Big Idea Coach

You're Going the WRONG Way!

In the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles there's a scene in which John Candy and Steve Martin, accidentally start driving the wrong way down a divided, four-lane highway. A couple, going the same direction (but in the correct lane of traffic), tries to let the wrong-way travelers know of the danger they're in.

"You're going the wrong way," the husband shouts, having rolled his window down. His frantic wife echoes him in the background.

Confused, Martin rolls his window down and listens to the frantic cries of the couple. "YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY!" Unfazed, he rolls the window up and turns to John Candy, "They say we're going the wrong way."

"They're crazy," Candy snorts. "Anyway, how do they know where we're going?" And he speeds on down the highway, going the wrong way.

"Yeah," Martin agrees, "How do they know where we're going?"

As funny as this scene is, it just ain't that funny in real life. I'm not talking about literally driving the wrong way down the highway (although that's really not funny, either), I'm talking about how we move towards our goals.

Thinking about the upcoming new year, my goals, and how I was progressing towards them, it struck me that I had been going the wrong way for quite some time. If I hadn't been exposed to some new ideas from some of my favorite mentors, I might still be cruising along in the wrong direction. So I stopped what I was doing, took stock of everything go- ing on, regrouped, replanned, and set off once again towards my most important goals.

Of course, it was not as simple as it sounds.

I had to get down and dirty and do some serious work on myself (and quickly, too), but not doing that work would mean moving even farther from my goals than I already had. Sometimes going astray is part of the process. Usually it's because we've missed a lesson somewhere along the line that westill need to learn.

(One of my coaching mentors, Thomas Leonard, used to say this all the time: "The universe will give you the same lesson, over and over, until you learn it.")

Sure, I could beat myself for having wasted my time, not giving enough effort, and becoming distracted. But rather than let this "wrong turn" set me back, I took it as the oportunity to learn what I needed to learn, so that when I got "back on track," I was on the BEST path I could take at the time.

Now is the time to figure out if YOU are on the best path for your personal journey...

Are YOU going in the wrong direction?

Are your goals getting closer? Or are they moving away from you?

Are you doing everything you need to be doing? Or do you need more support or resources?

Only you know where you're going, so get honest with yourself and adjust your efforts as necessary.

A Good Investment

I love it when clients succeed.

And I especially love it when former clients succeed... and they let me know about it.

Janee Trasler, an artist I worked with a while ago, emailed me recently to share some news about her new blog, Art & Soul and to see if I had any articles on "investing in yourself."

Well, I didn't. So I told her that she ought to write one.

And you know what? She did.

She was also kind enough to write me -- if I can be permitted to brag -- a wonderful testimonial:

"I spent years dreaming about changing my career. I knew where I wanted to go and even knew how to get there, but every time I started to take those first steps, I just slipped right back into my comfort zone and gave up.

Jim helped me take those first steps.

When I tried to slip back into my old ways, he reminded me where I wanted to be. It didn't take long to realize my dreams. Once I got over the first hurdles, everything fell into place.

I was really impressed with the way coaching worked, it didn't turn out to be some life-long commitment. I had specific needs and goals which Jim helped me meet. As soon as the training wheels were off, I waved goodbye. Every once in a while though, I look back just to make sure he's still there. He is."

I am very flattered and very humbled. Janee is extremely kind to share her hard work and success with me.

I have always viewed my coaching as an investment.

An investment in the power of ideas. An investment in the power of people to make their ideas real.

Janee's article helps illustrate how important it is for us to invest as much in ourselves  as we do in others.

It's money, time, and effort very well spent.

10 Assumptions That Kill Success

I've discovered that people have this knack for making assumptions about their lives and their goals that are just incredibly, wildly wrong. Worse, these  assumptions aren't just incorrect, they are deflating and deadly to the success they  seek.

I've also found that when people put these assumptions aside and get focused on the truth, they begin making progress quite quickly.

Below are the top 10 assumptions I've run across. Consider this a "most-wanted" list of killer assumptions to try and avoid:

1. I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON

Warning!

If you find yourself saying/thinking this, it's time to stop and ask a few more questions. Invariably, the moment we think we see everything is usually when we have the smallest field of vision.

Recheck your facts, get more information, and then proceed.


2. I HAVE A FOOLPROOF PLAN

No plan is foolproof. (At best, you might have a plan that is "fool resistant".)  Consider worst-case scenarios and as many "what-ifs" as time will allow.

3. I DON'T NEED (or CAN'T GET) HELP

Few people in history have created success solely on their own. A second opinion, a spare set of hands, and a fresh perspective seldom go amiss...

And they are all much easier to find than you think. Just check your local library, college, or telephone directory to get started.

4. I DON'T HAVE THE EDUCATION

It's ideas put to action that create success, not diplomas, so stop using this to delay getting started.

If you absolutely must have formal "education" there are plenty of ways to get it. They may not be traditional, but they can be just as effective.

5. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY

Not having the money now does not mean you cannot get the money in the future. Focus on how you can save, earn, or borrow what you need.


6. I DON'T HAVE THE TIME

Actually, you have all the time in the world.

You may need to reschedule some things, change priorities, and/or stop doing other things, but you'll never have more time than you do right now.


7. I AM TOO OLD (OR NOT OLD ENOUGH)

You're only "too old" when you're dead. And if you're worried about not being "old enough," then trust me, you're old enough.


8. I AM BEING UNREALISTIC

Some of the greatest successes ever are the ones that were thought the least realistic.

Dream big. Be bold.

Let the critics debate whether it's realistic or not.... while you make it happen.


9. I DON'T DESERVE TO BE SUCCESSFUL

Really? Why not just go ahead and find out? I think you'll be pleasantly surprised to discover that you're wrong.


10. NOBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT I AM TRYING TO DO

Maybe nobody you know now, but take a look around.  The world is filled with wonderful people who are all struggling to create their own success.

Open up, share your dreams with them.

You'll soon find more supporters than you can count!

Not So Fast...

I have a lot of fun working with energetic, motivated individuals ready to create the success that they've always desired. In helping them create strategies to achieve their goals, I spend a lot of time creating realistic expectations of how quickly they can do what they want to do.

Unfortunately, everything today is about speed:

• How fast can things get done?
• How fast can we get what we want?
• How quickly can you sell, deliver, or create?

You see it everywhere in our instant-everything environment: fast-food
restaurants, one-hour photo stores, 10-minute oil change shops, etc.

We're all just incredibly impatient. That's particularly true when it comes to enjoying the fruit of our own labor.

Getting all ever wanted just isn't enough for some people unless it can happen instantly... overnight... right away... RIGHT NOW!

I encourage each of you to relax. Take it easy. Take your time.  Stop expecting instant results. Just do what needs to be done and let Life take it's own course.

And while you're relaxing and taking your time, you can take a look around and enjoy the journey.

Cheers!