2qtr2006 - Not Just Talk! Newsletter

Table of Contents - 2qtr2006 - Not Just Talk! Newsletter

• Feature Article
• Great Things I Didn't Say!
• What's News at GottaGettaCoach!?
• GottaGettaBlog!
• Weblog Highlights Administrivia

2qtr2006 - Feature Article

Long-Term Life Planning

I was recently asked by CNN reporter Ann Hoevel, "What steps should people take, Barry, to create a long-term life plan for themselves? What can they do to get themselves ready?"

The thing is, if you're not ready to create a long-term plan for yourself, then you're just not ready. There's no secret formula to automatically make you ready. And even if there was, different people need different things so what might work for Mary, or Steve, probably wouldn't work for you. But while there's no magic recipe out there, there are certain key ingredients that you're probably going to need to effectively
P-L-A-N.

P - be Patient

Just because you don't know in this moment, it doesn't mean that you won't know in a coming moment. The key is to be ready for the insights - and recognizing them as such - whenever they do occur. Practice patience whenever you can. It's an important life skill.

Keep practicing until impatience no longer distracts you from what's going on in the here and now.

L - Love yourself

There are three types of personal power - Mind Power, Body Power, Heart Power. Mind Power helps us analyze things and their underlying logic. Body Power is the power of action and doing. And Heart Power comes from connecting with your values, your soul, your higher purpose. While most people are pretty good at using their mind and body powers, Heart Power, which might also be called an ego-less Love of Self, is where all long-term life planning really begins. Here's a great coaching exercise: Sit your body down, quiet your mind, and have a set of conversations with your heart. Listen for what it says. Hear what it's trying to tell you, without judgment, and without expectation.

The more you can befriend your heart, the clearer - and more meaningful - these communications can be.

A - increase your Awareness

So many people operate in Default Mode, ruled unconsciously by bad habits, out-dated assumptions, and self-limiting beliefs. The key here is to recognize your Default Behaviors as they occur, so you can become more conscious and purposeful about what you're deciding.

Here's an exercise that can help: Start noticing the things around you that have a particularly positive or negative affect on you. Don't worry about why they affect you the way they do, just notice that they affect you. Then, using a variation of what I call the Noun Game, identify persons, places, and things that empower (strengthen) you - or not; that motivate (engage) you - or not; that satisfy (acknowledge) you - or not.

You'll be amazed at what you can see when you start paying attention.

N - Nucleate

Find a quiet place. Let your curiosity and ingenuity percolate up inside you and let whatever comes up, come up. Don't worry about how realistic it is. Don't worry about practicality, either. The idea is to investigate possibility, without constraint. Wherever your energy collects is likely to be near the core. Make a note and come back later.

If nothing comes up right away, don't worry. Just take a break and return to the P-L-A-N process later. Patience, self-love, awareness and your ability to nucleate a life plan sometimes takes time.

Following the P-L-A-N does not guarantee the clarity of heart, mind, and body needed to create a meaningful life plan. But if you're ready, I believe it will help you get there sooner.

2qtr2006 - Great Things I Didn't Say!

• "It is a bad plan that admits of no modification." - Publilius Syrus (~100 BC)
• "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood...Make big plans, aim high in hope and work." - Daniel H. Burnham (1846 - 1912)
• "How poor are they who have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees." - William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
• "We know truth, not only by reason, but also by the heart." - Blaise Pascal (1623 - 1662)
• "There is nothing like dream to create the future. Utopia to-day, flesh and blood tomorrow." - Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)
• "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, and try again. Then give up. There's no use being a damned fool about it." - W. C. Fields (1880-1946)

2qtr2006 - What's News at GottaGettaCoach!?

News and Highlights from last quarter:

• Barry Zweibel was interviewed by Professional Builder magazine for an article on work/life balance.
• TheLadders.com publishes another article by Barry Zweibel called, Help Them Say Yes: Provide a 90-Day Plan.
• Barry Zweibel was interviewed by GURLZ magazine (Mumbai, India) for an article on life coaching.
• Barry Zweibel was interviewed by Motivation Strategies Magazine for an article in one of their newsletters on networking.
• Barry Zweibel was interviewed by CNN.com for a piece on long-term life planning.
• Barry Zweibel was interviewed as part of an organizational leadership research project affiliated with Chapman University in Orange, California.
• Barry Zweibel was quoted in the January 2, 2006 edition of the Daily Herald newspaper in an article called, "The Strength to Change" about on making better New Year's Resolutions.
• information from the GGCI leadership coach page

2qtr2006 - GottaGettaBlog! Weblog Highlights

I've been using GottaGettaBlog! as a vehicle to capture news, notes, and musings about coaching, mentoring, and getting more from YOUR Untapped Potential - along with whatever other stuff I happen to find amusing and/or thought-provoking - since June of 2003. Highlighted postings from last quarter are listed below - just follow the links:

from January 2006

• How DO You Motivate Employees?
• An Executive's Sphere of Influence
• Is 2006 getting off to a good start for you?

from February 2006

• Better Delegation through Lessons Learned
• In and Around "Zero Point Five" Territory
• Separating Yourself from your Problems
• Checking the Gauges

from March 2006

• Placebo vs. Placebo
• Career Strategist: How to Network Effectively
• Help Them Say Yes: Provide a 90-Day Plan

Your on-line comments at GottaGettaBlog! are both welcomed and encouraged. To receive weekly digests of new GottaGettaBlog! postings, update your subscription here.

2qtr2006 - Administrivia

This edition of Not Just Talk! was written and created by Barry Zweibel, executive coach, leadership consultant, and president of GottaGettaCoach!, Incorporated.

GGCI specializes in helping executives - and managers aspiring to leadership positions - to:

• think more strategically more of the time
• communicate more effectively, up, down, and across the organization
• better leverage their time, effort, and personnel resources
• adopt a more coach-like attitude with staff and vendor personnel
• be ready willing, and able to have difficult conversations, when needed
• drive key business results without being a jerk!

GGCI also provides life coaching and career coaching services to those looking to make good things happen sooner in their lives and careers.

For information on how GottaGettaCoach! can help you - or those in your organization - please contact Barry directly at 847.291.9735, info@ggci.com, or via www.ggci.com.

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