Coach’s Corner Blog

How to Free Yourself for a Fulfilling Life

“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” – Buddha We all carry the weight of past regrets, mistakes, and unresolved conflicts. As we age, these emotional burdens can feel even heavier, robbing us of peace and…
Be Water, and Let Your Career Flow

The phrase “Be water” is most famously associated with Bruce Lee, the martial artist, movie star and philosopher. He shared this idea during an interview in 1971, where he explained the concept of adaptability and flexibility. His full quote is: “Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless—like water. Now you put water in a cup, it…
The Essential Act of Receiving

When organizations start out on the path of creating a “Feedback Culture,” they are so focused on the delivery methodology that they forget the important other-half of the equation – receiving. Give. Give. Give. It’s no wonder. In the West especially, we are instructed by faith leaders to “Give, and you will receive.” Since we…
The Practice of Making Cheese

When you are directly affected by change, do you fight it or do you accept it? Many years ago, I read Spencer Johnson, M.D.’s bestselling book, “Who Moved My Cheese?” to my children (there’s even an illustrated children’s version). I was hoping some wisdom about change management might get adopted by my kids when they need…
Reframing for a Happier Life

Have you ever told yourself, “That okay. It was a good learning experience.” when something didn’t go the way you planned it? What you’ve done was apply a technique called “reframing.” People who use reframing are typically more successful and happier in life. Reframing is a commonly used technique to shift perspectives – usually from…
What Questions Do You Have?

Is there such a thing as asking a bad question? Well, according to the teachings of Confucius, “The person who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the person who does not is a fool for life.” What this tells us is that questions should be asked, because they help us gather information…
Detox Your Relationships

We are flawed because we are human. In this post, we look at the harmful effects of toxic personalities, and distinguish them from the unintentional consequences of just being flawed. So much attention has been given to our physical and mental health these days, while healthy relationships are often overlooked or deprioritized. However, I contend…
Are You a Rock? An Island?

A friend and I had a lively debate not long ago, over the role emotions play in one’s career as a leader. (Yes, my circle of friends and I have nothing better to do.) The following recollection of our conversation is entirely biased to support my position. 🙂 To make a point about the pitfalls…
Self-Help That Prevents Self-Limiting Beliefs from Becoming Self-Fulfilling

Our thoughts are based on our beliefs, while at the same time these thoughts reaffirm what we believe in. Some people ‘double-down’ on their commitments, and display courageous optimism in difficult economic and personal times. At the other end, other people doubt and question opportunities, even when these opportunities are in front of them. To…
Why Persuasion is Better Than Force (Part 2)

Force is like a hammer. When leaders only use force, everything looks like a nail. As I pointed out in “Part 1 – Why Persuasion is Better Than Force,” using force may get the job done, while damaging the most prized possession in the process. That prized possession is our people! What’s at stake? The…
Why Persuasion is Better Than Force (Part 1)

One day, the North Wind and the Sun were hanging out together, admiring the beautiful land that we all call home. They watched a man wearing a cloak walk over the grassy field, when the North Wind suddenly had an idea. “Why don’t we see which one of us is stronger, and get that cloak…
Achieving Your Aspirational Goals

It is said that moving a mountain is accomplished by one handful of soil at a time. Many of my coaching clients set boldacious and aspirational goals for themselves. There’s nothing wrong with that. The challenge occurs when they consider the gap between where they are now to where they want to get to. That…
How to be a Lifelong Un-Learner

Yes, you read correctly – un-learner! 🙂 There’s no shortage of learning opportunities and resources out there for lifelong learners. However, an essential part of lifelong learning is unlearning. This is because there comes a time when our minds are so overloaded with information that there’s no place to fit more knowledge (a condition called…
A Penny For Your Thoughts

A penny may seem like a small price to pay to know what’s on your mind. However, experts believe that each person has 50,000 to 80,000 thoughts a day. That can get quite pricey! 🙂 Our inner-voice, self-talk and mental health have received much attention these days. And rightly so. A lot of these thoughts…
Are You The Smartest Person In the Room?

“If you’re the smartest person in the room, then you’re in the wrong room.” – Confucius People who think they are the smartest person in the room are described by Liz Wiseman’s book Multipliers as “Diminishers.” Unlike Multipliers who inspire and believe in the people they lead, Diminishers diminish the capabilities and motivation of others around them. When…