Recently I spoke to a group of professionals who are in career transition. 

Photo by Richard 'Tenspeed' Heaven

One entrepreneur was there by choice; he left his last position because it was the right thing to do. Most were forced into the search; the economy.

Transition and transformation are twin concepts in leadership development.

As we hang the 2011 calendar, Next Level Executive Coaching, LLC celebrates three years of developing people. 

According to Business.gov this is a significant accomplishment. 

…most new businesses don’t survive past the first two years, government data show(s) that seven out of 10 new employer firms last at least two years, with only half surviving for five years.

Statistics aside, there is no doubt that steering a fledgling business venture through the startup phase and the immediate years that follow is likely to be a huge test of entrepreneurial character.

Yes, mine was a “forced transition” (2008 Budget cuts) that came my way Friday afternoon, August 31, 2007. That jolt led me to launch my coaching practice in January, 2008.  While a surprise at the time, I am grateful today. Thank you!

Who wants to change?

Transition is about change. It’s that process or time period when something in your world changes; it’s moving from one stage, state, form, or activity to another.  

How does the thought of transition affect you?

What transition are you currently experiencing?

Transitions are inherently accompanied by pain.  Yes, pain enlarges our desire to learn and change…helping us embrace growth opportunities.  A transition is about something changing in our world.

Personal growth and leadership development are transitional in nature and often initiated by pain. Usually it takes a jolt to get us unstuck.  Do you remember?

What about transformation?

As I wrote at the beginning of this article, transition and transformation are twin concepts in leadership development.

While transitions are about the process of change, transformation speaks not only to process but the “completed change”…usually an improvement.

The L. A. Times published a recent article on Patrick House.  His story is graduate level transition and transformation.

Patrick House came to “The Biggest Loser” ranch in worse shape than most contestants.

He was obese, to be sure: He carried 400 pounds on his 6’2.” But Patrick was also unemployed after losing his job as a sales rep. He was deeply in debt. He had a junker of a car. And he was also depressed, wondering how he would care for his wife and their two young boys. His situation was so dire that even his teammates rallied to help him. During one of the most poignant moments of the season, Ada and Brendan were the front-runners in a challenge to win a new Ford Edge. Instead of duking it out, they conspired to step aside so that Patrick could walk away with the vehicle instead.

On Tuesday, Patrick effectively won “The Biggest Loser” lottery, taking home a $250,000 payday after losing 181 pounds, or 45.25% of his body weight, and the Season 10 title. He’ll use the money to settle debts and put his family on solid financial ground. Even better: He starts a new job in January. He’ll help run an academy that will help obese children tackle their weight issues.

“It means everything to us,” a jubilant yet-teary-eyed Patrick said of the win. “It means we can start over.” (emphasis added)

What was that about?

Transitions may not always come as a “start over” but they are often a “fresh start”. Isn’t that the nature of life? I love how the cycle of time speaks to all the fresh starts available on the journey.

Anyone reading this blog has experienced a new century; that’s once-in-a-lifetime. But think about it, a fresh start can come as a new decade, a new year, a new month, a new day, this afternoon, tonight, this hour, the next 10 minutes, the next minute, your next breath.

Life is about the journey and the journey is about transition and transformation; how living in the moment allows us to transition from where we are to our next level: mind, body, and spirit. 

When we desire transformation in life we can count on a transition catalyst.

To repeat myself: a transition catalyst comes our way to enlarge our desire for transformation. 

Why is this tricky??

For most of us, it comes down to whether we recognize the stimulus or not. When the transition catalyst comes how do you respond? 

Quick Exercise - Which response do you typically give to a “transition catalyst” (growth opportunity)?

1. Blame – placing the responsibility on someone else
2. Denial – refusing to acknowledge the truth or reality
3. Rationalization – making excuses for your performance
4. Minimization – underestimating, intentionally – “It’s no big deal”
5. Avoidance – withdrawing from or avoiding the reality of the situation

As you transition to 2011 what is changing in your world?

Where do you recognize a need to experience transformation as a leader?

What does that look like? How will you get there? 

What support do you have?  Who will help you make the journey?

Who could you forward this to today?

What if you post a comment and engage in the conversation?

I’d love to hear your voice. 

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This week’s post has me a bit apprehensive as I write out of my journey with my story. If your worldview does not include “Christmas” you may want to pass on this one.  

This is a different read, but still about personal development; living life.

This may be a difficult read, depending on your story. 

Here is the email I sent our 3 married daughters and their husbands.  My goal was to help us “prepare the way” for our family gathering at Christmas…

* * * * *

Merry Christmas!

Thinking ahead to next week, the weather man tells us not to dream of a white Christmas like we had last year.

Do you realize that could be a once-in-a-lifetime Christmas? 

Actually, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Enough snow to go sledding; highways clear enough for you to make it “Home for Christmas”!

How much of life is “once in a lifetime”?

You’re right, all of it.

I know we continue to grow as a family. The age of your children is creating more  space, less chaos; we’re figuring out how to enjoy The Journey.  Today, I’m wondering…

How do we make this a memorable Christmas for them?

 Grandma with our 8 grand children.

 And, how do we create some space to allow us to connect as adults?

How do we connect even better with each other?

This is our first Christmas together with the children at this age.

This is our first Christmas together with the children at this age and the last.

Think about it, this is the first Christmas we’ll be together with our current story…our joy and gratitude, concerns and hopes for the future.

This is the first Christmas we’ll be together with everyone home…8 adults and 8 children; that’s quite a lot of people to play with, feed, bath, sleep, notice, and love.

However, this is not the first time we’ll come with high expectations only to experience some disappointment when it’s over.

This is the first and last time we’ll be together like this.

Once-in-a-lifetime!

How will we create space for everyone…the youngest to the oldest?

Let’s plan to that end.

You are amazing.

You and your mate…well we’re proud of you.

In fact, you and your family are awesome!

Love to you, Dad and Mom

*****

Prepare for Today

How will you prepare, not just for Christmas, but for today?

How well do you ”see the people”?

Yes, it’s all once-in-a-lifetime. 

May you find joy and peace as you live in the moment and find hope for the future.

Merry Christmas!

 .

Atom Ant is a cartoon figure and superhero created by Hanna-Barbera back in 1965. Yes, I do remember watching it.  If you have never heard of Atom Ant or want a 44 second flashback here is the intro video clip for Atom Ant.

What can Atom Ant teach us?

No doubt children ran around the neighborhood inspired by Atom Ant; okay, perhaps just the boys did.

For more background, The Cartoon Scrapbook will help fill you in on the story. (Remember, this was in 1965…before Jack Bauer of “24” fame.)

Atom Ant possessed super strength and the ability to fly and was no ordinary insect. When law enforcement agencies faced a problem they couldn’t handle themselves, they turned to Atom Ant for help.

Atom Ant’s secret headquarters…was located in a private ant hill. Deep in his underground laboratory, Atom Ant was normally lifting weights or reading Atom Ant comics between missions.

He picked up distress signals with his antennae, and if need be communicated by telephone or video screen with the law enforcement agency in need of his help.

With a cry of “Up and at ’em, Atom Ant!” and much gusto, he then zoomed off to save the day. No problem was too big for Atom Ant, and he overcame every challenge he faced with relative ease.

Sparing no expense, I’ve transcribed the powerful script used to draw us to our black and white Zenith televsion…

Up and at ‘em, it’s Atom Ant!

His strength, his might, his speed, his fight;

he’s Atom Ant, that tiny ant and his atomic power

has what it takes and always makes the vilest villain coward.

He’s rough, he’s tough, and bad guys yell “Enough!”

when he is “Up and at ‘em, Atom Ant”.

Really, an ant as our mentor?

There is an ancient proverb that suggests we observe nature.

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet, it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

What about its ways will make us wise? What can this mentor teach us about success?

Wisdom is a valuable asset and our reward.  Wisdom allows us to make sensible decisions and use good judgment tapping into our personal knowledge and experience.

Here’s my working definition, wisdom is the ability to look at life from a different perspective, usually a higher view.

The promise is such wisdom if we consider the ant’s ways.

Did you notice who this ancient proverb is addressed to?

“Who you calling a sluggard?” (Spoken with a ”street attitude”…)

Look, I’m not a lazy person, I’m a hard worker! Who you calling a sluggard?! Right?

Stay with me.

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary the word sluggard “…comes from from M.E. sluggi ‘sluggish, indolent’ probably from a Scandinavian word.”

As we dig a little deeper…Webster defines indolent: “averse to activity, effort, or movement; habitually lazy causing little or no pain”.  Hmmm, causing little or no pain; interesting.

Last week, in “Pain, Tolerance, and Personal Growth” I wrote:

Opposition to change (personal growth) stands steady until our pain pushes us to break through the wall of resistance.

If your pain tolerance is high it will take more pain to jolt you into action. In other words, a high pain tolerance hinders our ability and willingness to learn and grow as people.  

No pain, no change. No change, no gain.

If we are tempted to choose a path that avoids activity or effort because it may cause pain it’s time to go watch the ant and get a new point of view.

Have you watched an ant lately?

The ant is highly focused. It carries ONE THING at a time…little by little until the job is done!

The ant is prudent.  It “stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”

The ant is self-disciplined, “it has no commander, no overseer or ruler.”

This mentor is focused, prudent, and self-disciplined and enjoys amazing success!

What ONE Thing?

Sometimes we need help getting unstuck.  The change or challenge appears so large we end up doing nothing. Or we think we have to do something big and our brain resists…we do nothing.

At the end of a coaching session I often ask my client: “What is one thing you can do that is so doable it’s laughable, but it will move you toward your goal?”

What’s ONE thing you can do today to get UNstuck?

Go to the ant and consider its way; receive the gift of wisdom.  Then make sensible decisions, use good judgment, and take action…before you know it something significant happens. ONE step, ONE small action, ONE thing so doable its laughable…but its ACTION.

Up and at ‘em, Atom Ant!

What if you forward this to a friend?  What if you post a comment?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

.

Growing pains are often experienced by children and teenagers, supposedly when they are growing fast. According to the Mayo Clinic website…

Growing pains tend to affect both legs and occur at night. In many instances, growing pains will wake a child from sleep. The term “growing pains” may be a misnomer because there’s no evidence that growth hurts.

While there may be “no evidence that growth hurts” in the physical development of children, what about in the personal development of people? 

Does pain help and hurt?

Pain enlarges our desire to learn and change…to embrace growth opportunities.

Recently, one of my executive coaching clients was telling me his story; it helps me understand what brings us to the coaching engagement.

He sold his company and is in a major transition after a successful career of 30 years.  We are listening to the story for truth. Truth liberates us from what holds us captive allowing us to live at the next level.  It was revealing when he said,

“I didn’t hurt enough, so I didn’t make the changes 5-6 years ago.”

This is not an indictment or judgment. It is a fact: personal growth is often hindered due to our high tolerance for pain. No, I’m not talking about physical pain.  

If you are on a hike, how long would you tolerate a small pebble in your boot?

If you are hurt by someone, how long would you tolerate the anger, bitterness, resentment, and negative health impact associated with holding a grudge?

What’s the difference?

The pain is present and a solution is available.

Unfortunately, most of us will stop as soon as we feel the pain of the pebble.  Then, this matter of forgiveness…; how long do you tolerate that pain before tapping into the solution?

What’s your position?

Yes, there are other contributing factors to our resistance.  As people we seem to fit into one of three positions regarding a behavior change:

1. We know something is holding us back, we’re just too busy to deal with it
2. We know something is getting in our way, but don’t know what to do
3. We don’t know are limiting behavior, everyone else does, it’s a blind spot

People committed to personal growth and success notice unproductive behavior and initiate change which improves their performance. It’s a powerful response. Influence and credibility increase as others observe real, sustained changes in behavior.

Pain tolerance exposed…it’s painful

As an executive coach I build trust, ask questions, and provide objectivity to support the growth effort.  This can be uncomfortable, if not down-right painful.  The desired outcome, improved performance and relationships with a positive impact on life and business, that’s awesome.

The pebble is out of the boot!

Opposition to change (personal growth) stands steady until our pain pushes us to break through the wall of resistance.

When do we you tap into our ability to learn and change? When there is enough pain to push us through the resistance. What is enough pain?

How high is your pain tolerance? 

If your pain tolerance is high it will take more pain to jolt you into action. In other words, a high pain tolerance hinders our ability and willingness to learn and grow as people.  

No pain, no change. No change, no gain.

Try telling a child or teenager, in the middle of the night that there’s no evidence that growth hurts…that their “growing pain” is a not an accurate description of what they are experiencing.

Try telling my coaching client that the pace of business success isn’t causing him pain today.

Pain, as emotional or mental distress, is a gift designed to help us stop, take stock, and engage the process of growth.

When the pain invites us to listen to the story and we search for truth; we then have a choice:

1. Manage the pain, this often leads to greater ramifications, unintended consequences
2. Embrace the pain which usually removes our resistance to change, leads to improved performance and enjoyment of life

Consider this: on a scale of 1 to 6 (1 = very low; 6 = extremely high) what is your pain tolerance?

If it is high, how is this impacting your willingness to change?  What is that costing you?

Good news: it’s never too late to engage the process of growth.

Where are you feeling pain today? 

What needs to change?

What support do you need to make that change?

What if you forward this to a friend?

What if you post a comment and engage in the conversation?

I’d love to hear your voice. 

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