Month: April 2025

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365 Coaching Tips: 91st, 92nd and 93rd

April 1st Coaching Tip: Ask For An Exception.

Recently was working with an advisor who is 3-4 months from announcing his retirement. He received a major curve ball: his succession plan (with a female advisor that has been his business partner for more than 13 years) is in limbo. The female advisor now faces an existential health situation. It’s drastic for her, and for the soon to-be retiring advisor. After we discussed this tragic situation, we thoughtfully started discussing options. By the end of our very important and focused call, we had identified seven options. And the 7th option ended up being the “ask for an exception to the policy.” He’s now working the details on that option even further, because as he says, desperate times require desperate actions. He’s going to ask for the exception; my bet is that he will get it due to his story and prep, and his relationship with leadership.

April 2nd Coaching Tip: Those “T” Words

As the workday wrapped up on April 2nd, threatening weather with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes scattered from Dallas, TX to Toronto, Canada. And in Indiana, there were multiple sightings and touchdowns of tornadoes within one mile of our rental homes in Carmel, IN. But before all of this threatening weather started occurring around 8pm, the United States announced new and higher tariffs, after the stock market closed. There was an immediate and thunderous loss in the markets across the globe. Lots of “T” words, that can and will drive anxiety, fear, anger, and isolation. Think of how when a tornado is closeby, we quickly move to isolate inside in a safety room/basement/closet. When it thunderstorms, we tend to get inside, too. When tariffs are announced, this tends to drive isolation by countries…self-preservation versus decades of collaboration.

April 3rd Coaching Tip: Hopeful “T” Words

Today, I’m thankful that none of my friends, family, and rental homes were impacted by the tornadoes in Central Indiana last evening. It’s Taco Thursday and Thirsty Thursday, so let’s make it through the day to celebrate an upcoming weekend. With the tariff announcements came a sell off of the stock market; this timing might just be a good time to jump in the market and buy when prices are lower. I sure took advantage of it!

How YOU respond to daily and weekly announcements, happenings and untimely realities that impact your world is on YOU. It’s YOUR decision. Your attitude and how you respond will be remembered by others, but more importantly, it will help you be resilient thru these times.

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365 Coaching Tips: 88th, 89th & 90th

March 29th Coaching Tip: 2.8 Seconds.

My uncle texted me and said, “looks like overtime!” He was assuming that 2.8 seconds wasn’t enough time for the University of Houston to score and beat Purdue. After a timeout, both teams came out on the court, Houston got the ball under their basket. All Purdue has to do is defend well, since the score is tied. Official hands the ball to the Houston inbounder. He ball fakes, makes the Purdue defense move, and then he waits even longer to survey his 3-4 options, and right in front of him a few feet away, is his open teammate. He throws a perfect pass to his center, then the inbounder expertly jumps inbounds, and the center throws his back a perfect pass…and that inbounder scored. Game over, Houston wins by two points, and only 0.8 second left on the clock.

What happened to allow Houston to make not one but two passes? A complete breakdown by the Purdue defense and perfect execution that had been practiced numerous times by Houston. The Purdue defender who was guarding the inbounder actually turned his head AWAY from that inbounder/the bal, and was then consumed with the other players moving. Then two other Purdue players didn’t switch well on defense, which allowed the passes and the shot to be made. Know your job and do it. Had Purdue better defended the inbounder, the result most likely would have been “overtime”. A lot can be accomplished in 2.8 seconds.

March 30th Coaching Tip: That Letter “C”

Met with one of the largest advisors in the firm today, and after approximately five hours together, we landed on a list of 8-10 items as next steps. She has a team of 10 teammates, and 7-8 are highly committed and talented. The remaining 2-3 are not as committed or not as talented. We identified next steps, which revolved around words that begin with the letter “C”.

Improve the team Culture. Interview 100% of the team’s Colleagues, to help drive Cohesiveness. Increase Capacity by Coaching up under-performing teammates. Recognize Collaboration and equalization of workload. Segment and vet the Clients. Identify a future Chief Operating Officer (COO). Review the team and individual Compensation. Bottom line: as meetings are happening every single day, how will you summarize it for easier and clearer understanding? I chose to embrace letters or words, so that recall is clearer. Go C’s!

March 31st Coaching Tip: Consider It A Gift

Consider it a gift when someone is asking for time with you. They are willing to share something with you that’s very important to them, and they are entrusting you with this information, insight, advice, or problem.

Recently, I had a popular person (so called, “public figure”) reach out to me and say that she wanted to run an idea by me. She asked when I was available, and we got that on our calendars. But the most important thing that I noticed was that she didn’t want to text the topic. That is a clear indication to me that it’s important, or new, or highly confidential. The fact that she is entrusting me to discuss it is truly a gift. When we meet soon, my whole goal is to stay present and truly listen, remain curious, and have zero of my own intentions cloud or confuse my ability to listen. Consider it a gift, when someone needs your presence.