Quantum Leap Coaching & Training Blog

….”If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.”  Henry Thoreau

Have you asked yourself, “Is what I want just a pipe dream? Am I building castles in the air?”  At some point during their career, most executives and entrepreneurs look at themselves in the mirror and ask these very questions.

Michael Port, author of the brilliant book, “The Think Big Manifesto,” says that “Our worst enemy is staring out at us from the mirror every morning.” He calls this kind of self-doubt an example of thinking small. 

What to do? Michael Port says this disease of “negative self-talk,” of “thinking small” can be treated.

The antidote? Learn to “think big.”

“The Think Big Manifesto” is filled with wonderful examples of people who “think big,”  who pursue their dreams despite great odds and not only over come but thrive.

Take author Lisa Miller, who wrote, Give your Dream a Heartbeat and Choose Joy Now!”  Within a ten-month period, Lisa lost her husband, her job, her home, her dog, and suffered multiple injuries from a car wreck that resulted in months of physical therapy. Yet, none of these heart-stopping events stopped Lisa! She says, “I’ve learned the ultimate level of success is the realization that you have everything you need , right now, as you work toward your goals and dreams…..If you’re not happy now, you’re not going to be happy when you have more money, purchase your dream home, or whatever goal you may have.”

Lisa is a big thinker! Visit her website at www.giveyourdreamaheartbeat.com and see the results of her dreams.

What about Bruce Katz, another “big thinker” who is cited in Michael Port’s book? Bruce was fixated on walking comfortably and, as a result, “married work shoes and running shoes” to create his very successful company, Rockport, which became a big part of the fitness-walking movement in the 1980’s. Bruce is a big thinker!

Michael Port says, “To think big is to know there is no absolute knowing, except the knowledge that big things are possible.”

What’s stopping you from thinking big about you, your dreams, and all those around you? What’s the “committee inside of your head” telling you day in and day out? Are you listening to the negative “head talk” or looking deep within where you will find every single resource your need to begin building your dream foundation today.

Big things are absolutely possible for you when you talk louder than the voice of your own self doubt, learn from other big thinkers, and take inspired action.

Michael Port is a big thinker and he wants you to join his revolution. Go to www.thinkbigrevolution.com.

John Chappelear, award winning author, motivational speaker, executive coach, and gifted business strategist, knows something about desperation. As a self-described “serial entrepreneur,” he has been at the top of the business world. In 1990, he owned a business that employed 250 people and generated an annual revenue of $50 million, a lot of money, especially for that time. He had a beautiful home, fancy car, country club membership, a picture perfect family.

Despite the success of his business, those were tough years for the economy, not too different from what we are experiencing today. As conditions worsened, banks exercised the right to shut down a business if they thought the debt to earnings ratio looked risky.

With no warning, John’s business was closed, and, although they said they wouldn’t touch his car, within 24 hours, that, too, was confiscated. Then he had to sell his house and then, it looked like he would have to sell his dream of owning his own business and living the life of a successful entrepreneur.

John sank into a deep depression, recalling days when he lay in a fetal position under his dining room table, crying uncontrollably. All that he owned and cherished, was lost. Or was it?

Never one to ask for help, John had to admit that he wouldn’t be able to win this battle alone. As he worked through the 5 stages of grief: Denial, Fear, Anger, Acceptance, and Forgiveness, he reached out to three friends.

It was from the wise counsel of these men and John’s own willingness to examine the role that he played in the sudden and traumatic turn of events, that he began to awaken to the “gifts of desperation.”

As he spoke to my Results 2009! Teleclass, he recounted many of those “gifts” which later became the basis of his award winning book, “The Daily Six.” You really need to buy the book to fully appreciate his guidance (www.changingthefocus.com) but here are a few nuggets:

• If you don’t pre-judge, you can become grateful for the behaviors that drove you to what you thought were your worst fears
• Just because you feel it, doesn’t make it accurate
• Be a friend and you will find a friend
• Put others first and you will always be first

John knew that he had to find a way to let go of the anger he harbored towards the bank if he was going to move on. His friends agreed but they went one step farther, telling him:

“ When you let go of your anger, you’ll begin to heal. When you replace the anger with gratefulness, you will recover and rise again.”

Pretty heavy stuff. How do you feel grateful for losing your business, a certain status in your community, and, most importantly, your self esteem?

Yet, that’s what John did. He now says that learning the true meaning of gratitude may have been the greatest gift of all. He went onto say that,

“You can’t win if you can’t lose.”

Some would say that John lost a in big way. From a material perspective, that’s true. House, car, business gone….over night! Imagine the worries and fears that began plaguing him. Yet, and here is another lesson, John said that

“All of the things that I worried about never happened. Not one of them!”

Not only did they not happen, today, John is making a wonderful living by using the “gifts of desperation” to help others. He is sought after as a keynote speaker, lecturer, and business coach.

His final words to my teleclass,

“Everyone on this call is going to be okay. You have everything you need to move forward.”

If you are an executive or an entrepreneur and are finding the current economic climate challenging, it may be difficult to think that “you have everything you need to move forward.” So, ask yourself:

What if everything you worry about just won’t happen (if you change your focus)?

What if you are moving in the direction of your greatest dreams?

What if it all works out?

What if it’s not as hard as you think?

What if your challenges today become tomorrow’s gifts?

To find out more about John Chappelear, visit his website at: www.changingthefocus.com.

I have a client who has been working on her dream business for several months.  As an entrepreneur, she knows exactly what the business will “look” like, she knows everything about her target audience and what makes them tick, she has a well developed marketing strategy, and she knows what she wants her new logo and website to convey.

All the pieces were in place except…..she thought she couldn’t launch the business until she was completely, one-hundred percent knowledgeable about every aspect of the service. She wanted to be able to do it all herself, or at least understand it so she could do it herself, if necessary.

There were two areas in which she felt she lacked sufficient skills and knowledge. She decided to take several courses to shore up her weaknesses and continue to research, research, research, until she was absolutely certain she would be successful.

She would need at least another 18 months before she could launch.

Then, it hit her. What if she partnered with a couple of entrepreneurial consultants who had expertise in the areas she lacked?  She wouldn’t have to spend time or money taking courses in subjects that really didn’t interest her.  She could “barter” for their services. What if she continued to learn about her target audience by listening to their reactions once the business was launched? What if she could give herself permission to change her logo (later) if it wasn’t exactly what she wanted now? What if her website wasn’t perfect but a work-in-progress?

What if she were ready to launch her business in 2 months instead of 18?

My coach, Eva Gregory, says, “Successful people take imperfect action.”  Change the word “people” to “entrepreneurs.” What imperfect action will you take today as you follow your path to success?  

To learn more about Eva Gregory and her amazing work visit: www.leadingedgecoaching.com

Susan Lord, MD, a brilliant and gifted physician and spiritual healer, has an interesting perspective on executives and “the mobile effect.” During a recent conversation with members of my Results 2009! teleclass she said that “our bodies are like an exquisitely balanced mobile. If something tugs on one part, everything moves.”

If you are malnourished because you never stop to eat lunch or you eat lunch but it consists mostly of “junk” food, every single organ and every single part of your body is affected, including the brain. For a busy executive (or anyone else), that’s a problem. We need to be able to think clearly, creatively, and often quickly.

Dr. Lord says that executives, entrepreneurs, and business owners, just like everyone else, are mind/body/ spirits. We cannot separate one from the other. Take care of your body and your mind will benefit. Take care of your mind and your body will benefit. 

As we begin to do those things that nourish mind, body, and soul, the energy that was “tied up” in the knots of anxiety and negativity is suddenly unleashed. Now we have the inner resources to think clearly, take inspired action, and create magic, at work and at home.

So, what will you do today to nourish your exquisitely balanced mobile?

Find out more about Dr. Lord and her important work by visiting:  www.MyFoodMyHealth.com.