CorporateCoach eNewsletter
Issue No. 65, 28th June 2004
CONTENTS
- Editorial:
Do less
- Coaching
story: The Mexican fisherman
1.
Editorial: Do less
 I
have been listening to the CDs that I bought from CoachVille when I was
in Orlando. They comprise a two day presentation by Thomas Leonard and
Dave Buck on the 15 clarifiers, proficiencies, deliverables, frameworks
and style points that make up the CoachVille system.
One incident
is poignant. Thomas offered himself for some coaching as a demonstration.
He explained his situation. On the next day, the end of the workshop,
CoachVille would be one year old. He had been working very hard for that
year, and for the two years before the launch. He had promised himself
a holiday and had bought a new black four wheel drive truck to go camping
for five weeks.
However,
he had committed himself to preparing various materials in the summer
and was overwhelmed with his commitments. On previous occasions he had
been so busy clearing his desk before a vacation that he had worn himself
out and not been able to go away at all.
His statement
was for a role play - but appeared to be real. Within a year he was dead
from a massive heart attack!
An illuminating
and prescient role play.
I once listened
to a tape-set about stress. The speaker explained that he had been asked
to give a keynote speech about stress. He had spoken for 44 minutes on
various topics and the delegates were wondering when he would get to the
point. In the 45th minute he said "To avoid stress - do less."
and sat down.
There are
many causes of stress, and over work is one of them; and many western
countries are experiencing a growing culture of hard work and long hours.
One solution
is to do less, and others are to be able to pace activity and to learn
to unwind. Meditation can help.
I had an
experience recently. I love what I do and enjoy social activities through
my work. But over the last three months I have been over-committed. With
two international conferences and three ongoing courses, I had not expected
to obtain lots of work in April and May (in my budgeting I count April
as half a month because of Easter). But this year almost every spare day
was booked by clients - very nice, of course! Unfortunately courses and
conferences tend to include weekends, leading to 12 days before a weekend
break. In addition, I had a busy programme of evening networking events.
I noticed
that I was getting tired. Eventually I was able to get home at a reasonable
time on a Monday evening and mow the lawn after eating. On the Wednesday
I was due to go to a public speaking club. However, I decided that even
though it would be a pleasant social activity it would be more sensible
to go home. This time after my meal I was able to spend half an hour weeding
my salads. I felt so much better; it was a learning event.
For me, half
an hour pottering in the garden is a life saver and is better relaxation
than a whole evening at the theatre or a concert. What is yours? Do you
know?
Do you have
a strategy in response to signs of stress or overwork? It could save your
life.
USEFUL
LINKS:
2.
Coaching story: The Mexican fisherman
Here is a
story from my archive that seems apposite to life balance.
An American
investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when
a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were
several large yellow fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on
the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The Mexican
replied, "Only a little while".
The American
then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more
fish?
The Mexican
said he had enough to support his family's immediate
needs.
The American
then asked, "but what do you do with the rest of your
time?"
The Mexican
fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children,
take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening
where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy
life."
The American
scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend
more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds
from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually you would
have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman
you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own
cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You
would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico
City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise."
The Mexican
fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"
To which
the American replied, "15-20 years."
"But
what then?"
The American
laughed and said that's the best part. "When the time is right you
would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become
very rich. You would make millions."
"Millions..
Then what?"
The American
said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village
where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta
with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could
sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."
DIARY
DATES :
Here are
some dates when I shall be travelling to meet subscribers and potential
business partners. If you would like to meet me, please contact
me.
- 22-28
July, Dubai, UAE
- 29-31
July, Mumbai, India
- 2-4 August,
Singapore
- 6-10 August,
Melbourne, Australia
- 19-22
Sydney, Australia
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We hope you enjoyed this issue of CorporateCoach. If you would
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