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February 1st, 2012
Whether we realize it or not, we all influence people all day long. When we interact with one person, that interaction not only affects that person, but everybody around that person. We have a powerful level of impact that we may not even recognize. It creates this incredible ripple effect on every single person we touch in our lives – people that we may not know well or at all.
The question is then, is it a positive influence? When we are conscious of who we are and what we do, and how much influence we have, then we’re really able to affect people in a positive way – as opposed to affecting them in a negative way. The funny thing is, when we do affect them in a negative way, we don’t control the situation. We feel out of control, ourselves. That’s the repercussion of the negative effect. It comes back and then detrimentally has an impact on our lives too.
When we start to say, “What works well that can I do more of, and what am I missing that I know I can better do?” then we start to think about what our potential really is. Nobody reaches their potential – nobody – but, we can begin to tap into and start to live to our potential. Those are the people who will be the most successful and the most fulfilled in all aspects of their lives.
People are looking for more… more out of the products and services they buy, more out of the people they associate with, and, certainly, more out of life, in general. It used to be that it was all about finding the right job, staying there for 35 years, being content with what the company and your life gave you, and kind of making the best of things. Now it’s, “How can I create the best of things?” They want the right job. They want the right lifestyle. They want absolutely everything, and they’re beginning to recognize that they’re actually at the center of it all. They’re the common denominator in terms of creating everything that they want in their lives and work. It’s a fantastic movement to see and watch.
The irony is that we achieve control when we stop trying to control things – when we start to understand that our lives are a creation, on which we have a direct impact and that includes what we do and with whom we do it. And, when we feel like we are at the center, that means we create what happens in our lives and no longer live at the effect of life.
Live on Fire!
D. Luke Iorio, CPC, PCC, ELI-MP
President & CEO
Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)
Tags: choice, expectations, intentions, leadership, new perspective, success
Posted in D. Luke Iorio - iPEC CEO
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January 25th, 2012
Every moment asks you to show up in some way. Consider, right now, who are you being? How are you showing up?
In coaching sessions, I regularly hear from clients and students about situations that have them stressed and frustrated. These situations are holding them back, getting in their way, blocking their options, or just not listening to what they want. At the moments when you’re really pushing and trying to get ahead and getting the results you’re seeking, who are you being?
Unfortunately, these people and situations, which are “in the way,” didn’t get the memo about getting out of your way and changing to be how you want them to be. As my very wise, very short, very Italian uncle used to so eloquently say, “Fuggedaboudit!” In fact, in these moments with your clients, the classic, quintessential break-up line is actually true: It’s not them; it’s you!
So I repeat, every moment asks you to show up in some way. You are energized, engaged, and hopefully resolved to make a big impact this year. And so are others! They want to achieve just like you do. What they want, how they want to show up, and how they want to get things done is up to them. You can’t change them. You can change you and what you want, how you show up, how you get things done, and who you want to be, as you’re doing it all is entirely within your control.
Be proactive. Be intentional. Think about how you want to show up – when things are rolling, when things get bumpy, when things get confusing, and when things get exciting!
And then support yourself with reminders. I have a client, right now, who set up his smart phone calendar to ask, “Who are being, right now?” at 4 pm, every day. What routines are you establishing to help you follow through and reinforce how you’ve decided to show up?
Live on Fire! {… and set a few reminders to keep you on track too!}
D. Luke Iorio, CPC, PCC, ELI-MP
President & CEO
Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)
Tags: attitude, choice, expectations, intentions, new perspective, opportunity, self-improvement, success
Posted in D. Luke Iorio - iPEC CEO
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January 18th, 2012
In Dan and Chip Heath’s bestselling book, Switch, they discuss how to make change happen (when change is hard) by looking at 3 components – which essentially are mental, emotional, and environmental or situational. To simplify their great presentation:
The mental component is about knowing why you’re doing what you’re doing and being clear and focused on where you’re headed.
The situational facet is about how to use your surroundings to tip things in your favor, making change or results more likely and perhaps a bit easier.
But the piece I wanted to highlight, was the emotional component (or what they call, Motivating the Elephant).
The Heaths give a great example of Don Berwick, a doctor, and, at the time, head of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), who was looking to initiate several key quality of care improvements that were shown to have a dramatic impact and save lives (specifically, preventing avoidable deaths) in hospitals.
Most approaches, especially in the medical community, would include stating the case for the recommended improvements and logically show the better outcomes to be derived. But, Berwick knew that the logical case for these “standard procedures” wouldn’t galvanize the community to completely and wholeheartedly adopt the necessary changes. So, instead, he created a campaign to save an additional 100,000 lives and to do so in just 18 months!
In this process, Berwick’s example illustrated how important it is to connect goals to derive a deeper purpose and sense of meaning. It’s one thing to logically understand and commit to a worthwhile goal. It’s another thing, entirely, to emotionally connect that goal to who you are, what you stand for, and what your values and beliefs are. When you connect, in this way, to your goal, you are pulled forward towards your goal by something bigger than yourself.
Berwick tapped right into the very reason medical professionals become medical professionals… and, in doing so, they saved an estimated 122,300 lives in 18 months.
Deeply connect your goals to who you are and what you stand for, and you will be amazed at just how energized, engaged, and resolved you will become!
Live on Fire!
D. Luke Iorio, CPC, PCC, ELI-MP
President & CEO
Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)
Tags: change, choice, expectations, finding purpose, intentions, perspective, success
Posted in D. Luke Iorio - iPEC CEO
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January 11th, 2012
It’s just one week later… how resolved are you on those 2012 goals?
Resolve burns deep. Your resolve needs to be bigger than just a drive to accomplish. That’s why I asked you about your purpose, your vision, and your passion. I was reminded of this, just this week, as I was reading the book, That Used to Be Us, by Thomas Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum. The book shares the following conversation with Diane Rosenberg, head of the Nueva School in Hillsborough, California (between San Francisco and Palo Alto). Nueva is a school for gifted children, which has incredible resources and approaches that have earned it a well-deserved national reputation.
Rosenberg says that she and her colleagues approached the issue of how to nurture creativity by starting with a simple question: Who are the successful people in life? “As we looked around,” she recalled, “the answer was that they were people who pursued their passion with a purpose. And they were all-in, in doing so. They did it with their entire being, whatever it was. They were pulled by something inside them, not driven.”
So I pose this to you: It’s not even two weeks into the New Year. How’s your resolve? High? Higher? Or dwindling? Why?
If it’s high or higher, there’s a good chance you feel that pull. You can’t help but surge forward.
If it’s dwindling or feeling like a lot of work, then you may not have connected your goals deeply enough. You may have a whole other level that you can reach.
This is not to say that perseverance isn’t needed at times. Believe me – it will be. It’s not going to be purely smooth sailing, with a margarita in hand!
But, if your passion, purpose, vision, values, and mission are aligned with your goals, it’s amazing what comes your way, what opportunities reveal themselves to you, and how your future pulls you forward.
What are you going to do in order to feel and fuel that fire?
What are you going to do to build on the fire you feel burning inside?
It’s up to you. You’ll get out whatever you put into this year (for better or worse)… in fact, you usually get a whole lot more. It starts with you.
Live on Fire!
D. Luke Iorio, CPC, PCC, ELI-MP
President & CEO
Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)
Tags: calling, finding purpose, intentions, personal achievement, possibilities, success
Posted in D. Luke Iorio - iPEC CEO, leadership
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December 5th, 2011
“When trouble arises and things look bad, there’s always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command, but sometimes that individual is crazy!”
Just a lighthearted quote to remind us all that one of two things occurs when someone takes the lead in a crisis. Either the leader is on target and the challenge is on its way to being ameliorated, or the leader is off track and leads others into further chaos.
How can you know which is the case? Instead of blindly responding to someone, even if they are in charge, ask them how they came to the conclusion they did. Oftentimes, you’ll hear something that doesn’t make sense, and your “two cents” may just help.
This week, if you’re facing a challenging situation and someone offers a solution, ask for clarification before responding.
—Bruce D Schneider, MCC, PhD
Founder, Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)
Tags: expectations, intentions, leadership, opportunity, success
Posted in Bruce D Schneider - iPEC Founder, Monday Morning Motivation
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