I’m stuck and I can’t get started

Dated: date October 14, 2008 – 10:30 am

I just got off the phone with a prominent journalist who exclaimed, “Matthew, I’m stuck!  I’ve got all these incredible ideas and projects that are 1/2 started but I can’t get anything to move past the idea stage.  What do I do?”

This is a buddy of mine so I took off my buddy hat and put on my Inspired Action Coach hat.  I asked him, “How long have you been stuck?”  He replied, “Ever since having a fall-out with my last editor.”  Of course you know my next question, “Tell me more about that?”.  You see, coaching is the process of supporting powerful people in being empowered and coming up with powerful solutions for themselves.

He goes on to tell me about how he got into a battle with his last editor over who owned his content.  The relationship ended badly.  Very badly.  Both sides felt taken advantage of and my friend was very upset about the outcome.

“It’s simple really” I say to him.  “You must take some time to understand your editor’s perspective so you can let this go”.  “If you can stop protecting yourself from people in the future taking advantage of you, your creativity and power will return.  Why do you think he reacted so negatively?”  After a few guiding questions, he said something very revealing and at the heart of the matter.  “My content was of great value to the paper.  My editor wanted it exclusively and when I threatened to take it else were he became hostile.  Then I reacted like he didn’t understand my goals and it all deteriorated from there.”

After a just a few more moments of coaching I had his assignment in mind.  In the Inspired Action coaching program we call it The Clean Up Steps.  It’s an easy way to reset the relationship back to normal.  Plus it clears any fear or negativity that get stuck in your mindset and stops you from taking action.

If you want a copy of the clean up steps, then leave a comment and I’ll be happy to send it over to you.

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The Power of Looking Destruction in the Face

Dated: date October 13, 2008 – 9:55 am

I just got off the phone with a CEO of a major financial institution.  He was in good spirits.

“Something has shifted” I said to him with a smile.  For the past month every call has been a process of pulling him out of despair and getting him focused on saving his sinking ship.

He fires off  “I did it.  I finally faced the worst case scenario and I have accepted that if we go down, I won’t die!  I will regroup and figure out what’s next.”  He goes on to say, “We were on the brink of destruction twice in the last two weeks and I was forced to make peace with it.”

In the Inspired Action Coaching process facing the worst case scenario is always step one to clearing the fear and finding the internal resources you need to get in Inspired Action.

Question:  What future are you avoiding?

I guarantee you are avoiding something.  It is the nature of The Drunk Monkey (your mind).

Write out the worst possible thing that could happen and then make peace with it.  Create plan B, C and D.

If you were attracted to this blog, you are not likely a stupid lump.  If you are seeking information on how to be powerful, then you are likely (I assume) someone who has a commitment to being powerful.  Just because one failure happens, doesn’t mean your power will leave.

As the Dalai Lama says “Sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.”

Write it out today.

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To Be Empowered In A Time of Fear is Your Strategic Advantage

Dated: date October 10, 2008 – 9:04 am

One of my clients is starting a new financial services company in the middle of what is likely the biggest financial melt down in history.  I asked him “How are you holding up?”  His response didn’t surprise me.

“I’m absolutely on fire right now!  I’m building a company designed for the new Wall Street.  I’ve made the decision to build a company who’s culture will nurture, support and inspire.  I’m committed to be the new model on Wall Street” he says emphatically.

He goes on to say, “Because of the work we are doing I am so inspired and lit up right now I’m like a light in the middle of the darkness.  People I never dreamed of are attracted to me because of my excitement and my enthusiasm.”

While everyone around him is falling apart and going into a state of despair, my client is focused on a future that has him empowered in the moment.

What is the future you are committed to bring into existence?  It’s your choice.  You are not the victim of your circumstances, you are the creator of your experience.  Notice I didn’t say you are the creator of your circumstances.  You are the creator of your experience.  The context with which you view your circumstances create your experience.

I request you learn to manage your point of view and become the creator of your experience.  It will make you rich beyond your wildest dreams in every area of your life.

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Are you being intentional or reactive?

Dated: date October 9, 2008 – 11:57 am

One of my clients is a financial adviser for one of the few companies left standing.  Over the last few weeks she has spent her time firefighting,  soothing clients’ fears and helping people pick up the pieces.

Within seconds I could hear that she was an emotional wreck.  I immediately engaged a set of Inspired Action Coaching practices.  I asked her, “Is there anything in your life that is good right now?”  She hesitated.  I said, “Every aspect of our life is a nightmare, is that what you are telling me?”  She sheepishly said, “No, not every aspect”  “So what’s good in your life?”  I pressed.

She went on to tell me about her family, her husband, her workouts, the vacations she has scheduled and many other great things happening in her life.  Within seconds she was starting to feel better.

I promptly moved the conversation to an exercise called quarterly intentions.  One by one I went through each area of her life and asked her these questions.   How about you do them with me too.

1.  How would you rate your level of satisfaction in the area of your physical body?  “Eight” she enthusiastically replied.  Then I followed up with question #2.

2.  What would make your physical category a ten this quarter?  She rattled off three intentions.

We went on to do this in the other nine categories: mindset, family, primary relationship, spiritual, business, finances, recreation, social and contribution.  How would you rate it now, what would make it a ten.

At the end of our session she was lit up!  I asked her, “If you only accomplished 10% of this list, how much better would your life be?” As you can imagine, she replied, “A lot better!”

I reminded her that a a quarterly intention list was not another To Do List.  It’s a way or recognizing what you truely want.  Just acknowledgeing what you truly want, gets you out of reaction and into action on creating your life they way you want.

Just a little side note.  Last quarter this client ended up completing 21 out of 22 intentions she set and we only looked at the list 3 times in 3 months.  Seems like magic but when you take the time to remove the fear, anger, resentment and doubt from your life, you naturally take actions that are inspired from your most cherished dreams.

Try it today.

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Am I a victim of the financial markets or did I create this?

Dated: date October 8, 2008 – 10:23 am

One of the wealthiest clients I have has been hit hard by the markets and, like many others, is concerned if he will even make it through.  He owns a boutique investment firm and is in the middle of an important inquiry, “Am I a victim of the markets or did I create this?”

I think this question is critical to resolve.  If you are unable to recognize that you are the creator of your experience, then you will go down with the rest.  The only responsible thing to say is “I created this, now I’m going to get myself out of it!”

Are there extreme external circumstances at play?  Yes.

Are there people who are thriving in this time of incredible financial disaster?  Yes.

Who is thriving right now?

People who have their internal resources available to them.  People who are not riddled with fear.  People who have gotten over the guilt of making financially devastating moves and re focused themselves on what they are committed to.

The future that you have in mind determines the moves you will make today.  If you allow yourself to obsess over the potential threat of a negative future, then you will pull that future towards yourself by operating consistent with it.

So, what are you committed to?  What future are you creating for yourself?

Keep working with your coach to stay out of the drama of possible negative futures and get your mind focused on a future of your choosing.

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Head Trader Finds Inspiration When Everyone is Falling Apart

Dated: date October 7, 2008 – 11:26 am

I just got off the phone with one of my very powerful clients.  He manages billions for a prominent fund.  When his boss sent an email saying “We’re going down in flames!”, my client responded with more power then he had ever expressed.

In the past my client would have been cautious about his response and probably held back a little.  But after a couple months of Inspired Action Coaching his response even surprised him.  In his mind, his response was a bold push back.  But his boss’ response was amazing!  My client’s email was circulated around the entire company and a special meeting was held to discuss the ideas he presented in his email.  This was a first.  As long as he could remember he was in the background wondering if he would ever be truly appropriated for his contribution.

I asked him “What has changed?”  His response was simple, “I am inspired.  I am feeling more fearless then ever.  My thoughts are important and I had to express them!”

Wow!  What a difference two months of coaching makes.  He’s only in the first phase of coaching which is the clean up phase.  He has been hard at work creating a new context for his life by seeing his past from a new point of view.  When you change your point of view, you change your actions.  When you change your actions you get new results.

I predict that the result of his new actions will lead him to a partnership position in one of the biggest funds in the world.  Stand by.  I’ll keep you posted.

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