Accomplishment Coaching

Yesterday, a business acquaintance emailed me a Forbes.com article about America’s top miserable cities. Detroit made it to the top of the list along with Stockton, CA in second and Flint, MI in third. I can’t be more excited to live in a region with that designation. Doesn’t it make you feel terrific? “-)

And then I got to thinking. Who’s writing this article? Does s/he live in Detroit? Has s/he ever been to Detroit outside of a layover at Metro Airport? Or is this someone who simply gets paid to research a topic, form an opinion solely from the research, and then write about it?

My guess is it’s the latter.

And that’s okay. Here’s a “formula” that may explain why it’s okay:

In every moment of every day, we form opinions about our experiences. Those opinions often morph themselves into beliefs. Those beliefs often morph themselves into judgments. Those judgments often morph themselves into behavior (Experience + Opinion + Beliefs + Judgments = Behavior).

If we look at the Forbes writer scenario, he did research (experience), created conclusions about the research (opinion), chose to create a compelling article he felt had merit (belief), took a convincing stance to prove that Detroit is a bad place (judgment), then wrote and published the article (behavior). Pretty good example of the formula in action.

Here’s another example of that formula in action:

1. Three people meet and share their vision of what’s working and not working in Detroit (experience).
2. These three people see in one another a connection and common inspiration (opinion).
3. These three people share their commitment that Detroit can be, and will be, on the list of America’s most desirable cities (belief).
4. These three people make a declaration that there are more people who believe in the city and who are willing to take action (judgment).
5. These three people begin enrolling many others in their vision and creating a structure to support that vision (behavior).

And then Motor City Connect was formed. And Detroit Synergy. And others.

These are organizations and people who live, sleep, eat, work, love, prosper and believe in one another and their geographical home.

Organizations and people committed to changing the image of Detroit.

Organizations and people that (in my opinion) welcome “bad-mouthing” masqueraded as a legitimate “news” article because that type of press only strengthens our belief, mission and behavior.

So Mr. Badenhausen, please continue your research and opinions and judgements and writing. Please write more about how “miserable” Detroit and other cities and regions are. And keep doing it from your far away office; the one that offers you no other experience of these places other than an Internet connection.

Your words simply offer us more inspiration.

Happy Possibility,

-Coach Preston

I fly to Seattle once a month to make a difference in that community through coaching. I get totally fired up about my trips – an amazing city with lots of coffee and microbrewed beers, nice people who could use a smile or two, and an opportunity to make a difference with a bunch of people committed to changing the world.

And then I get the priviledge of standing next to Tom Toughguy at the security checkpoint. Then I get the priviledge of being in front of Kathy Kwiktemper in the jetway. Then I get the priviledge of being seated next to Kevin Komplainer.

And then, if you’re at all like me, you wonder how come the flight crew DOESN’T greet me with a truly warm smile when I board the airplane.

Here’s how I see it:

- Everyday they risk their lives flying on an airplane. Yeah, the big metal objects in the sky that gravity really loves.
- Everyday they risk their well-being by breathing in the jet fuel exhaust and passenger germs.
- Everyday they risk their livelihood by catching their tempers just in time before taking that pain in the butt passenger and tossing them out the rear exit door.
- Everyday they risk their sanity by choosing to put on some sort of smile for EVERY single passenger as they depart the plane.

I’ve got it that these people are more than just the flight crew. They’re more than just a $5 beer or cocktail. They’re more than coffee, tea or milk.

These people are our overlooked heros. They assure us that everything is okay when we hit turbulence, take away our trash so we’re not spending 3-6 hours with a half-eaten Big Mac, and prop a pillow behind our heads so we can get a few minutes of rest.

Who are your overlooked heros? When was the last time you called one and just said “Thanks for being in my life”? When was the last time you sent one a note simply telling them that you were thinking of them? When was the last time you invited one to your home for dinner?

And, when was the last time you gave the gift of acknowledgement and appreciation to a flight crew even though your cancelled and re-routed flight got delayed?

Go catch some bees with honey.

Happy Gratitude,
- Coach Preston
http://www.breakyoursilence.com/

I had a terrific conversation with a colleague of mine this week. We were planning for an event later this month and discussing a location for the event.

In the conversation, my colleague disclosed that he had much greater plans for the future of the group to which we both belong. These plans included having our group be part of making Detroit a place that thrives rather than survives. It wasn’t just about networking and hob-knobbing with the soon-to-be-rich-and-famous.

I was totally inspired by his comments and his vision. And I wondered how come he had been keeping this from me.

I was wondering this not so much because I cared if I did or didn’t qualify to be “in the know”, but if he’s kept this from me, he’s likely kept it from many others. If that’s the case, how is he truly going to make the difference he’s committed to making?

So where are you holding back in your business and life? What plans, visions and aspirations are you withholding from all but a select few? What’s the fear that has you withhold? What are you concerned will happen?

Many of us withhold information and ideas for one reason: we imagine people will think we’re silly or heading in the “wrong” direction. A slightly different version of that is “I’m scared I’ll be wrong”.

Guess what? It’s okay. It’s okay to feel that way and it’s surely okay to be scared. Last time I checked, that was a required emotion as a human being.

And will you allow that to stop you?

Take a moment and consider what would be possible if you were to share your plans, your vision, and your aspirations with everyone. Then ask the following questions:

1) What fear would I conquer simply by sharing?
2) How much more money might I earn?
3) How many more prospective clients might show up?
4) How many more people might I enroll in supporting my plans, vision and aspirations?
5) For how many people would I make a difference?
6) What would all of that give me?

Practice sharing (in detail!) how you are taking action to make a difference in this world. Practice sharing how much your business will grow this year. Practice sharing when you’ll get married, when you’ll have a child, when you’ll run the marathon, when you’ll call your Mom, when you’ll go back to school, when you’ll take you’re life partner to dinner, when you’ll donate that million dollars to the charity of your passion.

And by sharing, you’ll be practicing one of the most powerful concepts I know of in life: enrolling others in your vision of the future. When you enroll others in your vision, they pitch in and support.

Imagine how much faster you’ll realize your dreams.

Happy Sharing,
-Coach Preston
http://www.breakyoursilence.com