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How good are you at receiving Acknowledgement?

on January 25, 2012 · Be the first to comment...

Are you editing your day and filing it away like a checked to do list, or are you stopping to acknowledge your achievements and success?

I am really good at giving feedback. At acknowledging good service, great writing, great insights and the like. At the beginning of this New Year I have been challenged by three independent sources to hear praise and acknowledgement. To be willing to hear and receive more. I do hear it and am always grateful for it, these people meant, “yes but REALLY REALLY hear it!”

So, I am listening and noticing more at the start of 2012. I did a quick reflect yesterday in my inbox, cards and phone and pulled the snippets below. Yes, this really is from the last week! It’s amazing how powerful feedback is when you put it all together and read it.

These are genuine comments lifted from my files. I say this because I do know of some bloggers who frankly- make this stuff up. (I know- You’re shocked to learn this dear reader).

So why am I sharing these gems?

I’m sharing it to encourage you to go and look at what feedback you are getting about your work and your life more generally. To stop and look at the power of your feedback even if just to take a look back at the week.

We skip through life living in the moment or the next moment and rarely stop to take stock and pay attention. I’m suggesting that it’s helpful to-reflect and notice.

Here’s the feedback and something about what I notice when I actively look at the compliments of the last week.

“Marie, thanks for your many special care tips

-       This one dropped into my mailbox just as I started feeling victimized and sorry for myself :-) “

My work makes a difference in people’s lives sometimes when I don’t even know it and don’t DO anything in that moment-Because they pickup the practical inspiration tips from this site.

“I just wanted to say thanks again for the Exploration days last week, I know you are sending us an evaluation and wanted to send this now in any case.  I found the session inspiring and re-energising, perfect at the start of a new year.  You have an amazing ability to balance the business world and personal growth.  I think you pitched the session perfectly giving those new to the ideas an insight and yet there was also great depth to the exercises too.  I was surprised just how quickly you managed to get us all to open up and know what we were really there for (Only at Huna courses have I seen anything even close to as effective)”.

“I haven’t shut up about the course yet and have desperately been trying to get my wife on it. Have been doing my “three a day” with the family every night as well. The course has been a massive boost to be honest. Desperately hoping that the magic doesn’t wear off”.

When people REALLY like what I do they sit down and send me unsolicited feedback. I get quite a lot of this and it’s lovely.

“ I loved your piece on the men you worked with last week. It really made me think how we sometimes deny men their male-ness and wisdom.”

People read my blog and I don’t even know they’re reading it. I like the fact that it makes people THINK- it’s the reason I write it.

“ You are my very precious friend and I love you”

Friends are such an important part of life and I am grateful for them every day. Expressions of LOVE are such a big part of my work and of who I am. Giving and receiving love is really what life is about. 

“Great course, excellent facilitation, I feel so much more confident in my coaching skills after these 2 days. Thanks Marie.”

“Just a quick note to say thanks for everything on the course – for one relatively new to management, it has been genuinely inspirational”.

Enabling people to think differently and see possibility through speaking, teaching and coaching runs through the whole of my career. INSPIRING new managers or managers who need a “revive and refresh” gives me a great feeling. We never forget an inspiring teacher. I like being that.

“ Marie Taylor, you are a genius. “

I like my brain and I’m happy to be considered to be “of extraordinary intellect and talent”(the definition of GENIUS) from time to time.

“My dear, lovely sister, thank you for all of my wonderful birthday celebrations. You are one of the many gifts in my life-always.”

Family are so important to me as we have lost a lot of people too early in their lives in ours. So, marking and acknowledging birthdays is important. Being considered a GIFT- in the family, well, who wouldn’t value that?   

“A brilliant facilitator- we need more of this type of learning intervention- much more. Thank you for helping me to think the thoughts of the really brave. My team will be the better for it and I will be a much better leader too!”

“Looking forward to our adventures this year- so glad to have you to share them with.”

I’ve had many an ADVENTURE in life so far and I do like a good adventure (must be reading all those Enid Blyton books growing up). Generating bravery and a sense of adventure in both thoughts and of the spirit is what I aim to do through my teaching and speaking work. It’s nice that others feel it too.

“Even when you are angry (your version of angry-which in my world is slightly irritated) I still think you are fabulous.”

How FABULOUS  to have people around me who accept me being mrs grumpy of godawfulday from time to time.

 

I am overwhelmed.

Overwhelmed, gracious and grateful.

So- Over to you. What are YOU hearing? What great feedback are you letting skip by you?

What are you doing that really makes you THINK?

What and who do you LOVE?

Where is your inspiration and who do you INSPIRE?

How are you using your gifts of your GENIUS brain?

What and where is your next FABULOUS ADVENTURE?

Have a listening and really really hearing it all kinda week.

Marie x

Categories: Life Insights, Success Wisdom

THANKSGIVING –Oh Happy Day

on November 24, 2011 · Be the first to comment...

In the spirit of giving thanks for the rich harvest of life today. I invite you to think about who and what you are grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends and those temporarily inhabiting. Enjoy!!!!

 Today, I give thanks …

 For family who are just the best, even when they are acting out like pains in the posterior. Especially when they tolerate me being a pain in the bum on the VERY rare occasion that that happens.

 For friends who make me laugh and cry out loud. Who challenge my thinking and my self-perception, reminding me that my ego is in fact fairly small and it could come out more when invited.

 For clients who rock my world so often with their insight and preparedness to continue growing into ever more successful human beings.

 For you dear reader. I appreciate that you take an interest in what I have to say and my take on this precious life of ours.

 For the coaches I have worked with in this past year who have held up mirrors, shined a light, challenged my thinking, and generally helped me to be a better coach and a more rounded individual.

 For those people who have moved on from me in this lifetime during this year for their lessons and their love. 

 For  everyone who supplies me with anything that makes my days easier to manage from my lovely cleaner to the ocado delivery guy.

 For those people who organise things that I just turn up to; trainings, dinners, network events and days out.

 For my body that keeps carrying me around and works like a well oiled machine when I look after it and treat it respectfully.

 For my mind that stays healthy and keeps expanding and reminds me that the quietness within takes practice.

 For the roof over my head and the many roofs I have visited around the world this year which have provided shelter whatever the weather. 

 For water, light and heat, both natural and artificial for their sustenance. 

 For living in a democracy like the UK which works fine most of the time.

 For the occasional miracle and that I don’t always know from where and whence it came. Just that it did.  

 Here are some peeps I am grateful to who fall into the category above. I apologise if I have missed you off here. It wasn’t my intention. It’s simply that there is so much to be grateful for in life.

http://mandyevans.com/

http://www.empowering-solutions.co.uk/

http://www.robertholden.org/

http://www.billohanlon.com/

http://www.stevechandler.com/index.html

http://www.theultimatecoach.net/profile.html

http://www.marianne.com/

http://www.supercoach.com/

http://www.theboothbyinstitute.org/

http://lynnrobinson.com/

http://www.sekanikolic.com

http://www.aventesi.com/

http://www.parapublishing.com/sites/para/about/danpoynter.cfm

http://sethgodin.com

http://marthabeck.com

http://brucelipton.com

http://hayhouse.co.uk/

http://www.alternatives.org.uk/

http://besomebodyinc.com/category/poetry/

http://www.jennywilliamscoaching.co.uk/

http://fionajacob.com/

http://www.suetrinder.com/

http://www.idacoaching.com/explore

http://amazinglifedesign.com/

http://www.maryhaines.com/

http://ovationcoaching.com

http//bevinlynch.com

http:thelindseypractice.com

Mark Beasley

Jenny Ashton

http://mediopartnership.com/p/about-medio/meet-the-team/steve-tarpey

http://www.coachcharrise.com/

http://www.krayna.blogspot.com/

http://spicelearning.com/

http://www.positive-belief.co.uk/

http://elesecoit.com/

http://thatconfidenceguy.com/

http://onlinebusinessgym.com/tag/marion-ryan/

http://www.markshaw.biz/

http://www.compuaid.co.uk/

http://www.vodafone.co.uk/

http://www.bt.com/

https://www.facebook.com/

http://twitter.com/

http://hootsuite.com

http://www.ocado.com/webshop/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/

http://lovefilm.com

 And a light never forgotten……

 http://www.justgiving.com/Jeni-Purdie

Categories: Life Insights, People & Organisations

What are you doing right now?

on July 25, 2011 · Be the first to comment...

I received this from Steve Chandler last week and l wanted to share it because…

  • It pulled me up short whilst sitting at my PC .
  • It prompted me to consider the question “What do I have to show for the last 7 years of my life?”.
  • What am I doing right now; TODAY that is creating my wonderful future life?

 I’ve reproduced in full here..

 ”Seven years from now, what will you have to show for what you’re doing right now? If your answer is, ‘not much,’ perhaps you should consider a new plan, one that might generate a different answer, or, at the very least, be a more fun way to waste seven years.”

- Seth Godin

I like to ponder Seth Godin’s quote above because it leads me back into my day. In what way would I live (and work) this day that would contribute to the life I’d have seven years from now. Versus just “getting through.” It’s amazing how creative we can be by quickly imagining the future, and then living the rest of the day in the best possible present moment.  Steve Chandler  www.coachingprosperityschool.com

I know from talking to coaching clients and organizations that there is a lot of fear out there at the moment. The economy, risk and reputation management, cash, terrorism, family pressures, concerns about teens, concerns about older people, hunger, human conflict and the like.

 The truth is, these things, these issues, these thoughts, this “stuff” is always there. The truth is, we can sit in a place of worry, foggy thinking, head churning, anxiety- ridden mush, or, we can act. We can DO something. Whether that something is a small tiny step or a giant leap, change requires an action. A doing of, a movement towards, a step on the journey, a shift your butt – call it what you like. What you have to show for being on this planet doesn’t happen in our heads. It manifests in our actions.     

So, what are you visioning? What is YOUR vision for the world you would like to live in and the life you would like to create?

What do you want to create?

How will the minutes you spend today move you towards that?

Are you DOING?

Are you DOING RIGHT?

Are you DOING RIGHT NOW?

 

 Marie X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories: Life Insights, People & Organisations

The world of the seven is a Recreational Universe

on July 22, 2010 · 1 Comment

Before you go any further let me warn you that if you don't have any knowledge of film titles what follows will likely be of no interest to you at all……………
 
I used to have a bit of a moral- philosophical dilemma with the enneagram until I decided to get over myself. I didn't like the idea of labelling people with a number largely because anyone I knew who had done enneagram typing would say "oh I am a 2" or " I am a 4 with a big portion of 6 in there". These descriptions don't tell us anything and I like to think of people as a huge ball of known and undiscovered potential."Being a 3 or a 4 or a 5" just felt so limiting. Until I met Clarence Thomson  (or Clarity Clarence as I call him) . He has been studying and coaching using the enneagram for over 30 years. He also happens to have been a  catholic priest so my mother would have liked him.

Anyway,  I had a session with Clarence earlier in the year and have decided that his analysis and interpretation of my type was so brilliant I will incorporate his profiling into some of my coaching and facilitation work.

So what about me? Well, my type is a 7 which is not uncommon in the coaching world. But then you do understand that I am different don't you? Because I am a seven and I like to be different. I don't like authority and I don't like rules too much either. I can be excessive in my habits . At the moment I could do with cultivating excess at the gym rather than on my plate and in the vino glass for example. I'm an enthusiast which is why I have become really good at not taking something or someone on unless I really believe and want to assist them in making a difference- usually a big difference.

Sevens are hard to keep down. We're resilient and resourceful and we hate boredom. I'm a terrible bore if I am bored. I'm like a 5 year old and I can't even stand being in my own company let alone inflicting my state of boredom on others. Of course the down side is, we find it difficult to stop and just-be. This has challenged me for the last week as my own coach gave me homework to practice sitting "in a place of being to open up to allowing". Now, I know this is great stuff ( I get my own clients doing this sometimes) and in the last week, I have slowed down and stopped to spend time thinking of nothing and great things have happened.

Opportunities have just "popped up" with very little or no effort on my part. I have done more self care and catching up with friends than I have experienced in months and my coaching has been more focused.

According to Clarity Clarence, sevens live in a Recreational Universe. I really do. I experience and see everything in universal terms, I experience most things as fun . Except the ironing and other household tasks. Yet I know others do truly enjoy playing around with the domestic doodads .

For example, I've seen my cleaner doing the ironing like she is having a love affair with my ironing board. ( she must be a three type) Mr. Beldray ( ironing board man) loves it. Yet, he looks at me with heated hatred whenever I approach him with a crumpled garment in hopeful anticipation of the board and his friend iron man Tefal springing into life like a couple of characters out of the castle in beauty and the beast. (Oh to live in that world of the intuitive teapot who fills itself without asking and pours tea with reckless abandon)

I'm in good company as a seven. Mozart was one, as was Kennedy. Barbara Streisand is a seven ( I keep telling everyone I should be on the x factor but the family keep hiding the entry forms). The oddball is George Bush -what is he doing raining on my funny girl parade with the tendency of a fiddler on the roof of the Whitehouse?
 
So, my challenge to you today is to ask yourself " what are my traits/features/habits/tendencies and how can I use those to best effect?" Do you know how to minimise those elements that are less than useful to you?

If you want to find out, give me a call or drop me an email. Don't expect me to respond if I am in the place of allowing for 5 minutes because I shall be doing that enthusiastically and that means that the recreational universe is on hold for a few minutes. It may even be hours or possibly days as I am also somewhat self competing. I am boring myself now.

See you in seventh heaven or at the seventh inn of happiness with the seven dwarfs or with seven brides and seven brothers . ( I'll be the one with the commitment issues holding the flowers and saying "hurry up" and "why on earth couldn't you have one ceremony altogether for goodness sake-I've heard all of this twice. three times… four times… !" )

Marie xx     

Categories: Success Wisdom

These lovely people were up for making a change- are you?

on March 4, 2010 · Be the first to comment...

As you know, I've been immersion learning the options method and wow is it powerful !!!!!!

These are the kind of results people are getting after one session!

"After just one session with Marie I feel like a lioness of
courage. She is gentle but assured, in tune yet not in your face, and quite
simply a magnificent coach who you'd be daft not to give a whirl for at least
one session! She'll help you break the balls of any limited beliefs for sure!
She rocks! "

 
Carrie Eddins of   Chocolate Rehab

"Marie took me through this exercise a few days ago and
since then I have found a renewed enthusiasm in pursuing my goals without
thought of any limiting belief that might have been stopping me before. Thanks to Marie, I am definitely feeling more
empowered, with this excellent exercise and knowing how to use it for myself I
will have no hesitation in recommending Marie to take this out to all her
clients who might be seeking help with limiting beliefs and I shall be
delighted in turn to share it with my own clients.Thank you Marie for this wonderful technique." : Bianca Tait.

May the magic continue! If you could use a little magic, feel you are being held back in your life and would like to learn how this technique might help you. Give me a call…………..

Marie x

Categories: Success Wisdom

Who do you believe yourself to be? What limits your self belief?

on March 2, 2010 · Be the first to comment...


Man often becomes what he
believes himself to be.

If I keep on saying to
myself that I cannot do a certain thing,

it is possible that I may
end by really becoming
incapable of doing it.

On the contrary, if I have
the belief that I can do it,

I shall surely acquire the
capacity to do it

even if I may not have it
in the beginning.


Mahatma Gandhi

I am LOVING the coaching work I am doing using the options method that I learnt at Supercoach Academy in New York a couple of weeks ago. Clients are getting some great insights and great breakthroughs about the fact that we, (that includes you) can CHOOSE to believe a different thing. The beliefs that limit you are just that. They're not real. Their often acquired through someone else's actions or opinions and even if they never meant their words and actions to hurt you, you believed them and have hung on to them to a point where they're no longer useful. I'm of the school of thought that says if anything in life isn't serving you well- take a look.

Contact me if you want to find out more about my coaching work in this area.It even works with self doubting management teams!!!

Marie x

Categories: Success Wisdom

Are you thinking the impossible today?

on February 24, 2010 · Be the first to comment...

One can’t believe impossible things…” said Alice.

  I dare say you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen.

“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before
breakfast.”

I like quotes by Lewis Carroll -sometimes they just hit the spot.I am practising thinking big today and I'm realising that the only thing that stops me achieving big are my own limiting beliefs about myself or those around me. We fail to think big through fear I think of what others might think, might say, might feel, or because we are fearing failure or maybe even fearing success. At the last SUPERCOACH academy weekend with Michael Neil we worked with Mandy Evans . Now aside from being a firecracker of energy and kindness, Mandy Evans has just given me the key to unlock a whole load of stuff that I have discounted or struggled with in NLP and in particular Meta Models around Limiting beliefs.

Quite simply, the options method gets to "stuff" with simple questions and a simple structure, easily.Those of you who have worked with me in a coaching or facilitation context know that I don't like long drawn out processes.I like to get to the juice fast and deal with it. The coaching process can take as little as 15 minutes and of course longer using this method.Essentially, it's designed to work with feelings that limit us.That stop you from getting in your way because you think what you want is unachievable, impossible even.

" I can't say that because my husband/wife would hate me for it"

" I am angry that x always gets what they want from the boss every time the ask"

" I am P***ed off because I can't hold a relationship down with a woman/man"

" I feel guilty about not spending time with my parents, kids, brother, sister, friend"

" I feel sad because I keep losing the things that I want in life"

" I can't push myself forward at work and get what I want"

" My happiness is dependant on everyone else in my house. I have no choices"

and so on…

It's an approach that helps to shift thinking and I like that. I also find that if coaching clients can go and do something.If they can take new actions as a result of working with me it tends to result in a desired change. In using this approach over the last few days with some coaching buddies and clients they have all defined a new action, a new way of being for themselves. 

I am an immersion learner- I learn to do something really well by doing lots of practice all at once.I need to keep using this method to get it in the muscle so that it trips out of my mouth without my having to think about the words.

So here's the deal, In the next 2 weeks I am offering 7 one hour telephone coaching sessions for 7 people to work with me using this method for FREE.

This is an opportunity for;

  • Any of you that think that you can't afford to be coached by me.
  • Those of you who have wanted to experience coaching on an area of life where you think you "can't"
  • You to make a change if you think you are holding yourself back in some area of life

Is it Absolutely free? Well no- you have to pay for the cost of the telephone call unless you use Skype or have free calls Please note I am London based.

Are you going to try and sell me anything?- more sessions, your book , your e course, anything- No  

So, this offer is open to the first 7 people who e mail me at marie@marietaylorconsulting.com. Just put the following in the subject line.

I'd like to change a belief I have that is getting in my way-Free session    

Think the impossible- you might just make a change in your thinking for free and free up your thinking at the same time !

Marie x


Categories: Success Wisdom

Are you still too frightened to explore and change?

on November 2, 2009 · Be the first to comment...
Hold on, man.  We don't go anywhere with
"scary," "spooky," "haunted," or
"forbidden" in the title.  Scooby-Doo

I found this quote whilst looking for halloween quotes for a game at home with 5-11 year olds and it reminded me of some of my coaching work. Sometimes in coaching people say things like;

" I can't go there it's too scary" or

" Do you know what happened to me this week? I thought about something I wanted to happen at work , I kept thinking that's what I would like and do you know -it happened! or

" I am haunted by the sheer embarrassment of that situation, presentation"-whatever or

" I wanted to do/say that but in our house (or our place of work) standing up/ speaking out was forbidden"

So, this autumn, as winter approaches and you re-evaluate where you are and where you would like to be, think about those gremlins that don't belong to you. Those phrases in your head that stop you from getting to where you want to be and from being who you want to be. Forget the christmas wish list. Start writing your christmas want and will have list

What scares you and what do you want anyway?-tell me.

Marie

Categories: Success Wisdom

Frightened of success?

on November 10, 2008 · Be the first to comment...

I'm doing everything I can to sabotage my career. It's a little thing called "fear of success".(Jon Stewart)

I coached a client today who has been skirting around a development in his business which, if successful, will net him around $3million in 2 years.It will also give him a significant profile in his industry. So, what is stopping him?

Really simple- he is terrified of being too successful in case he can't sustain the success (and develop the next innovation) or in the event that people he knows may view him negatively for his financial success. He is currently limiting his success and of course he will continue to, until he can get around this historical feeling . Now there are coaching techniques I will use to help him with that and to test the boundaries of his comfort/discomfort.

However, it raised a little question with me - Is there a point at which I would  become frightened of success? It kind of tapped into my Barack Obama dream about potentially having paparazzi at the door(read previous post). Would I ever be able to accept that? No. I value my privacy too much and occasionally like to go to the park sans make up and looking like a bag lady so it just wouldn't work I would be constantly in those awful magazines with headlines like "Marie steps out looking like Morticia". Worst still- people would buy them. Oh no, I can't have that on my conscience.

So- what's your limit? What boundaries are you placing around your own success?

Wishing you lots of it!

mx

Categories: Success Wisdom