the organization help me?
How will the boss react to mistakes?
How will the organization deal with obstacles?

Understanding how these stories circulate around the proverbial water cooler, trustworthy leaders make sure that people have positive stories to tell.

Coaching Inquiries: What kind of stories circulate in your organization? What kind of stories circulate about you, as leader? Who could tell you the truth about that? How can you shift the stories that are being told in a positive direction? What kinds of things do you want to pay attention to in order to make that happen?

We invite you to Contact Us using our Feedback Form if you are interested in learning more about LifeTrek Coaching or participating in our Evocative Coach Training Program.

Results Matter

2010-04-17T19:41:00.000-05:00

Laser Provision: Great leaders get things done. Instead of getting attached to particular strategies, and then becoming disheartened when they don't work out, great leaders stay focused on universal needs, and then become energized for seeing them satisfied one way or another. That is the desire that burns in the heart of leaders. To see that desire through, great leaders cultivate optimism, creativity, and persistence. It may not be easy to get from here to there, but we can rise to the challenge and enjoy the ride. Read on to find out how. Read entire Provision...

Coaching Inquiries: What is your framework when it comes to your goals and desires? How optimistic, creative, and persistent are you? How could you strengthen those leadership muscles? What contribution could you make that would bring you the most amount of joy and fill you with the most amount of juice? Who could join you in that quest?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Energy in Leadership

2010-04-10T20:51:00.000-05:00

My friend and colleague, Marcia Reynolds, has written about the role of persistence in life and work, in her article "A Healthy Supply of Energy is Needed for Success." How do we know when to hang in there and keep trying? How do we know when to scrap a strategy and to head off in a new direction? She suggests that we conduct an "Energy Allocation Exercise" to chart our course and determine our path. Here's a synopsis of the exercise:

Step 1. Divide a sheet of paper in half. Label the left side "Can’t Control" and the right, "Can Control." Now think about the specific goal you’re struggling to achieve.

Step 2. Under "Can’t Control," list the aspects of the situation that you’re unable to change. Be honest with yourself. If the person’s mind you are trying to alter or the people guarding the policy you’re trying to revise haven’t budged in months, it’s safe to say you’re wasting your time.

Step 3. In the "Can Control" column, list the aspects that are within your power to affect. Include yourself--your willingness to deal with the situation, your mindset and attitude, and the emotions that you need to feel so you can shift out of complaining and into action. Include everything within your "response-ability."

Step 4. Return to column one, your "Can’t Control" list. How much energy do you put into these items, including complaining or worrying about them? These are your dead horses. You need to quit putting energy into what you can't control. You can kick your dead horses all you want, but they won’t budge. It may take time to bury a dead horse, but you’ll feel better when it’s over. As hard as that may be, heed the wisdom of George Bernard Shaw who said, "Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything."

Step 5. Review the right column, your "Can Control" list. Which of these items are you working on now? Are there any you can commit to doing or beginning today? Place a check mark next to each item you will activate immediately. This is where you should expend your energy. Few excuses justify inaction in this column. If you feel trapped or helpless, direct your energy to where you can take charge.

The Energy Allocation Exercise is another way to get at the distinction between needs and strategies. Confusing the two always gets us into trouble. If our energy is dwindling or in short supply, then chances are we have gotten hooked on a strategy. When that happens, sorting through our priorities and possibilities can set us on the right path, all over again.

Coaching Inquiries: What is happening with your energy right now? Is it waxing or waning? What things give you energy? How could you do those things more consistently and joyfully? Who could support you in the process?

We invite you to Contact Us using our Feedback Form if you are interested in learning more about LifeTrek Coaching or participating in our Evocative Coach Training Program.

50,000 Daffodils

2010-04-04T00:05:00.000-05:00

Thanks to CL for passing along this anonymous and beautiful story!

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come to see the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead "I will come next Tuesday", I promised a little reluctantly on her third call.

Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren.

"Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch!" My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother." "Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!" I assured her.

"But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this." "Carolyn," I said sternly, "please turn around." "It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."

After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, "Daffodil Garden." We got out of the car, each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight.

It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over the mountain peak and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and saffron and butter yellow. Each different-colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.

"Who did this?" I asked Carolyn. "Just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. That's her home." Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house.

On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking", was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. "50,000 bulbs," it read. The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and one brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958."

For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop. Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration.

That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time--often just one baby-step at time--and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world ...

"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"

My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start tomorrow," she said. She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, "How can I put this to use today?" Use the Daffodil Principle. Stop waiting.....

Until your car or home is paid off
Until you get a new car or home
Until your kids leave the house
Until you go back to school
Until you finish school
Until you clean the house
Until you organize the garage
Until you clean off your desk
Until you lose 10 lbs.
Until you gain 10 lbs.
Until you get married
Until you get a divorce
Until you have kids
Until the kids go to school
Until you retire
Until summer
Until spring
Until winter
Until fall
Until you die...

There is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

So work like you don't need money.

Love like you've never been hurt, and, Dance like no one's watching.

Wishing you a beautiful, daffodil day! Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

We invite you to Contact Us using our Feedback Form if you are interested in learning more about LifeTrek Coaching or participating in our Evocative Coach Training Program.

Evocative Coaching YouTube Videos

2010-03-29T10:21:00.000-05:00

If you have been reading our material for any length of time, then you know that together with my wife and colleague, Megan Tschannen-Moran, I have written a new book titled Evocative Coaching: Transforming Schools One Conversation at a Time. The book comes out in July.

We plan on using and marketing the book in many ways. Megan, who teaches educational leadership at the College of William and Mary, plans to use the book in one of her classes. We also plan to use it as the core textbook for a coach training program that focuses on coaching in K-12 schools. You can find out more about that by going to http://www.evocativecoaching.com/.

To spread the news about our program, and to help explain our coaching model to those who are interested, we just posted three videos on YouTube that came out of a recent presentation to the Training and Technical Assistance Center at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. I hope you will follow the links, watch and rate the videos, post a comment, and otherwise let us know your thoughts and feelings. Thanks!

Our YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/evocativecoaching

Coaching Inquiries: What is your interest when it comes to the work of schools? How could you assist schools to be more productive and rewarding places? If you don't work in a school, would you be willing to volunteer in one? What would you most enjoy doing?

We invite you to Contact Us using our Feedback Form if you are interested in learning more about LifeTrek Coaching or participating in our Evocative Coach Training Program.

Leadership 101

2010-03-25T12:12:00.000-05:00

Laser Provision: In the USA, it's March Madness when it comes to college basketball. The top teams, male and female, in every division are in the midst of their playoffs. One thing every team has in common is that every team has a coach. This designated leader is responsible for recruitment, training, strategy, practice, and execution on the court. The buck stops there when it comes to leadership. One of the more legendary coaches is "Coach K" from Duke University. What's the secret to his success? Nurturing relationships, building infrastructure, and establishing high standards. With that, we kick off our new Provision series on leadership. Read Entire Provision...

Coaching Inquiries: What leadership responsibilities do you hold? In what ways to you nurture relationships? Build infrastructure? Establish high standards? How would you describe those standards? How well do you live by them? Who could assist you to clarify and strengthen your standards?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Coach K Leadership Quotes

2010-03-21T18:50:00.000-05:00

Now that Duke has advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA men's basketball tournament, I thought you might enjoy these "Coach K" leadership quotes:

"I don’t look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball."
"Effective teamwork begins and ends with communication."
"Too many rules get in the way of leadership. They just put you in a box...People set rules to keep from making decisions."
"People have to be given the freedom to show the heart they possess. I think it’s a leader’s responsibility to provide that type of freedom. And I believe it can be done through relationships and family. Because if a team is a real family, it’s members want to show you their hearts."
"Confrontation simply means meeting the truth head-on."
"During critical periods, a leader is not allowed to feel sorry for himself, to be down, to be angry, or to be weak. Leaders must beat back these emotions."
"Leaders have to give time for relationships. But more demands will be placed on their time as they become more successful. So if a person’s success is based on developing relationships, then they have to continually find new ways of getting it done."
"Every leader needs to remember that a healthy respect for authority takes time to develop. It’s like building trust. You don’t instantly have trust, it has to be earned."
"Leaders should be reliable without being predictable. They should be consistent without being anticipated."

Coaching Inquiries: Which of these quotes speak to you? Which ones concern you? How can you bring their wisdom into your own life? How can you become more of a leader from whatever position you play? How can you empower others to be great?

We invite you to Contact Us using our Feedback Form if you are interested in learning more about LifeTrek Coaching or participating in our Evocative Coach Training Program.

Guidelines for Living with Children

2010-03-17T19:57:00.000-05:00

Just in case you have not had enough Guidelines for Living, the North Carolina Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Online website offers the following 10 Guidelines for Living with Children. If you find them interesting or want to learn more, I encourage to visit their site for a full description.

"Catch 'em being good." -- The single most important rule in living with a child is to find things to praise
"Let them help you." -- The second most important rule is to let your children help you
Monitor your children. -- When your children are playing quietly, catch them being good! Don't ignore them.
Home routines and responsibilities should (within reason) be orderly and predictable.
Discipline and enforcement of discipline should be as matter of fact as possible. -- Follow through with logical consequences.
Lectures belong in lecture halls; not in homes. -- Do not lecture your children, not even under the guise of reasoning with them.
Show sympathy when you discipline. -- Be empathetic but don't give in.
Prompting and modeling, or imitating. -- Children learn by what they see, and hear you and others do.
Be a mother, not a martyr. -- Find a good babysitter or preschool, and take a breather.
Parents are teachers. -- Whether you program it or not, whether you intend it or not, you teach your children through your interactions with them. What you do is more important than what you say.

Coaching Inquiries: Who are the children in your life? What do they learn from how you live your life? When was the last time you went looking for something to celebrate and appreciate? How have you called that to their attention? What would assist you to become a better role model?

We invite you to Contact Us using our Feedback Form if you are interested in learning more about LifeTrek Coaching or participating in our Evocative Coach Training Program.

Eleven Commandments

2010-03-14T13:41:00.000-05:00

Laser Provision: After four months of comparing and contrasting seven different sets of Ten Commandments in my weekly email newsletter, LifeTrek Provisions, it's time to bring this series to a close. So today, if you click through to read the entire Provision, I present my top Eleven Commandments or Guidelines for Living, one right after another. If you've been reading along, then these will be familiar to you. If you are checking this out now, for the first time, then you will get four months of Provisions in one single dose. Either way, I hope you will find this summary to be both helpful and inspirational. I even add a few new pieces that haven't come before. Enjoy! Read Entire Provision...

Coaching Inquiries: What are your guidelines for living? How do they manifest in your life? Which of the above guidelines make the most sense to you? Which ones challenge the way you go about living and organizing your life? Who embodies these guidelines and could serve as role models for you? How could you get closer to them in life and work?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Forgiveness Health Benefits

2010-03-11T19:11:00.000-05:00

MayoClinic.com identifies the following health benefits of forgiveness:

Less stress and hostility
Lower blood pressure
Fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety and chronic pain
Lower risk of alcohol and substance abuse
Healthier relationships
Geater spiritual and psychological well-being

How do we do that? Here is their recommendation for reaching a state of forgiveness:

"Forgiveness is a commitment to a process of change. A way to begin is by recognizing the value of forgiveness and its importance in your life at a given time. Then reflect on the facts of the situation, how you've reacted, and how this combination has affected your life, health and well-being. When you're ready, actively choose to forgive the person who's offended you. Move away from your role as victim and release the control and power the offending person and situation have had in your life. As you let go of grudges, you'll no longer define your life by how you've been hurt. You may even find compassion and understanding."

Coaching Inquiries: How would your health and well being benefit through the practice of forgiveness? What's stopping you from doing that work today?

We invite you to Contact Us using our Feedback Form if you are interested in learning more about LifeTrek Coaching or participating in our Evocative Coach Training Program.

Be Forgiving

2010-03-07T18:32:00.000-05:00

Laser Provision: Have you ever held a grudge? Are you holding one right now? Last week I wrote about the importance of fairness, but fairness without forgiveness can become an obsession. It can eat away at our spirits as we connive and strive to see justice done. Forgiveness is the mitigating factor that releases our bondage to enemy images and aggressive actions. It demands courage and integrity, but it is never too late to forgive. If, when, and how that happens is up to us; this Provision simply points out the value of forgiveness when it comes to making life more wonderful. Read Entire Provision...

Coaching Inquiries: How ready are you to forgive? What has been bothering you and eating away at your heart? What combination of fairness and forgiveness will release your spirit? What and who could assist to get to that place?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Be Fair

2010-03-01T11:52:00.000-05:00

Laser Provision: Fairness conjures up notions of even-handed accounting. Think balance scales, with no one having more or less than anyone else. Although a case can be made for some measure of economic parity in life, fairness also means giving all people the opportunity to meet their needs. This goes far beyond subsistence-level accounting; it goes to the heart of what makes life worth living. When we honor, respect, and cooperate with the strivings of people to meet their many different needs, we make life much more meaningful and satisfying for all. Read entire Provision...

Coaching Inquiries: How do you understand the notion of fairness? Do people treat you fairly? Do you treat other people fairly? How can you assist people to experience more satisfaction in life and work? Who serves as a role model for you in this regard? How can you experience more satisfaction in your own life and work? What's stopping you from doing that today?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Food, Inc.

2010-02-27T21:50:00.000-05:00

How do we meet our needs for clean, healthy food? Having just seen the movie, Food, Inc., it's not that easy anymore. With the growth of the world's population, and the consolidation of that population into cities, agriculture has become big business that taxes the very fabric of life. Plants and animals were not meant to be manipulated into ever higher yields and rapid growth curves; doing so has stressed the system and put our health at risk.

Proponents of agribusiness would argue that this system is the only way to feed the world. Huge, consolidated, high-consuming populations require huge, consolidated, high-yield farming, feeding, and slaughtering operations. That represents what I once called the Planetary Predicament: what's good for individuals and local communities may not produce enough calories to feed 6.5 billion people (let alone the predicted 9.5 billion people by 2050).

Others disagree, however, arguing that huge, consolidated, high-yield farming, feeding, and slaughtering operations may collapse under the weight of disease and detritus. Nature has its ways, and the jury is out as to our long-term ability to go against the grain. Such concerns argue for a more local, distributed, and sustainable approach to the consumption and production of food. If you share that concern, here are ten simple things you can do to make our food system more fair according to Takepart.com:

Stop drinking sodas and other sweetened beverages.
Eat at home instead of eating out.
Support the passage of laws requiring chain restaurants to post calorie information on menus and menu boards.
Tell schools to stop selling sodas, junk food, and sports drinks.
Meatless Mondays -- Go without meat one day a week.
Buy organic or sustainable food with little or no pesticides.
Protect family farms; visit your local farmer's market.
Make a point to know where your food comes from -- READ LABELS.
Tell your government that food safety is important to you.
Demand job protections for farm workers and food processors, ensuring fair wages and other protections.

Coaching Inquiries: What concerns do you have about the food you eat and the liquids you drink? What would you be willing to do to make our food system more fair? Who could join you in the cause? How could you act together to make life better for all?

We invite you to Contact Us using our Feedback Form if you are interested in learning more about LifeTrek Coaching or participating in our Evocative Coach Training Program.

Evocative Coaching Book Contents Unveiled!

2010-02-23T13:24:00.001-05:00

We've just posted the cover, coaching model, and table of contents to our new book, Evocative Coaching: Transforming Schools One Conversation at a Time. You can view these materials by visiting our companion website, http://www.evocativecoaching.com/, or going directly to the PDF file.

The book will be in bookstores in July, and can be pre-ordered today through Amazon and other online book sellers. The book forms the basis of a 12-week coach training program, launching in September, that is ideal for anyone concerned about or tasked with the responsibility for improving the performance of teachers in schools. That includes school leaders, instructional coaches, teachers, and other professional educators. The program can also be helpful to those coaching in other organizational settings.

By learning the art of Story Listening, Expressing Empathy, Appreciative Inquiry, and Design Thinking, we become better able to find our voice and design approaches that work. When we shift awareness and structure conversations using the Evocative Coaching model, new possibilities emerge for enlivening performance improvement and learning conversations. Whether you want to do that for yourself or to help others, this enjoyable and fast-paced training program can make a real difference. We invite you to give it a try. Find out more...

Nurture Planet Earth

2010-02-22T15:21:00.001-05:00

Laser Provision: This truth applies to one and all: we are duty bound to protect and nurture planet earth. Buckminster Fuller long ago challenged us to "do more with less" if we hope to keep this "spaceship earth" in good working order. Others have recognized the need to develop sustainable energy economies and environmental practices. From the micro level of our individual decisions to the macro level of our global policies, our planet is straining under the weight of over-consumption and over-production. Can we do better? This Provision suggests we can and argues we must. Read full article...

Coaching Inquiries: How would you evaluate your "green" consciousness? What is one thing you do to help conserve energy, preserve the environment, and/or advance "green" policies? How can you take a few more steps in the right direction? Who could become your partner in nurturing planet earth?

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Go Green! Newsletter

2010-02-20T18:42:00.001-05:00

It's not often that I feature a government website in LifeTrek Provisions, but given today's topic it's hard to ignore the Go Green! resources through the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Their Monthly Newsletters are archived since they started publishing in July 2007. Recent topics include:

Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth
Recycle your tree
Build a Watersense home!
Heat from the ground up!
Pick 5 for the Environment
eCycle your old computers
Buy or switch to energy efficient lighting
Prevent poisoning in your home
Allow grass clippings to stay on the lawn

You can easily subscribe to the monthly newsletter by email, and I encourage you to do so as a simple way to increase your awareness of green strategies for nurturing planet earth.

Coaching Inquiries: What helps you to become more environmentally conscious? What little things can you do to make a big difference? Who do you know who sets the pace and serves as a positive role model for environmental awareness and action?

We invite you to contact us using our Feedback Form if you are interested in learning more about LifeTrek Coaching or participating in our Evocative Coach Training Program.

Nurture Well Being

2010-02-14T20:42:00.001-05:00

Laser Provision: Today's Provision tells a story of hard work, exhaustion, and recovery with a surprising twist at the end. It's not a story I copied from the Internet. It's my story, and I hope you will find it both interesting and instructive. Only one set of those Ten New Commandments that I introduced last December talk about the importance of looking after the well-being of mind and body. The others are big on caring for children, orphans, parents, families, neighbors, friends, other living things, and the world in general. Apart from healthy rhythms of self-care, however, our caring for others will come up short. If you've been meaning to get around to taking some time for yourself, then perhaps my story will give you a little push to get started sooner rather than later. Read Entire Article...

Coaching Inquiries: What assists you to recover from the stresses and strains of life? How often do you put yourself first, and how often do you sacrifice yourself on the altar of busyness? How would you describe your rhythms, in small, medium, and long chunks? What and who could assist you to make your rhythms more regular and consistent? What's stopping you from taking a break, right now?

To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Running Barefoot?

2010-02-13T18:05:00.000-05:00

I'm not there myself, but there is growing research and debate regarding the biomechanics of running shoes and barefoot running. No one can argue with the fact that running shoes are a pretty recent invention in the grand sweep of human evolution. People have been running barefoot for most of the past 2 million years. The question, then, is whether or not running shoes represent a step forward or a step back in human evolution. In other words, do running shoes do more harm than good?

Fortunately, that question can be researched. In Kenya, which produces many of the world's great marathoners, barefoot running is the norm. Research indicates their biomechanics are different and they suffer fewer injuries than their many equally-fit competitors who run in shoes. Shoes produce more of a heel strike and more of an overall impact shock to the body.

Heel striking is apparently a more efficient way to walk than to run. And many runners just can't imagine giving up their shoes. So there's no definitive, one-size-fits-all recommendation. Yet the proponents are filled with passion, watch video, and many shoe companies are now making shoes designed to simulate barefoot running.

The most extreme is Vibram Five Fingers, which is essentially a rubber glove for your foot. It protects against debris and dangers without changing the biomechanics of running barefoot. The Nike Free 5.0 is less extreme, with a little more padding and still calling for a sock, while its flexible sole seeks to emulate the freedom of barefoot running.

I've been running in the Nike Free for the past month and it is fast becoming my favorite running shoe. It's funny how less can be more. If you give it a try, let me know what you think.

Coaching Inquiries: What helps you to have fun and run injury free? When was the last time you went out to a park or meadow, took off your shoes and socks, and went for a barefoot walk or run? What helps you feel like a kid again? How can you cultivate more spring in your step for life?

We invite you to contact us using our Feedback Form if you are interested in learning more about LifeTrek Coaching or participating in our Evocative Coach Training Program.

Nurture Children

2010-02-09T13:17:00.000-05:00

I'm surprised that only two lists of The Ten New Commandments urge us to protect and nurture children as a guideline for living. If not us, who? If not now, when? Throughout history children have been abused and exploited for the gain, benefit, and sadistic pleasure of adults. Although the world community has clearly condemned such violations and inhumanity, problems continue to this very day. That's why it's important to support organizations like UNICEF. And that's also why it's important to pay attention to our own attitudes and approaches when it comes to children. I say we put the needs of children first. What about you? Read Entire Article...

Coaching Inquiries: Who are the children in your life who need to be protected and nurtured? How can you reach out in ways that help them to become more fully alive? What kind of support are you able to offer? Why not make some child's day today?

To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use the Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Support UNICEF

2010-02-06T22:02:00.001-05:00

I don't know about you, but one of my long-time charities has been the United Nations Children's Fund otherwise known as UNICEF. Created by the United Nations General Assembly in 1946 to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II, UNICEF has grown into a permanent part of the United Nations system, providing long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries.

The UNICEF website highlights the following focus areas:

Child survival and development
Basic education and gender equality
HIV/AIDS and children
Child protection
Policy advocacy and partnerships

And the following reasons for doing what they do:

Because children have rights
Because the world has set goals for children
Because children demand a voice
Because poverty reduction starts with children
Because the people of the world say 'Yes' for children
Because children should not be dying from preventable causes

As one of the primary responders to the tragedy in Haiti and as one of the leading development organizations in the world today, I encourage you to find out more and to support them as best you can. Support UNICEF.

Coaching Inquiries: How might you be able to extend more care and support to children around the world? What kinds of initiatives intrigue or attract you most? Who do you identify as champion of children? How can you reach out today and let them know you care?

We invite you Contact Us using our Feedback Form if you are interested in learning more about LifeTrek Coaching or participating in our Evocative Coach Training Program.

Respect Quotes

2010-02-05T09:24:00.001-05:00

"The first duty of love is to listen." Paul Tillich
"I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being." Jackie Robinson
"Never take a person's dignity: it is worth everything to them, and nothing to you." Frank Barron
"People are respectable only as they respect" Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Self-respect is the fruit of discipline; the sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself." Abraham J. Heschel
"I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it." Harry S Truman
"If we lose love and self respect for each other, this is how we finally die." Maya Angelou

Coaching Inquiries: What increases your self-respect? How well do you listen? When was the last time that you said no to yourself? How can you connect more fully and respectfully with your children? With your parents? What might you do to make love grow?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here.

Be Respectful

2010-01-31T08:25:00.001-05:00

What does it mean to be respectful? What does it mean to listen to someone? Does it mean to take their advice and do whatever they say? Or does it mean to consider their opinion, to strive to meet their needs, to engage in civil discourse, to be honest and humble, and to find as many areas of agreement as possible? Of those two options, I prefer the latter understanding. Respect is not just about showing deference, although at times it's smart to be deferential. Most of the time, however, we can and should speak our mind freely as long as we do so respectfully. Can that happen, especially in the face of strong disagreements? I strive to make that case in today's Provision. Read Entire Article...

Coaching Inquiries: What's your commitment when it comes to respect? Would you say you model respect in all your dealings? How can you cultivate that posture as a strong and present value? What needs would it meet for you to do so? How can you carry yourself forward in that direction? Who would be willing to go with you on the trek?

To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, Contact Us.

Global Weirding

2010-01-28T07:48:00.000-05:00

It was Thomas Friedman, in his book Hot, Flat, and Crowded, who introduced me to the notion of Global Wierding. He credits Hunter Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute as inventing the term. We are not going to see gradual warming. We are going to see weird weather, and often dangerous weather, popping up all over the place.

"The rise in global average temperature (global warming)," writes Friedman, "is actually going to trigger all sorts of unusual weather events – from hotter heat spells and droughts in some places to heavier snows in others, to more violent storms, more intense flooding, downpours, forest fires, and species loss in still others. The weather," in other words, "is going to get weird. It already has."

Interesting story in today's Washington Post on how this is playing out this winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Opinion polls show waning support in the USA for the notion of global warming as being related to human population growth and activities. So, like deficit spending, we push the problem downstream, take our chances, and risk the consequences.

Property Rights

2010-01-25T12:45:00.002-05:00

Laser Provision: Most people know of the most famous sentence in the United States Declaration of Independence, namely that people "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." Most people do not know, however, that earlier documents and drafts asserted the Rights to "Life, Liberty, and Property." It was taken as self-evident that people had the right to own things and to protect as well as to add value to what they owned. "Do not steal," the eighth commandment of Moses, reflects that understanding. But property rights are a complicated guideline for living, and I invite you to read further to explore them more fully. Read Full Provision Here...

Coaching Inquiries: How do you understand your right to the property you own? How can you best use your property and resources to preserve and protect the rights of others? What fears do you have when you think of sharing your property with others? How can you reach beyond your fears to see the needs? Who embodies for you a happy and healthy relationship to money? How can you become more like them?

To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Development Dollars

2010-01-24T00:50:00.002-05:00

In the Harvard Business Review Conversation Blog, Thomas Ogden writes a compelling essay urging companies and individuals to hold back some of their giving for Haiti until after the dust settles on disaster relief. The problem, he argues, is an unfortunate and discernable pattern when things like this happen:

Donations spike in the immediate aftermath.
A huge portion of the funds donated are spent on setting up disaster-relief operations that are no longer the primary need.
A flood of cash and materials cause a logistics nightmare leading to waste and ineffectiveness, if not corruption.
Six months later, reconstruction stalls because the world's attention has moved elsewhere.
And, finally, a series of reports bemoan the fact that too many funds are devoted to disaster relief and not enough to disaster preparedness and reconstruction.

The solution, Ogden argues, is not to suspend relief efforts. That would be heartbreaking and cruel. The solution is to give regularly to thoroughly vetted organizations, such as Partners In Health, so they can respond to emergencies when and where they happen and so they can better facilitate economic and human development during ordinary times. One-time, flash-in-the-pan giving, in response to the disaster of the moment, does not bring long-term relief and invites as many problems as it solves. Ongoing and generous support is the only way to make a real difference in good times and bad.

When companies and individuals adopt such practices, Haitians and other, future disaster victims will benefit most in rebuilding their lives and livelihoods. "One way to do this," Ogden concludes, "that engages employees and customers, is to match the dollars they contribute for immediate relief with a corporate gift for reconstruction, to be given in six or eight months. By that time it will be clear which areas of the rebuilding effort are underfunded. You'll also have time to thoroughly vet agencies, projects, and so forth, to ensure that your donations will do the most good."

The bottom line is that property rights impose social responsibilities. The haves must be smart in assisting the have-nots or we will be constantly struggling to pull drowning people out of the river. It's important that we do that, but it's even more important that we attend to the structures to keep people from falling into the river in the first place.

Coaching Inquiries: What is your pattern of giving? How often do you take the long-term view when it comes to economic and human development? How can you be smarter and more generous about sharing your resources with others? Who could you challenge to be more financially responsible and engaged?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Be Honest

2010-01-21T15:12:00.007-05:00

Laser Provision: It's not always easy to be honest. Sometimes it seems impolite. Why not tell a little lie, or avoid telling the whole truth, to protect someone's feelings? Other times it seems much more costly in terms of our reputation, finances, or influence. Why not tell a big lie, or make up a whole new story, to protect our own interests and / or the interests of others? Then we have those who are paid to lie in the name of "intelligence" or "national security." Honesty is a coveted yet complicated value and today's Provision hopes to sort out some of the nuances. Let me know your thoughts after you read through to the end. Read the Full Provision Here...

Coaching Inquiries: What standards do you hold yourself to when it comes to honesty? How strict are you when it comes to never telling a lie? How would you like to enhance your relationship with the truth? Who could become your "honesty buddy" in life and work?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Outsmart Your Brain

2010-01-15T16:45:00.002-05:00

This past week I spent a day with Marcia Reynolds, a Master Certified Coach, past president of the International Coach Federation, and a Certified Speaking Professional from the National Speaking Association. The focus of her workshop was on the Anatomy of a Keynote speech, but she is best known for her book, Outsmart Your Brain, which applies cognitive neuroscience to leadership. Here is a recent issue of her Brain Tips Newsletter based upon a film that I, too, appreciated and enjoyed thoroughly:

"There are many wonderful lessons on leadership in Clint Eastwood's new film Invictus, a movie based on how Nelson Mandela changed the conversation in South Africa from divisiveness to solidarity. Whether you are an executive, a manager, a coach, a speaker or a writer, you are seeking a following. Here are some tips to help you build your community.

Mandela demonstrated the power of engaging people who see the world differently than you do. It’s easy to get like-minded people to follow you. Yet, as Peter Block says, “Like-mindedness is the enemy of the future.” Your strength as a leader is to engage everyone and to unify diverse, creative thought toward a common mission. Here are a few tips gleaned from Mandela’s wisdom:

Leadership Tip #1: Help people know they can accomplish more than they thought they could. Stand for what is possible not just in your organization, but for each individual including low performers. Your belief in them will often change their minds.

Leadership Tip #2: Truly see people. Know what their joys in life are. Know what they hope for. Know what they think stands in their way. One of the bodyguards in the movie said that he felt he was invisible to the president before Mandela. Yet Mandela knew he loved toffee and often brought it to him after a trip. Feeling visible inspired his dedication and achievement.

Leadership Tip #3: When people come to you for advice, don’t give it to them right away. Discern what they know and fear first, and then discover the answers together. Being “the one who knows” stunts their growth. In Gary Cohen's new book, Just Ask Leadership: Why Great Managers Always Ask the Right Questions, he shows how CEOs, managers, and supervisors can ask the right questions in the right contexts. This empowers coworkers, opening the door to greater productivity and creativity. Gary draws on his own experience as a successful CEO and from his interviews with 100 leaders across the country.

Leadership Tip #4: Forgive. What truly inspired the captain of the rugby team to align with Mandela and lead his team to the World Cup was Mandela’s ability to forgive those who imprisoned him for 27 years. Mandela changed the conversation from Us vs. Them by refusing to fall victim to negative emotions. He didn’t want to live in the story of the past. He sought to create a new story for South Africa based on creating the future. This required hope, not revenge.

The poem, Invictus, written by William Ernest Henley in 1875, kept Mandela’s resolve during his dark years in prison. The last two lines read, "I am the master of my destiny. I am the captain of my soul."

As a leader, you are an example whether you are consciously choosing your behavior or not. Don’t let past transgressions and current fears dictate your behavior. Be clear about your mission, and then see the gifts each person brings to the table. People will follow you based on how you acknowledge and treat them. No matter how brilliant you are, you must show that you care about them to engage their commitment to you and your cause. You can do this if you remain the master of your brain, commandeering your emotions and your actions in the service of your vision."

Want to read more? I encourage to visit Marcia's website, OutsmartYourBrain.com, and sign up for her newsletter.

Coaching Inquiries: How do you respond to challenges in life and work? When life throws you a problem, do you see a possibility? How do you explore those possibilities to generate creative, new alternatives. Who is your mentor when it comes to leadership? How can you be more of a leader from whatever positions you hold?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Seeing You

2010-01-03T12:57:00.001-05:00

This poem was written after seeing the movie Avatar. It speaks to the value of connection and deep appreciation for all of life. I hope you enjoy reading it as much I enjoyed writing it.

Seeing You

When I see you

And you see me

We all see better

Together

When I understand your feelings

And you understand mine

We all understand each other

Better

Together

When I recognize your needs

And you recognize mine

We all recognize the source of life

Vitally

Better

Together

When I hear what you want

And you hear what I want

We all hear how to make life

More Wonderful

Vitally

Better

Together

Coaching Inquiries: Who sees you? Who do you see? How can your connection and mutuality be enhanced? What would make your life more wonderful? How could you make life more wonderful? Vitally. Better. Together.

If you find this poem intriguing, use the Contact Form or Email Bob with your response. We'd love to hear from you and to offer you a complimentary telephone coaching session. Enjoy!

The Future of Coaching

2009-12-19T07:51:00.000-05:00

At the beginning of December I attended the annual international conference of the International Coach Federation (ICF). It was a marvelous event with inspirational keynotes and workshops. Peter Block was right on target with what he had to say about leadership while Getrude Matshe, a native of Zimbabwe who now lives in New Zealand, lived up to her billing as "a vibrant bundle of African energy whose zest and passion for life inspires everyone she meets." You can learn more about her work and life story by going to http://www.bornonthecontinent.com/.

While at the ICF Conference I had the opportunity to meet many people and speak about the future of coaching from the vantage point of the coaching association that I will serve as President of starting in January: the International Association of Coaching (IAC). In some respects, the IAC is similar to the ICF in that we are both concerned about the integrity and viability of the coaching profession. We want people who call themselves "coaches" to abide by high ethical standards and to practice coaching at the highest levels of coaching mastery. That is why both organizations seek to recognize, celebrate, and certify coaching excellence.

In other respects, however, the two organizations are different. The IAC has a more open understanding and architecture when it comes to coach training and life experience. We recognize that people come to coaching mastery through many paths, so we do not require a particular path of development for those seeking IAC certification. Instead, we simply require an agreement as to ethical standards, an online evaluation of knowledge and awareness as to coaching proficiencies and standards, and a demonstration of coaching mastery through the submission of recorded coaching sessions. We find the process works well, encouraging diversity, innovation, and professionalism in coaching.

For the first time, in my experience, the ICF Conference was being covered by a dedicated reporter, Mark Joyella, who published "breaking news" style reports on http://www.coachingcommons.org/ (a clearing house for all things having to do with coaching and coaching research). Although the tone of Mark's report regarding the IAC and our presence at the Conference was a bit surprising -- who knew that cooperation could be so scandalous -- I appreciated the opportunity to get the word out as to what the IAC stands for and is working on in the year ahead.

To read the story and to watch a short, 3-minute video featuring yours truly, visit the http://coachingcommons.org/featured/the-iac-at-the-icf-conference-more-collaboration-is-key-for-coaching. To learn more about the IAC, to subscribe to our monthly newsletter, the IAC VOICE, and / or to join the Association, visit the IAC online at http://www.certifiedcoach.org./

Coaching Inquiries: What does coaching mean to you? How do you see coaching contributing to your own personal growth and development? What contribution does coaching make in our world today? What's keeping you from finding a coach right now?

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Charter of Compassion TED Talk

2009-12-12T22:18:00.000-05:00

This past summer I had the opportunity to hear and visit with Karen Armstrong at the Chautauqua Institution. Karen, for those who don't know, was once a Roman Catholic nun. It was a hard and difficult road, but she eventually left that calling to join the secular world and follow a different path in 1969. Since that time, however, she has distinguished herself as one of the world's foremost authorities on world religions. Her many books include:

One of Karen's recent passions has been the Charter for Compassion, and that was what she was talking about at Chautauqua. The Charter asserts that: "The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect."

So it "calls upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings -- even those regarded as enemies."

In other words, the Charter calls upon to live by the Golden Rule. Her talk at Chautauqua was similar to a TED Talk she gave in Oxford, England in July 2009 titled "Let's Revive the Golden Rule." It's only 19 minutes long and I encourage you to give it a listen.

Coaching Inquiries: What does your religion, tradition, or culture have to say about the Golden Rule? How do you incorporate that into your own life? Who do you associate with that could support you on the journey? How could the Golden Rule -- the Empathy Rule -- become more a part of our world today?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

The Dangers of Positive Thinking

2009-10-30T23:51:00.001-05:00

In a recent discussion about the dangers of positive thinking in an Appreciative Inquiry listserve, I enjoyed the following comment from Jerry Kaiser of http://www.caringmatters.com/. It's a nice complement to last week's Provision on The Help of Hope. Enjoy and let me know what you think.

Sure positive thinking is dangerous...if you think you can fly off a building. But that's delusional.

Hope is positive thinking, and there would be no success without hope: no invention, no motivational energy to meet a challenge. Hope is what helped Viktor Frankl live through the concentration camps; why dying grandparents miraculously hang on to see their grandchild married; and, according to Suzanne Kobasa's research, why some managers thrive in difficult circumstances, while those who don't have it wither.

The absence of hope is despair, which is why, post WW II, the Soviet bloc countries had the highest suicide rates...and Hope is what made my grandparents leave their homeland with nothing to journey thousands of miles in a cramped ship to a place they'd never seen that spoke a different language...and where they knew that "their kind" were still discriminated against.

If that's the "danger" of positive thinking, let me have more!

Coaching Inquiries: What has been your experience with positive thinking? How intentional are you about practicing it? How has it helped or hurt your quality of life? How can you enhance your experience of positive thinking so that it serves you even more fully?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

The Fun Theory

2009-10-30T23:38:00.003-05:00

I love the theory: make it fun to be good. That's what TheFunTheory.com is all about. here's their blurb:

"This site is dedicated to the thought that something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people’s behavior for the better. Be it for yourself, for the environment, or for something entirely different, the only thing that matters is that it’s change for the better."

Want to see how it works? Watch this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXh2n0aPyw

Now, think for yourself as to how you can make it fun to do better. That is another aspect of the help of hope.

Coaching Inquiries: How do you experience life and work? How can you make them more fun? How can that fun contribute to making the planet a better place to be? How can you become part of the movement? Who would you like to have fun with in this way?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Evocative Coaching Unveiled

2009-10-17T21:58:00.000-05:00

Now that we have gotten the final draft of our book off to our publisher, we've started to focus on supporting materials and training opportunities. The book, Evocative Coaching: Transforming Schools Once Conversation At A Time, will be in bookstores next June. The focus of the book is how teachers, coaches, and school leaders can have enjoyable conversations that evoke motivation and performance-enhancing movement.

What school couldn't use that! This seems like a book whose time has come, especially given the way it brings together my background in coaching with my wife's background in educational leadership. It's a perfect marriage, in more ways than one.

Although the book will be a while in coming, we have unveiled our companion website, http://www.evocativecoaching.com/, in advance of our trip to and presentation at the upcoming School Administrators' Conference in the Philippines. We encourage you to visit the site, since it will give you a sense of our orientation and approach. You will also read, in the training section, about a unique opportunity to participate in a pilot training program, starting next April, based upon the book.

If you are a teacher, coach, school leader, or otherwise tasked with the responsibility to improve the performance of schools, then this training program may be just what you've been looking for. The opportunity to take the training program at a cost of US $100 reflects that we are field testing the program and will not come again. Since it is all conducted by telephone and over the Internet, just about anyone will be able to participate. I encourage you to take a look and to sign up if you are both interested and involved with school improvement.

Coaching Inquiries: What has been your relationship to school improvement? How could you strengthen your capacities? What interest might you have in learning the Evocative Coaching process? Who could you tell about the program and how could you share the training together?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Vitamin D3

2009-10-10T20:49:00.000-05:00

Dr. Andrew Weil recently updated his recommendation as to how much supplementary Vitamin D₃ an adult should be taking on a daily basis to 2,000 International Units. Dr. Mercola (not a medical doctor) thinks that should be even higher. Probably 5,000 IUs. He notes that a day of summer sun can generate about 20,000 units of Vitamin D, and that that is probably what our bodies are evolutionarily suited for.

The current U.S. RDA of 400 IUs is grossly inadequate for anything other than preventing rickets. Yet Vitamin D has a documented role in preventing many chronic diseases, such as cancer and heart disease, as well as infections. To be protected from those maladies, we need more Vitamin D coursing through our veins.

The only way to know for sure how much supplementary Vitamin D₃ one should take is to have a blood test. That combines what you are taking as a supplement with what your body is able to produce naturally from the sun. The farther away from the equator you live, the more Vitamin D₃ you will need.

My wife and I have been taking 2,000 IUs of Vitamin D3 for many years. She recently had her blood levels checked and the doctor was pleasantly surprised to find her in the acceptable range (32-56 ng/ml). "No one ever tests out in the acceptable range!" he exclaimed. Guess it helps to read health literature and to act upon science-based recommendations. I encourage you to do the same.

Coaching Inquiries: How much supplementary Vitamin D₃ do you take on a daily basis? Where could you go to get your blood checked? What would stop you from taking at least 2,000 IUs of Vitamin D₃ right now, with or without the blood test? I encourage you to make the change.

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Autonomy and Life

2009-10-03T20:51:00.002-05:00

A friend and reader of Provisions alerted me this past week to the website and blog of Arnold Siegel: http://autonomyandlife.com/. It sure goes along with today's Provision on deepening your focus. Listen to how Siegel describes the Autonomy and Life process:

Autonomy and Life is a new discipline that imaginatively captures history’s evolving design of the self to enable each student to create and work toward goals tailored to individual temperament, talent, sensibilities and circumstances. Autonomy and Life offers a new technology for change -- rooted in pragmatic reasoning, insight and practical wisdom.

Autonomy and Life offers a new 21st century perspective on the best understandings of nature, history, language and culture that serve as a means for sovereign authority over our lives, and for a fuller and more fulfilling experience of our humanity.

Autonomy and Life provides an artful new vocabulary that distinguishes that which was undifferentiated and rediscovers that which has lost meaning — to re-enchant the world, to re-establish our affinity with others, and to re-awaken our hopes for tomorrow.

Autonomy and Life provides the new freedom to distance ourselves from the confines of our own unquestioned assumptions and to interrogate the typically unexamined and unevaluated cultural constraints to which we are born.

Sound interesting? You might want to check out the site for yourself. Here's the link to his blog: http://autonomyandlife.com/#/blog.

Coaching Inquiries: What are your unquestioned assumptions? How could you enhance your experience of autonomy and life? What would your life look like if your were crafting it according to your own vision: your destiny, cause, and calling? Who could share the journey with you to a "fuller and more fulfilling experience of our humanity"?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Lucid Dreaming

2009-09-26T20:26:00.000-05:00

I read an interesting story in the New York Times concerning the upcoming publication of a heretofore unpublished work of Carl Jung, founder of analytical psychology. The Red Book, as it is called, represents his dream journal and dream experiments, kept on and off for about 16 years. He never published it because he thought it would subject him to ridicule. Yet, "All my works, all my creative activity," he would recall later, "has come from those initial fantasies and dreams."

Dream are like that. They can embarrass us even as they lead us to greatness. To encourage your own dream work, I thought I would pass along these "7 Steps to Start Lucid Dreaming". Lucid dreaming is consciously being aware within your dream. When you are dreaming and you become conscious that you are dreaming you can start to influence your dreams and the direction they go in. Enjoy these tips and use them well!

1. Remember your ordinary dreams.
A lot of people say ‘I don’t dream’, everybody dreams, whilst you may not remember them you still dream. To start remembering your dreams try this simple technique. Each night before drifting off to sleep repeat the phrase ‘I will remember my dreams as soon as I wake up’. Say this phrase over and over until you fall asleep, after a few days you will start to remember your ordinary dreams.

2. Keep a dream journal
This can be tedious but it’s well worth the effort. Even writing a few short sentences about your dream is enough. This will get you into the habit of remembering your ordinary dreams and to start looking for dream signs within your dreams. It can also be a tool to analyze your thought processes.

3. Pick out dream signs
A lot of your ordinary dreams will have objects or people in them that could act as a cue to you waking up in your dreams. For example if you regularly talk to ‘Elvis’ in your ordinary dreams this is an obvious dream sign and can be used to ask yourself if you are dreaming because you know Elvis is dead.

4. Notice your waking world
To be conscious in your dream world means you have to be conscious in your waking world. That might sound crazy, as you are conscious when you are awake. But we must be "consciously focused" when we are awake. For example, we are consciously focused when learning a new task, we are thinking about every action we are taking to get the right steps. When we have learned the new task we no longer have to focus as intently as we did when learning it. Being consciously focused means looking around and saying what we see, feel, hear, smell and touch and voicing it. This has the added benefit of being in the moment and can guide us to inner calmness, it’s almost Zen like. If we start to consciously focus on the world around us, we will carry this over into the dream world.

5. Ask yourself; "Am I dreaming?"
Ask yourself just now "Am I dreaming?". Your obvious answer is to say no, of course you are not dreaming. How do you know? Don’t just say; "Because I know". Try and think about why you know that you are not dreaming. For example you could say, "If I was dreaming I would be able to fly". When you are dreaming you cannot read text for longer than a few seconds, so try reading text to prove to yourself you are not dreaming. This again will carry over into your dreaming world and you will start asking the same questions in your dreams which can turn into a lucid dream.

6. Your first lucid dream
Many people have their first lucid dream simply by reading about it. You might find that you become over-excited and lose the lucid dream. Often, however, your first lucid dream will be remembered for years to come.

7. Staying lucid
To stay within a dream, calm yourself down with self talk and dream spinning. If you find that you are losing your lucidity you can talk to yourself to calm yourself down and just start noticing the things around you in your dream. Dream spinning is when you feel you are losing control of your dream and you mentally spin like a tornado to stay within your dream. This is focusing the mind on staying lucid.

Coaching Inquiries: How would you describe your dream life? Do you write them down? Do you seek to enhance their influence through lucid dreaming? How could your dreams become more interesting and available as a resource for happiness? Who could you talk with about your dreams? Why not start tonight?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or email us at Coach@LifeTrekCoaching.com.

Broaden Your Focus

2009-09-20T06:25:00.001-05:00

Sometimes it's hard, in the thick of the fray, to maintain a positive focus. On those occasions, it may be time to step back and look the situation over from a distance. Viewed from the right vantage point, opportunities become visible in ways that might otherwise be unimaginable. So do yourself a favor and unplug from the daily grind. Step back to the 10,000 foot level. Appreciate your strategic advantages. Then, once your mood has improved, reengage with the zest that comes from a positive outlook. Today's Provision shows you how.

To reply to this Provision, use our Feedback Form. To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, Email Us or use our Contact Form to arrange a complimentary conversation. To learn more about LifeTrek Coaching programs, Click Here.

Fueling Positivity & Creativity

2009-09-18T15:19:00.001-05:00

I was very moved this past week by a story in the Washington Post titled "Running For My Life" by Daniele Seiss. It details her lifelong struggles with depression as well as her experience with running as the most effective and health-promoting anti-depressant of all. Although I have never struggled with depression, her story spoke to my own experience regarding the many benefits of running. I especially appreciated these paragraphs:

"I had once been warned that the type and severity of my depression made it very likely I'd relapse after going off medication, that it was just a matter of time. So I had somewhat expected the crash. But going back on medication didn't help. And finally I recognized what I should have seen all along, that running had saved me, and so I hit the streets again. At first it was three to five miles at a time, three days a week. My mood improved quickly. But it wasn't until I started running long distances -- 30, then up to 50 miles a week, regularly -- that I began to really experience its full benefits for health and happiness.

Now, if I am feeling down, I go for a run. I usually start feeling better almost as I head out the door -- in part, I believe, because I am taking charge and doing something. But by mile four, I can actually feel my thinking beginning to change, from negative to positive, as if four miles, or about 30 minutes, is some kind of threshold. On longer runs, by about mile 13 or 14, I start to feel a mild euphoria. If I run faster, I'll notice it earlier. If I'm doing an easier, slower run, it takes a bit longer.

On really long runs, of 18 to 20 miles or more, the nature of my thoughts go beyond just positive to creative. I start having brainstorms, one after the other, and I begin to feel "one with things," for lack of a better way to describe it. It's like deep meditation in which your personal boundaries open up and you no longer notice where you end and everything else begins.

I have figured out that if I run at least four miles, I feel relaxed, positive and clearheaded, feelings that can last from hours to days. And if I do so consistently, I won't fall into a really dark state."

Now you know the answer to that frequently asked question, "Where do all those Provisions come from?" Running! I often go from positive to creative, with incredible bursts of brainstorming on a wide variety of topics, on my longer runs. And it's not just running. Any extended endurance activity will do much the same. So if you want to benefit your brain, it's time to go for a run.

Coaching Inquiries: What stimulates positivity and creativity in your life? How could you get more of those things? What place does endurance activities play in your life? How might you incorporate some? Who might be interested in doing them with you?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Careful With NSAIDs

2009-09-12T21:03:00.002-05:00

Today I was on a relay team, running the half-marathon leg of the Patriots Half Triathlon. One person swam 1.2 miles in the brackish water of the James River. Then, a second person rode his bike for 56 miles through woods, farmlands, and lakes on mostly flat terrain. Finally, I ran a half marathon -- 13.1 miles -- on a course that was delightfully shaded. Given that I was running at noon, on a hot and sunny day, I was very appreciative of the shade.

My time was an acceptable one hour, fifty minutes. I went in thinking it might be possible to average 8:45 a mile or better. I ended up averaging 8:27 a mile. That's better! It's time for me to think seriously about qualifying for the Boston marathon again (I've done that twice in the past 10 years, each time as I entered a new age bracket). 2010 would be the next time for me to do that. We'll see.

One thing is clear, however: I will not be using ibuprofen or other Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory painkillers (or NSAIDs) prophylactically. In other words, I will not be taking ibuprofen before, during, or after races to ward off pain or to prevent pain from developing. I never have taken many NSAIDs period, and now I have new reason to avoid them: a report in the New York Times makes clear the health hazards of such practices. To quote the article:

"Those runners who'd popped over-the-counter ibuprofen pills before and during the race displayed significantly more inflammation and other markers of high immune system response afterward than the runners who hadn’t taken anti-inflammatories. The ibuprofen users also showed signs of mild kidney impairment and, both before and after the race, of low-level endotoxemia, a condition in which bacteria leak from the colon into the bloodstream."

Yikes! The article concludes that NSAIDs are appropriate only when a person suffers inflammation and pain from acute injury. Some would even dispute that, at least as a first resort, preferring instead the age old recommendation of RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Whereas NSAIDs reduce pain, natural practices such as RICE give a body the relief it needs to heal.

Right now I am running injury free -- always a cause for celebration, appreciation, and gratitude. But if and when discomforts begin, I will not be trying to mask or run through the pain with ibuprofen in my system. The risks are just too great. I hope you will do the same.

Coaching Inquiries: What's your pattern when it comes to NSAIDs? What natural approaches do you try first? How can you be more attentive to and respectful of your body? How you can you push your body to the limit without going over the top? How can you find a rhythm of work and rest that will keep you going for life?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Write a Gratitude Letter

2009-08-29T19:49:00.000-05:00

Last week I encouraged you to speak out loud or to write down the things you are grateful. Big things. Little things. Lots of things. A few things. Daily. Weekly. Whenever. The more we can acknowledge and celebrate the good stuff, the better off we are.

Positive psychologists have been researching the effect of all this, and it's demonstrable. If you want to improve your life, starting by framing the positive. Another way to do that is to write a gratitude letter. We don't have to wait until someone dies to think of how they have contributed to our well being. We can do it right now, and we can write a letter of thanks.

Assuming the person that comes to mind is still alive, we can write that letter and deliver it to them either personally or by mail. The more personal the better when it comes to the letter's impact. A gratitude visit, with no intention other than to frame the positive, is a powerful experience.

A hand-written letter can also be very touching. In this day and age, when everything is becoming electronic, a hand-written gets more rather than less attention. I've been on both the receiving and the giving side of these letters, and I know what a difference they make. When one comes in the mail, they brighten up my entire day. When I send one, I also feel good.

Framing the positive is like that. It benefits both the giver the receiver. There really is no better way to live.

Coaching Inquiries: Who has made a positive difference in your life? How could you frame that difference in appreciative ways? How could you share that difference with them, through memory and action? What steps would you like to take right now?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Keep a Gratitude Journal

2009-08-22T21:52:00.000-05:00

We don't do it every night, in fact, we go through spurts where we don't do it at all, but we do it often enough to qualify as one of our habits: my wife and I keep a gratitude journal. At the end of day, as we lie in bed, before we go to sleep, we each say out loud three things we appreciate about our day. As we say them, we record them in a dated journal. From time to time, we review and read past entries out loud in order to celebrate our life journey.

That was easy to do this past week, since we just celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary. We saw a romantic movie, "The Time Traveler's Wife," after which I broke with the Optimum Wellness Prototype to enjoy my favorite dairy product: a banana malt. What fun! Even in ordinary times, however -- when I'm staying on my diet -- as well as in hard times -- when I'm facing life's challenges -- the practice of speaking and writing down our appreciations makes a difference.

That's because the practice focuses the mind and enhances the experience. We are not just going mindlessly through life. We are, rather, appreciating life as a gift. That is, indeed, why it's called the present. The more appreciation we cultivate the more reality shifts in that direction. It seems to be how life works. Some even call it a "spiritual law." What we appreciate, appreciates. So find things to celebrate that you would like to develop further in your life. The more you notice and appreciate them, the more they will grow.

Coaching Inquiries: What three things can you celebrate right now in your life and work? What's stopping you from writing them down? How might you develop appreciation routines on a day-to-day basis? Who could you do those with?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Organic Dry Egg Whites

2009-07-30T17:12:00.001-05:00

Many of you know that I like to start my day with a fruit smoothie that includes protein, healthy fat, and enough fiber to have my recipe gain the nickname of a Fruit Chewy.

You can access that recipe, including all my suppliers, as well as six other recipes by going to the recipe section of our website: www.LifeTrekCoaching.com/recipes. Recently it was time for me to reorder my egg white protein, and the shipment came with an information sheet that I would like to pass along. First, a word about the nutritional value of egg white protein powder. As a whole food, there is no more nutritionally complete protein powder on the market. Egg white protein powder has no fat, virtually no carbohydrates, and a full spectrum of amino acids, including L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Lysine, L-Methionine, L-Phenylalanine, L-Threonine, L-Alanine, L-Arginine, L-Aspartic Acid, L-Glutamic Acid, L-Glycine, L-Histidine, L-Proline, and L-Serine. 1/4 cup (20 gm, 60 CC) contains about 75 calories, 16 grams of protein, no cholesterol, and more than 25% of the recommended daily value of Riboflavin (B2).

Dry egg whites are a perfect way for vegetarians (but not vegans) to meet their nutritional requirements. Indeed, egg whites contain over 40 different proteins, making it one of the highest-quality proteins on the market. Better than whey, soy, rice, and other vegetable powders. The trick, then, is to find the best quality product on the market with no additives from happy, organic, free-range chickens. It took me many years to find such a supplier, but I eventually located Farmer's Organic Foods International (FOF) in Blair, Wisconsin.

How's this for a naturally simple process: after collecting the eggs they separate the yolks from the egg whites and then they spray the egg whites in a fine mist into a heat-controlled room. When the mist hits the warm air it turns to a powder and falls to the floor where it is sifted through a mesh screen to generate a uniformly small particle size. That's it. There's no more processing, unless you include scooping it up and packaging it. I purchase the 1-pound sample packs, although it can also be purchased in 50-pound cartons. The product is stable up to two years when stored at room temperatures below 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius).

In addition to putting this protein in my morning fruit smoothies, I also make up my own sports drink, combining the egg white protein powder with HEED, a high-energy electrolyte carbohydrate powder from Hammer Nutrition, in a 1:4 ratio. That 1:4 ratio is proven to enhance endurance over pure carbohydrate drinks, gels, and chews. In case you want to try this yourself, you mix 1 pound of the egg white powder together with 2 large bottles (4 pounds) of HEED. I prefer the Lemon-Lime flavor, although they also have Strawberry, Melon, and Mandarin Orange.

Want to learn more or want to order the FOF egg white powder for yourself? Go to www.organiceggproducts.com for information, and to the Specialty Product area for ordering. You can also email them or call them in the USA at (608) 989-2500. It's a great way to start your day.

Coaching Inquiries: How do you start your day when it comes to nutrition? What are your sources of protein? What do you do for energy when you are exercising for extended periods of time? How could egg white protein become a regular part of your routine? Who else could you tell about these helpful products?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

The End of Overeating

2009-06-27T17:54:00.003-05:00

I enjoyed the book review of Dr. Kessler's recent book, The End of Overeating, in the New York Times titled "How the Food Makers Captured Our Brains" by Tara Parker-Pope. If you don't have time to read the book, I encourage you to read the article. Here's a few snippets for those who don't even have time to do that:

In "The End of Overeating," Dr. Kessler finds some similarities between the tobacco industry and the food industry, which has combined and created foods in a way that taps into our brain circuitry and stimulates our desire for more.

Dr. Kessler isn’t convinced that food makers fully understand the neuroscience of the forces they have unleashed, but food companies certainly understand human behavior, taste preferences and desire. In fact, he offers descriptions of how restaurants and food makers manipulate ingredients to reach the aptly named "bliss point." Foods that contain too little or too much sugar, fat or salt are either bland or overwhelming. But food scientists work hard to reach the precise point at which we derive the greatest pleasure from fat, sugar and salt.

Foods rich in sugar and fat are relatively recent arrivals on the food landscape, Dr. Kessler noted. But today, foods are more than just a combination of ingredients. They are highly complex creations, loaded up with layer upon layer of stimulating tastes that result in a multisensory experience for the brain. Food companies "design food for irresistibility," Dr. Kessler noted. "It’s been part of their business plans."

One of his main messages is that overeating is not due to an absence of willpower, but a biological challenge made more difficult by the overstimulating food environment that surrounds us. "Conditioned hypereating" is a chronic problem that is made worse by dieting and needs to be managed rather than cured, he said. And while lapses are inevitable, Dr. Kessler outlines several strategies that address the behavioral, cognitive and nutritional factors that fuel overeating.

You'll have to read the book to get Kessler's prescription, but it's not a quick fix and not for the faint of heart. It takes a strong desire to be well and then a clear plan for getting the necessary nutrition and exercise our bodies need. The LifeTrek Optimal Wellness Prototype is one way to do that, and I encourage you to give it a try.

Coaching Inquiries: How many processed foods do you eat? How many raw and whole food do you eat? How could you structure your routines and your environments to eat better? Who do you know who might be interest in joining you on the question? Why not give them a call, right now?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Voice Dialogue

2009-06-13T21:25:00.001-05:00

Hal and Sidra Stone first developed the voice dialogue process in 1972. It has continued to evolve ever since, and their website includes an abundant set of resources and training opportunities. Building on the line from Walt Whitman's poem, "I am large, I contain multitudes", the Stones include the following paragraph on their website describing their goals and process:

"Each of us 'contains multitudes'. We are made up of many selves, identifying with some and rejecting others. This over-identification with some selves and the loss of wholeness that comes from the rejection of others, can create imbalances and blind spots. This work is about embracing all the selves. This dance of the selves is an amazing process and we see the dynamics of the world around us shift as our internal world changes."

In addition to a live "dream room", their website includes many articles and resources. Some of the titles includes: "The Basic Elements of Voice Dialogue, Relationship and the Psychology of Selves their Origins and Development, The Dance of the Selves in Relationship, The Inner Critic, A Professional Point of View -- the Psychology of Selves, Voice Dialogue -- Discovering Our Selves, Judgment and What to Do with It, and Partnering: A New Kind of Relationship."

I encourage you to check out the website and see what it has to offer.

Coaching Inquiries: What do you have to learn from your many selves? How can you come into a more positive relationship with your many selves? How can the conversation lead to an authentic sense of wholeness? Who can you talk with to get started on the dialogue?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Focusing

2009-06-06T19:11:00.001-05:00

What is going on with you? What is your body-mind trying to tell you? How might you get in touch with these messages as a way of healing and relieving stress? One method developed in the 1960s by Eugene Gendlin, at the University of Chicago, is called Focusing. Here is a Focusing process defined by two of Gendlin's students, Peter Campbell and Edwin McMahon. There's no way to get all the nuances or to practice it effectively from this outline, but it will give you a sense of how the process works:

Get quiet inside.
Ask yourself, "What feels like it most needs listening to inside me right now?" Take time to notice what that is. Notice where you feel it and how it feels in your body.
Ask yourself, "Is it OK to be with this right now?" If the answer is YES, continue with 4 and 5. If the answer is NO, ask yourself, "Can I be with my feeling of not wanting to be with this?" If that is still not acceptable, then ask yourself, "What can I be with?"
If the issue is one that doesn't feel good, sense whether you can give it some caring-presence. Notice how it feels to be with it this way. Then, ask yourself:
"Can I let myself feel the whole thing in an open, gentle way, waiting for something to come -- a word, a feeling, an image, a memory -- that fits the way it feels?" If the answer is YES, go to 6. If the answer is NO, ask yourself, "Is it OK to be with the feeling of not wanting to get near it?"
If something comes, notice how this feels in your body (don't just try to figure it out with your head). If it's OK to continue, stay with the body-feel of whatever came, allowing your inner story to unfold until it feels right to stop.
If nothing comes, or you have to stop before finishing, always promise this unfinished place that you will come back to listen again. If it helps, ask whatever feels incomplete inside: "How do you need me to be with you until you are ready to tell me your story?"
If something has unfolded, take time to notice the difference in how it feels now as contrasted with how it felt when you started. Allow time to savor and especially note the body-feel of that change. Finally, you might want to linger in gratitude with the feel of this gifted movement before stopping.

Would you like to learn more? You can read their book: Bio-Spirituality: Focusing As A Way To Grow, read a description of the process at Focusing.org, or work directly with a Focusing Trainer.

Coaching Inquiries: When has your body spoken to you? What would assist you to get quiet enough to listen? Is there anything pressing that you want to focus on? Is there anything vague or subtle that may be stirring? How could you integrate these sensations into your personality and consciousness? What would assist you to move forward with joy?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Positive Psychology Tips

2009-05-22T17:03:00.002-05:00

One of the most popular classes at Harvard University is a course called Positive Psychology, taught by Tal Ben-Shahar, which focuses on topics such as "happiness, self-esteem, empathy, friendship, love, achievement, creativity, music, spirituality, and humor". Last September I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Ben-Shahar at a conference where he summarized some of the current research on how to be happy. I wrote a Provision about that myself a couple of years ago that continues to be quite popular.

So what does current research recommend? Here's a quick summary as reported in the June 2009 issue of Consumer Reports on Health:

Count the positive. People who literally counted their blessings had a greater sense of well-being in several studies conducted by researchers at the University of Miami and the University of California, Davis.
Be thankful. People experience a better mood for up to a month after they gave a letter of gratitude to someone who had been kind to them.
Make friends. Chronic loneliness is associated with higher rates of high blood pressure, inactivity, smoking, and stress, according to several studies.
Volunteer. People who donated an average of four hours a week to good causes reported a greater sense of optimism, self-esteem, and sociability, a February 2009 Australian study found.
Focus on the present. Employees who participated in an eight-week meditation course based on mindfulness, or focusing on the here and now, reported less anxiety -- and brain scans showed greater activity in the region associated with happiness even four months after the course ended.
Follow your passion. Too often we "give up the things we enjoy and end up with a very thin life," says Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Ph.D., a psychology professor a Claremont on Graduate University in California. So identify what you love doing, or want to try, then do it.
Move. Exercise helps give you a sense of control and can ease depression as effectively as medication.
Laugh. That may reduce stress, help maintain a healthy immune system, and improve arterial blood flow.

Coaching Inquiries: How many of these eight are part of your life on a regular basis? Which ones would you like to pay more attention to? How could you develop some daily happiness habits? Who could you talk to clarify your thinking and make some commitments for moving forward?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Sleeping Positions

2009-05-16T19:31:00.001-05:00

A recent article on sleeping positions in body + soul magazine identifies the three most common, troublesome sleeping styles:

Sleeping on your side with arm under your head. Negatively impacts neck, shoulders, arms, and fingers. Fixes: Do shoulder stretches when you first wake up. Look for a pillow that fills the space between your ear and the outer edge of your shoulder when you're lying on your side. Also, sleep with a small pillow between your knees.
Sleeping on your stomach. Negatively impacts low back, neck, and lungs. Fixes: Stop sleeping on your stomach; it's the worst position for your spine. Switch to side sleeping with a body pillow if you can't learn to sleep on your back. Do side stretches and bridge poses when you first wake up.
Sleeping on your back with a big pillow. Negatively impacts neck, throat, and chest. Fixes: Do neck releases and lie flat on a mat on the floor with a rolled up blanket or towel placed horizontally under your shoulder blades when you first wake up. If you must have a pillow, make it as thin as possible.

So what's the recommended sleeping position for restorative rest? Sleeping on your back with no pillow. That keeps your spine in alignment, letting your body heal while you sleep.

Coaching Inquiries: What positions do you tend to sleep in? How could you get in the habit of stretching when you first wake up? What's keeping you from sleeping in the recommended position? Why not try falling asleep in that position tonight?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Self-Compassion

2009-05-09T16:22:00.001-05:00

There are many resources on the web regarding self-compassion. I like the website developed by Kristin Neff, Ph.D., an Associate Professor in the Educational Psychology Department at the University of Texas at Austin. Here is what Dr. Neff has to say about the three elements of self-compassion:

Self-kindness. Self-compassion entails being warm and understanding toward ourselves when we suffer, fail, or feel inadequate, rather than ignoring our pain or flagellating ourselves with self-criticism. Self-compassionate people recognize that being imperfect, failing, and experiencing life difficulties is inevitable, so they tend to be gentle with themselves when confronted with painful experiences rather than getting angry when life falls short of set ideals. People cannot always be or get exactly what they want. When this reality is denied or fought against suffering increases in the form of stress, frustration and self-criticism. When this reality is accepted with sympathy and kindness, greater emotional equanimity is experienced.
Common humanity. Frustration at not having things exactly as we want is often accompanied by an irrational but pervasive sense of isolation -- as if "I" were the only person suffering or making mistakes. All humans suffer, however. The very definition of being "human" means that one is mortal, vulnerable and imperfect. Therefore, self-compassion involves recognizing that suffering and personal inadequacy is part of the shared human experience -- something that we all go through rather than being something that happens to "me" alone. It also means recognizing that personal thoughts, feelings and actions are impacted by "external" factors such as parenting history, culture, genetic and environmental conditions, as well as the behavior and expectations of others. Thich Nhat Hahn calls the intricate web of reciprocal cause and effect in which we are all imbedded "interbeing." Recognizing our essential interbeing allows us to be less judgmental about our personal failings.
Mindfulness. Self-compassion also requires taking a balanced approach to our negative emotions so that feelings are neither suppressed nor exaggerated. This equilibrated stance stems from the process of relating personal experiences to those of others who are also suffering, thus putting our own situation into a larger perspective. It also stems from the willingness to observe our negative thoughts and emotions with openness and clarity, so that they are held in mindful awareness. Mindfulness is a non-judgmental, receptive mind state in which one observes thoughts and feelings as they are, without trying to suppress or deny them. We cannot ignore our pain and feel compassion for it at the same time. At the same time, mindfulness requires that we not be "over-identified" with thoughts and feelings, so that we are caught up and swept away by negative reactivity.

You can read a whole lot more, including 30 journal articles and book chapters, by visiting www.self-compassion.org.

Coaching Inquiries: What would assist you to be more self-compassionate? Who could you rely on as an empathy buddy? How could you more fully embrace the goodness life has to offer? How could you accept life from the posture of mindful awareness?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Stand By Me Video

2009-04-11T19:52:00.000-05:00

Want to renew your energy right now? Then turn up the volume on your speakers and go to http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741.

The clip is a wonderful music video based on the classic song, "Stand By Me", originally released in 1955 by The Staple Singers and released again in 1961 by the Drifters.

The video is an amazing composite of different singers and musicians from different places around the world all singing the same song. The finished product is tremendous and, for me, it's made even more fun by the fact that I've seen the first artist, Roger Ridley, performing live on the Third Street Promenade of Santa Monica. How fun!

Coaching Inquiries: What songs renew your energy and zest for life? When was the last time that you sat back and enjoyed them? How could you get more of the music your love into your life?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Being In Flow

2009-04-04T20:41:00.001-05:00

How do we know if we are in flow? In the March 24, 2009 edition of HEALTHbeat, a publication of Harvard Medical School, researchers identified the following five characteristics:

You lose awareness of time. You aren’t watching the clock, and hours can pass like minutes. As filmmaker George Lucas puts it, talent is “a combination of something you love a great deal and something you can lose yourself in -- something that you can start at 9 o’clock, look up from your work and it’s 10 o’clock at night....”
You aren’t thinking about yourself. You aren’t focused on your comfort, and you aren’t wondering how you look or how your actions will be perceived by others. Your awareness of yourself is only in relation to the activity itself, such as your fingers on a piano keyboard, or the way you position a knife to cut vegetables, or the balance of your body parts as you ski or surf.
You aren’t interrupted by extraneous thoughts. You aren’t thinking about such mundane matters as your shopping list or what to wear tomorrow.
You are active. Flow activities aren’t passive, and you have some control over what you are doing.
You work effortlessly. Flow activities require effort (usually more effort than involved in typical daily experience). Although you may be working harder than usual, at flow moments everything is “clicking” and feels almost effortless.

Coaching Inquiries: What activities get you into flow? How could you do them more often? How could you modify the activities you do right now to make flow more likely?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Understanding Exercise Benefits

2009-02-07T20:34:00.002-05:00

Exertion and recovery figure prominently in my list of ten universal needs. Exercise, broadly understood, is not a strategy. It is a need. It is universal. It is something we require in order to be fully alive. So, too, with recovery. The magic lies in the rhythm of the two.

Last week I shared with you ten suggestions from the Mayo Clinic for overcoming exercise barriers. Today, I share their list of five benefits that accrue from regular exercise:

Helps prevent disease -- Regular exercise reduces your risk of developing illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancers of the colon, prostate, uterine lining (endometrium) and breast.
Helps maintain your independence -- Regular exercise improves your balance, which can reduce your chance of falling and help you retain your independence longer.
Increases life expectancy -- The more active you are, the longer you may live.
Boosts your immune system -- Researchers have found a link between regular exercise and improved immune function.
Gives you energy -- Lack of energy is largely a result of inactivity. Endurance exercises improve stamina and energy. After just a few weeks in a walking program, for example, most people find they have more energy.

The article notes that regular exercises can also enhance sleep, improve sexual health by increasing energy, help with weight loss, help maintain muscle tone, improve mental function, ease anxiety and depression, reduce stress, and improve mood and self-esteem.

What's not to like! Perhaps it's time to make the exertion-recovery spectrum a more active part of your everyday life.

Coaching Inquiries: On the continuum between exertion and recovery, where do you fall? Do you suffer more from overtraining or undertraining? How could achieve a better rhythm between the two? What strategies have worked for you in the past? How can you develop more successful strategies today?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Overcoming Exercise Barriers

2009-01-31T22:33:00.002-05:00

I went out this morning for a 15-mile run. When I mentioned to a friend what fun that was, she replied that that sure didn't sound like fun to her. There's that difference between needs and strategies again! (Exercise and a 15-Mile Run) If a 15-mile run doesn't sound like fun to you, then perhaps you will appreciate the following ten suggestions from the Mayo Clinic for overcoming exercise barriers:

Lack of time -- Break activity into shorter periods, such as 10-minute walks. Exercise while watching TV.
Boredom -- Do a variety of activities and change your routine occasionally.
Inconvenience -- Choose activities that require minimal facilities and equipment. Take the stairs at work or park further from your destination.
Weather -- Choose indoor activities or mall walking.
Lifestyle changes -- When going through major life changes or stressful times, consider a moderate program of physical activity.
Travel -- Check out fitness facilities at your destination. Walk around the airport terminal. Work out in your hotel room with exercises that don't require equipment.
Injury -- To prevent injury, warm up and cool down properly. Rest when need. If you are injured, ask your doctor what you can still do.
Illness -- You may be able to work out at a reduced intensity. Check with your health care provider if you are unsure.
Overtraining -- Vary your exercises, including their order and intensity. Increase the length and intensity of your workouts gradually. Include rest days in your schedule.
Lack of facilities -- Choose activities you can do with minimal equipment.

These are excellent ideas and excellent topics for a coaching conversation. Let us know if we can assist you to overcome your exercise barriers!

Coaching Inquiries: What does your routine look like when it comes to exercise and physical activity? What value do you see in becoming more active? What barriers seem to get in your way? How can you overcome those barriers? Who do you know who could serve as a role model, mentor, and friend?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Human Hair Fertilizer

2009-01-31T22:29:00.001-05:00

For those eco-friendly souls concerned about chemical fertilizers, you may find the following story interesting as reported on the Discovery Channel:

A new study adds human hair to a growing list of waste products that can boost crop growth. The list already includes cow manure, sewage sludge, and sheep wool.
"We concluded that human hair can release a sufficient amount of nutrients to support crops," said agricultural scientist Valtcho Zeliazkov of Mississippi State University in Verona. "This is a waste material with clear benefits for producers and the environment."
The idea is not entirely new. In fact, hair-based fertilizer is already commercially available. A Florida-based company called SmartGrow, for one, sells hair-containing mats that gardeners place beneath or on top of their plants.

How's that for a creative and, for some, a little creepy way to use the hair that piles up on salon floors every day! You never know where green will go.

Coaching Inquiries: What level of consciousness do you bring to eco-friendly concerns? How can you participate more fully in the green revolution? Who can serve as a mentor, example, or coach for you? How can you make it so?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

What Motivates You?

2009-01-10T19:06:00.003-05:00

Although it won't be released until January 27, 2009, Tamara Lowe's new book, Get Motivated!: Overcome Any Obstacle, Achieve Any Goal and Accelerate Your Success with Motivational DNA, was featured in the January-February 2009 issue of body + soul magazine. Based on an eight-year study of more than 10,000 participants, Lowe reports that her research team found that a combination of six factors motivates people, each to varying degrees: productivity, connection, stability, variety, and internal and external awards. Here is a brief description of each:

Productivity: Classic "Type A" personalities. Driven to get things done. Extraordinary will-power and self-disciple. Bold, self-assured, decisive, and wired for leadership. Fast-paced and task-oriented. Mantra: "Get it done yesterday."
Connection: Loyal, empathetic, and supportive. Driven to build relationships. Rather fit in than stand out. Responsive to the needs of others. Find happiness in making others happy. Fueled by quality time with family, friends, social work environments, and open-ended timeframes. Mantra: "Don't go it alone."
Stability: Practical, careful, and consistent. Fulfilled by predictable and safe routines. Great with schedules, systems, and organization. Value accuracy and rely on logic. Mantra: "Slow and steady."
Variety: Dynamic, upbeat, and creative. Fulfilled by novelty and imaginative adventures. Not flustered by rapid transitions or last-minute modifications. Able to shift gears and turn on a dime. Mantra: "It has to be fun."
Internal: Focused on mission and meaning. Inspired by a sense of contribution. Psychological pay is of primary importance. Sets worthwhile goals and seeks private recognition / feedback. Mantra: "If it's for the greater good, then it's worth doing."
External: Focused on hard work and tangible assets. Inspired by feats of strength and record-breaking wins. Compensation, perks, and privileges come with the territory. Mantra: "Work hard, play hard."

In the article, Lowe goes on to identify some of the demotivators for each type, as well as strategies to get their groove back. Coaches do many of these things naturally, in the course of our work with clients. But anyone can become aware of and learn to work more successfully with their motivators.

Coaching Inquiries: What motivates you? What types do you identify with most? What types do you identify with least? What strategies work for you when you are feeling unmotivated? Who assists you to get back on track?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Quick Wins Paradox

2009-01-03T20:36:00.000-05:00

In a recent edition of the Harvard Business Review, Mark E. Van Buren and Todd Safferstone wrote an intriguing article, The Quick Wins Paradox, on the keys to success for leaders transitioning into new roles. They identify five traps that new leaders tend to fall into:

1. Focusing too heavily on details.
2. Reacting negatively to criticism.
3. Intimidating others.
4. Jumping to conclusions.
5. Micromanaging.

To avoid these traps, the authors do not suggest that leaders stop focusing on quick wins. They rather suggest that leaders focus on "collective quick wins" -- accomplishments that make their teams look good. That's the key to great leadership. It's not showing off what you know, it's rather empowering those you know. The people skills of leaders make the difference between success and failure. Van Buren and Safferstone encourage leaders to:

1. Make people believers, not bystanders.
2. Understand uncertainty.
3. Show humility.
4. Learn about their teams.

I encourage you to read the entire article and to think about your own leadership, whatever the setting.

Coaching Inquiries: How much pressure do you feel to score a quick win in 2009? How can you make that win more about the team and less about you? Who could you brainstorm with to identify options and to set a course of action? How can you make sure everyone gets credit and on board?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Health Revelations

2008-12-20T18:09:00.001-05:00

Recently I received a list of "26 Health Revelations You Need To Know" from the doctors at Harvard Medical School. Here are a dozen that I found both interesting and useful, particularly at this time of year.

The rumor that olive oil turns into "bad" trans fats when used in cooking just isn't true.
Niacin (Vitamin B3) has been shown to lower "bad" LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and to increase "good" HDL cholesterol.
Blood pressure pills are best taken first thing in the morning after getting up.
Sudden and excessive sweating is a symptom of heart attack and the chief reason people seek help.
Brisk walking (3-4 miles per hour) reduces heart disease in women as much as vigorous exercise.
St. John's Wort was not shown to be effective for treating severe depression.
Chronic hiccups can be associated with an underlying medical condition.
Caffeine can linger in the body for up to 12 hours.
Decaffeinating tea reduces the flavonoids content drastically.
Sleeping on your stomach reduces snoring volume and frequency.
Ibuprofen seems to cancel out aspirin's ability to protect the heart.
The risk of obesity jumps almost 25% with each two-hour increase in daily television watching.

Given that healthy holidays = happy holidays, it behooves us all to know and to do what we can to get well, stay well, and be well.

Coaching Inquiries: On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate your knowledge of the things that make for health and well being? How could you learn more? How could you be more proactive in taking care of yourself? What is one thing you could do right now to make it so?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Happy Holidays

2008-12-13T17:49:00.002-05:00

My friend and colleague from Wellcoaches Corporation, Margaret Moore (aka Coach Meg), recently published a piece on ten no-cost gifts that will elevate your happiness over the holidays. Her suggestions included:

Express gratitude -- The simple act of thanking people can bring happiness and well-being. Saying thank you, as it turns out, is not just good manners; it's good for you, too. University of California Davis psychology professor Robert Emmons has found that grateful people tend to be more optimistic, a characteristic that boosts the immune system.
Share precious time with others -- Your well-being is dependent on giving and sharing in ways that make a difference in the world. Your time is the most valuable thing you can share. Make someone her favorite home-cooked meal and don’t drop it at the door, savor it together.
Give your time to see a movie, hike, walk, or visit a museum -- any fun outing together that is a simple pleasure and generates fond memories.
Forgive -- Release negative emotions that follow you around like little rain clouds by forgiving those you love. You’ll both benefit.
Memorialize it -- make an occasion to mark, share, and celebrate your forgiveness.
Laugh -- Arrange times with people you care about to laugh by reminiscing about old times or enjoying favorite jokes. Watch a funny television show or movie. Laughter is infectious and safe to spread.
Cherish family and friends -- Unconditional appreciation can make anyone feel like a million bucks. Be fully present and listen mindfully without a trace of judgment. Accept people you care about wholeheartedly as they are today. Often it is best to choose a close connection over being right.
Say 'I love you' -- The ability to love and be loved is one of the character strengths that correlates most with happiness. Make the demonstration of your love unforgettable.
Give a compliment -- You know how good you feel when someone gives you a compliment. Return the favor and feel good too.
Pass along a family heirloom -- Give a sentimental gift to someone close, an old framed photo, a cherished book, a sweater, or trinket. The recipient will never forget a gift close to your heart.
Give a "Freebie" certificate for an experience or service that would make a difference in someone’s life -- an exotic home-cooked meal, a cooking lesson, a hobby session, help organizing a closet, or babysitting duties.
Create flow experiences -- Help friends and family engage in activities that bring them flow, a state of complete absorption in a challenging activity that uses one’s strengths and stretches one’s skills.

To read the whole article, go to Huliq News. To learn more about wellness coaching, go to CoachMeg.com.

Coaching Inquiries: On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate your happiness quotient? What do you do that makes you smile? Which of Margaret's ideas would you like to adopt? Who could you call up and thank, right now?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Running Wisdom

2008-12-06T12:18:00.002-05:00

I have long said that most running injuries are not running injuries at all, they are overweight injuries. Now I have support for that view from a report titled "Risk Factors and Mechanisms of Knee Injuries in Runners." Here's the abstract:

Injuries affect approximately 65% of all runners annually. Many of these injuries are considered overuse or chronic (e.g. plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis/strains, knee pain/injury, etc.). Interestingly, most of the information available on the factors responsible for injury is somewhat speculative since few studies have conclusively identified the mechanisms behind such injuries. In a recent study published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, researchers at Wake Forest University determined the relationship of some behavioral and physiological risk factors to knee joint stresses during running.

Twenty previously uninjured runners were assessed on numerous variables including quadriceps and hamstring flexibility, quadriceps or Q-angle, and height and weight. Researchers performed gait analysis to evaluate stride lengths and to determine tibio-femoral (knee) compressive loads, performed isokinetic strength testing on the knee extensors, and participants completed questionnaires.

Of the variables tested, researchers reported that poor hamstring flexibility, increased body weight, higher weekly mileage and greater concentric muscle strength all contributed to greater knee stress. Although previous studies have linked higher Q-angles to knee injuries in runners, the results of this and other studies question that link.

In addition, previous studies have shown strength training reduces patello-femoral forces, but the results of this study indicate that concentric strength increases tibio-femoral compression. Further studies are necessary to determine the balance of strength factors necessary to optimize knee joint health in runners. Based on current research trends, it seems as though it would be wise for runners to improve hamstring flexibility and to achieve an ideal body weight prior to increasing weekly mileage.

That last sentence is an understatement! I know I, for one, see a direct correlation between my own ease and enjoyment of running, not to mention injury prevention, and both flexibility and body weight. Perhaps you have noticed the same.

Coaching Inquiries: What assists you to be active, strong, and well? How can you improve your flexibility and body weight? What dynamic stretches and mindfulness exercises could assist you to become more happily engaged with life?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Peak Performance

2008-12-05T12:56:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite authors is Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point, Blink, and now Outliers: The Story of Success. I cannot recommend his books highly enough. You can read about Outliers and listen to an interview with Gladwell by going to NPR.org.

You will also enjoy watching Gladwell talk about his research and findings on extraordinary success. With story and humor Gladwell confirms what my quotes on leadership have already represented: leaders are not cut from a special genetic cloth, they are rather the product of culture, opportunity, initiative, and persistence. Gladwell debunks the myth of anyone being "self-made" and substitutes, instead, the age-old correlation between effort and reward. I hope you watch the videos:

Video One (5:02): http://www.bnet.com/2422-13950_23-246894.html
Video Two (4:36): http://www.bnet.com/2422-13950_23-246904.html

Coaching Inquiries: Where do you want to go today? What ignites your passion for the possible? How can you become more committed to developing your talents? Who might enjoy the journey with you? If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Stoke the Positive

2008-11-21T15:47:00.002-05:00

One of the leading researchers into positive psychology, Barbara Fredrickson, has published an article in the Huffington Post called, "Keep Stoking the Positivity -- Our Future Depends On It." Here are a few paragraphs.

"We need positivity, the complex web of causes and consequences of positive emotions, now more than ever. Not just to sugarcoat bitter news or distract us from gloom. We need positivity because we're different people when we're under its influence.

Pleasant emotions like hope, inspiration, joy, and well-earned pride literally open us. As the blinders of negativity fall away, we take in more of what surrounds us. We see both the forest and the trees. We appreciate the oneness that binds us instead of the barriers that divide us. Even race becomes irrelevant.

But that's not the half of it. Positivity's mental openness fertilizes just the sort of creative and integrative thinking that hard-to-find solutions and compromises are made of. With the throng of problems facing our nation and our new president, we sorely need this expansive thinking. In addition, when we think broadly we discover and build new skills, new alliances, and new resilience - which make us better prepared to handle future adversity. Even mild positive emotions, experienced regularly, set people on discernable trajectories of growth, making them better off next season than they are today.

Science suggests that when we experience genuine, heartfelt positive emotions in a 3-to-1 ratio with negative emotions, we cross a psychological tipping point on the other side of which we function at our very best."

I couldn't agree more. Given our global economic problems, stoking the positive generates the very energies our world requires. Read the whole article at the Huffington Post.Coaching Inquiries: What assists you to stoke the positive? How can you keep the embers burning? Who can be your appreciative buddy on the trek of life?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Dynamic Stretching

2008-11-15T13:47:00.003-05:00

The importance of dynamic rather than static stretching has been in the news lately (see, for example, the New York Times). Having written about this myself for many years, I am pleased to see the practice getting the attention it deserves.

To quote a few paragraphs from the New York Times' article: "Researchers now believe that some of the more entrenched elements of many athletes’ warm-up regimens are not only a waste of time but actually bad for you. The old presumption that holding a stretch for 20 to 30 seconds -- known as static stretching -- primes muscles for a workout is dead wrong. It actually weakens them."

"In a recent study conducted at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, athletes generated less force from their leg muscles after static stretching than they did after not stretching at all. Other studies have found that this stretching decreases muscle strength by as much as 30 percent. Also, stretching one leg’s muscles can reduce strength in the other leg as well, probably because the central nervous system rebels against the movements."

So what's a person to do? My 2004 Wellness Pathway, Stretch Walking, fits right in line with current recommendations. "The right warm-up," according to professional kinesiologists, "should do two things: loosen muscles and tendons to increase the range of motion of various joints, and literally warm up the body. When you’re at rest, there’s less blood flow to muscles and tendons, and they stiffen. Increasing body heat and blood flow makes tissues and tendons more compliant. Warm muscles and dilated blood vessels pull oxygen from the bloodstream more efficiently and use stored muscle fuel more effectively. They also withstand loads better."

The key is to warm up slowly and dynamically. My 2006 Wellness Pathway, Dynamic Warm Up, invokes the routine created by Ron Jones as an example of what one might do to warm up before a workout. The key is to warm up and then to ramp up the intensity. The body loves to move; with a little attention to your warm up technique you'll find it easier than ever to enjoy an active lifestyle and to reach your fitness goals.

Coaching Inquiries: What's your routine when it comes warming up and working out? How often are dynamic stretches part of your day? What changes would you like to make in the way you move your body? Who could assist you to stay on track with activity and exercise?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Eat to Sleep

2008-10-25T09:32:00.001-05:00

New research suggests that people with severe sleep apnea tend to eat a less healthy diet than people with milder apnea symptoms and those without the disorder. Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, occurs when the soft tissues at the back of the throat temporarily collapse during sleep, causing repeated breathing interruptions. Major symptoms include loud snoring and daytime sleepiness.

In the new study, researchers found that among 320 adults they assessed, those with severe symptoms of sleep apnea generally ate diets higher in cholesterol and saturated fat. While obesity does raise the risk of severe sleep apnea, the findings were not explained by the study participants' weight. The results, say the researchers, suggest that eating habits may contribute to the increased risks of heart disease and stroke seen in people with sleep apnea.

"This unhealthy diet may be one reason why sleep apnea contributes to a greater risk of cardiovascular disease," observed senior researcher Dr. Stuart Quan, of Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Among the patients assessed, those with severe OSA consumed an average of 9 extra grams of saturated fat and 88 extra milligrams of cholesterol per day compared with patients with mild symptoms or none at all. Those with severe OSA also exercised less, but that link appeared to be explained by their higher rate of obesity. In contrast, the higher fat and cholesterol intakes were independent of patients' weight, Quan said.

Dr. Quan and his colleagues report their findings in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

Coaching Inquiries: What sleeping problems do you have, if any? Who do you know who suffers from sleep apnea? What changes, if any, would you like to make in light of this study? How could you improve your diet to eat more fruits, vegetables, fish, and lean, free-range meats?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

The Human Slinky

2008-10-10T08:39:00.000-05:00

OK, this one is pure fun. A friend recently put me on to a video of the human slinky, performing at halftime during a basketball game at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Turn on the sounds, take four minutes, and enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdbJlErcWZw

And if that's not enough, you might enjoy the home video of the human slinky teaching his 4-year old daughter how to do the routine. It's really quite adorable:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go_gyJ24W4I

Coaching Inquiries: What brings a smile to your face? When was the last time you played with a slinky? How could you find more time this week for rest and recovery?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Lighten Up

2008-10-04T13:33:00.001-05:00

Perhaps you have seen the email going around with images of actual newspaper headlines and stories that will lighten up anyone's day. I don't have a link to the images themselves, but you can Google the headlines and read the stories. Just imagine reading one of these with your morning cup of tea. More than one brought a big smile to my face:

Alton attorney accidentally sues himself
County to pay $250,000 to advertise lack of funds
Volunteers search for old Civil War planes
Army vehicle disappears after being painted with camouflage
Meeting on open meetings is closed
DOE to do NEPA's EIS on BNFL's AMWTP at INEEL after SRA protest
Caskets found as workers demolish mausoleum
Waterford boy, 8, saves sister's life "I wouldn't do it again. She's been a pain this week."
Ten Commandments: Supreme Court says some OK, some not
Utah poison control center reminds everyone not to take poison
Federal Agents Raid Gun Shop, Find Weapons
Local toddler wins gun from fundraiser
Statistics show that teen pregnancy drops off considerably after age 25

Coaching Inquiries: What do you do to lighten up and laugh? What's stopping you from laughing right now? Who could join the chuckle? How could you make laughter a greater part of your everyday life?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.