Brian Groves's Blog, page 52
June 10, 2018
A walk in the park
Why is Brian blogging about a walk in the park? A good question.
Actually, I am thinking about a walk in the park from the perspective of doing something to get us out into nature if we are not already there.
Spending much of my time either in a training room, a virtual coaching space online or shut up in my home-office writing blog posts, books and poetry, a walk in the park every now and then is not a bad thing.
In reality, I take an early morning run in the park most days during the warmer period of the year. For me, that usually means mid-April to mid or late September. Sorry, but getting up at five is not the problem it is the idea of going outside into the cold that stops me the rest of the year.
Anyway, for those days I am not outside to see the dawn, a walk in the park offers a positive alternative. ‘Getting some air’ and ‘Stretching the legs’ are valid reasons to make such an effort. Even when the To do list seems more urgent than a walk in the park, productivity increases after a few minutes of exercise.
With that said, I’m off for a walk in the park. See you there?
Brian.
About Brian
Brian Groves DipM MCIM Chartered Marketer, Coach, Trainer and Author, supplies professional and personal development to a portfolio of corporate and individual clients.
As an Adjunct Professor at the Catholic University of Milan, Italy, Brian teaches a postgraduate course, using four characters taken from dramatic texts as coaching clients, to examine various work-related performance matters.
Brian’s goal is to support through coaching, training and writing all who wish to live their potential, in education, work or life in general.
You can contact Brian via e-mail (brian@bgdtcoaching.com), by clicking on the icons or leaving a comment below.
June 6, 2018
Picking our moment wisely
Completing anything well often involves picking our moment wisely. Circumstances are what they are and it is our responsibility to ensure we focus our efforts for maximum impact.
The decision to intervene in a situation will be influenced by many factors, some unknown to us before we act. Being able to make valid judgement calls is, as such, an art as much as a science. And picking our moment wisely is a crucial part of this skill.
We need to make use of our intuition to assist us in picking our moment wisely. Trusting our intuition is thus a key attribute for us to develop.
Other aspects associated with picking our moment wisely relate to the manner in which we see whatever is before us. When we are attracted to or inspired by an issue, we are more likely to bring our full range of abilities to the proverbial table.
But what about those occasions we fail to go about picking our moment wisely?
Well, as I repeatedly remind myself and my coaching clients, we are human. Mistakes offer us an opportunity to tweak our strategies and develop ourselves, or at least toughen ourselves up. Yet on the whole, when we apply ourselves things more often than not turn out okay, no?
To join the conversation here on the issue of picking our moment wisely, please leave a comment below.
Brian.
About Brian
Brian Groves DipM MCIM Chartered Marketer, Coach, Trainer and Author, supplies professional and personal development to a portfolio of corporate and individual clients.
As an Adjunct Professor at the Catholic University of Milan, Italy, Brian teaches a postgraduate course, using four characters taken from dramatic texts as coaching clients, to examine various work-related performance matters.
Brian’s goal is to support through coaching, training and writing all who wish to live their potential, in education, work or life in general.
You can contact Brian via e-mail (brian@bgdtcoaching.com), by clicking on the icons or leaving a comment below.
June 2, 2018
Remaining unmoved by the outlook
I expect you know the type of people who, remaining unmoved by the outlook, are never enthusiastic about what is occurring around them.
Unless we are constrained by work or family ties, the best response we can offer these folk is space. Hanging out with Negative Nellies or Normans rarely does much for either ourselves or them. Remaining unmoved by the outlook, especially one we would normally be pleased to see, goes against who we are.
Sometimes it is suggested reality is about seeing the brutal aspects of the moment instead of focusing on the positive side of things. Without denying life contains testing moments, we should not overlook the fact it is a balancing act between ‘good’ and ‘bad’. And most events reside at the midpoint between these two extremes.
How we choose to acknowledge life remains, as ever, a personal matter. Breaking out into song when something touches our heart may be our preferred mode of expressing emotions. Then again, a simple smile might suffice. That others are remaining unmoved by the outlook is their choice.
If right now you feel moved to leave a comment below please do so. In the meantime, thanks for reading this ‘Remaining unmoved by the outlook’ post today.
Kindest regards.
Brian.
About Brian
Brian Groves DipM MCIM Chartered Marketer, Coach, Trainer and Author, supplies professional and personal development to a portfolio of corporate and individual clients.
As an Adjunct Professor at the Catholic University of Milan, Italy, Brian teaches a postgraduate course, using four characters taken from dramatic texts as coaching clients, to examine various work-related performance matters.
Brian’s goal is to support through coaching, training and writing all who wish to live their potential, in education, work or life in general.
You can contact Brian via e-mail (brian@bgdtcoaching.com), by clicking on the icons or leaving a comment below.
May 30, 2018
Adding value to our daily routine
Being curious, let me ponder how we could go about adding value to our daily routine. Many ideas spring to mind but, for the sake of space, three will have to do for now.
1) Be clear about the intentions behind our actions
With the clarity of intentions comes a greater focusing of subsequent activities. Understanding why we are endeavouring to achieve something makes efforts relevant and even enjoyable. On the contrary, doing things just for the sake of doing them or ‘because we have always done them’ turns routines into ruts.
2) Seek out the element of fun
Noticing the fun or funny side of a task is something we may wish to attempt, especially if we have never considered work from this perspective before. This approach can reduce the tedious aspect of chores, turning them into light-hearted ‘events’ whilst adding value to our daily routine.
3) Schedule pleasurable activities as rewards for the successful completion of daily routines
Knowing we are off to the park, the beach or the pages of a favourite novel, once we have gotten through our routines is a way of adding value and energy to our efforts. Managing our workload is key to getting things done to the best of our ability. Incentives, where appropriate, help.
As stated, there are many ways to go about adding value to our daily routine. I hope the ideas here act as a starting point for you in your efforts.
Thanks, in any case, for reading the ‘Adding value to our daily routine’ post today.
Brian.
About Brian
Brian Groves DipM MCIM Chartered Marketer, Coach, Trainer and Author, supplies professional and personal development to a portfolio of corporate and individual clients.
As an Adjunct Professor at the Catholic University of Milan, Italy, Brian teaches a postgraduate course, using four characters taken from dramatic texts as coaching clients, to examine various work-related performance matters.
Brian’s goal is to support through coaching, training and writing all who wish to live their potential, in education, work or life in general.
You can contact Brian via e-mail (brian@bgdtcoaching.com), by clicking on the icons or leaving a comment below.
May 29, 2018
Heart Poems On Clouds. The NEW book
“Above the clouds of the moment opportunities exist.” Brian Groves.
Just like waves, clouds are a daily presence often ignored. The heart poems in this collection, based on the transient nature of clouds, are thoughts and reflections brought together to capture something tangible from their intangibility.
We might choose to see clouds from many perspectives. At times, when dark, they could represent challenges and setbacks to our heart-desired goals. On a sunny day, we may wish for a cloud to provide shade and a little relief. No matter the moment, embracing clouds is something within our ability, even if it is only through words set out here as poems.
The potential to live life fully exists in us all. But being human, we forget this from time to time. Accordingly, this book could be read as encouragement, to us all, to be our best even on a cloudy day. I hope this collection of heart poems on clouds gives you something to ponder and, dare I say, enjoy. It was a pleasure for me to write these poems and it would be pleasing to think you find value in the words.
Clouds, whether those above us or those obscuring our clarity of thought, are a part of life. This latest offering reflects my curiosity towards how we live life, embracing or otherwise the presence of clouds.
With this book, you will get the opportunity to:
a) Connect with nature through the written word;
b) Look at thoughts created in the heart;
c) Observe ideas set out as poetry;
d) Undertake a moment of reflection;
e) Discover input relating to everyday life;
f) Seize upon any inspiring material.
Possibly this book becomes a catalyst for further reflection on what is dear to you. Though I am experienced in the field of professional and personal development, you are the expert on your life. Implementation of any new thinking will, of course, need to be undertaken by you, I cannot do it for you.
With that said, let me thank you for your presence here and wish you Happy Reading!
Brian.
About Brian
Brian Groves DipM MCIM Chartered Marketer, Coach, Trainer and Author, supplies professional and personal development to a portfolio of corporate and individual clients.
As an Adjunct Professor at the Catholic University of Milan, Italy, Brian teaches a postgraduate course, using four characters taken from dramatic texts as coaching clients, to examine various work-related performance matters.
Brian’s goal is to support through coaching, training and writing all who wish to live their potential, in education, work or life in general.
You can contact Brian via e-mail (brian@bgdtcoaching.com), by clicking on the icons or leaving a comment below.
May 27, 2018
Plenty of room at the top
“Go the extra mile, there is plenty of room at the top”, they say. And so there is in many senses. After all, with the ‘Settle for what we have’ mentality rampant nowadays it is easy to understand how additional effort takes us beyond the majority to the minority enjoying plenty of room at the top.
How we actually define ‘the top’ requires a post in itself so we can leave that for another day. Right now, it is enough to tap into the general idea based on giving our best in all we do. With this in mind, we are able to understand the concept of there being plenty of room at the top.
Referring again to the opposite approach, ‘Settle for what we have’, many people may find supposed safety in this way of being. Standing out by living their potential could be frightening to them.
We all live according to our own values and principles. And, just because there is plenty of room at the top, it does not mean it should be the desired destination for everyone.
For those of us who are focused on living our potential this reminder or encouragement to be our best is not needed. Accordingly, I will stop now and let you enjoy the fact there is plenty of room at the top.
Kindest regards.
Brian.
About Brian
Brian Groves DipM MCIM Chartered Marketer, Coach, Trainer and Author, supplies professional and personal development to a portfolio of corporate and individual clients.
As an Adjunct Professor at the Catholic University of Milan, Italy, Brian teaches a postgraduate course, using four characters taken from dramatic texts as coaching clients, to examine various work-related performance matters.
Brian’s goal is to support through coaching, training and writing all who wish to live their potential, in education, work or life in general.
You can contact Brian via e-mail (brian@bgdtcoaching.com), by clicking on the icons or leaving a comment below.
May 24, 2018
Ready for the coming months?
With the year racing forward it seems right to ask ourselves whether we are ready for the coming months.
Ideally, we are on course with the projects and goals established at the start of the year. Adjustments may have had to have been made here and there, yet overall things are hopefully going to plan.
That said, to sustain progress it could be wise to take a few moments out to verify the extent to which we are ready for the coming months. With success dazzling our sight it is easy to miss details needing our attention.
We should look not only at our desired destination but also the manner we wish to reach it. Experiencing the journey is much about embracing all the elements making up the moment, step by step. Reconnecting with this idea is a form of getting ready for the coming months.
The richness of life is, let’s remember, to be found in how we interact with life itself. Rushing to achieve this or that might mean we lose out on what it is to be truly successful.
So, back to the original question, are we ready for the coming months? To share your thoughts on the ideas set out here, please leave a comment below.
Brian.
About Brian
Brian Groves DipM MCIM Chartered Marketer, Coach, Trainer and Author, supplies professional and personal development to a portfolio of corporate and individual clients.
As an Adjunct Professor at the Catholic University of Milan, Italy, Brian teaches a postgraduate course, using four characters taken from dramatic texts as coaching clients, to examine various work-related performance matters.
Brian’s goal is to support through coaching, training and writing all who wish to live their potential, in education, work or life in general.
You can contact Brian via e-mail (brian@bgdtcoaching.com), by clicking on the icons or leaving a comment below.
May 19, 2018
Embracing patterns of daily life
Embracing patterns of daily life, rather than deciding to ignore particular messages, is a way we could tap into a source of learning available to us.
Recently a client referred to déjà vu, noticing how certain themes seemed to be showing up in various formats. Perhaps life was attempting to make contact.
The American-born Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön stated in her book When things fall apart: heart advice for difficult times: “nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.” This is especially apt for any reflection on the topic of embracing patterns of daily life.
Being open to receiving learning from a variety of sources, also by embracing patterns of daily life, we are in a strong position to explore the full range of emotions and experiences making up life.
Noticing, or better embracing, patterns of daily life such as recurring themes might be more beneficial than walking through life only partially aware of what is going on around us. Life becomes a fountain of inspiration when we ‘wake up’ to it.
Thanks for reading this ‘Embracing patterns of daily life’ post. Please feel free to join the conversation here by leaving a comment below.
Kindest regards.
Brian.
About Brian
Brian Groves DipM MCIM Chartered Marketer, Coach, Trainer and Author, supplies professional and personal development to a portfolio of corporate and individual clients.
As an Adjunct Professor at the Catholic University of Milan, Italy, Brian teaches a postgraduate course, using four characters taken from dramatic texts as coaching clients, to examine various work-related performance matters.
Brian’s goal is to support through coaching, training and writing all who wish to live their potential, in education, work or life in general.
You can contact Brian via e-mail (brian@bgdtcoaching.com), by clicking on the icons or leaving a comment below.
May 16, 2018
Feeling fenced in by tasks, habits and duties
How we may have come about feeling fenced in by tasks, habits and duties is a question best left for another time. In all likelihood, it is not as important as asking ourselves ‘What are we prepared to do to stop or reduce feeling fenced in by tasks, habits and duties?’
Understanding the extent to which we are willing to take responsibility for our outlook on life – including feeling fenced in by tasks, habits and duties – is a positive initial step to improving things.
Looking at the sensation of feeling fenced in by tasks, habits and duties, it is also useful if we start to see such items as a collection of individual issues instead of one big mass of problems.
There will be particular matters we have no option but to ‘Like it, lump it and get on with it’. Others may represent traditions passed on to us without us considering their ongoing validity for us.
So often we fall into line with those around us – family members, peers, colleagues and acquaintances – yet in doing so knock ourselves out of line with our own values.
‘This is just the way things are’ is a mindset of folk feeling fenced in by tasks, habits and duties. However, aligning actions to our priorities goes a long way to letting go of unfair demands, plus the sense of guilt associated with not completing everything asked of us. Or not.
To join the conversation here, please leave a comment below. In the meantime, I hope this Feeling fenced in by tasks, habits and duties post has provided some food for thought.
Brian.
About Brian
Brian Groves DipM MCIM Chartered Marketer, Coach, Trainer and Author, supplies professional and personal development to a portfolio of corporate and individual clients.
As an Adjunct Professor at the Catholic University of Milan, Italy, Brian teaches a postgraduate course, using four characters taken from dramatic texts as coaching clients, to examine various work-related performance matters.
Brian’s goal is to support through coaching, training and writing all who wish to live their potential, in education, work or life in general.
You can contact Brian via e-mail (brian@bgdtcoaching.com), by clicking on the icons or leaving a comment below.
May 12, 2018
Reaching the summit of our goal
As we move forward, doing everything under our control to achieve success, let’s spend a few moments pondering the notion of reaching the summit of our goal.
The objective could be seen as a magnet drawing us towards it. And that is all well and good. But what will happen upon reaching the summit of our goal?
Are we going to discover the so-desired achievement is exactly as we have visualized it? Alternatively, it could be we find ourselves feeling a little empty. Hoping for the former sensation yet appreciating the possibility of this latter reaction, it is worth investing some time in preparing subsequent goals.
We can choose to take the pinnacle of our present aspiration as the starting point for new ventures. Keeping our progress going is a method to ensure we don’t settle on the proverbial laurels and miss out on living our potential.
In the face of personal doubts and negative comments from folk around us, we have the option to consider reaching the summit of our goal as a step along an ongoing development path. And this path surely leads to heights only dreamed about by those unwilling to pay the prices of time and effort to get there.
As ever, please feel free to share your input on the ideas set out here. For now, thanks for reading this Reaching the summit of our goal post.
Kindest regards.
Brian.
About Brian
Brian Groves DipM MCIM Chartered Marketer, Coach, Trainer and Author, supplies professional and personal development to a portfolio of corporate and individual clients.
As an Adjunct Professor at the Catholic University of Milan, Italy, Brian teaches a postgraduate course, using four characters taken from dramatic texts as coaching clients, to examine various work-related performance matters.
Brian’s goal is to support through coaching, training and writing all who wish to live their potential, in education, work or life in general.
You can contact Brian via e-mail (brian@bgdtcoaching.com), by clicking on the icons or leaving a comment below.
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