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A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE

Posted on June 23rd, 2010

Recently, while I was going through one of my old journals, I stumbled across a newspaper article that one of the readers sent in to the paper.

This reader received “this little gem” via email. It has been written by one of the Columbine School students who experienced the classroom massacre.

“The paradox of our times in history is that we have taller buildings – but shorter tempers;

Wider freeways – but narrower viewpoints;

We spend more – but have less;

We buy more – but enjoy less.

We have bigger houses – and smaller families;

More conveniences – but less time;

We have more degrees – but less sense;

More knowledge – but less judgement;

More experts – but more problems;

More medicine – but less wellness.

We have multiplied our possessions – but reduced our values.

We talk too much, love too seldom and hate too often.

We’ve learnt how to make a living – but not a life;

We’ve added years to life – not life to years.

We’ve been all the way to the Moon and back – but we have trouble crossing the road to meet a new neighbour.

We’ve conquered outer space - but not inner space.

We’ve cleaned the air – but poluted the soul;

We’ve split the atom – but not our prjudice;

We have higher incomes – but lower morals;

We’ve become long on quantity – but short on quality;

These are the times of tall men – and short character;

Steep profits – and shallow relationships;

These are the times of world peace – but domestic warfare;

More leisure – but less fun;

More kinds of food – but less nutrition.

These are the days of two incomes – but more divorce;

Of fancier houses – but broken homes;

It is a time when there is much in the show window – but nothing in the stock room;

A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to make a difference… or just hit delete”

The writer asked for this letter to be passed on and I ask you to do the same – the least we can do for now !!!

What are your thoughts?…Where do you see yourself making a difference?…Your comments are invited.

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There IS something YOU CAN DO !!!

Posted on May 26th, 2010

Most governments are wolves in sheep coats. They attempt to be seen to be giving with one hand – but they take it away with the other. And this drives most of it’s population to rant and rave and protest one way or another.
Even the most sincere ones cannot save the world – the mess is too big and they can never make everyone happy all of the time. So they usually do what is going to vote them in in the next election.

What we must realize is that there are some things that are not in our control and probably never will be. However, our attention must be on our own ‘CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE’ , as Stephen Covey wrote in the famed 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE.

In other words, there are many things that we can do something about

So – when the government comes up with bright ideas ( or not) everyone has to THINK FOR THEMSELVES and not follow like sheep. For those that are winging – get out of the cozy comfort zone ( stop thinking that the government OWES you anything ). Get a grip, where is your pride and dignity. Nobody owes you anything – get out there and become proactive with new ideas, ‘roll up your own sleeves’ and work towards becoming ’self sufficient’ and fully responsible for your self, your family, your business your career – all within the legal frame of whatever government is on the ’stage’ at the time.

However, most humans, especially from affluent societies like ours, consider THINKING to be HARD WORK. Taking the RESPONSIBILITY is too hard, it’s easier to pass the buck. It’s the parents fault… the teachers… various abuse at different stages of our life… the boss… the government.
Life does deal cruel blows and sometimes it takes many years to recover. However, at the end of the day, it’s not what happens to us – IT’S WHAT WE DO WITH IT THAT COUNTS !!!

Could be judged as harsh by some, but I make no apologies and no I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth and I have had a generous share of pain in my own journeys.We have countless examples of people in dire circumstances performing ‘miracles’ in their lives !

The saying : “What doesn’t kill you – makes you stronger”- is true.

We cannot buy experience, so I want to give back some of what I accumulated www.excellenceforyou.com
You don’t have to do all the work alone

It is a very small percentage of the population that is generally happy, families in tact, debt free or finances under control, sound business or career and relatively healthy emotionally and physically.
In everyday life we see people turn to smoking to control their anger
drugs to make them happy alcohol to camouflage their fear…and then one thing leads to another !!!

Lack of responsibility in our lives is the underlying culprit of not just seemingly small and harmless everyday situations we bring on ourselves, but can blow out into emotional problems leading to depression and further mental dysfunction

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So, what is this Life Coaching anyway?

Posted on April 22nd, 2010

LIFE COACHING DEFINED

…”Professional coaches provide an ongoing partnership designed to help clients produce fulfilling results in their personal and professional lives. Coaches help people improve their performances and enhance the quality of their lives.

Coaches are trained to listen, to observe and to customize their approach to individual client needs. They seek to elicit solutions and strategies from the client; they believe the client is naturally creative and resourceful. The coach’s job is to provide support to enhance the skills, resources, and creativity that the client already has”…
International Coaching Federation – Australasian Region

THE ROLES OF THE LIFE COACH

1. Listen to the client’s ‘reality’
2. Support and encourage the client
3. Offer constructive criticism and valuable insights into behavior
4. Challenge, inspire and assist the client to ignite their passion
5. Hold the client accountable
6. Facilitate the discovery of purpose and direction
7. Guide progress towards the client’s defined goals
8. Soundboard beliefs and thought process to discover gaps and incongruities
9. Expect more of the client than they often expect of themselves.

HOW DOES LIFE COACHING DIFFER FROM CONSULTING ?

A consultant uses their own expertise to create solutions to a problem the client is experiencing. Consultants are ‘advisers’ and complete the work for the client.
A Coach, on the other hand, empowers the client to find their own solutions by listening and providing a soundboard – they are not in the business of giving advice. Further, a coach always ensures the client creates his/her own results.

HOW DOES A LIFE COACH DIFFER TO A THERAPIST OR COUNSELOR?

The Coach assists the client to create their future by defining specific goals and progressing towards them. A Coach asks ‘where are you right NOW, and where do you want to be’. The coach encourages the client to take action in measurable steps and in defined periods.
The role of the therapist or counselor is far more discussion based in terms of seeking to discover why the client feels a certain way. The focus is generally in the past and explores how those circumstances affect the client’s current emotional experience.
Beyond Success Coaches recognize the importance of emotions with respect to blockages that can make success elusive. Unit work also explores specific past issues that the coach can soundboard with the client, but the focus is always on moving forward.

IS THE LIFE COACH THE SAME THING AS A MENTOR?

The title of ‘mentor’ usually suggests that the person has achieved the goals sought by the person they are mentoring. A good Coach can assist the client in areas where they have had no previous experience at all.

IS A LIFE COACH SIMILAR TO A TRAINER OR A TEACHER?

Teachers and trainers have a specific set of instructions and information they convey to their students. In contrast, the subject area of coaching is driven by the client. It allows the conversation and consequent action to unfold during the coaching process rather than having a prescribed agenda.
The teacher/trainer and student relationship is defined by the one person having expertise in an area which the student seeks to learn. The relationship between the coach and the client is a partnership in which there is no distinct expertise difference other than the skill of the coach maintaining focus on the client rather than on themselves.

QUALITIES OF A GREAT LIFE COACH

A great Coach forges a goal-oriented, results-focused alliance with their client, and helps them fearlessly recognize limitations, identify strategies that will overcome them and implement those plans effectively.
A great Coach also:
• Believes in the amazing and untapped abilities that people have and seeks to draw those out of the client
• Is a supporter and facilitator of people’s dreams
• Knows how to listen and ask just the right questions, when to challenge and when to support
• Puts aside all judgments and lets the client start with a fresh sheet of paper to redesign their life

To move ahead in their chosen fields, most people must get the education and the skills – one way or another. We either chose to be educated , or we end up learning from mistakes. Life moves on with or without us !
Therefore, gaining personal development skills, the emotional intelligence and self esteem, paves the way for easier management and better decision making through life to ourselves, our relationships, children, careers, finances …

The one on one Life Coaching would not only be potentially life changing (or at least of a significant benefit to the individual on a personal basis), but they would be able to learn skills that they could use and help others too, so the benefit is carried on and passed to many more.

The Beyond Success coaching system is very ‘user friendly’ where we are able to connect with people where ever they might be as long as there is an internet connection and a phone.

It comes in a structure of 11 modules each comprising as many units.
Some of the subject address: Life Management,
Vision & Values,
Time Management and Procrastination
Emotional Intelligence,
Health,
Relationships,
Communication,
Leadership,
Money and more.
Each client is treated individually so the coaching also addresses any issues that a they would like to discuss or which might be of more relevant nature at the time. It’s all about the client !!!

The Beyond Success coaching units are emailed to the client and they ‘ do the homework’ and send it back to me. To discuss any questions or issues that might come up, a telephone contact is made with the client ( or a face to face meeting can be arranged if we are in the same place at the time )

To raise public awareness of the benefits of Life Coaching, free public speaking engagements can also be organized subject to availability.

As a Success/Life Coach, using the unique Beyond Success system, I consider it a privilege to assist people from all over the world, to be the best they can be, to live productive lives, and help make the world a better place.

Beyond Success is Australia’s premier training and personal development organization founded by Paul and Mary Blackburn and it is where I have completed my Coach Training.

Please feel free to contact me at any time to discuss life coaching , or to book the free public speaking event for your company, group or office .

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“CHECK UP FROM THE NECK UP”

Posted on March 23rd, 2010

HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A FABULOUS DAY – AND IF YOU’RE NOT – DON’T STRESS IT’S GOING TO GET MUCH BETTER WITH THE FOLLOWING INSIGHTS I HAVE FOR YOU.

With the goal of helping my clients discover where they are and where they want to be, I use a simple formula:

~ ESTABLISH

~ DETERMINE

~ RESOLVE

On the map of life you need to find the spot that says: ‘You are here’.

In other words if you want to go somewhere , you first have to know where you are, so that you can establish a starting point and map your journey.

REASSESS YOUR LIFE AND ASK YOURSELF :

~ Are you completely happy with your life as it is?

~ With whom would you like to spend your life?

~ Where would you like to live?

~ What work would you like to do?

~ Is your fitness at the level you’d like it to be?

~ Are your finances where you would like them to be?

Then ESTABLISH and be brutally honest with yourself

~ What needs to happen for you to have a completely happy life?

~ Are you the type of person your ideal partner would want ?

~ What do you need to do to live where you’d ideally want to live?

~ What needs to happen to enable you to work at what you are passionate about?

~ Would you like to have more energy to play with your children, and , perhaps not be out of breath climbing stairs?

Then DETERMINE – and get your ego out of the way.

~ What do YOU need to do differently?

~ What education and self- discipline do YOU need to reach your goals?

~ Could personal coaching help YOU focus and speed up the process for you?

~ Are YOU ready to make the necessary sacrifices to attain the changes that will propel YOU toward your ideal?

~ If not, can YOU live with the compromise?

Finally RESOLVE, to do whatever it takes to get what you want

~ Never, never give up until you deliver to yourself

~ Let your passion shine

~ Understand that nothing is achieved without discipline

~ Keep your eyes on the prize

~ Believe not only in yourself, but in the fact that it can be done because others have done it

The rewards are worth it, whatever you have to do to get there, as long as you stay true to your highest values and protect your integrity along the journey.

YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL !!!

If you might think there is so much to do – where to start,

this might be of interest to you:

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As a special bonus, you will receive a FREE GIFT- my new book

MONKEY SEE , MONKEY DON’T!

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Reserve your seats at the upcoming MENTAL TOOL BOX and

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- MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DON’T!

And no, you need not battle alone working towards your goals. Personal coaching can speed up the process for you delivering an overall more intense result and making your journey easier, more focused delivering a faster result.

Contact me with you inquiries about Personal Coaching using

the unique BEYOND SUCCESS system

oantonic@bigpond.net.au –

( Your partner or friend might be interested to also)