Building
an Early Foundation:
I don’t think there was anything in my childhood that was relevant
to what I do now. I was someone who played sports, went to school and graduated
with a useless degree that required me to scramble and find a job after
graduating from college. It wasn’t until my late 30s or early 40s that I finally
decided to get out of my comfort zone, stop relentless searching and planning,
and getting into the action mode. Even then, I thought of becoming a psychotherapist
in private practice. I had the good fortune of meeting my wife in graduate
school. We got married, adopted our son and raised him before I returned to the
idea of leaving recruiting and becoming a coach.
Beyond the Barricades:
Transforming the Coaching
Culture with ‘The Big Game Hunter’:
People need external allies to open up to. Too many people hold
onto their fears, failures and stress of life and need someone to help release
this pressure. They need someone to ask questions, learn useful strategies and
provide solutions to their challenges. Yes, many can do this by themselves
however; the process becomes much easier and relieving with the help of a
coach. Years ago, I was working with a successful business owner in New York
who described the pressure he was holding onto. “Where do you feel the
pressure?” I asked. He pointed to his abdomen. “You need to find a way to
release the pressure you’re holding onto before it eats you up from the
inside.” That is where the cancer appeared. He died within 18 months.
Sources of Powerful Lessons:
When I think of the guidance that was most helpful, it is the
awareness that there is rarely just one right way to do things and learning
from polar opposites can be incredibly helpful! One of my favourites is a
mentor who was a polar opposite of me in many ways; we learned from one another
and that helped both of us.
Life Mantra for aspiring
Leaders:
Listen more. Speak less. Nowadays, people tend to only hear their own
voices and miss the beauty of hearing another’s voice and realizing the power
of listening!
