Down Time

As we all know, maintaining balance is key to feeling good and operating at a level of productivity necessary to achieve desired outcomes in all areas of life. While it may not be easy, it is imperative that we recognize, accept and act on some principles that may seem counterintuitive or simply difficult to embrace.

First of all, we must recognize that we cannot maintain optimum productivity in one area 100% of the time. For example, we cannot consistently offer the same level of mental investment into an operating budget for 24 hours straight. Our minds and bodies are simply not given to that kind of intensity for an extended time period. We must take breaks, change our activities, and give different areas of our being the opportunity to exercise. For some people, 20 minutes at a keyboard and 20 min away from the keyboard is a good rule of thumb for avoiding eye strain or carpel tunnel syndrome. Taking a brisk walk before engaging in learning or creative problem-solving can improve our mental capacity and chemically improve our chances of achieving satisfactory ends quickly. The key is to find what works to bridge the gap from where we are to where we are going, and having the courage to embrace it. And know that the answer does not lie in duct-taping ourselves to our desk for 3 days.

Second, we need to recognize that focus is essential. And by that, I do not mean living at the office 365 days a year staring at the same numbers over and over. We need down time. And we must have down time that is as intense and focussed as our work time. It is interesting to note that workers who have little focus at work often tend to have little focus outside of work, as well. They are constantly thinking of work as much as they are constantly thinking about leisure time activities. They are often completely unrested, imbalanced, and tend toward higher stress levels and burnout. When it's time to relax, put your mind, energy and power into something completely and wholly unrelated to anything at work. Focus hard on play and you will find a greater power to focus at work. In whatever activity you are engaged in, focus. Get focus, keep your focus, and don't release your focus until it's time to change that focus. Focus.

Third, recognize that you are the boss. In every situation in which you find yourself, you have choices. You are responsible to ensure that your life is balanced. It is not a decision made by your spouse, your business partner, or your mentor. Choose how you will balance the demands in your life. Choose how you will invest your time. Choose your thoughts as carefully as you choose your activities. Ensure that when it's time to rest from one labour, the other areas of your being are awakened and given their opportunity to exercise. Choose to discipline yourself, balance your energies, and focus. Make good choices day after day, and feel good about those choices as you begin to embrace a successful lifestyle. You are your own boss - no matter what.

Thank-you.

Thank-you to my clients, past and present, who have taught me so much and changed my life in so many positive ways. A coach is nothing without a team - I am so grateful for all you have shared with me.

Thank-you to my family and friends who have gone through so much with me. And are still there.

Thank-you to the many teachers, educators, trainers, mentors, and other leaders that have helped me become the person I am today.

Thank-you to my fellow community workers and volunteers that keep my home a great place to live.

Thank-you to the leaders of my country who fight each day to keep our rights and freedom intact.

Thank-you to everyone that stands up for what they believe in, that lives what they preach, and that tries every day to grow, change, and embrace the wonderful gift of life that they have been given.

I Am ...

At ActionCOACH, we believe in creating, verbalizing and reinforcing "I Am ..." statements that reflect who we are. Just check out the banner at ActionCOACH Lethbridge, or the 14 Points of Culture.

I believe that "I am a business coach who is focused on results." As I verbally affirm that fact, it becomes just a little more true.

Have you created "I Am ..." statements yet? The rest of your life can and will be determined by who you are today. Have you defined in specific terms who that person is?

One of the great things about who I am (an ActionCOACH Business Coach) is that I am part of a worldwide team collaborating to bring to fruition the vision of ActionCOACH - World Abundance through Business Re-education.

I am an ActionCOACH, and my success is your success.



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Above or Below the Line?

What does the header on this blog mean? And how do you rate yourself in relation to "the line?"

Google the term "below the line" and you will find a couple of popular definitions for this phrase. Wikipedia, always one of the first to jump in, gives us these two ideas in relation to the business world:

1. Above the line (ATL), below the line (BTL), and through the Line (TTL), in organizational business and marketing communications, are advertising techniques.  In a nutshell, while ATL promotions are tailored for a mass audience, BTL promotions are targeted at individuals according to their needs or preferences. While ATL promotions can establish brand identity, BTL can actually lead to a sale. ATL promotions are also difficult to measure well, while BTL promotions are highly measurable, giving marketers valuable insights into their return-on-investment.
2. In feature-length narrative filmmaking, an imaginary line delineates those who have influence in the creative direction of a film's narrative from others who perform duties related to the film's physical production. Below-the-line is a term that refers to the list of individuals who perform the physical production of a given film, the post-production work and all of the related expenditures.

While interesting, as an ActionCOACH, neither of these definitions listed above are what I am referring to. I'm talking about behavior. I'm talking about what we say, how we say it, how we interact, when we step back, what we address, how we address it, and what we don't address. I'm talking about an invisible line that delineates behavior that is acceptable and behavior that is not. Above the line we take Ownership, we hold ourselves Accountable, and we accept Responsibility for all that we say and do. Individuals and organizations that fall below the line pass Blame, give Excuses (or fancy excuses called reasons), or have a general sense of Denial when things don't work out.

 When it comes to business, this line is more tangible than it might seem. The minute you fall below that line, you are losing customers, credibility, productivity, team unity, and profit. You are destroying yourself, your relationships, and your business. Your business will never master its niche until you master the man or woman within.

To this end, ActionCOACH developed 14 Points of Culture that outline exactly what it is to be above or below the line. We hold our coaches, clients, and businesses to the highest standards of integrity, positivity, and energy. While maintaining a balance between consistent, relevant business systems and effective people practices, we cultivate a culture of abundance, gratitude, and success. Join the ActionCOACH community and lift yourself, your business, and everyone around you above the line. Watch the "I Am An ActionCOACH" video to get a taste of the community we are building as we seek the vision we uphold: "World Abundance Through Business Re-Education."

Get a coach - get your head above the rest - and get above the line.
I look forward to hearing from you very soon.

Ownership

We all know it: "If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you're getting." We firmly believe this to be true at ActionCOACH. Whether your behavior and attitudes are positive or negative, productive or unproductive, you'll get consistent results for your consistent actions. And while consistency is important, let's shift the focus away from that part of this principle and focus instead on "you."
Let's examine another one of the ActionCOACH 14 Points of Culture:

Ownership

I am truly responsible for my actions and outcomes and own everything that takes place in my work and my life. I am accountable for my results and I know that for things to change, first I must change.

The key to positive action and growth in your life and your work is YOU. Nothing will change for the better until you do. There are several tools that ActionCOACH uses to help business owners establish where they are at and how that relates to where they want to be. Today, make your bucket list - write down 100 things you want to do before you die. Establish what you want.

Brad Sugars says, "In order to have, one must do, ... but in order to do ... one must be!" The next step is to establish a system of learning and growth for yourself. Just like we said before, nothing will change until you do. You won't get what you want until you are willing to become what it takes to achieve your goals. For business owners, this often means a period of accelerated growth and learning that will effectively change them and their corporation. At ActionCOACH we use forms to track processes like these - for example, check out the Personal Learning and Achievement Log. If you don't know what it is that you don't know yet, start by checking out the business books referenced in my library (on the right side of this blog). Check out the Business Tools offered by ActionCOACH, as well as the Business Library. Put yourself on the road to your dreams by expanding your wealth of knowledge and skills, and by setting milestones to map your progress. In time you will be able to look back and see where you have been. And look forward to where you are going to end up. Those dreams are within your reach - begin today by taking ownership and establishing your system of growth to achieve them!