Publication: Tayo Solagbade’s Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Page (PSIP) Newsletter

Date: Monday 12th November 2012

No: 63

Title: Everyone Needs Coaching…Even YOU

Author & Publisher: Tayo K. Solagbade [234-803-302-1263]

Blog URL: http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/blog

Archive (For E-mail only version started 14th May 2012): Click here to view

Archive (For Blog version started 24th September 2011): Click here

Hi,

Please find below the latest issue of my weekly Public Speaking Ideas page for 2012. 

SD Nuggets Blog™ New posts from last week that may interest you! Public Speaking [Monday]: To Succeed, Prepare To Grow Grey Early! Entrepreneurship [Tuesday]: Never Accept Shabby Treatment Because You Need Business! Self Development [Wednesday]: Is it RIGHT To Do Wrong, So As To Fulfill FAMILY Obligations? Career Development [Thursday]: Ten Ways You Can Use Self-Development To Become A High Flyer At Work Parenting [Friday]: Getting Your Kid to Drop a Bad Habit: A Proven Strategy Parents Can Use (True Story) Writing/Blogging [Saturday]: Earn EXTRA Income Using Your Writing Skills As A Contract Resource Person Writing/Blogging [Saturday]: New EBook for Writers Uncovers 10 Often Overlooked Habits Keeping Many from Achieving Their Writing Goals Want me to write for you? Click here…

*****PRESS RELEASE*****

New EBook for Writers Uncovers 10 Often Overlooked Habits Keeping Many from Achieving Their Writing Goals

 Click here to learn more…

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No. 63: Everyone Needs Coaching – Even YOU

This week’s issue of my speaking IDEAS newsletter is based – in part – on excerpts from my latest ebook titled “Why You Keep Failing To Achieve Your Writing Goals!” – for which I recently published a press release.

“Even if you’re on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there” – Anon

I’m good at learning and doing new stuff by myself. Yet, I readily take advantage of any opportunity to improve myself by learning from others.

My personal philosophy is based on the principle of continuous improvement, and this corresponding definition of success:

“Success is a journey in the never ending pursuit of excellence – and not a destination.”

I happen to believe I can learn from anyone regardless of age, gender, race or any other factor. As far as I’m concerned, as long as that person knows (or can do) something I want to know (or be able to do) to become better, s/he can be my coach. Period.

Those who know me will confirm I practice what I preach.

This attitude has helped me achieve tremendous success in a wide variety of endeavours – to the surprise of many.

And that’s why I also make a point of giving credit to those who “coach” me to success in any areas of my life.

My First Personal Paid Coach

For instance, up till this day, I tell all who will listen, that my strong foundation in basic HTML, which proves so valuable – even today – in managing my websites and blogs, was developed way back in 1998.

Back then, over a period of about 8 weeks (of one-on-one personal paid coaching), Victor – a light complexioned teenage operative in Benin city’s Prest Cyber Cafe painstakingly taught me most of what I know today about HTML website design.

Understand this: I was a high performing middle level manager in a large corporate multinational. When the Internet “movement” came into town, I quickly saw the opportunities it could create for me.

So, in my usual early adopter manner, I went all out to find out what I could do to get competently involved in its use. A few visits to cyber cafes around soon made it clear there was a lot to learn before one could graduate from being just a content viewer/user on the Internet, to become a contributor (e.g. content publisher) on it.

And I instinctively knew I wanted to belong to the latter group. So, I dispensed with my advanced spreadsheet applications developer “bragging rights” earned inside my company, and accepted the humble cap of a “website developer wannabe” – with my teenage coach.

For me, it took only a few seconds to make this mental switch.

I however realise that for some people in a similar position (especially in my part of the world), it may take considerable effort to do what I did.

That is: to “travel by bus” – everyday – from my air conditioned office, to a run down cafe on the other side of town, to learn from a “small cyber cafe operator boy” who did not even have any formal credentials to show

Build On What Your Coach Gives You

The way I saw it, all I needed to know was that he could create web pages using HTML code in notepad, and add (at the time) impressive looking GIF animations to them.

That was enough for me. And I knew that once I had learnt the basic stuff from him, my well developed aptitude for self-tutoring would take over.

It’s over 14 years afterwards, and that’s exactly what has happened.

Without attending any other formal coaching classes, I have successfully built on the foundation Victor gave me, to become highly proficient at developing websites, and other web based resources.

But even during that time, I’ve periodically identified a need to get coached by different people in other areas of interest. So, you see, it’s a continuous process.

And it should be that way for every person who wishes to operate at close to his/her fullest potential at all times. No one ever knows it all.

We must continually strive to improve ourselves – even when people already call us the best. That’s what keeps true champions at the top of their fields (or sports) for decades on end e.g Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, Michael Jordan etc. You know their kind

Not Everyone Can Successfully Self-Tutor: Coaching Support Can Take You To The Next Level!

Fifteen years of coaching people from different backgrounds and age groups, have however taught me that not everyone is comfortable with self-tutoring like I am.

This does not mean they are weak. We all just have different learning styles. Some of us do better when we have someone – constantly available – to guide and challenge us (and even cheer from the sidelines), as we aim for new heights of achievement.

Indeed, certain people who have already reached a respectable level of success may now need coaching intervention to revamp their “plateaued” careers!

For instance there are the seeming one-hit wonders in different fields e.g. The guy who made it big last year and has since “gone quiet”. Quite often coaching support can help such persons rediscover themselves.

A coach can guide you to effectively address factors that may be affecting your progress. In addition s/he can help you hone your skills so that you become better over time.

Even people who are already doing well, look for coaching support to improve themselves. This applies to all areas of our lives – including public speaking.

Avoid The Trap of Thinking You CANNOT Need Help

As experts-who-speak, there’s a real danger of assuming that because people look up to us for learning or information, we may not need anyone to learn from.

The reality is however very different. Majority of the world’s most productive people have been known to readily acknowledge specific people in their personal and work lives for providing them with valuable coaching feedback.

The relationship may be formal or semi-formal (like the one Oprah Winfrey shares with her popular fitness and health coach). At other times it could be informal – like the one Michael Jordan shared with his late father.

What is important to note is that these successful people realised they needed help to not only stay at their best, but also to improve on their achievements.

The minute you conclude you have nothing new to learn from anyone else, you set a trap of ultimate retrogression for yourself.

And it WILL show through eventually – because when you do not seek ways to add value to yourself, you will eventually run out of “value” you can add to others. And those who learn from you will eventually discover that you have less to offer.

When you no longer add value to audiences as a speaker, guess what will happen when next they seek a speaker for their event…? Your phone may probably not be the one that rings…I’m sure you know what I mean

Final Words: Nature, Indeed Life As A Whole, Abhors imbalance!

The Chinese famously talk about the opposing “Ying” and “Yang” life forces. In science we learnt about action and the equal and opposite reaction.

You and I – we all – are a part of a balanced universal ecosystem. You cannot be different when it comes to this rule: you must strike a similar balance in your own life, otherwise you will struggle to achieve your full potential.

Yet again, the amazing (late) Jim Rohn comes to my rescue with another very apt quote:

“We could all use a little coaching. When you’re playing the game, it can be hard to think of everything.” – Jim Rohn

So, let me now urge you to take a deep and honest look today at yourself. Where are you NOW, in your career as an expert-who-speaks?

Ask yourself if you could do better than you are currently doing.

Then look around (online and off the net) for persons who can help you improve yourself.

It’s important to emphasise here that you do NOT necessarily have to make direct contact with the individual you decide to make your coach.

If s/he offers resources like websites, blogs, newsletters you can use to gain access to his/her “wisdom”, start with those. Then over time, gravitate towards making direct contact if/when you feel prepared to take your relationship to that next level.

Sometimes what you get through the remote resources may end up being all you need. At other times, you may discover you need more personalised attention via paid telephone mentoring and so on.

What’s important is that you take action to get the coaching help you need. By so doing, you’ll be better positioned to achieve your most valued goals. And one day you will look back with a sense of fulfillment at your worthwhile accomplishments.

Comments?

What do you think of the above message? Do you have any personal experience to share on this subject? Are there some other points you feel can be added, to help persons looking for answers? Please share your thoughts – click here to post a comment on the blog!

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What fears or doubts are keeping you from (a) taking up Burt Dubin’s monthly speaker mentoring, or (b) buying his products?

You can choose to purchase Burt’s mentoring at any of the three (3) levels listed below:

1. Top Shelf [Click here] | 2. Mid Range [Click here] | 3. Budget Delight [Click here]

Burt’s three mentoring packages can be likened to the seating options offered by airlines: Budget Delight (Economy); Mid Range (Business); and Top Shelf (First Class).

At least that’s how I like to think of them!

All three will get you to your desired destination of “speaking success-ville” – so long as you meet the requirements/play your part well (your fare, abide by the set guidelines etc). During the “flight”, the seat you have will determine how much personal service attention and preference the provider will accord you. It’s that simple

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Send me an e-mail with your questions via tayo at tksola dot com. In the meantime, why not get started by subscribing here to get his 7-Part Course (How To Succeed And Get Paid As A Professional Speaker) .  . . and receive his monthly newsletter (Speaking Biz Strategies Letter) at no cost.