Success In Coaching: November 2014

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Be Who You Think You Are

"For as he thinks within himself, so he is."

- Proverbs 23:7 / NASV

We have all had them in our lives. People who are full of defeat and gloom. You know the ones, they will tell you that nothing ever works out for them, they are losers and every time they try they fail. Here is the truth about them - they are right. People who believe that nothing works for them tend to have nothing work for them. People who believe they can never win in life will never win in life. That is just the reality of it.

As a coach, we want to support and help these people, so we tell them, "That's not true. You can make it, you can win." This may shock some but I really do believe that we help on one by lying to them. I believe it is better to tell the truth and say, 'You're right. You are a loser and things don't work for you." First you may shock the back to the real world, then you can tell them how to fix it. Oh yes, you can fix it.

Be honest with your clients and friends and tell them that if they believe they will always lose they will. However, if they choose to believe they can succeed, that they have great value and they were created for a real purpose, they will be the best they can be. We are what we believe we are. If you do not like who you are, believe you can be someone else.

I know this answer sounds simplistic, but it is a fact and a biblical fact at that. My recommendation to these people are to study the word of God and see what He says about them. Read from Romans to Jude and mark down all the passages that tell us who a believe is and how they are to behave. Soon you find that there is a completely diffident view point and the down and gloomy soon start to behave as the strong and victorious people God made them to be.

Always remember that you matter to the world. God placed you here to make a difference and that difference is good. You possess the qualities of a real success-minded person, which are to: Be your best. Love God. Have good manners. Discover the unknown. Change the world.

John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, and Life Coach. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com. © 2014 John Patrick Hickey

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Negative Thoughts Don't Add - They Multiply

"When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul."

- Psalm 94:19 / NASV

I read a blog the other day that talked about worry. The blogger said that when you allow worry into your life it will add onto itself. One worry will become two and two will soon be three and so on. Where I can see where he was going with this I would take it a bit farther. Worry, or negative thinking, really does not add up, it multiplies. What can start as a negative thought will soon be two, then two become four and sixteen and that sixteen become two hundred and fifty-six. Soon, you are full of negativity and that is never a good place to be.

When all our thoughts are negative it is almost impossible to get back to positive ground, however, when we stop the process early it is easy. The trick is to never allow yourself the luxury of negative thinking. I say luxury because at first, a negative thought can feel good. We have all enjoyed the occasional pity party or how hard our life is or that no one understands us. This simple thought can lead to bitterness and anger. The best way to deal with this is simply do not go to the party.

Negative thinking is always under your control. You have the ability to say no and replace the negative thought with a positive one. Rather than dwelling on how hard life is, remember how blessed you are. Think of your goals and how great it will be when you achieve them. Remember the goodness of God. Think on the fact that no matter how undeserving or unfaithful we may have been, He loves us and is there for us - always. If you stop negative thought number one you will never have to deal with thought six thousand, four hundred and twenty-one.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Let Me Encourage You...Today!

"But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called today, so that none

of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

- Hebrews 3:13 / NASV

Encouragement is more than a pat on the back, a quick, "You can do it" and shove you out the door. Encouragement is knowing that someone believes in you and that they really do believe you can and will achieve your dreams. Encouragement is not always even spoken, it is just known. When we are encouraged we feel strong, confident and able to stand.

So why is it so important that we encourage one another? It is not just to help others succeed. Encouragement gets us through the hard times and helps us to stand strong, even when we want to give up. Discouragement and fatigue can lead to a hardness of our heart and that always leads to sin. When we do not have the support to help us stand in the hard time we give up and then it is too late. The fact is, encouragement is far more than pushing someone to go on, it is life support.

Success-minded people must understand that they are to encourage every person they meet. A positive attitude is the power to keep yourself and others afloat. God did not call us to be self focused and to be sure we stand strong alone. He has called us to help all other stay faithful and strong. Be the light of encouragement to those around you and help others to see that they can make it. God is greater than our sin, problems and the world we live in. That my friend is true encouragement.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

It's Your Good Name

"A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, favor is better than silver and gold."

- Proverbs 22:1 / NASV

When people hear your name, what do they think? We don't always know what others think of us, and some really do not care, however, we should know and we should care. Maybe ask a friend who you can trust to be fully honest with you. What do people say about you? Are they happy to see you coming or happy to see you going?

There is nothing more important in your striving toward success than to build a good name. Money is not the most important thing, you will have it or lose it. Power and position is not that important. Reality is, the only real power you have is what is given to you and people change positions all the time. The one thing that stays with you always and make the difference between true success and failure is your reputation - your good name.

Part of my personal mission statement reads: "To live a life that shows the reality of Jesus Christ in the life of a believer." We should all strive to be a living example of what it means to be a Christian. We have all seen too many Christians whose lives have not be a real drawing card to a life following the Lord. They can be critical, bad tempered, cheap and unreliable. This is not what others should see from you. Like it or not, you are an example.

Believers should always be dependable, kind, giving, caring and encouraging. Our biggest task is to live in such a way that those around us desire to have what we have so they can live as we live. Employers should be so impressed with their Christian employees that they seek to hire more knowing it is the best for their business. When you walk into a room, people should smile and be glad you are there.

This is a tall order, but nothing less will do when we represent the Lord of lords and the King of kings. It takes hard and consistent work, but in the end you will always agree that there is nothing more desirable or satisfying than a good name.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

I'm Waiting

"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.

Though it terries, wait for it, for it will certainly come, it will not delay."

- Habakkuk 2:3 / NASV

I think that the hardest part about fulfilling our calling in God is not the hard work or the obstacles we have to face, it is without a doubt the waiting. We know what God has called us to do; we have done all we can to prepare ourselves for the task ahead; we are ready and willing. However, we seem to be on hold. We seek other things we might have to do to get things going, but all we seem to get is an inner voice that says, "Your call is important to us. Please hold and your call will be taken in the order it was received."

Take heart, God is not putting you on hold because He is busy or there are others before you. You have been prepared not just for a particular work, but also for a particular time. If you know that God has called you to do something, you need never doubt it. Be confident and ready at all times. The thing to remember is that the time is as important as the preparation for the work.

We may be biting at the bit to get going and fulfill our life's work, but God is never in a rush. He had this whole thing planned our long ago and will never waste a moment of your or His time. Keep making yourself ready and become the very best you can be. When the time is right God will open the doors and you will be off. You will then understand that His timing is always perfect.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Created for Work

"Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it."

- Genesis 2:15 / NASV

God has blessed my wife and I with ten, wonderful grand-children. When we have them all over to the house at one time it is exciting to say the least. My wife has crafts for them to do, we have toys, the yard, and not to mention our two dogs, Jo and Pip, who love having kids to play with. The amazing thing however is that with all the activity going on, if there is a pause in the action one or more will quickly announce, "I'm bored".

There is really a natural explanation for this. Children were created for action. It is unnatural and unhealthy for a child to sit around and do nothing. They need to be active, use their imaginations and have fun. One of my heroes, Mr. Rogers, use to say, "Play is a child's work." That is very true and very profound. Why? Because it tells us that we, as humans, were created to work.

Just as it is unnatural and unhealthy for a child not to play, it is even more unnatural and unhealthy for an adult not to work. You were created to work and without it, you are incomplete and empty. As a life coach you need to recognize this in your clients. If they struggle with depression, feelings of uselessness and no direction, chances are they are not working. A lack of action will always result in a lack of life.

Help your clients to see that work is not a curse or punishment for sin. Work is a gift and it is what every person on the planet was created to do. We may differ on what that work is, but we do not differ on the need to be working.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Don't Listen to Voices, Listen to the Voice

"The voice of the Lord is powerful, the voice of the Lord is majestic."

- Psalm 29:4 / NASV

Our life is full of voices. From every direction we have people telling us what to do, wear, think, eat and live our lives. Even when you try to tune them out, the voices seem to always be with us. For the success-minded person, these voices seem only to increase as you seek the achievement of your life purpose. You have people telling you what you should and should not do. They tell you what is worth the risk and what you must avoid. In short, you hear from thousands of voices, but only one voice really matters.

The purpose you were born to achieve is one given by God to you. His voice is the only voice that matters and His voice will be to you alone. In the Christian community we have abused and wrongly used the saying, "The Lord told me to tell you." In fact, I believe that when someone comes and tells you they heard from the Lord about your life, run. If God has something to tell you He can tell you and does not have to send someone else.

This does not mean the Lord cannot use others to speak into your life, however it will always confirm what you hear God telling you, not be the first time you heard it. Yes I know, God sent the prophets to tell others what He was doing. He sent them to a rebellious and stubborn people who would not listen to Him. If that is the case with you, your problems are greater than just what to do with your life.

Listen for the voice of God. Believe me, you will not miss it. He will tell you what you are to do and you will find it is all you ever wanted to do. After all, you were created to fulfill His purpose for you. What could be more natural and complete?

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

And the Winner is...YOU!

"You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is

He who is in you than he who is in the world."

- 1 John 4:4 / NASV

Everyone wants to be a winner. Sometimes just to know that we can win is enough to give us the extra push we need to cross the line and win in life. This is not only true for you but also for your clients. People go to a coach because they hope to win and become successful in the quest for their goals. No one goes to a coach with the intention to lose.

One of the key jobs of a life coach is to be an encourager. We are the ones who not only tell others they can win and achieve their goals, but we believe that too. As success-minded people we know that we were all created to win. We understand that as children of God, we have a purpose to fulfill and the God of the universe is there to stand with us and see that we succeed in our mission.

Here is the key to making this work: you have to believe it and act on it. Remember the words of Zig Ziglar who use to say, "You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win." Winning takes work and commitment; it does not happen by chance. Believe, prepare and expect to win and there will not no stopping you or your clients.