The Tree Climbing Principle

The Tree Climbing Principle

June 9, 2020Posted inJust Start
“You don’t have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great.” - Joe Sabah As a kid, I was a champion tree climber. (To be completely transparent, that was a made-up title that I bestowed upon myself.) I never met a tree that I couldn’t climb. My best friend, Harold, was not (and, yes,…
My Dreams Deserve the Chance of a Yes

My Dreams Deserve the Chance of a Yes

June 3, 2020Posted inJust Start
“100% of the shots that you don’t take, don’t go in.” Wayne Gretzky Back in 2002, I was at a conference where they announced that Entrepreneur Press was putting together a book called Masters of Success.  They were looking for a variety of stories some of which would be about people overcoming obstacles.  I thought about my speech problems and…
Confronting our demons

Confronting our demons

June 17, 2015Posted inAwareness
"Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing."-- August Wilson (1945-2005), American Playwright This quote speaks to me in so many ways.  The people whom I meet that are the most compelling and powerful and inspiring are those people who…
The confidence to test a comfort zone

The confidence to test a comfort zone

April 8, 2015Posted inAwareness, Just Start, Mindsets
Awhile ago, while I was coaching a manager, I was asked why it is that I am willing to venture outside of my comfort zone.  At that time, I don't think I had a very good answer.  However, since then, as I'm tackling something new or venturing into new territory, I've been paying attention to that question.  The answer that…
2 miles above sea level!

Silencing my ego

July 1, 2013Posted inHabits and Practices, Mindsets
In cycling, when I’m climbing, I am slow.   I persistently keep the pedals moving, but I am slow.  This bugs me – a lot.  Over the last few months, I’ve been traveling a great deal for work and my cycling workouts have diminished.  However, when I’m home, I go out and attack some hills.  I have noticed that somewhere I…
Risk hitting the wrong notes . . .

Risk hitting the wrong notes . . .

June 10, 2013Posted inJust Start, Mindsets
When people are learning something new, I usually hear them say something like,  "I guess this will be a process of trial and error and I'll probably make a lot of mistakes."  It reminds me of a question that I heard Sir John Whitmore ask at a Harvard coaching conference:  Is it really trial and error or is it trial…