A greatly overlooked ingredient to successful organizations and leaders is the ability to create and sustain momentum

John Maxwell often says describes momentum as either a “maker” or a “breaker” of success and longevity in business. Check here for a great blog by John Maxwell on this subject. 

Momentum is key to any business's success and can often be elusive, which is why it is so important to know how to build a momentum model.

On our Podcast this month. We are outlining : 

5 Strategies of Momentum (Episode 85)

4 Questions you need to ask when it comes to Momentum (Episode 86)

3 Key Principles of Momentum (Episode 87)

Here at Phoenix Life Coaching Canada we share a model with our clients when it comes to accessing and sustaining their momentum. It is a model focussed on ensuring an understanding of “Who” before “Do”. Understanding “who” you are (what your message is) before you starting “doing” what you want to be about. To understand this principle – take a listen to this You Can Make It So Podcast Episode

Knowing your “Who” before “Do” will give you momentum – and here are three steps to aide with that

Step 1: Clarity

Clarity is king in building momentum. When the leader becomes clear, everything and everyone in the business becomes clear. A company should be able to state the message of their company in a clear sentence and have a rally cry of four words or less. The right words produce momentum.

For ourselves at Phoenix Life Coaching our mission is to work with business owners helping them lead with confidence and grow in clarity toward results that reduce anxiety and increase profits. 

Our rally cry is #makeitso

Becoming clear about what you do and how you do it is a step to building clarity. Clarity produces momentum. The differentiator between successful companies and average ones is that successful companies know their message and stick to it.

We did an entire series – Episodes 14-18 - on the value of clarity – check it out here

Step 2 Make it Known 

Each September, I offer a free 30-minute call to anyone looking to improve their business through efficiency, growth, processes or time management.  I’ve done these in the past, and am happy to say I have seen a noticeable improvement in many businesses and the processes of business owners.

🔗 Book a consult today with this link 🔗

#makeitso

Well September has arrived. For good or bad that is true.

As sure as the leaves will soon change colours, and then fall from the trees, two things are also happening inside most of us. First a change of our own inner ‘colour’ or spirit, and second, possibly a falling of that same spirit. That spirit we call Motivation – and motivation is very challenging in September.

For some, September arrives and at first it rockets to the sky. We are excited for the resumption of routine, new projects, regular schedules, maybe even fuller co working spaces; we even get excited about waiting a little longer for the morning latte. The vibrancy energizes us. But for some soon that colour changes, and we begin to recall quiet, serene, more solo, less stressful days of fewer meetings, softer demands and even a relaxed pace.

For others, September comes like an anvil. Heavy, thunderous and bland. We accept ‘summer is over’ and maybe even recall the “Summer Bucket List” that did not get finished. Tasks at work become robotic, demands seem onerous and we find ourselves unmotivated or maybe even worse over whelmed, and what we saw value in before (e.g. going to the gym, talking to a mentor or advisor, or even quiet reading or journaling) quickly are dismissed as ‘yet another thing’.

Am I preaching to the choir here? Anybody saying “Amen”? Is this anyone out there with the same thoughts?

So what is one to do?

Well anyone who knows me knows I am big on habits and consistency, so you know I will recommend those, but I want to go a step further because habits and consistency without purpose are destined in time to become “just another thing.”

If you want to push past “The Autumn Yawn” as I like to call it, then it’s time to connect your habits and consistency with a personal philosophy that will push you in every season.

Developing your personal philosophy, is to look for those things that make the most difference in your life, and to spend most of your time doing those things. It isn’t a mystical process but a principle that can make a difference.

So here are few things to help discern that personal philosophy in a life giving manner.

Learn from Set Back

The best way to establish a personal philosophy is to objectively review the conclusions you’ve drawn about life. Any conclusion you’ve drawn that isn’t working for you, could be working against you.

This is done in three steps:

First, write down your personal experience. If you’re doing something wrong, evaluate what you did wrong and change things. If you are doing something right (and yes everyone does something right), then make those solid foundational pillars to build from. I encourage you strongly - keep a journal, it is your own handwritten transcript of experiences, ideas, desires and conclusions, and is one of the best guides for making good decisions. Writing tends to slow down the flow of information and gives us time to analyze and ponder the experience. Jot down what you learn. It’s the small disciplines that lead to great accomplishments. Check out this Journal as an option to get you started.

Second, use a format I call “Wins, Woes and Wants”.  In the time it takes you to order (or make) a coffee and drink it, (about 10-15 minutes), you simply scribe what went right (win), what you would have done differently (woe) and what you desired or still do (want) for either the day that passed or the previous day. Writing down your “Wins, Woes and Wants” daily is one of the best investments in your self you can make. Check out this Podcast episode to help you see why.

Third, seek an objective, outside voice about how you are and what you’re doing. An objective opinion from someone you respect can lead you to early and accurate information. Listen to the freshness of an outside voice—someone who can see the forest and isn’t lost in the trees. If I can help with that reach out to me

Observe Others

Since the inception of my podcast “You Can Make It So”, I have made it a goal to have guests to help me and listeners learn from their journey. So far 15 in total have come on. I even dedicate an entire season to it called “The Summer of Success”. Why do I do this? Well because it is crucial to your own personal philosophy (not to mention growth) to study and learn from other people.

Study from people who do well. Each of us should be in a constant search for people we admire and respect and whose behavior we can model. It’s far better to deliberately choose the people we will permit to influence us than to allow bad influences to affect us without our own awareness.

Learn from those who have failed. We do this not to gloat, but to observe the error prompt in their life to ensure they are not current conduct in ours waiting to be replicated.

One of the ways I study and learn from others, is through reading. It is why I established our annual book campaign – here are the last two – aptly 22 Books for 2022 and 23 Books for 2023

Set your Sail

One major unfulfilled “Summer Bucket List” item for me was to get back to sailing. It is a hobby in the past I have enjoyed and found ever so relaxing.

We all have experienced the winds of disappointment, despair and discouragement, but why do people arrive at such different places at the end of the journey? Have we not all sailed upon the same sea?

The major difference isn’t circumstance; it’s the set of the sail, or the way we think—it’s what we do after we’ve set our sails and the wind decides to change direction. We have to struggle to our feet and reset the sail in a manner that will steer us in the direction of our own deliberate choice. The set of the sail, or how we think and how we respond, has a far greater capacity to determine outcome than any challenges we face.

So tackle the “The Autumn Yawn”  - yes with habits and consistency, but even more so with a personal philosophy that will push you in every season.  

#letsgetafterit #makeitso

For the past several days the picture above has been my “working office”. It is at the JW Marriott at Lake Rosseau in Muskoka where I have hung my hat (or better said - rested my feet). I have some business interests there so it is a good time to check in, and yes full disclosure, some phone calls and client check ins do happen when I am here, but most of all, it has been a place of quiet retreat for me for almost a decade. I go up occasionally – and with that view – wish it was often. (may be one day). This week away has been exceptionally regenerative.

During my time away, I celebrated a few milestones, but most of all looked back on memories. I am so grateful for this chapter in my life and for the clients I get to work with. Each day (literally), I think about them and their accomplishments, their aspirations and their acceleration toward thriving with a #Makeitso mindset. 

Whether it is the start-ups that I coach, or the three trades businesses, two food retailers, the automotive supplier, the insurance industry leader or the national corporate teams I serve as a trusted advisor to – all of them – to me are more than clients – they are friends - whom I want to see succeed and one day enjoy this view with me. It has been a very positive year for all of them with several hitting income milestones, others being on the verge of major deals, and still others setting the stage for an exciting next chapter.

My profession is so satisfying. I help others succeed - one person, one problem, one promise at a time. It is challenging at times, yes, after all no road is without speed bumps or pot holes, but it is rewarding when you see others looking at the view of thriving due to their hard work, not in the distance, but within their reach.

I am so deeply grateful to my family who have supported me, cherished friends who keep me grounded, to my team of collaborators who encourage me, and to colleagues from past chapters who check in on me to offer encouragement, sage advice and even just some humour along the way.

As the summer begins to set, and the signs of Fall begin to rise – where does your gratitude evolve from, and where can you generate your focus for the next chapter? As we like to say #letsgetafterit and #makeitso

Leadership In A Changing Workplace is the theme of this year’s “Summer of Success Series” on the You Can Make It So Podcast. So far we have welcomed

Phil Simon, in his book ⁠The Nine: The Tectonic Forces Reshaping the Workplace,⁠ takes a look at A.I., Chat GPT and workplace change - why and what business leaders should do about it. Take a listen

Michael Lenox, is the author of Strategy in the Digital Age- Mastering DigitalTransformation  and he leads us through a practical examination of problems and solutions. Listen here

Joe Talzmann from Vancouver, BC is driven by principles of success as he builds Rocket Plan Technology . Arriving as a new Canadian Joe encountered hurdles, but overcame them to Thrive! I encourage you to listen to this interview  

Norm Bacal has written a great book "Never Stop" which helps to overcome the fear of making decisions, and navigate the next steps. The Summer of Success continues with this episode - take a listen

In the month of August we will welcome –

Mark Mears - Best-Selling Author, Keynote Speaker, Consultant, Mentor, and Visionary Business Leader with brands such as PepsiCo/Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Frito-Lay, JCPenney, NBC/Universal and The Cheesecake Factory. His bestselling book, The Purposeful Growth Revolution: 4 Ways to Grow from Leader to Legacy Builder  - leads us to discover his focus now is on Legacy.  Listen here

Dr Jeffrey Hull who serves as the Executive Director of the Institute of Coaching and the author of a tremendous book called Flex: The Art and Science of Leadership in a Changing World   Listen to Episode 81 here!

Larry Hagner - founder of the Dad Edge  - who will invite us to Live Legendary

You can find all of our episodes on Spotify and our website – phoenixlifecoachingcanada.com.

There is no doubt that the workplace is going through a period of tremendous change right now. Many leaders and business owners, after responding out of necessity to having their employees work remotely, are now adapting to make the change to remote work permanent, while other businesses are shifting to permanent hybrid work models in an effort to meet employees’ demands for more work-life balance and flexibility.

Some leaders are ‘going along with it’, while others are struggling. Many of us resist change — especially when we have established ourselves in a certain way. But embracing change can be positive for yourself, your company and your employees. I will speak on this during Episode 80 of our Podcast this month.

As a leader, embracing change, and not being stuck, will ultimately help you become a more versatile leader and in time an overall stronger leader.

Over the next few weeks in this Blog, I look forward to sharing some personal insights on Leadership, in fact this Fall, I will be doing a series on the Virtues of Leadership and also share some hints on two spectacular guests who we will be featuring this Fall on the Podcast.

If we can help you here at Phoenix Life Coaching Canada to develop long-term solutions and drive your personal success and professional success - do not hesitate to Contact us and by the way check out our #Makeitso Platform as well as so many other features including tools like our #Makeitso Journal, some of our 23 Books for 2023, 

#letsgetafterit #makeitso

 

I tend to encounter two types of entrepreneurs in my work as an Executive Coach, those who “chase cash” and those who “seek revenue”. Now before you think it is the same thing, or that is too simplistic or even judgemental, hear me out a little as I try and demonstrate the difference and the characteristics that each provides. I have come to see that one is about ‘surviving today’ and the other about ‘thriving tomorrow’. To illustrate let’s give you some frameworks.

First, people generally become an entrepreneur for several reasons: to be their own boss, to provide a unique service based on their skillset or passion, to offer a unique product that meets a need in the market, to experience financial freedom, or just because they can’t work for somebody else anymore. I am sure there are other reasons, but that is a good start.

Second, when people get started at something, sure they ‘just do it”. They take whatever work they can and keep the bank balance positive. However, over time, as they ‘figure it out”, they begin to decide what they want, who they want to serve, and why they are doing what they are doing. And that is when the rubber hits the road - they can “chase cash” or “seek revenue”.

If they choose “chase cash” then they enter the endless olympics of “doing it all”. They say “yes” to the most pressing or most lucrative option before them, they get it done (eventually without a sense of service as it becomes “a task to get done”), they forget why they became an entrepreneur (if they ever really took time to ask themselves), and eventually their “word” means little, their reputation means less, their staff and client turnover is high, their relationships are strained, and the only thing that is actually happening is they are growing tired from all the chasing.

All of that does not happen overnight. Actually at first “chasing cash” seems successful. At first you are “busy”, your phone is ringing, and your calendar is full. But slowly you also sense yourself pulled in every direction. You are reacting, not deciding. But there is “cash”, so it must be alright. But soon the pace of “just do it” and “yes to everything” catches up to you because you cannot keep up with it. Anxiety increases, your reputation wobbles, details fall through the cracks, and envisioning tomorrow is replaced with surviving today.

Now, those who “seek revenue”, are deciding a different pathway. Yes they want “cash”, but they are deciding there is a calmer (albeit at times slower) way to get it. They chose “productive” vs “busy” and they begin by asking a few “who” questions before they embark upon “do”.

They ask themselves “who” they want to be known as, “who” do they want to best serve, “who” do they want people saying they are. Taking time to ask the “who” questions defines your lane in the race you are about to enter, and enables you to begin to “seek revenue” for the long term. Let me illustrate this for you.

If you discern you want to get into landscaping, you set forth ….. you obtain the equipment, set up a website, put your name on the truck and just knock on every door until someone says yes. Not a bad start, and one most entrepreneurs can relate to.

After the first yes, you seek the second yes, and so on and so on. With each yes, a different job. One person wants a lawn cut, another wants flower beds pruned, a third wants bushes trimmed. All are “cash” and so all get a “yes”. As the seasons change someone asks: “do you shovel snow?”, “do you trim trees?”, “can you gather leaves?” They all get a “yes”. After all, you tell yourself, it’s all landscaping and that is what I “do”, and it keeps the bank balance healthy. Again, nothing bad here. After all, it’s the start.

Eventually someone asks about a paved walked way, another inquires about a pool installation, and before you know it you have lots to “do”, and it all fits “landscaping”. It is good, you are ‘busy’ and the bank balance looks good. You are hustling and you are landscaping everything you can. But then, the first three call back, and still want their lawn, flower beds and bushes done. Now comes the moment… will you chase the cash or will you begin to “seek revenue”?

At first, you say, ‘good problem to have’, and you hire someone to do the smaller job in your name in the short term, or even “get the smaller job done when you can”, but the problem will expand and repeat. Lots of little jobs, and a growing number of larger jobs. You are pulled and streched and you do not want to "say no" or turn away work. Maybe you will get smaller jobs done, get fast "cash" and enable yourself to do larger ones, but, what if the larger ones go elsewhere. So you "chase cash" and keeping saying yes to everything and "busy" becomes your bumper sticker!

Sooner or later, however, you have to decide what will guide you, “the job (“do”) of the day” or “the vision (“who”) of tomorrow”? You see the “do” is motivated by cash, the “who” is powered by revenue.

The “who” is about knowing your values, your priorities, envisioning your larger expression of getting it done. It is about knowing when to say “not yet” or maybe even “not anymore”, and when to “yes now”.

It is about defining the “do” by discerning the “who”: having a ‘rally cry” to guide, the right team to assist you, a sense of where you add value to propel you, and determination to ‘stay in your lane” as you seek revenue not only to survive today, but a better tomorrow. Doing this helps you respond, not react. Serve not just finish. Accomplish with pride, not just complete with sweat.

Too often, entrepreneurs are afraid to ask “who” questions and just keep deciding to be about “do”, but the pace gets you and “busy” bites you. Worst of all, you ‘loose” yourself. If you came into being an entrepreneur “to serve” you lose that and “just get it done”. You begin to resent the phone ringing, the client calling, the supplier seeking. You are tired of chasing. As I said before, busy bites you. Productive motivates you.

When productive is your motivator, then you see purpose, keep perspective and are focussed on principle. Your name matters, your quality counts and your vision is soundly not on accomplish, but achieve! 

Take a listen to this Podcast episode I did on “who” before “do” and consider working with an Executive Coach to help you discern your “who”. You can learn a bit about me and what I do here.

I am sure you will agree “seeking” is a lot less strenuous than “chasing”, and “productive” sounds so much better than “busy”.  #letsgetafterit #makeitso

 

Our Summer of Success Series has become one of the most popular seasons in our "You Can Make It So", Podcast calendar. Here we invite people who are examples of a #makeitso attitude, discern their approach and apply it to our lives in the midst of the challenges, and opportunities, of today.

Last year's guests included interviews with David Meltzer, David Siegel (Meet Up), Jim Reid, Howard Behar (Starbucks), Tom Storey and Norm Bacal. We also had such great guests as Gene Moran, Ron Carucci  and the godfather of consulting himself - Alan Weiss. This year's guests are no less stellar, and in fact, they all take on a bit of an underlying theme, Leadership in the Changing Workplace.

We will welcome .... Phil Simon who in his book ⁠The Nine: The TectonicForces Reshaping the Workplace, takes a look at why and what business leaders should do about the changing workplace, especially when it comes to the evolution of technology. Take a listen

Next, we will have Michael Lenox who is the author of Strategy in the Digital Age- Mastering DigitalTransformation  and he leads us through a practical examination of problems and solutions. His book and our interview is a workbook to the practical.  Listen here ,

Then we will welcome a story of success, Joe Tolzmann from Vancouver, BC who is driven by principles of success as he builds ⁠Rocket Plan Technology⁠ . Arriving as a new Canadian Joe encountered hurdles, but overcame them to Thrive! Joe is up to some really exciting things - I encourage you to listen to this interview  

We will finish the month with a returning guest (first time) Norm Bacal who has written yet another stellar book - Never Stop - which tells the stories of over 20 entrepreneurs and professionals as they overcome the fear of making decisions, and navigate the next steps of their career in the changing workplace.  Listen to it here

I will keep you in suspense about August, but can tell you it is equally packed with value, insight and wisdom. I am looking forward to the upcoming Summer Series on our Podcast "You Can Make It So", 

If we can help you here at Phoenix Life Coaching Canada to develop long-term solutions and drive your personal success and professional success - do not hesitate to Contact us and by the way check out our #Makeitso Platform as well as so many other features including tools like our #Makeitso Journal, some of our 23 Books for 2023, 

#letsgetafterit #makeitso

The workplace is undergoing a massive, irrevocable shift. The only question for business leaders is, what should you do about it?

Three major disruptors have impacted the workplace.

First, the general consensus is that Covid Pandemic has been a redefining moment for our world. Home life is different, communication systems and relationships have been impacted, health care has been challenged. The work place, especially has changed. Work from home or remote work was a necessity during the Pandemic. But now, as things have re-opened, you see some companies - including some larger high profile companies – seek to return to not a Hybrid Model (some days at the office and some days at home), but a full return to the office. 

This tension has led to the second disruptor, a transposition of the power dynamic between employer and employee. Gone are the days where the employer dictates all terms, and employees having no option but to 'go along to get along". In fact, now, employees have options . In an article for Inc Magazine called 7 Signs That We Have Entered the Age of Empowered Employees Phil Simon,  world-renowned technology and collaboration authority, speaks about a new culture and a new generation of workers.

This new generation of workers, is also entering into a workplace that has a new player. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence and Chat GPT. It was surreal to see ChatGPT creator and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stand up in front of the US Congress and plead for his industry to be regulated. It’s not often this happens.

I went to the source itself (ChatGPT) to lay out the risks of unregulated AI, and it noted these five:

 Ethical and social implications: Unregulated AI can perpetuate biases,discrimination, and opacity in decision-making, raising ethical and fairnessissues.

Security and privacy risks: Without regulation, AI systems may compromisedata security and personal privacy, leading to unauthorized access and misuseof sensitive information.

 Economic disruption and job loss: Unregulated AI deployment may result insignificant job displacement and economic inequalities if not accompanied bymeasures to reskill or upskill the workforce.

Autonomous systems and safety concerns: Lack of regulation for autonomous AI systems,such as self-driving cars or autonomous weapons, can pose risks to human livesand require proper oversight.

Manipulation and misinformation: Unregulated AI can be exploited to spreadmisinformation, manipulate public opinion, and disrupt trust in various contexts.

 Well said Chat GPT!

So what is a leader to do?

Well, the answer is not an easy one, certaintly not one a single blog post will answer, but how about an entire series on our "You Can Make It So", Podcast?  I am pleased to let you know two things:

First, we are returning with our 2nd Annual Summer of Success on our Podcast  "You Can Make It So". This year's guests are no less stellar than last years, and in fact, they all take on a bit of an underlying theme, Leadership in the Changing Workplace.

Second we will launch our series with someone who has written a great deal about AI, Chat GPT and a changing workplace, Phil Simon will be our first guest on July 4, 2023 as we get started.

In his book The Nine: The Tectonic Forces Reshaping the Workplace,  (which is part of our of our 23 Books for 2023) Simon, who has 14 books, many of them on the workplace and on technology related topics, touches on (among other things) automation, dispersed workforces, blockchain, immersive technologies, employee empowerment, and the return of systemic inflation as factors that will and are impacting the workplace. 

He is a sought-after recognized authority on technology, collaboration, communication, and analytics. He is the ideal first guest to answer what the workplace will look like in the future, and to lead us off and discerning next best steps toward thriving in an ever changing world. 

I am looking forward to the upcoming Summer Series on our Podcast "You Can Make It So", and to seeing what answers we have as a strategy to take next steps together.  We will list all our guests for July shortly. 

If we can help you here at Phoenix Life Coaching Canada to develop long-term solutions and drive your personal success and professional success - do not hesitate to Contact us . Also take a couple of minutes and check out as well other features including tools like our #Makeitso Journal, our 23 Books for 2023, and our Full Service Coaching 

#letsgetafterit #makeitso

 

“BlackBerry”  the Movie, released on May 12, 2023, tells the story of Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, the two men that charted the course of the spectacular rise and catastrophic demise of the world's first smartphone.

“BlackBerry” pays close attention to the details of what happened and explains important moments without being condensing. At the same time, it treats the characters and events with a scriptic freedom. But what struck me, as I watched the movie, as probably one of the last Blackberry owners in the theatre that day, was it reminds us that too many people and companies cling to a calcified long-term strategy completely confident that things will improve with just a little more time for the strategy to unfold. 

One of the reasons I hear most often, as I coach executives, business owners and individuals, for this hesitation to change or progress is the confusion between certainty and clarity. 

When making a decision, we reach certainty when we have all the necessary information available to us and know the best choice for us, beyond any reasonable doubt. Needless to say, certainty is rare.

In contrast, clarity comes when we know what information we have at our disposal, we know what degree of uncertainty we are working with, and we have a sense of the best choice. Rather than giving us perfect confidence, clarity simply points us toward the best decision based on the incomplete information we have.

Knowing this distinction is important – because it helps us Avoid Decision Paralysis

Imagine you’re lost and reach a fork in the road. You can turn left or right, and you have little reason to know which way to go. Certainty is impossible—you probably won’t realize which direction is correct just by sitting at the intersection waiting for an epiphany. Clarity, however, is achievable; simply accept that you cannot know which way to go and pick a direction as best you can based on the reasoned information you have at that moment.

If you can summon the will to choose, you’ll discover that, once you’re moving, you may see a landmark, road sign, or some other indication of whether you made the right turn. Plus, you can always change course later if you realize you’ve picked the wrong direction.

Achieving certainty often requires more information than we have available. And, in many cases, the worst thing we can do is avoid deciding until we are certain we are right - that is Decision Paralysis. Instead, we have to gain clarity based on what we know, and what we don’t.

No one wants to be proven wrong. But, in many cases, being unwilling to make and commit to a decision is more damaging than making the wrong decision and course-correcting later.

Plus, being wrong, and learning from that mistake, helps us make better choices in the future. The path clarity gives us isn’t always straight, but it is often better than staying frozen in a paralysis at a decision point, waiting for certainty.

The movie Blackberry reminds us of the company that reshaped the telecommunications landscape is destroyed seemingly overnight by the advent of the iPhone, a development that catches Blackberry totally off guard. If you’re looking for an easy answer as to how that happened, BlackBerry doesn’t have one for you. It boils down to hubris yes, but also the inability to be prepared for the next evolution of the technology they innovated because they wanted  certainty over clarity and gave into Decision Paralysis.

The last few episodes of our podcast "You Can Make It So", encourage you to consider the value of Agile Decision Making - a method that helps avoid Decision Paralysis and to filter certainty over clarity 

 

Episode 66 got us started with adefinition of clarity and how to avoid Decision Paralysis. It gave us a peak into the elements of Agile Decision-Making

Episode 67  we unpacked the elements of Agile Decision-Making

Episode 68 asked are you always running out of time, feeling overwhelmed or stressed out by an endlessto-do list? Does this shake your confidence & make you doubt your clarity, let alone certitude, in what you should do next?

Episode 69   One of the most challenging elements to Thriving is having the confidence to do so. As we continue to pathway to a better understanding of clarity and certitude, and growing in Agile Decision Making, let's tackle the need to understand that Confidence comes from experience.

Episode 70 - You might have Clarity. You may have Certitude. You may possess Confidence, but do you have Courage?  As we finish our understanding of Agile Decision Making, find out in this episode.

 

We also have a great Masterclass on Time Blocking - a great tool that leads to higher productivity. This tool will equip you with a roadmap for success. Take control of your family time and your professional time will reap the benefits. For more information contact us 

If we can help you here at Phoenix Life Coaching Canada to develop long-term solutions and drive your personal success and professional success - do not hesitate to Contact us.

One of the ways we do that is with Full Service Coaching – which gives you not only one to one coaching with me, but also access to our #Makeitso Platform with over 100 tools, articles, masterminds and resources to help you, free access (including unlimited replays) to our Group Coaching Masterminds and lets you be part of our Facebook Group as well as so many other features including tools like our #Makeitso Journal, some of our 23 Books for 2023, our Summit in the Spring and so much more. If your are not a member of Full Service Coaching - it’s time to join

#letsgetafterit #makeitso

We’ve all experienced the feeling of time running away from us. A meeting goes on too late, a work related phone call means you miss family time. You’re too stressed about a deadline so you skip a friend’s invite.

But what if you could take control of your time? What if you could become a master of calendar planning and achieve your tasks efficiently—without the stress of missing deadlines or running late? Here are three tips which are part of Time Blocking

Tip 1: Be Proactive

Time is a reflection of our reality, so take control of yours. The key is proactively organizing your time rather than reactively responding to demands placed on you by others. If you want to dedicate all of Monday to meetings or need Wednesday mornings at home to concentrate on your next task, set that goal and make that happen.

Tip 2: Create Boundaries

Whether it’s leaving at 5.30 pm to be home for dinner with your family or a 20-minute gap between meetings to get up and move around your house, creating rigid boundaries enables you to shape your time more effectively and efficiently. If you know you have to leave at a certain time, your brain will focus on meeting that deadline.

Tip 3: Share Your Week with Your Team and Your Family Too!

Inadvertently, your employees or co workers (and even family members) can derail your week’s plans. Consider sharing your Ideal Week with individuals in your life to communicate how you want your week to go. Of course, life happens, but if others know that you like to keep Tuesday afternoons free for client calls, they will be less likely to schedule you for nonessential (and nonurgent) commitments during that time.

Patrick Lencioni explores the three primary biases that often prevent leaders and organizations from embracing organizational health. They can also be some reasons why people choose not to use Time Blocking as a means to growth and success.

Time Blocking is a great tool that leads to higher productivity. This tool will equip you with a roadmap for success. Take control of your family time and your professional time will reap the benefits. For more information contact us 

By the way, we have a great new Masterclass on Time Blocking - For more information contact us 

The last few episodes of our podcast "You Can Make It So", encourage you to look at this tool

Episode 65 - Don't Quit

Episode 64 - Follow Through

Episode 63 - Get Over Excuses

Episode 62 - Three Ingredients

if we can help you here at Phoenix Life Coaching Canada to develop long-term solutions and drive your personal success and professional success - do not hesitate to Contact us. One of the ways we do that is with Full Service Coaching – which gives you not only one to one coaching with me, but also access to our #Makeitso Platform with over 100 tools, articles, masterminds and resources to help you, free access (including unlimited replays) to our Group Coaching Masterminds and lets you be part of our Facebook Group as well as so many other features including tools like our #Makeitso Journal, some of our 23 Books for 2023, our Summit in the Spring and so much more. If your are not a member of Full Service Coaching - it’s time to join

#letsgetafterit #makeitso

I have been involved with and long admired the story of Chick Fil - A.

From day one back in 1964 when S. Truett Cathy founded the  business  - it has been about of serving guests great food and remarkable service. It has been focussed on one product that has arisen from the Original Chick-fil-A^® Chicken Sandwich. Family-owned and privately held, independent franchised Operators focus and, it invests communities (here is a link to the company values) – they are close to my heart

Their expansion to Canada is where our lives intersect on Sept. 6, 2019 here in Toronto. Besides their first store at Bloor and Younge, there are stores now 8 new stores in Ontario in  Yorkdale Mall,  Kitchener, Scarborough, Vaughan, Barrie and soon the Eaton Centre – in fact an additional 20 restaurant locations across the country by 2025.

If you check their menu – they are about  you guessed it – they are about Chicken! Yes they have salads, drinks, potatoes fries, and even soup – but all of it connects back to the Chicken. They are about chicken and they have never swayed from that. They have been intentional about that, and about that being their great food. And they have been devoted to great customer experience, giving back to the community and investing in their empoyees, with a simple rally cry -  #thelittlethings. Chick-fil-A’s founder, S. Truett Cathy, believed a “great company is a caring company.” 

They do not worry about image per say, they worry about intentionality. Intentionality is clarity on what you are about and who you want to become. Intentionality gets them to the finish line. For example the Leadership Development Program at Chick-fil-A®  teaches those who will be owners, managers and leads, to never get complacent as an individual and a leader. Sure you grow and find out firsthand what it takes to lead the operations of a quick-service restaurant, how to grow your business acumen and restaurant leadership skills. But at the core of the Leadership Development Program is the intentional simple rally cry -  #thelittlethings.

Why do I resonate with this so much. Well because I firmly believe that the key to Thriving is about forming the WHO before the DO. You have to understand deeply who you are (values) and what guides you, before you can accurately and authentically undertake your DO.

Sometimes I coach business owners, and they tell me I want to be about “X”. Or I coach individuals and they say they want their personal brand to be “X”. But are they speaking about image or intention?

Image is perception – "I want people to see this". Intention is about thoughts, beliefs, desires, hopes – focussed on “X”. Image is about product. Intention is about purpose

I often speak about – in fact last week’s Podcast Episode 59 - Who Before Do was all about this. You have to know your WHO before your DO. I like to illustrate the difference in this way, (I shared this recently with our Full Service Coaching Clients recently) 

Think about knowing your WHO like knowing what kind of car you are. A Ferrari would be terrible at off-roading. It’s only about six inches off the ground and would get stuck constantly. A Jeep would lose every street race it was in. It’s slow and heavy, with tires designed for trails, not the track. But no one takes a Ferrari into the mud or a Jeep into a race because we know how they work best.

Knowing your who is being intentional about learning how you work best.

Knowing your who is being intentional about how you want to serve best.

Knowing your who is being intentional about where you want to be not just where you are now on the road to becoming, but never forgetting your core!

There are so many times I wish I had taken the time to know my WHO better. I think it would have saved me from a lot of comparison and insecurity. I probably would have spent a lot more time focusing on my strengths instead of my weaknesses. Less time on image.

When we do not know our intention, when we are not clear about what we want to be about,  then we mould our image – we worry about being a social influencer rather than a successful intentional focuser

Alright so how do we tackle the hurdles of being intentional?

First, discover and discern your "product". Keep going back to what you want to be about – do not loose sight of it – do not be concerned about anything thing that does not fit it – if you are about chicken – be about chicken and anything you have on the side fits with chicken not with image - be intentional about collaborations, conduct, commitments, circle of influence

Second, develop a Rally Cry. A simple set of words that speak of you and what motivates you. For example our rally cry is #makeitso. We undertake work for our clients and help them #makeitso. Chik -fil - A ensures quality customer service -  #thelittlethings. It all goes back to the Rally Cry. 

Third, give things time – intentionality takes time. Sometimes people will tell me that their exercise program isn't working and I ask them how long they've been doing it. They say 10 days. Then I ask how long it took to gain the weight and they say 10 years. They gave the problem 10 years to develop and the solution only one week to work. Remember this: Never give the problem a year and the solution only one week.

Image is a splash. Intentionality is about focus, consistency and #thelittlethings that #makeitso

 

P.S. - The last few episodes of our podcast "You Can Make It So", may give you so more assistance in becoming intentional. Remember if we can help in any way - get in contact with us at Phoenix Life Coachng Canada

Episode 60- Intentionality 

Episode 59 - Who Before Do

Episode 58 - What's Your Story?

Episode 57 - Don't Settle Without A Vision