Michael J. Marx's Blog, page 2
August 13, 2017
Living the Dream by ignoring obstacles
Learning the German language has been one of the most rewarding and frustrating things I’ve ever done. In fact, I failed the first course I took.
It was during that time that I was preparing for a summer of service in South America when the program director asked me to change to the team going to Germany and Switzerland.
“Why me?” I asked.
“Well, your file says that you are taking German,” he replied.
“Failing German in fact.”
“Well, the team leader is fluent. So she can translate for you. He...
August 5, 2017
Living the Dream – Emancipation
To be free from the slavery of an 8 to 5, 45-minute commute, jacket + tie or make-up + dress type job is the dream of many Americans.
In their article Entrepreneur as Emancipation (2009), Rindova, Barry and Ketchen postulate that people seeking to bring about new environments for themselves are looking for autonomy from constraints, the ability to author their own set of rules, and the right to declare their own intentions.
Autonomy means breaking free. Gaining freedom from limiting authority...
July 22, 2017
Living the Dream with Persistence
Moving toward the goal of Living the Dream takes persistence: Staying at it. Seeing it through. Not giving up. While discipline, planning and motivation all play a huge role, just hanging in there until its done is often a big key to success.
First of all, you need to show up. You can’t be there if you’re not there (over-simplistic, I know). Half of winning the race is showing up at the starting line. Sure, a lot of preparation goes into getting ready for race day. Yet if you do not compete,...
Moving toward the goal of Living the Dream takes persiste...
Moving toward the goal of Living the Dream takes persistence: Staying at it. Seeing it through. Not giving up. While discipline, planning and motivation all play a huge role, just hanging in there until its done is often a big key to success.
First of all, you need to show up. You can’t be there if you’re not there (over-simplistic, I know). Half of winning the race is showing up at the starting line. Sure, a lot of preparation goes into getting ready for race day. Yet if you do not compete,...
July 15, 2017
Living the Dream with Optimism
Are you an optimist, pessimist, or realist? During my lifetime, I’ve had an interesting relationship with these three perspectives. At times, I’ve ascribed to each viewpoint. At times, I’ve combined them.
In my 20’s I was an adamant optimist. I would discuss the values of a positive perspective with fervor to anyone that cared to take on the glass-half-full/glass-half-empty debate. Only optimism worked for me.
In my 30’s I attended a workshop led by Jim Rohn. He said that if you see the g...
July 8, 2017
Living the Dream with Passion
Without any constraints, limitations, or costs; what is something you would love to do twelve hours a day if you could? i.e. What are you truly passionate about?
About a year and a half ago, I asked this question to one of my clients.
“Oh that’s easy,” she responded quickly. “I would pray for young men addicted to drugs.”
“For twelve hours a day!” I replied in astonishment.
“Sure. I could do it for sixteen, but you asked for twelve.”
Suddenly she found her passion – and the coaching was ove...
July 1, 2017
Living the Dream: Ready-Fire-Aim
Contrary to popular wisdom, sometimes it is better to ready-fire-aim than to ready-aim-fire. People often spend much time, money and effort setting things up. Often the best approach is simply to “just do it.”
I often get questions about setting up a business. My clients and colleagues want to be Living the Dream. This requires that system be put in place. Instead of ensuring that all one’s ducks are nicely standing in a row, a bit of experimentation might be the best first move.
Imagine you...
June 24, 2017
Living the Dream – The Good Life
Can we be living the good life as well as living the dream?
Many people feel they will only be satisfied when they reach a certain level. Having toys, houses, and even jobs are often needed to have that good-life feeling. Striving for measures of success creates energy and a sense of well-being. Having goals and wants is motivational. Yet often when we have enough, we still want a little bit more.
For some the good life is not about money or things. Many people feel that working hard and play...
June 17, 2017
Living the Dream on Purpose
It is popular in the coaching industry to talk to clients about becoming more intentional. I smile when I hear this word remembering the adage: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Living the dream on purpose is more than that. It’s more now, more real, more doing and not just thinking about it.
How can you know that you are living the dream? The answer lies in your past, future, and present. From the past, we learn what has motivated us, sparked us, ignited us. The future give...
June 10, 2017
Living the Dream – the NEWS
Staying informed is important. Yet most of the news presented to us is negative and distracting. Living the Dream means being able to select the significant news and leave aside the garbage.
In the 80’s my intake of news shifted from live to print media. Back then my brother was a news producer. He was the one who ultimately decided what would be broadcasted on the 6 o’clock TV NEWS show in his area. So, I asked him:
“What is the criteria you use for the selection process?”
“Oh, that’s easy, ...
