Staying the Course…Written by Coach Pat Morgan
Are you willing to stay course? Once you have decided on a course and set sail toward your destination, you will undoubtedly face moments along your journey, perhaps even long stretches, where it seems that you are not making progress toward your goal even though you are doing things necessary to reach it. We've all heard saying "it's darkest before dawn" and it's often true that we are on verge of great success when it is most difficult to see light at end of tunnel. Staying course when results do not seem to be coming can be challenging. However, we must not quit when we have a dream that we are pursuing. As Winston Churchill said "Never, never, never give up!" There have been many times during process of building my business when I have been discouraged and tempted to quit. Often results did not happen as quickly or in way that I had planned. Through this experience, I have learned to be patient with myself and process, to persist when progress seemed to elude me, to relax and enjoy journey, and most importantly to internalize and fortify my belief in outcome I desire. Stay course! Don't abandon ship! If you believe in your dream and are willing to see it through, you will surely enjoy sweet reward of success when you arrive at your destination. Four Tips for Staying Course.... 1.STAY POSITIVE. Your mental attitude toward your situation is all-important. If you think possibilities, you will be better able to focus on opportunities that are present in setbacks or lulls. You become your own tyrant when you surrender your will to negative thoughts. Keep a positive attitude, knowing that you have what it takes to succeed. Ask yourself: What is my attitude toward my situation?
| | Ever Find Yourself Struggling to Express Your Thoughts and Feelings?Written by Coach Pat Morgan
It can be challenging to find right words to express what we really want to say. We often think that good communication is only about being heard, but is it not also about being a good listener? It may be difficult to identify our communication problems. Having someone to offer fresh perspective can help you to clarify specific communication issues and improve your skills. Working with a coach can help you focus on message you want to communicate and to put language around thoughts and feelings you want to express.Four Tips for Improving Communication... 1.LISTEN. A wise person once told me that we have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we talk. That got my attention. It sounds so simple, but how many times are you engaged in conversation and are not really listening? Your mind is on your next meeting, client, project, dinner, kids or maybe you're just busy thinking about next thing you're going to say when speaker takes a breath. In any event, listening is a skill that can be improved. Ask yourself: Do I listen twice as much as I speak? Do I need to improve my listening skills? 2.BE RESPECTFUL. Even in situations where communication may be difficult, treating other person with respect allows more open and constructive exchange of opinions and ideas. Ask yourself: Am I respectful when communicating with others? 3.RESPOND RATHER THAN REACT. Watch your emotions. If what speaker is saying creates an emotional response in you, listen extra carefully with attention to intention and full meaning of their words. When we are angry, frightened or upset, we often miss critical parts of what is being said. Be slow to disagree, criticize or argue. Even if you disagree, let them have their point of view. If you respond in a way that makes other person defensive, even if you "win" argument, you may lose something far more valuable. Ask yourself: Do I react rather than respond? 4.IMPROVE YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS. If you find yourself unable to express your thoughts effectively with co-workers, clients, your partner or family, perhaps you would benefit from working with a professional who can help you clarify and develop language to more clearly express yourself. Ask yourself: Who will I ask to help me improve my communication skills?
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