Tag: Coaching

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365 Coaching Tips: 163rd, 164th and 165th

June 12th Coaching Tip: Get Insurance Proof.

Ever hire a contractor and ask them, “can you please provide a copy of your valid insurance?” If you don’t, you should. Recently, we hired a contractor to remove some dead and splitting trees. Before he started, I requested a quote in writing and a copy of his insurance. Fast forward to the day that the contractor and his crew were working in the trees. And yes, you guessed it, the lead man was up in the tree when the other side of the tree started going down (these trees were splitting and the threat of them coming down unexpectedly is exactly why I was having them removed). The lead man was taken down as the entire tree came crashing down. Immediately, the entire job stopped; thankfully, the crew quickly called for an ambulance, the lead man was checked out at the hospital and released with nothing more than a scrape. Everyone was ok and for that we are all grateful. A couple days later, a copy of the valid insurance was emailed to me. Lesson learned: ask and receive insurance before contractors work on your job.

June 13th Coaching Tip: Go Til Then End.

It’s game four in the best of seven game series in the NBA Finals. The Indiana Pacers have a 2-1 lead in the series, they are playing at home in this 4th game, the crowd is roaring and the Pacers are winning by 5 points starting the final quarter. But something happened, and the Pacers lost their mojo. The OK City Thunder reached deep and tied the game with eight minutes remaining. Then Indiana made a run with three minutes left. But then the Pacers let the game slip away again in the last couple minutes and ended up losing by seven points. Think thru this: up four, lost by seven, which is an 11-point swing in a matter of minutes. Leaders, teams, people, kids, and everyone else: go til the end. It’s never over until it’s over. Be resilient and keep your dream of winning alive. Note: That loss led to OK City winning the next 3 of 4 games and helping them win the NBA championship.

June 14th Coaching Tip: Connect.

Mom and I made a plan of connecting and heading to my brother (Grant) and his wife’s home on the lake nearby. Three of his daughters and their men joined us for a yummy early Father’s Day afternoon dinner. Then Mom wanted to go see her horses race at Hoosier Park. Instead of just the two of going, I decided to reach out to friends and we had a total of nine of us at the track. Although the horses didn’t win, we had a full day of connection with family and friends who really matter. Was it on “Father’s Day”? Nope, it was the day before. But we made it work. On Father’s Day, we intentionally drove out to visit the cemetery where my father is buried. We connected with him, the good Lord, family and friends this weekend. Connect. Being isolated and reducing social connections can lead to dire situations; instead, intentionally connect, with purpose, and it may just bring you better health, resilience and wellness.

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365 Coaching Tips: 172nd, 173rd and 174th

June 21st Coaching Tip: Six Weeks of Practice.

Today I shot basketball for 30 minutes. Practicing my basket shooting will be a priority daily since it’s just six more weeks until the National Senior Games in Des Moines, Iowa. I’m registered to shoot in the free throw shooting contest (I will shoot 25 consecutive FT’s) and the 3-point shooting contest (I will shoot three shots from five locations at 19’9″ three-point line). The key here is consecutive. Although 25 and 15 consecutive shots doesn’t sound like a lot, I’m noticing that as I practice, these amounts can become fatiguing. My goal is to hit over 80% of my FT’s and 50% from 3-pt line at the competition. I’ve got some practicing to do, but I’m committed to do it for six more weeks.

June 22nd Coaching Tip: Stay Cool, Heat Kills.

Yesterday and today were dangerously hot in the Midwest and it’s expected to continue until June 26th. We are avid watchers of The Weather Channel and learn so much. We learned this weekend that more people die annually due to excessively high temperatures than tornadoes, hurricanes, and water/flooding. We stayed in throughout the day or in the shade; we said no to friends who wanted to go out on the lake during middle of the afternoon. We drank alot (water, tea, vitamin water, etc.) and did activities in the early evening, before the sunset. Stay cool, stay hydrated, stay charged up (your cell phone or device), and stay in touch. Excessively hot temperatures are nothing to mess around with: heat kills. Be intentional about staying cool when it’s dangerously hot; it’s not worth the risk.

June 23rd Coaching Tip: Plan The Midyear Review.

Today a coaching discussion revolved around a team that is looking to develop a new career path for one of their colleagues. This teammate doesn’t know it’s about to happen, nor does the office leadership team. The team’s leaders were leveraging me and our confidential prep conversation to start figuring out how they were going to message this to their colleague and their office leadership team. Immediately in to our conversation, I could tell that they were not thinking through this “exception” as an exception. For example, when you are asking for an exception, you had better have put together a rock solid, exceptional business case justification. They had not done that at all. They were assuming a lot and being secretive.

We worked together on this situation with focused purpose for approximately 45 minutes; we agreed for them to work on it some more and then come up with a timeline on when they would present it and to whom. More to come, but it’s midyear. Don’t be surprised; be ready and prepped for those midyear reviews.

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365 Coaching Tips: 157th, 158th and 159th

June 6th Coaching Tip: Get Your Sleep.

Tomorrow is a big day. I’ve been training for months to hopefully compete and run faster than I did one year ago in my first ever Indiana Senior Games. This being my second time, I knew that I needed to eat properly, hydrate well, and get my sleep (over 7 hours). When I left my house for the 3-hour drive, I loaded up the cooler with “my food and my drinks” and checked in to the hotel around 6pm. And I was resting, in bed, by 8 pm, and woke up the next morning with exceptional sleep and resilience.

Prioritize your sleep for top performance. Lack of sleep can have many side effects, including reducing your life longevity. Get your sleep.

June 7th Coaching Tip: Compete With Yourself.

I challenged myself and competed against no one. That’s correct. No one.  BUT, I ran faster in the 100m, 200m and 400m than I did last year (June 2024) at the Indiana Senior Games. Sure, we had competition, but I had no one in my exact age bracket (60-64 years old) to compete against, so I just set out to beat myself. And that I did. I ran the 100m nearly two full seconds faster than my 2024 time, and I ran the 200m two seconds faster while running the 400m almost four seconds faster. So proud of myself for improving even though I’m a year older. It’s amazing what you can do, if you simply compete with yourself in a healthy manner.

June 8th Coaching Tip: Talk It Over.

Lots to do? Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Having a hard time prioritizing? Maybe your stuck? Talk it over with your partner or friend or spouse, and you may be surprised just how quickly a plan comes together. Why is that? Because most of us know exactly what we need to do and sometimes, we just need to say it out loud to someone we trust. Research indicates that when we write down priorities, and then share them with someone, we are much more likely to complete them. We feel this innate responsibility to honor the commit to thy self and your trusted person. In my situation recently, my partner had a lot going on, a lot. We were able to get my partner’s three key to do’s done in less than an afternoon. Although I wasn’t feeling the best (lil exhausted from the senior games), me simply allowing my partner to talk it over helped out bunches. Talk it over. 

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365 Coaching Tips: 154th, 155th and 156th

June 3rd Coaching Tip: Falling Behind Happens.

Ever felt like you are falling behind? That’s how I feel right now about this daily blog. I’m behind, but I will catch up, bit by bit. How is the real question? Making it a priority again for 15 minutes over the next couple weeks, since I am not traveling. I have no reason to be distracted, none. Since June 3rd, I traveled to southern Indiana for the Indiana Senior Games, then got a bit sick, flew to Florida, then to Bloomington three times over the last three weeks to check on the house remodel project there, then to New York for a three-day work trip. Falling behind happens, but now it’s time to catch up. And I will, bit by bit. My strengths of discipline and focus, along with responsibility, will kick me back in to success.

June 4th Coaching Tip: Softball is Soaring!

The NCAA Women’s College World Series has viewership; eyes are on the game and I’m thrilled for these gals. They sure deserve it. And now, Major League Baseball is doubling down on softball, announced on May 29th, for the inaugural season for Women’s Pro Softball. Why is this important? Because women are playing and watching softball…and those same eyes just might watch MLB baseball more in the future, too. And men are watching women’s college softball, too.

What’s soaring in your life? What should you invest in? Right now, MLB thinks it’s wise to invest in women’s softball, purchasing a stake in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League and I agree 100% with their support. Viewership matters, and they will show some editorial stories, enhance and embrace their social media, and even show some AUSL games on MLB TV.

June 5th Coaching Tip: Plants Need You.

Water those plants. Fertilize those plants; get them the proper amount of sun. Keep the bugs away, and for sure, pull out the weeks.

As you lead your team, which colleague needs some water; are you noticing that they are a bit drained? Which teammate needs some sunshine, and given the ability to be on stage to shine a bit more? Which person needs a few weeds pulled around them, removing barriers and providing support so that they can soar?

As a leader, are you paying enough attention to what every person on your team needs? If not, go home and do some checking on your plants. They need you, and so does your team.

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365 Coaching Tips: 151st, 152nd and 153rd

May 31st Coaching Tip: Introduce Yourself.

We joined our friends yesterday for dinner at a private club that they recently joined. As we were seated, I noticed that one of the restaurant greeters at the club had injured her right arm. After we were seated and ordered drinks and appetizers, I got up to go back and introduce myself to her. Why? Because I felt bad for her arm injury and wanted to learn more about her. She told me what happened and what are the next steps; she impressed me with her positive outlook and that she’s getting a pink cast for the summertime. We then discussed my 2007 injury when I broke both wrists on a fall; shared with her how important the three people were who cared for with expertise and empathy. We had much in common with our wrist/arm injuries. I’m so glad that I went to talk to here; I could have simply ignored her and walked on.

Then this morning on a short walk, I met a college guy that is staying in a condo for a couple month’s while he completes an internship. He was curious about the area, where to go to meet people, and real estate. He asked me what I did for work, and I told him alot, i.e. Caterpillar then to Merrill Lynch, and now investing in the market and real estateg. I’m so glad that I met Mo today; he’s from Toledo and this is his first time away from Toledo. We’ll keep an eye out for him now that we both introduced ourselves. Be intentional, kind and introduce yourself.

June 1st Coaching Tip: 529’s.

If you don’t understand 529’s, join the crowd. I’m NOT a financial advisor and I’m not giving you 529 advice nor investment advice. I am encouraging you to understand what a 529 is, how it might help someone with education costs, or how it might help someone in the future with their retirement. Get informed regarding what is available for people that are important to you. 529’s are worth understanding.

June 2nd Coaching Tip: Returning From Vacation.

On Sunday evening before I returned to work on Monday (after taking a week off), I quickly checked my work calendar and then also quickly checked my email inbox. This helped me get into the proper mindset to ease back in to work on Monday. Plus, in reviewing my emails, I could tell that one of the most important items that needed to be completed while I was out, welp, it didn’t get done. It sat idle for 4 workdays. Thank goodness I spotted this on Sunday evening, as it allowed me to prioritize this first thing Monday morning. I also blocked my calendar to take time to get caught up, connect with some colleagues, and remind/confirm others of upcoming appointments that are happening this and next week. How do you return from vacation? Do you have a process? My Sunday, intentional, quick check-in sure works for me.

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365 Coaching Tips: 142nd, 143rd & 144th

May 22nd Coaching Tip: Our High School Class.

Thanks to some of the gals from our 1982 high school graduating class, they have created a group for our class on Facebook. Not only do they keep us up to date on our classmates and their parents, but they also post positive and uplifting messages. Our class was special in high school from 1978 to 1982…and still is special. Even when we were teenagers, we bonded together. I don’t remember fighting; I remember support, fun times, community involvement, fellowship and Christian activities, high achievers, and academic as well as athletic accomplishments. If you are in touch with your high school classmates, good for you. Keep it rolling! If not, can YOU be the one that brings the classmates back together? Our high school class continues on our tradition of caring, now four to five decades later.

May 23rd Coaching Tip: Know Your Boss.

As an employee, it’s to your benefit to understand and know your boss. Of course, you’re already thinking that “no, it’s their responsibility to get to know me and get me!” For the relationship to work, it should actually work both ways. For example, my boss mentioned to me that she appreciates how I email her a summary of what’s going on prior to our monthly one-on-one. Now I do that summary email the day before we meet, so that she can has more time to read it before our one-on-one. Plus, she remembers it better, too. And during our one-on-one, since we both are more prepared and on the same page, it goes quicker, it gives me time to ask her what she needs me to do for her and the team. This two-way share is important to us both; we’re on the same page. Take time to get to know your boss and how they like to operate.

May 24th Coaching Tip: 112th Birthday Wishes.

Today would have been my grandmother’s 112th birthday. Although she passed in 2003, some 22 years ago, we had sweet memories of her today that my brothers and I shared with our mom. Our grandmother was a stunning gal, married a dapper guy from East Chicago Emerson and the Univ. of Michigan. She was a stay-at-home mother with two kids and also was a substitute teacher (she attended the Indiana Teachers College), got involved in local politics, the Red Cross, had some real estate holdings, and was widowed at 50 years old. She didn’t stop. She kept right on going and gave us three grandkids one on one time that we were reminiscing about today. It was sweet to share these memories with our own mother and to acknowledge her heavenly birthday.

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365 Coaching Tips: 139th, 140th and 141st

May 19th Coaching Tip: Parks are FREE.

What a way to introduce your kids to free entertainment by simply taking them to a park. Teach a child how to go find 10 different leaves or six different bugs or five different weeds or wildflowers. Ask them to go make a friend with someone else. Time them as they run to something or encourage them to go play with other kids. Parks are free and simply go underutilized.

I’m always amazed when I go to Central Park in NYC; no matter the time of the year, it’s busy and bustling. Mostly with adults. Adults realize how important it is to be outside, soaking up sunshine, laying on the grass, listening to the birds chirp, running or walking on the many paths. If we as adults get it, then let’s make sure that our children get those experiences early in their lives. Parks are free and might be one of the best educational experiences that kids can have. And the quality time visiting the parks is priceless.

May 20th Coaching Tip: Practice The Script.

Today I worked with a couple young advisors who are learning how to care for clients of their colleague, a senior advisor who is expecting to wrap up working in the next couple years. As these two are meeting the clients for the first time, they are simply listening and taking notes. For the second meeting, we are now working on scripting and practicing questions for them to ask these clients. They landed on asking them about their family tree. We agreed that who doesn’t like talking about their family tree. And the second question would be to ask permission to reconfirm the beneficiaries on record for their accounts. We practiced these questions and relief came to them with smiles. Then we added another part of the script. After these meetings with the clients, the young advisors would call clients back, at the request of the senior advisor. This ties the effort together, and the client is understanding that the senior advisor is still in charge, but delegating work to be done. Take time to practice the script. It will drive more confidence and comfort for all parties involved.

May 21st Coaching Tip: Stand Up to Greet People.

Recently as a client, I went into an office and was greeted warmly and professionally by a couple of the company’s colleagues. They both stood up and came out of their offices and workspace to greet me. But a third colleague just looked at me and stayed seated in his work cubicle. It immediately created an uncomfortable situation for the two who had greeted me, knowing that I was a client.

Coaching tip for today is simple: when a client approaches you, stand up and greet them. A simple handshake or even a quick standup and smile at them are both appreciated. If you don’t stand up, you may be sending a signal to that client that they don’t matter. Stand up.

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365 Coaching Tips: 136th, 137th & 138th

May 16th Coaching Tip: Weather Warnings.

Pay attention to the weather and listen to when the weather experts are issuing warnings. For most of the week, the news and weather channels were warning parts of the country about incoming severe thunderstorms that could potentially create tornadoes. This is how quick the weather changed on a nice spring afternoon. At 4:00pm until 5:45pm, I was sitting outside with my neighbors chatting and watching a softball game. As I jumped in my car to head to my 6:00pm haircut, I called those same neighbors quickly and said, “The weather in the west looks ominous. Can you guys take down my flags and move some stuff inside?” They got in to motion quickly. By 6:30pm, my haircut was done and I drove to get some groceries and then headed north to our lakeside condo. As I was looking west and also at the radar on my phone, the storm looked like it was going to stay south as I was intending to drive a bit north. But all of the sudden the tornado sirens started blaring and I knew that I needed to get to the condo quickly to be safe. I drove quickly to the condo…only to find out later that the worst winds were happening right as I was entering my condo. Pay attention to weather warnings; it can be a matter of life or death, as more than 30 people across the Midwest died that evening.

May 17th Coaching Tip: Take A Lazy Day.

This coaching tip is simple. Sometimes you just need a lazy day. Take it. You have to listen to your body. Being good to your body is a vote for YOUR overall wellness. Take a lazy day.

May 18th Coaching Tip: Avoid The Head-On Collision.

It was a lovely Sunday morning as my mother was driving from her home in Kentland, IN to make a quick stop in Lafayette and then travel on to meet our family for a baby shower in Pendleton, IN. This is her seventh great grandchild, and these events are beloved by my mother. As she was just 20 minutes into her trip, some type of truck started heading directly at her. She avoided the head-on collision and the side-swipe by this truck, she quickly reacted, but both tires on the passenger side hit the curb and immediately went flat due to the sudden impact. My mother got her car pulled over at a gas station very close by, regained her composure, and although she was shaking a bit, called me to tell me what had just happened and that she was ok.

She and I quickly developed a plan to get her car insurance involved to fix the tires/get the car towed, and then my partner and I got the wheels literally rolling. My partner drove to the exact location where my mother was; mom was already identifying who had the tire size available and who was open to install them on a Sunday afternoon. Fast forward to 7:00pm…my mother and I did make it to the shower a couple hours late, then returned to pick up her car in Lafayette. The two new tires were installed and I followed her awhile to help ensure her confidence. The biggest decision she made all day: avoid the head-on collision.

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365 Coaching Tips: 133rd, 134th and 135th

May 13th Coaching Tip: The Pacers Are A Team.

By now, you are probably realizing that my love for basketball allows me to utilize basketball analogies in some of my coaching tips. Last night, the Indiana Pacers soundly won their 7-game series versus the #1 seed, Cleveland Cavaliers. Very few of the NBA experts selected the Pacers. But the Pacers have pulled together since the NBA All-Star break in February and have been on a winning roll. They are winning! How? From my point of view, they each understand their role, their bench celebrates wildly and regularly, and five to seven players each night score in double figures. They are a TEAM, achieving more than any of the experts expected. They have a couple NBA all-stars on their team, but they have a number of role players who are stepping up, accepting their role, and executing under pressure at a high level. Leave it to a team to get it done!

May 14th Coaching Tip: Your Network Matters.

It’s one thing to have “Facebook friends” and “Linked In” connections, but it’s a whole different level when you can reach out to important people in your network to get a meeting with them. That happened today and yesterday. I wanted to gather some insights and feedback on an idea that I have, so I quickly shared why I wanted time with them, and they agreed to meet with me…and were also prepared to discuss the idea with me.

Over 14 years ago when I exited Caterpillar, my career coach was instrumental in making me really leverage people in my network that can make a difference. And sure enough, one of those key people helped connect me with my current role at Merrill. It was pure timing. He and I had just connected on what I wanted to do, and then a week or two later, an opportunity was discussed while he was at dinner. He recommended that I would be a great fit for an internal coaching role, then called me the next day to let me know that he had recommended me. The rest is history; I’ve been at Merrill for nearly 13 years. Your network matters!

May 15th Coaching Tip: Thank you notes.

Today, I received the nicest thank you note from a former colleague who reached out to me for some help. She was wanting to implement a number of technology and process changes with her team this week. After I heard about her successes with the team already and also hearing her say that there may be some resistance, she and I discussed her strategy; we landed on B & B, i.e. to get their Buy-in, give it to them in Bite sizes. So we worked on a timeline of what the team had already accomplished, reminded her to celebrate those wins, recognize the team, and then share what further process and tech changes were planned to be implemented over the next few months…in bite sizes…not all at once. Wanting her to be successful, I shared with her a quick seven-minute video that might just help her know what she was truly requesting and I also connected her with another leader who had already successfully implemented these tech and process changes. It worked! She thanked me today for helping her think over her initial plan, nudging her to slow down just a little and give them B & B with a timeline and examples. I played a small part in her success but was smiling when I got her thank you note.

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365 Coaching Tips: 130th, 131st and 132nd

May 10th Coaching Tip: Say No to Price Increases.

Ever had that feeling when you’re feeling like you’re being taken advantage of? For example, maybe your internet bill keeps creeping up higher and higher, then all of the sudden, the $35/month jumped to $50/month to $75/month? Welp, that just happened to me. Services that are doubling in costs may be ok to some people, but I’m saying no. I switched and locked in a 4-year guaranteed rate of $55/month with unlimited data and 1G. Say no to price increases that make your skin crawl. Have the courage to say no, take a few minutes and make the change, and take care of YOU!

May 11th Coaching Tip: Mothers love Mother’s Day.

Mothers love mother’s day. Why? Because it is ALL about them. And all they want is to be recognized, be around their kids and grandkids, share a meal, play a game, tell some stories, laugh, and spend time together. It’s pretty simple, and yet, why is that so many people miss it or “underthink it” or forget to even get a handwritten note, card, flowers, a treat for their mom? Not sure I understand, but it’s easy to resolve. Put a reminder on your calendar a week prior to Mother’s Day to help you be prepared and make it about her. Mothers love mother’s day.

May 12th Coaching Tip: The Best Want Feedback.

At the end of my day today, I coached one of the best female advisors in our company. She felt a bit stuck, as she mentioned that she hadn’t got much done since our convo in January. However, she is growing via referrals, especially with women, and plans to hire 1-2 more talented teammates by midyear. She’s also adding an intern for the summer. We also discussed how a couple of her teammates cannot get out of the day to day work, and do the more important work. By the end of the call, we had identified 3-5 prioritized things that she and her team can do this summer with the intern to help automate her practice to free up time for teammates, focus on the clients that she wants to replicate, and refocus the amount of time spent with segments of her clients. By the end of the call, she was smiling and was ready to set up the next call. The best leaders want feedback. They also want to be heard. Listen, listen, and then lean in.