Thursday, January 16, 2020
Thursday, March 21, 2019
Juggling too many hats?
Recognize anyone?
Is he juggling too many hats? He has so many different responsibilities, his body’s buckling underneath the weight. Although he has so much on his plate, he continues to reach out for more(notices left hand reaching for chef’s hat). Quotations (add some of your own if you'd like)“I’m trying to juggle too much work. I cannot stop accepting new responsibilities.The boss said I must keep on I can’t say no”.
RE; efficient pacing, PAS
Sit down, take a few minutes and jot down a couple ways getting rid of some hats.
Couple of hot topics. In the future how do you catch yourself from taking on too many projects. How to delegate or get help on the ones I have already.
Or if you don't "get it" quickly you may have to do a job search for a juggler in the circus.
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Do you feel like you’re trying to win the war rather than make a business work? Are you leaving a trail of wounded as you climb the corporate ladder? Do you want to maintain” Intention without tension”?Do you feel like you’re trying to win the war rather than make a business work? Are you leaving a trail of wounded as you climb the corporate ladder? Do you want to maintain” Intention without tension”?Clients of David Brown at Next Level Coaching have been able to relate to these questions.Whether getting the solutions for your business or supporting a C level executive. Learn how to handle complex situations in organizational development, or challenges with top performing stakeholders. Dave has the tools and fleshes out a step-by-signature approach in coaching his clients. He works with them to create a strategic plan specifically for them. They begin to identify the patterns that aren’t working and design a plan to release them. This allows the process of change to begin… to get the unencumbered results they want.Barney, one of Dave’s clients, a brilliant chemical engineer and owner of a successful pharmaceutical startup was trying to sell his company.He was having difficulty even getting reasonable offers. During the coaching process, Barney was able to identify what was blocking him from receiving a very substantial offer for his company. His investors were very satisfied with the return on their investment(ROI). An additional bonus, he received a highly compensated 1-1/2 year contract to supervise the transition to the new corporate owner.Is it possible for successful people to have a successful and balanced personal life? There is a strong correlation in maintaining both. Oftentimes the stress of the business rides home on a client’s shoulders. He walks in the door with the yoke of demands and unmet expectations from the workday securely fastened to his neck. Only to be greeted with additional expectations from his family. After a difficult business day SEO Fred scared his kids and his wife by being combative and adversarial when his wife approached him about family issues. Coaching opened up his possibility to find relief inside his crowded brain and tense body, before he returned home to his family. Relieved of his negative stress, Fred could think more clearly and act more effectively, curbing his penchant to dominate and overpower situations. Ted was even able to apply these positive techniques as he transitioned from one challenge to another during his workday.Is it possible to be particle without being overbearing Teresa what is an executive who considered it unsafe to express her family tracing the work situation? She felt she needed to be harmful and overbearing to get the job done, and did not allow her to personality come through. As a result, she was alienated from those around. With Dave’s coaching she was able to recognize her behavior that was contrary to her personality. Her power to modify her behavior to accomplish for objective. Being true to herself. Teresa discovered her “Relaxed Power”Danny was one of Dave’s clients that was a lead scientist. During his coaching experience he learned effective delegation how to stop being working scientist and become a leader. This position also required managing upward. Requesting and receiving the budget necessary to buy equipment’s organization and send his staff to speak at leading edge conferences. he was promoted to Senior Director and put in charge of 18 brilliant scientists who were formally his peers. He was promoted to director and then to senior director.The company received the third round of funding from investors in an extremely difficult market for research and development money. He was pleased he was able to accomplish their goals. They enjoyed making a better life for themselves in the process to have a successful and balanced life! Ken Blanchard The Ken Blanchard Companies ” I’m a personality type that drives me faster than my body can keep up. For years I pushed myself at full throttle, at a pace that was hard to sustain. During my coaching sessions with DaveBrown, I discovered how “I sacrifice my well-being and time with my family” at the same I’m accomplishing my goals. He offered strategies for efficient pace, support and insight to help me find a level of balance that was difficult for me to have on my own. As a result, I can be more effective and balanced in in my personal and professional life. “Coaching is a powerful process and Dave Brown is an excellent coach”. Call Dave at 858–775–4544 for a complimentary consultation
Friday, December 21, 2018
Break the Trance with Jiminy Cricket
Most people tend to wander through life, chasing white rabbits down into the abyss of Wonderland. Fortunately, at some point we "awaken" and realize that we have been off-track, in a trance, led astray into fantasyland where we can avoid or get away from some task or idea, even boredom.
I believe we spend a good part of our lives in a trance -- not really paying attention, not making conscious choices, just going along with the flow of daily life and impulses. So, I decided to start looking at the nature of my trances, how and when they start. How do we identify that we are even in one? And how do we navigate out of a trance?
1. Recognize the signs of your trance. Write down five to ten concrete and specific behavioral, emotional and/or intellectual patterns that indicate that you are in your trance. (I.e. wasting time; daydreaming; choosing the path of least resistance) Also list the principle process or ways by which your trance kicks into gear – i.e. what triggers it.
2. Write down the benefits and limitations (or dangers) of being in your trance. What is there for you? What is it trying to tell me?
3. List the potential benefits of avoiding or shortening your trances.
4. List ways to pull yourself out of the trance state -- at least momentarily.
5. Create a symbol or reminder to check in with yourself and see if you're in a trance. It could be visual (a color, number, faces, scenery, images, etc.), auditory (a song, a noise, a voice, etc.), or sensual (a physical sensation that reminds you to check for a trance state).
One’s imagination can be very powerful. Create an imaginary friend/ally in your consciousness who will operate whenever you ask it to (like Jiminy Cricket* on your shoulder), reminding you to be in your body, centered and present.
* Jiminy Cricket is a fictional character who first appeared in the 1940 Walt Disney animated film Pinocchio. He was appointed by the Blue Fairy to serve as the official conscience for Pinocchio. He is also a comical and wise partner who accompanies Pinocchio on his adventures.
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Why You Must Understand the 2 Types of Stress
Stress causes so many problems with people: headaches, lowered morale, homonal imbalances, cramped posture, shorter attention span, emotional reactions, the list goes on and on.
When I talk with people about managing or minimizing their stress levels, I often hear the same thing over and over again: "I need stress! It helps me perform better in less time. I won't get anything done if I'm not stressed out."
And they're right! To a certain extent, anyway.
In one of my favorite books, The 4-Hour Work Week, Tim Ferriss makes a distinction between 2 types of stress (on page 37):
“There are two separate types of stress… Distress refers to harmful stimuli that make you weaker, less confident, and less able. Destructive criticism, abusive bosses, and smashing your face on a curb are examples of this. These are things we want to avoid. Eustress, on the other hand, is a word most of you have probably never heard. Eu-, a Greek prefix for “healthy,” is used in the same sense as euphoria. Role models who push us to exceed our limits, physical training that removes our spare tires, and risks that expand our sphere of comfortable action are all examples of eustress – stress that is healthful and the stimulus for growth.”
Exactly!! Certain types of stress decrease our ability, confidence and strength; certain types of stress increase our ability to perform.
The problem is, ambitious professionals often confuse the two, lumping them into one package. They think their work-related stress is making them step up to a higher level of performance when really it's tearing down their ability to perform.
How can you tell the difference between these two types of stress? Here are a few hints:
Distress triggers tension in the body. The breath gets shorter, muscles tighten up, headaches develop, and there's a sense of being threatened. Time seems scarce. At the end of the day, you feel drained.
Eustress triggers a sense of excitement, eagerness to take on a challenge, even a little adrenaline. Time flies by. At the end of the day, you feel energized and excited.
There are many more indicators of distress and eustress, and many strategies to manage them both. If you'd like to talk about them, please feel free to give me a call.
Remember, here's the main idea:
Less stress, More success !
When I talk with people about managing or minimizing their stress levels, I often hear the same thing over and over again: "I need stress! It helps me perform better in less time. I won't get anything done if I'm not stressed out."
And they're right! To a certain extent, anyway.
In one of my favorite books, The 4-Hour Work Week, Tim Ferriss makes a distinction between 2 types of stress (on page 37):
“There are two separate types of stress… Distress refers to harmful stimuli that make you weaker, less confident, and less able. Destructive criticism, abusive bosses, and smashing your face on a curb are examples of this. These are things we want to avoid. Eustress, on the other hand, is a word most of you have probably never heard. Eu-, a Greek prefix for “healthy,” is used in the same sense as euphoria. Role models who push us to exceed our limits, physical training that removes our spare tires, and risks that expand our sphere of comfortable action are all examples of eustress – stress that is healthful and the stimulus for growth.”
Exactly!! Certain types of stress decrease our ability, confidence and strength; certain types of stress increase our ability to perform.
The problem is, ambitious professionals often confuse the two, lumping them into one package. They think their work-related stress is making them step up to a higher level of performance when really it's tearing down their ability to perform.
How can you tell the difference between these two types of stress? Here are a few hints:
Distress triggers tension in the body. The breath gets shorter, muscles tighten up, headaches develop, and there's a sense of being threatened. Time seems scarce. At the end of the day, you feel drained.
Eustress triggers a sense of excitement, eagerness to take on a challenge, even a little adrenaline. Time flies by. At the end of the day, you feel energized and excited.
There are many more indicators of distress and eustress, and many strategies to manage them both. If you'd like to talk about them, please feel free to give me a call.
Remember, here's the main idea:
Less stress, More success !
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Understanding the Stimulation
For 42 years, I have been a regular coffee drinker. Like most professionals, I really enjoyed the taste, and the shot of adrenaline it gave me: the intensity, the sense of clarity and power and strength.
But in the back of my mind, I always knew these were temporary feelings. I also knew I didn’t like being dependent on a substance for these experiences. Over time I switched to half-caf; then I went to ¾ decaf. But I still submitted to the habit, trance and temporary fix.
One day, about a month ago, I went out for a run and tripped over a rock – and limped home with two cracked ribs. For some reason, in the slowed pace of my recovery, I decided to finally conquer my caffeine habit, once and for all. “I’m done with this,” I said.
Although I did go through three days of headaches – typical for caffeine withdrawal – I was surprised to see that my shift to a caffeine-free life had no effect on my ability to work. In fact, I found that I could focus for a longer period of time now that the hyper-intense feeling was gone. The anxious tightness was replaced with a sense of steady progress, and I wasn’t wasting attention on getting a refill for my coffee cup.
After a month without caffeine, I finally ventured back into the ever-present Starbucks line for an afternoon treat. And you know what? It just wasn’t as good as I remembered… “Why did I drink this all day?”
If you’re considering what life would be like without caffeine or other stimulants like sugar, simple carbs, nicotine or narcotics, here are a few insights for you to consider.
1. Why is it so hard to kick the stimulant/caffeine habit ?....Because it is there for a reason, probably a very good reason. You created quite a while ago and until you find out its purpose, it will be almost impossible to let go.
2. Stimulants are an artificial way to keep running at top speed. When you take them away, you have to be willing to honor your natural rhythm, the ebb and flow of energy that we all experience. One way to ease into this is to 'stop your racing and focus on “efficient pacing” '– the workday pace that keeps you moving and energized, not drained and grasping....... (My upcoming book includes a whole chapter on efficient pacing, but until it comes out, please feel free to call and discuss this with me.)
3. Long-term stimulation habits typically disrupt people’s sleep patterns. Many professionals who run “full tilt” all day have a hard time settling down to sleep at night. That’s partly because they don’t realize that it takes hours for the body to process caffeine. It stays with you longer than you think.
4. Many, many people use caffeine and other stimulants because they’re afraid of being lazy. Have you ever heard yourself saying, “If I’m not under pressure, it won’t get done”? Or, “I work better under stress and duress.” We create stress in our lives and fuel ourselves with caffeine and run around like panting puppies – all because we believe we can’t accomplish as much any other way. (Psst… here’s a hint: it ain’t true!)
I encourage you to start paying attention to your caffeine intake (or your use of other stimulants). Just notice the pattern – how and when you reach for it. After you observe it for a while, start asking yourself how much stimulation is really necessary and how much you consume out of habit.
Whether you decide to kick a habit or not ....is up to you… but make it a conscious decision to methodically understand its purpose first,not a trance-like operation.
But in the back of my mind, I always knew these were temporary feelings. I also knew I didn’t like being dependent on a substance for these experiences. Over time I switched to half-caf; then I went to ¾ decaf. But I still submitted to the habit, trance and temporary fix.
One day, about a month ago, I went out for a run and tripped over a rock – and limped home with two cracked ribs. For some reason, in the slowed pace of my recovery, I decided to finally conquer my caffeine habit, once and for all. “I’m done with this,” I said.
Although I did go through three days of headaches – typical for caffeine withdrawal – I was surprised to see that my shift to a caffeine-free life had no effect on my ability to work. In fact, I found that I could focus for a longer period of time now that the hyper-intense feeling was gone. The anxious tightness was replaced with a sense of steady progress, and I wasn’t wasting attention on getting a refill for my coffee cup.
After a month without caffeine, I finally ventured back into the ever-present Starbucks line for an afternoon treat. And you know what? It just wasn’t as good as I remembered… “Why did I drink this all day?”
If you’re considering what life would be like without caffeine or other stimulants like sugar, simple carbs, nicotine or narcotics, here are a few insights for you to consider.
1. Why is it so hard to kick the stimulant/caffeine habit ?....Because it is there for a reason, probably a very good reason. You created quite a while ago and until you find out its purpose, it will be almost impossible to let go.
2. Stimulants are an artificial way to keep running at top speed. When you take them away, you have to be willing to honor your natural rhythm, the ebb and flow of energy that we all experience. One way to ease into this is to 'stop your racing and focus on “efficient pacing” '– the workday pace that keeps you moving and energized, not drained and grasping....... (My upcoming book includes a whole chapter on efficient pacing, but until it comes out, please feel free to call and discuss this with me.)
3. Long-term stimulation habits typically disrupt people’s sleep patterns. Many professionals who run “full tilt” all day have a hard time settling down to sleep at night. That’s partly because they don’t realize that it takes hours for the body to process caffeine. It stays with you longer than you think.
4. Many, many people use caffeine and other stimulants because they’re afraid of being lazy. Have you ever heard yourself saying, “If I’m not under pressure, it won’t get done”? Or, “I work better under stress and duress.” We create stress in our lives and fuel ourselves with caffeine and run around like panting puppies – all because we believe we can’t accomplish as much any other way. (Psst… here’s a hint: it ain’t true!)
I encourage you to start paying attention to your caffeine intake (or your use of other stimulants). Just notice the pattern – how and when you reach for it. After you observe it for a while, start asking yourself how much stimulation is really necessary and how much you consume out of habit.
Whether you decide to kick a habit or not ....is up to you… but make it a conscious decision to methodically understand its purpose first,not a trance-like operation.
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