Using metaphors is a master coaching skill, and useful for anyone who wants to influence or help others. It makes something very clear in a few words, and does it by going directly to right brain where it’s ‘gotten’ unconsciously so can’t be argued with, logically. Powerful. Here are some common ones nearly everyone will know:

SPINNING GOLD OUT OF STRAW

This comes from fairytale “Rapunzel.” The princess had to spin gold out of straw every night, and Rapunzel helped her. It stands for something “impossible” to do. Coaches often help clients spin gold out of straw, and good news is we require a coaching fee, not your firstborn!

ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY

This is familiar to most of us from childhood and refers to life balance. I never had a client come to me who said, “Please help me learn to work more. My life is out of balance.”

RED SHOES

One of those “smackdown” fairytales from Hans Christian Andersen, who didn’t pull his punches. It’s about a little girl who absolutely had to have a pair of red dancing shoes, an obsession. Once she got them, and put them on, she couldn’t get them off, and she danced herself to death. Sometimes we help our clients remove red shoes.

IF MOHAMMED CAN’T COME TO THE MOUNTAIN, BRING THE MOUNTAIN TO MOHAMMED

An example of this is Just Think Foundation’s Media Mobile bus which brings media learning opportunity to inner-city teenagers in San Francisco. It means if they can’t, or won’t, come to you, take it to them. Or, do it easy way. Be flexible. Don’t get stuck on—it has to be done this way and I’m going to cram it down their throats.

YOU CAN’T MAKE A SILK PURSE OUR OF A SOW’S EAR

He's much like you and me. But, let's dig a little deeper into Johanes' life.

He was born in war-torn Sudan in northeast Africa. Life there was very dangerous. In a brutal civil war, youth in Sudan are often drafted into rebel army as young as eleven.

Johanes and his family wanted more for him. He, along with his little brother and younger niece, walked many hundreds of miles to a refugee camp in Kenya. He assumed responsibility for his brother and niece.

They were among fortunate who were allowed to come to US to start anew.

Arrangements were made for them to travel to NYC and there meet an uncle. When they arrived-- no uncle. Johanes, with very little money, and with responsibility of his two charges, lived on streets of NY for weeks until connection could be made with his uncle.

They came to Omaha, knowing almost no English. Yet Johanes went to school, found work and an apartment for himself and his brother and niece.

Well, what's up with Johanes? He graduated from Benson High with honors. He received two prestigious scholarships-Coca Cola and Peter Kiewit, and entered University of Nebraska – Omaha this fall.

Ordinary? yes Determined? yes Courageous? yes Persistent? yes Adaptable? yes Disciplined? yes Unstoppable? absolutely

If you could have anything in your life, and you knew you would succeed, what dream would you chase? • Becoming debt free • Reach your ideal weight • Reconcile with a loved one • Own your own business

What are you doing about it? Do you want it as bad as Johanes wanted a new life?

You need a defining moment. Most extraordinary accomplishments begin with firm resolve that comes when we finally say, "Enough!"