Having talked about learning yesterday, I thought it appropriate to share a small part of a learning journey I’m enjoying. One of the things I feel is especially important is staying up to date and to do that, I need to actively consider where I am and where I want to be.
Not Ready
Several months ago, I discovered a course called, “Being An Exponential Coach”, delivered by a man who is himself a high-achieving coach who works with extremely successful people. He describes most of his clients as far more successful than him yet he continues to positively impact their lives and helps them raise their game 10X. He enables them to discover powerful insights, see what they cannot see and overcome their blind spots.
This course called out to me, it was exactly what I needed to update my skills so, I paid for it and put it to one side. An odd thing to do right?
The Student Wasn’t Ready
I made a commitment to myself that I would give this course 100% and backed that up by paying for it. Turning the Buddhist quote around, the teacher, whose name is Rich Litvin, appeared but this student wasn’t ready. I had invested in the course but wasn’t ready to invest in myself because I needed to assess where I was in the bigger picture of my business. Simply put, I couldn’t see the wood for the trees because I was so involved in the details that I couldn’t see how I would begin to learn, let alone apply what Rich offered.
Business Assessment
Feeling overwhelmed by the different areas that demanded attention in my business. I Googled a few assessment tools and easily found what I was looking for. What I needed was something that enabled me to objectively look at all the various parts of the business. It seemed that everything was becoming a tangled ball of string because I was too close to the action. I knew there were several parts to my business, not to mention the latest ideas, but it was difficult to section them out in my brain and give each area the attention it needed.
Working through the assessment tool, what I discovered was enlightening. It asked pertinent questions and enabled myself to focus, step back and begin to untangle the string. This brought clarity and objectivity. I came away with a clear path forward and, it was a stress buster too. I now repeat this assessment monthly and it has made a significant difference.
The student is ready.
Look at The Image
What Do You See?
Some will see what I can no longer avoid, others won’t. FedEx Corporation is an American multinational delivery services company headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. But that’s not what I’m looking for. What I see is a white arrow between the E and x, the rest of the logo almost fades into insignificance. No matter how many times I look, I see the arrow first and must look again to see the logo. Still, my eyes drift back to the arrow, I can’t seem to stop myself.
This is what happens when we have an insight. Transformation takes place.
Six Invitations
Early in the course, Rich offers five invitations for reflection. I’ve added another. I’m sharing and adapting his invitations here because while they are highly relevant to the course, I’ve found myself applying them to everything.
Open To Possibility
Do you know why you are doing what you do? If your answer to that question is a fixed “yes”, how about opening yourself to the possibility that there is more to it than you think. By allowing yourself to do that, you open the doors to creativity and the opportunity to discover new reasons for doing what you do. Who knows what you will get to create if you can do that?
Insight Not Agreement
How often do you find yourself agreeing or disagreeing with something? Hardly surprising really when we come from a world of opinions about everything from the type of car to drive to the food we prefer. Rather than asking yourself whether you agree with something or not, try looking for insight by allowing whatever is in your mind to flow over you. Like the FedEx logo, once you have an insight, your world changes.
Growth Not Fixed
Listening to the things that are coming up in our world from a growth rather than a fixed mindset can develop out of the box results. Failure is a perfect example because it is OK to fail or make mistakes because those lead to learning and learning leads to being successful.
We often hear people ask; how do I become successful? How about starting from a point of BEING successful. It’s a difference maker if we can limit any fixed thinking we may have about success.
Make Distinctions
If we can listen for distinctions in our lives such as “becoming” and “being successful” we begin to develop mastery and power. As the philosopher Lao Tzu said,
“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power”.
Deep Listening
When a situation arises, it’s common to apply a set response. We’ve been learning these all our lives. The next time a situation arises, try this: Pause and take a breath. Listen to that stock response and ask yourself if it is correct, up to date. Does it need adjustment? Listen openly and deeply to your response.
Insights Need Action
Thank you for being here today. It is much appreciated but, there is a brief, however. You can simply leave a comment or move on. Alternatively, you could pause for a moment to reflect because in that moment you may have an insight. If you take away that insight and apply action something will shift and that might be life-changing.
Tools That Help
Relating to these there are plenty of tools that can help with Personal Growth and Development. If you would like a free 20-minute coaching session on some of these, please leave your contact details in the comments and you will receive a prompt response.
Toolbox
There are many ways to effectively explore and advance your Personal Development in any area of life that matters to you. A box of tools to challenge the boundaries and move forward toward realizing success is extremely beneficial.
If you feel that you may benefit from help in any area with more than a 20-minute consult, please leave your contact details in the comments section below and you will be contacted by your preferred method. Please understand that your contact details will never be published, and your privacy is assured.
More Information
If you would like to know more about ExGro Services and Events, please click over to the Education For Life menu item.
Comments and Questions
Leave yours below. Your thoughts or questions may well ignite a positive spark in other readers thinking. You will always receive a prompt response to your questions and there is no such thing as a bad question; only the one that was never asked.
Namasté
I bow to the place in you that is love, light, and joy
Peace & Light
Steve Costello is a British Community & Youth Studies and Psychology honors graduate with over 30-years theoretical and practical experience in the Personal Development public and private sectors. He founded ExGro in 2018 with business partner, friend and clinical psychologist, Leo Faerberg.