Inner Game of Work: Book Review

This book was recommended by Jeff Staggs an Executive Coach. Wow, was a great read. If we get our ACT (Awareness, Choice, and Trust) together we can set off on a better path in personal and work lives. In our work lives if we can balance; learning, enjoyment, and performance we will feel a greater fulfillment in our lives. While out on our journey we need to stop and smell the roses. STOP (Step Back, Think, Organize your thoughts, Proceed) at the beginning, middle, and end of our days at work and home we can feel more focused and in control of where we spend our time. Finally he talks about thinking like we are the CEO our ourselves and we need to take inventory of ourselves like we were a corporation. Here coaching can make a big impact as a coach serves as a mirror to reflect back our current state. The coach also offers questions to design an ideal state and removes blocks from getting there. I have over 20 dog eared pages and now I wish I purchased this book for Kindle instead of borrowing it from the library. This one is a real keeper!

Have a New Kid by Friday: Book Review

A mother of 6 girls turned me on to this book and it was defiantly a winner. The book is a reality check for parents who want and can give their kids anything they want but desire good behavior. Reshaping your thinking to the simple, "B doesn't happen until A is complete" is very powerful. We do so much for our kids and we need to be willing to walk away from a situation and take away a privilege in order to teach good character and behavior.

The book covers how to deal with slamming doors, drugs, not eating, shyness, showing off, and bullying. All the topics that eventually show up in parenting and catch most parents off guard. Now when I catch my kid stealing a pair a jeans or a candy bar, I know how to suppress my embarrassment and make my child face the music!

I was really impressed about how to handle a curfew. Instead of the parent setting a specific time, tell the child, "Be home at a reasonable hour." Let the child figure out what "reasonable" means to them. You'll be surprised at how often its earlier than the time you were thinking!

Here's the top 10 list from the back of the book.

10. Be 100 percent consistent in your behavior.
9. Always follow through on what you say you will do.
8. Respond, don't react
7. Count to 10 and ask yourself, "What would my old self do in this situation? What should the new me do?"
6. Never threaten your kids.
5. Never get angry. (When you do get angry, apologize quickly.)
4. Don't give any warnings. (If you warn a child, you're saying, "You're so stupid, I have to tell you twice.")
3. Ask yourself, "Whose problem is this?" (Don't own it if it isn't yours.)
2. Don't think the misbehavior will go away.
1. Keep the happy face on, even when you want to...do something else.

The essence of parenting can be boiled down to this simple equation: "B doesn't happen until A is complete!"

I met Matthew, while on a trip aboard a chartered dive boat to the sunken


artificial wreck site, the USS Spiegel Grove.



Located in the deep blue waters, about a one hour boat ride offshore, from

Key Largo, Florida.



As I contemplated the personal challenge on my 53rd birthday to apply my

acquired skills and certifications with the boat captain, about my interest

in descending down to the propeller, on the underside of this massive ship,

and at a depth of about 135 feet, the captain introduced me to Matthew, and

whom to my good fortune, was planning to dive and explore that particular

location of this sunken ship, along with his wife Andrea, on this dive trip.



I credit Mathew, for making this one of the most memorable and enjoyable

experiences of my life. His professional approach and attitude, along with a

meticulous attention for detail combined with his excellent inter-personal

leadership & coaching skills, gave me the trust and confidence in myself, to

go for it.



As a business owner, I have incorporated Mathew's, can do approach &

attitude, into my daily business practices, which has noticeably increased

and created an exciting and positive energy, resulting in my generating new

and additional business, and many more satisfied customers.

Thanks Matt!

Regards

Carlos Menocal, P.A.
Lic. Real Estate Broker

Hobo Matt: A day without pavement

A day without pavement
Originally uploaded by Hobo Matt

This is a different Matt. He left NY months ago to walk across the country. This shot in North Dakota is amazing. He is in Montana now in the home stretch to Oregon. Check out his photos on Flickr.

Hobo Matt: A day without pavement

A day without pavement
Originally uploaded by Hobo Matt

This is a different Matt. He left NY months ago to walk across the country. This shot in North Dakota is amazing. He is in Montana now in the home stretch to Oregon. Check out his photos on Flickr.

Life Coach: Recommendation from Father Sandoval

I have known Matthew and his wonderful family for over four years now. He is a benefit to his church and is always ready to lead a helping hand. His inspirational readings of the lessons during the service uplifts the whole congregation! I highly encouraged Matthew to investigate going into the priesthood. He has the rare gift to listen and lead at the same time. Matthew serves on the vestry and is the chair of the Stewardship Committee. His first pledge drive resulted in a 15% increase in overall pledges for the church. I'm very happy that Matthew has taken up the profession of Executive Coaching because his gifts need to be shared with others. I would highly recommend him to my friends and fellow doctors at the hospital.

Father Carlos Sandoval, M.D.
Rector, Saint Simon's Episcopal Church
Canon of Health, Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida
Psychiatrist

Why I was Afraid of Setting High Goals for Myself

Six weeks ago I started working out with free weights at the gym. This was a natural evolution that I was really resisting. When I first joined the gym I simply got on the elliptical machine because it was very low commitment and the machine didn't talk about what bad shape I was in.

Then I found the courage to attend a Kick Boxing class. It was a serious mental challenge to be one of two men in a class of 40 woman of all ages, shapes, and sizes.

The instructor was impressed with my weight loss progress and encouraged me to start lifting weights to put the finishing touch on my new body.

I had a script in my head that the free weight section of the gym was a place that I didn't belong. I prevented myself to go there. I wasn't until I was coached, cajoled, and escorted into this new world that I was able to re-write the script in my head that it was acceptable for me to work out there.

After six weeks, I'm not friends with a lot of the regulars in that part of the gym at the time that I go. Instead of the negativity I expected, I was welcomed and two people commented on the positive work I had done losing weight. Now that I know how to use the machines, ask others to use equipment and go with the flow, I'm very comfortable there.

So what is different about me? It wasn't anything physical. The gym didn't change, my body hasn't changed that much, but my attitudes have changed. I went from not belonging to belongings. The journey was in my mind and how I interpreted the outside world. Once I was aware of the limitations I set on myself, I could make a decision to change the limitation into an advantage.