GOALS
A goal is a specific, measurable result (i.e. earn promotion to V.P. level by September 17 or pack up ten boxes of things I don't need in the garage and donate them by 5 p.m. Saturday). It is important to remember when working with goals that the goal itself is just a landmark or signpost to use as you move forward in your life. Goals are a way of measuring progress and evaluating the effectiveness of your actions. If you do not reach your goal by your "by when" time, it is an opportunity to look and see:

• If you are truly committed to that goal (It's fine if you are not. It was your goal in the first place!)
• If the actions that you have been taking are appropriate (There is no point in continuing to drive north if you are in Canada and are trying to get to Mexico!)
• If there is something else that is either blocking the way to moving forward or needs attention more than the original goal

It is also important to set goals that are compelling and will help you to stretch and grow. These goals need to be more than just glorified "to do" lists. Set exciting, challenging goals and welcome the occasional failures that inevitably accompany this kind of courageous striving. Review the Wheel of Life, your Primary Focus and your Commitments in order to create the right goals for you!

 

REGULAR HABITS
Small, constructive actions done on a regular basis (daily, weekly, etc.) can quickly bring about effective change and create forward momentum. These regular habits form the foundation upon which major changes take place. We will look to your Wheel of Life, your Primary Focus areas and your Commitments to get ideas for habits that would support you in boldly moving forward.

For example, what action(s), if taken on a regular basis, would make a difference for you in one of your areas on the wheel? Such as:

• Meditate 15 minutes every morning
• Return all voicemail and email messages by Friday at 4:40 p.m.
• Exercise 4 times a week
• Practice the guitar one hour every evening

 

REQUESTS
Designed to have you take action in line with your dreams and goals made by the coach, pulled from your agenda (what you want) followed by your response:

• Accepting the request (Yes)
• Declining the request (No)
• Suggesting a counter-offer (No, but I will...)
• Agreeing to respond at a later time (Let me think about it tonight, and I'll call you tomorrow with my response)
• Will you ask your boss for a raise by 5:00 p.m. this Thursday?
• Will you call the mechanic about a new clutch by tomorrow?
• Will you schedule a massage for yourself by our next session?

 

CHALLENGES
Designed to be so outrageous and out of the box that they shock you into thinking/acting beyond any previously conceived limitation made by the coach, pulled from your agenda (what you want), will most likely make your palms sweat, your stomach lurch and laughter burst from your mouth, not issued very often (unlike requests, which will be issued regularly) followed by your response:

• Accepting the request (Yes)
• Declining the request (No)
• Suggesting a counter-offer (No, but I will...)
• Agreeing to respond at a later time (Let me think about it tonight, and I'll call you tomorrow with my response)
• Will you get up right now and smash your television screen with a hammer?
• Will you send out 500 letters requesting business by this Saturday?
• Will you lock your to-do list in a friend's safety deposit box for one month and ask your friend to block all access to the key?

 

INQUIRIES
A question used to bring you clarity, action, discovery, insight or commitment, has more than one answer and can be answered over a period of time, is usually given at the end of a coaching session as homework to think about, write about, create with, dream about, talk with others about:

• What lies do you tell yourself?
• Where are you powerful in your life?
• What do you yearn for?
• What is the relationship for you between rest and forward action?

 

ACCOUNTABILITY
A structure designed to support you in doing what you said you would do, a way of evaluating an action taken or reevaluating an intended action, a way for the coach to hold your agenda and be your partner in your life, even if you temporarily drop your agenda:

• What action are you willing to take around this idea?
• By when?
• How will I know that you did it? (email me, call me, let me know at our next session, tell a friend)

 

SABOTEUR
A concept used to name your thought processes and feelings that work to keep you from moving your life forward or deepening your learning process; neither good nor bad, a Saboteur loses its hold over you when you notice it and then take action based on your dreams, your goals, your values, your clear thinking, etc.; a light, simple way of identifying all the stuff that can feel very heavy and impossible to pull yourself out from under; not who you are. Therefore, it is not effective to coach your Saboteur; instead, a coach will help you to identify it whenever it shows up, and to take action based on what you want, not on what your Saboteur thinks you should do, no matter how loud or convincing it is (and Saboteurs can be very loud and convincing!)

• Client: My Saboteur is telling me that I shouldn't submit my short story to the contest because my writing sucks, but I am going to do it anyway!
• Coach: I fully believe that you can complete your tax return when you want to. It sounds like you have a tax Saboteur on board now who is telling you otherwise.