Accomplishment Coaching

What do dogs, Joseph Campbell and enlightment all have in common?

Find out at by listening to the latest installment of Everyday Leaders by clicking here, or simply clicking on the BlogTalkRadio player in the right column at www.prestontrue.com.

Just like any leadership initiative, purpose is more important than perfection – enjoy the interview and the technical bumps Samadi Demme and I experienced along the way. 

Happy Leadership,

-Coach Preston

Yesterday, I had a conversation with Alex, a business owner who expressed his frustration with the current state of affairs.  He’s coming off a roller-coaster year in revenues and worried that 2010 will be the same or worse.  The exasperated question came about half-way through our conversation, “Why does this have to be so difficult?”

I had a conversation with Jeff, another business owner later in the day who’s had three consecutive years of increased growth.  His question to me was a bit different… “When will this actually become difficult?”

The similarities in business, service and geographic location are clear between these two owners. 

So what is it that creates the seemingly enormous difference between the two?  How come one is having the experience of dread while the other is having the time of his life?

I asked and here’s what I found:

Consistency vs. inconsistency – Each year, Jeff makes a commitment to employ only three marketing strategies for the year and to stick with them regardless of the results each provides monthly.  After 12 months, Jeff determines whether to stick with it or start a new strategy.  When asked, Alex shared that he’s tried more than seven marketing initiatives during the past six months.  If he felt it wasn’t working, he’d jump to the next idea.

Integrity vs. incongruity – Jeff makes a point to keep his intentions, speaking and actions aligned no matter what the effort.  He shows up on time, follows through on all commitments, and practices saying “no” more frequently than saying “yes.”  Alex is rarely on time, gets complaints from staff that he rarely follows through, and finds himself overwhelmed consistently.

Action vs. inertia – Jeff starts every day mapping out the five most important actions to take that day, then takes those actions.  Alex spends most of his day reacting to the concerns and emotions of the day.

Neither business owner is a rock star or a buffoon.  They are simply examples of the way we support or cripple ourselves.  Although our present circumstances frequently dictate our behavior and attitude, we really do have a daily choice to be a Jeff or an Alex. 

Which one are you right now?

Choose powerfully,

-Coach Preston

Goal #144 – “Ask my partner to give three hours of his/her time per week, to release me to do something I really enjoy.” ~ Thomas Leonard, www.thomasleonard.com

Can you imagine that? 

Most of us can’t.  Time is just too scarce.  Just too valuable.  Plus, we’re the only ones who can do what we do.

What a crazy trap we set for ourselves.  Much of it is based in ego; the rest based in the concept that suffering under current circumstances is still more comfortable than changing them.

So why not ask your partner, friend, spouse or colleague to give three hours of his/her time this week.  Sure it might seem a bit uncomfortable, but imagine what those three hours will be like if you’re doing something you really, really want to do.

If you’re really saavy, you might just consider spending those three hours developing even more awareness and breakthroughs around time – check out our Time Leadership Workshop on February 25^th.

Tick tock,

- Coach Preston

Leadership is often thought of as a mysterious title or set of skills, available only to a priviledged few.  That is not the case.

Listen in to my interview with architect and carpenter, Roger Wade.  Roger shares an inspirational story of leading by example in family and career.

Listen in by clicking here.

Happy Listening,

-Coach Preston

One of the guys in my Thursday morning men’s group asked the following question today:

“What will be different for you in 2010?”

I immediately became present to the difference this group has made for me – what a gift it has truly been.  For the past 18 months, I’ve been showing up every Thursday morning to explore my relationships, my faith and myself.  Our weekly conversations always invite me to make a difference rather than just accomplish something.

The New Year is a common time of reflection and promise for accomplishment.  Did you reach your goal(s) for 2009?  What do you want to accomplish for 2010?  As customary this process is, perhaps what’s more familiar is realizing the majority of us don’t reach many of our goals.

So what if following this habitual process strategizing accomplishment was actually the thing holding you back?  What if focusing on what you want to accomplish is actually the Achilles Heel you’re fervently seeking to overcome?

What if this year, rather than asking “what do I want to accomplish”, you ask “what difference will I make?”

What difference will you make if you:

• Took more risk?
• Embrace dangerous authenticity?
• Refuse to stop when confronted with obstacles?
• Create a deliberate and intimate relationship with God / Spirit?
• Forgive those who have caused you pain?
• Give up your insistence in looking good and got messy?
• Give up being separate, right and alone in exchange for creating relationships that make a difference?
• Replace 50% of your busy-ness with reading, walking, laughing, or just sitting still?

Consider taking some of these on.  2010 will be a new year of possibility, relationship and connection.  It will be a year of you making a difference.

Are you willing to accept you actually can and do make a difference?

What a gift that will be to us all.

Happy New Year,

- Coach Preston