Today I had one of the best coaching calls
ever! First, a little background… A client of mine had achieved success in his business. He had made enough money, and now it was time to retire. He sold his company with high hopes of moving on to greener pastures. That was a couple of years ago and the last I had heard from him – I figured he was out there, somewhere, living his dreams.
He called today sounding a little lost. In talking with him, we both discovered he was no longer doing the activities which had previously given meaning and purpose to his life. When he sold his company, he thought he was done and all would be fine. Little did he know his new life had only just begun…
My client had hit all of his targets to grow a successful business. And, in selling his business and stepping away from the business world, he successfully hit his final target. But, he didn’t set a target for what to do next. He committed one of the easiest and most critical goal-setting errors: He set his target up to the goal instead of through the goal. Consequently, he had effectively made it his goal to stop doing what gave him joy! He just didn’t know it at the time. But, he knew now that he wasn’t happy with his life. He was on a journey of whyme.
Don’t know that word? Sure you do. Whyme is not a type of dog, it is not a place where wine is made, and it is not a type of trout. Whyme is the sound of someone repeatedly (maybe you?) asking “why me” really fast. All you can see and all you can focus on is what’s wrong – you are convinced you have missed out in life. STOP IT!
Not only did my client forget to goal-set through the target, he forgot about all the things that made him happy – he forgot to do the things that give purpose to his life. My client is a man who genuinely loves to help people. His purpose (in addition to achieving business and financial success) had been to help recovering addicts, to help people out of life’s jams, and to help people live happy, healthy lives. This man loved to read out of the big book and think about life in a positive way. When moved on from his business, he forgot to bring his purpose along with him.
Here is what I told him:
(1.) Get back in the habit of focusing on targets
(2.) Make a list of activities that move you closer to your targets -- and beyond
(3.) Act on those activities that make your purpose come alive
I asked him: what do you need to do differently today to get different results? Then he gave me the best response and confirmation of understanding – he said “I am alive and well today; I just need to act like it.”
Learn about Jim Jackson's executive coaching services.
Today is no different than any other day you’ve already put behind you, and tomorrow will be no different than any other day. Really. All days are the same and you are the same!
What if that was your belief, your truth? What if you had a belief that any given day would prove to be no different than any other and there’s nothing you can do about it? Would you live differently on that day?
There are hundreds of books and audio programs on how to live or change your life (and I have read most of them). But, even if you do get all jazzed up from a book, it’s temporary and nothing really seems to change. So, you can only conclude that this day is no different than the rest. Right? And, then you ask the $64,000 question: Why didn’t anything change? You’ve read the books, listened to the tapes, and attended the seminars and nothing is different.
I’ve got a better question for you: What do I need to do differently today to get different results? This may be the shortest blog I have written; but, the answer is just as short and just as simple and I’m willing to bet you already know it. You know why you are not reaching your targets. You know what needs to happen today to make a difference. You know what you need to do differently today to get different results. You are the only one who can answer these questions for you.
Ask yourself the question: WHAT DO I NEED TO DIFFERENTLY TODAY TO GET DIFFERENT RESULTS? Tell yourself the truth, and then act on the truth.
Learn more about executive coach, Jim Jackson.