My Almost Mid-Life Crisis

When I turned 41 years old I started to have a mid-life crisis. My mid-life crisis involved a vineyard, a couple of dogs, and a small monastic retreat center - all in Tuscany, Italy. The problem was, I couldn't afford it!

I decided to put my mid-life crisis on hold while I save up for it. I'm still saving...

In the meantime, I've come to the conclusion that a bit of a mid-life crisis now and then is a good thing. Read the whole article here.

Coaching Greener Grass

Everyday we receive offers to become involved in something, whether it's a new job or a volunteer position.

It's all too easy to jump at new opportunities because of dissatisfaction with what we're presently doing and the attraction of the new.

The grass is always greener, until you get there!

Read the whole article, and comment below.

Ambiguity and Risk

Sometimes coaches want to first 'figure it out' and then lead the coachee to a solution using questions.

Master coaches embrace ambiguity. They don't need to know the exact path or even the final destination. They take risk, exploring with clients areas that might bear fruit.

Embracing ambiguity makes the coach a mutual learner and fellow-traveler with the coachee.

Read the whole article, and comment below.

Getting Out of a Rut

In this month's article, Bryan Wintersteen shares how to get out of a rut. Watch this video to see a fun, creative way of getting people out a rut.

Bryan writes, "Sometimes I can fall into a rut. I don't like to be in a rut! I want life to be filled with creativity, fun, positivity, & possibility. However, my normal routines and behavior can become predictable and stale. Ruts are formed by the small choices I make each day." Read the whole article.

What are your thoughts? Comment below.

Long-term, Short-term Planning

For most of our five years in Indonesia we lived under the stress of never knowing how long we'd actually be able to stay in the country. That kind of uncertainty plays havoc with long-term planning.

Usually people recommend building ministries over a long time period. What happens, however, if four years into things and before things are firmly established, you suddenly have to leave due to a medical emergency, education issues, visa rejections, threats, etc. What would remain?

Plan long-term by determining what you're trying to achieve, and then plan short-term by breaking it down into parts that can stand on their own.

Read the whole article. Leave a comment below.

Rewire Your Brain for Change

Winston Churchill said, "To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often." I believe this is true.

Coaches help people change. Yet change is difficult. Our brains are wired to do what we've always done. We need to rewire them. That's the subject of this month's article.

Read the article here, and then come back and comment below.

What's Your Expertise

In the heart of London's financial district, I sat down with an executive coach. During the conversation I learned that he earns ten times the money other executive coaches receive. Knowing he's not a "big name" author or speaker, I asked him how he could charge so much more than others. The reason, he explained, is the expertise he brings to his clients.

He doesn't just coach. "Coaching is a commodity that a lot of people provide", he explained. "What I bring are results, real value, that comes from my expertise in business and as a coach."

Continue reading here.

Add your thoughts by clicking "comment" below.

Making Training Active

"How can I make my training more active?" is a question we frequently hear. In this article I'll share with you our experience.

I begin with the twin goals of discovery and experience. Take the topic of questions, for example. I want participants to discover the power of questions and experience using them in powerful ways. Any knowledge that comes through discovery is owned; and experience is not quickly forgotten.

Read about the three grids we use to create interactive training. The full article is here. Leave your comments below.

Three books I'd recommend: