An apology - busy times

I'll start by apologising for being lazy with my blog lately.

Its no excuse but I've been busy. Next weekend is my third and final workshop for the coaching course. Its my final assessment too. So I've been spending every spare minute going over my notes and making sure I am familiar with various questioning techniques and listening skills etc

I'm not particularly worried about it.......yet! Ask me on Sunday!

As a result my house is a mess - and I mean a mess. 3 inches of dust everywhere and an inch of dog hair on the carpet. Washing up piling up in the kitchen too.

I am sure it will all settle down after my assessment. I will have 3 essays to write, Christmas shopping to do, friends coming for the weekend. It can only get better can't it?

Inspirational Quote - Reflection, Imitation and Experience

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the most bitter.”

Confucius

Fear of Success

Signs of Fear of Success - this comes from one of my favourite weblinks.


The biggest problem for many people is that their fear of success is largely unconscious. They just don't realize that they've been holding themselves back from doing something great.

If you experience the following thoughts or fears, you might have a fear of success on some level:



* You feel guilty about any success you have, no matter how small, because your friends, family, or co-workers haven't had the same success.

* You don't tell others about your accomplishments.

* You avoid or procrastinate on big projects, especially projects that could lead to recognition.

* You frequently compromise your own goals or agenda to avoid conflict in a group, or even conflict within your family.

* You self-sabotage (member only article) your work or dreams by convincing yourself that you're not good enough to achieve them.

* You feel, subconsciously, that you don't deserve to enjoy success in your life.

* You believe that if you do achieve success, you won't be able to sustain it. Eventually you'll fail, and end up backing a worse place from where you started. So you think, "why bother?"


This is an extract taken from a Mind Tools newsletter. If you want to see the full article click Mind Tools

Website Design

Am still trying to keep on top of study and housework and work and practise coaching. But I now have my logo thanks to Best Man Friend.

Now I need a website and business cards. Hubby is working hard to pull the website together, but its really hard making sure the words and design all reflect what i want it to be.

Its all makes sense in my head but looks very different on paper and computer screen.

By the way, did you know you can get business cards in chocolate, on razor blades and in the form of lego men - its all on the net.

Quote for the Day - Hamlet

“There’s nothing good or bad its just thinking that makes it so” 

- Hamlet

My head is full !!!!

So here I am, almost half way between workshop 2 and workshop 3. I need to reread my notes. Catch up on some emails from my fellow classmates. Read my books. Catch up on forums. Get my logo sorted. Get coached. Practice coaching.

The list is endless.

Blogging is suffering - but I'm still here - just!

Perceptions

PERCEPTION

 . . Something To Think About . .

 
THE SITUATION

In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes.

During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.


About 4 minutes later:


The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.


At 6 minutes:


A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.


At 10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.


At 45 minutes:


The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

After 1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $200 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.


This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

This experiment raised several questions:

*In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?

*If so, do we stop to appreciate it?

*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?


One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . . .

How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?