Posted on Saturday, June 1, 2024

The Pursuit of Discipline

Time is ticking away

One major challenge I face everyday is to focus on what is relevant. In a fast-paced environment, everything seems urgent and important.

What drives you to seek medical help are the symptoms of Ill health. However, these are just indicative of underlying issues. These are what a medical expert seeks to establish. They will dig deeper, run tests to establish the foundation the symptoms are built on.

It occured to me that my out-of-focus state might be a symptom of something else.

We were having a conversation with my teenagers (19 and 17) this week about how 2024 has been so far. I let them know how frustrated I feel. I just can’t get consistent traction on what I set out to do! Somewhat like I am on a muddy stretch with my wheels spinning out of control.

Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2023

On Mission!

Get your life and work back on track

Transitions can be amazingly satisfying or remarkably murky to navigate. As we build our coaching practice, my wife and I oscillate through a range of experiences and emotions.

There are times we feel like soaring eagles… with beautiful vistas as far as the eye can see. Our calendars are comfortably full with client engagements. The challenge comes during the in-between periods when there is a lull in our work. If not checked, these depressed moments can easily unravel our plans.

Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2023

How committed are you?

Why simple goals just make sense!

Since 2018, my personal and professional life is committed to deliberate goal-setting. Before that, I would create a detailed matrix that quickly overwhelmed me due to its complexity.

The overwhelm became apparent at the end of every year. About half of my intended activities were not done! In trying to look smart, I had over-complicated things for myself.

That is why I decided to shift to a one-page goal template in 2018. I narrowed my goals down to four critical categories: Spiritual, Work, Health and Community. In total, I am committed to a maximum of twenty goals for the year.

Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Chance encounters?

Connecting is a choice!

In our ‘rush’ to live, an effort to pause and reflect goes out of the window. In our breathless existence, we often miss out on our essence of being human.

I did not feel like being anywhere near my bike that day. My legs felt stiff and a lethargic haze hang over me. Then, a small voice, from deep within said, “Just go, even if for a short ride. You will still chip away at your weekly goal.”

Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Wing-it or Strategy? [Part 2/2]

Begin with the end in mind

Living with intention is the flip-side of winging that I explored in my last post. It takes prayer, patience, practice, proof and performance.

To swim against the current takes deliberate thought, direction and action. In other words, I need a strategy.

I cannot afford to rest on my laurels lest I become conceited and lose track of my mission. Once my goal is achieved, it is time to embark on the next one.

Being a good friend of a scorpion does not mean that you can’t be stung by a bee.” ~African Proverb

Posted on Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Wing-it or Strategy? [Part 1/2]

Lessons From Uncertain Times

Eight years ago, I left my well-paying job. It was out of necessity rather than choice. I was stressed, unhappy and physically unwell.

It was a nightmare to serve under my boss. At the time, I just thought he was a nasty guy. But now I know the actual term that describes his character and behavior. He was a narcissist; a person who thinks very highly of self, needing admiration, believing others are inferior and lacking empathy for others.

Posted on Monday, June 7, 2021

Want to build more resilience?

Stay agile with these 6 practical habits

One opportunity the COVID-19 pandemic has granted me is a heightened urgency to for deep reflection. I deliberately find time and space to introspect on life and work in a more meaningful manner.

Out of this introspection, the word ‘resilience’ has consistently popped up. I took this as a sign to codify how my resilience look like for me. Resilience is a measure of how much I want something and how much I am willing, and able, to overcome obstacles to get to it.

Psychology Today describes it this way: “Resilience is that ineffable quality that allows some people to be knocked down by life and come back stronger than ever. Rather than letting failure overcome them and drain their resolve, they find a way to rise from the ashes.”

Posted on Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Coaches need coaching too!

Questions lead to deeper meaning

I contemplated on this during a conversation with myself on the day the International Coaching Week 2021 kicked off. With a deep focus on supporting my coaching clients, it can be easy to forget that coaching works for me too!

Cycling has become my channel to care for my mental, spiritual and physical health. Occasionally, my body becomes ‘non-compliant’ as lethargy births lame excuses of how I can ride another day. It does not take much to slide back into my lowest form. A place where laziness wafts in like the cold fingers of a cold night; where I just exist.

Posted on Monday, April 12, 2021

The masks we wear

Dealing with uncomfortable situations

“You look familiar!” In 2020, this became the silent message I read in people’s eyes when I was out and about. Considering the look in their eyes, I seemed to convey a similar message back to them. Then it clicked!

Since the COVID-19 broad-sided us, facial masks took over our faces. Our smiles are obscured, voices muffled and frowns protected. I had to add more meaning to words to verbalize what my facial expressions couldn’t communicate.

As I strive to protect myself from the deadly virus, this experience has helped me uncover another virus affecting me.

Posted on Saturday, April 3, 2021

Heart to mind

Mind the gap!

Someone said the greatest distance a person can travel is between their heart and mind. I believe it is time that we ‘Mind that gap’ with more intention.

Our minds are but the Colosseum of our existence.
There we celebrate our reality or stand in pretense.