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Using your resources – “It’s in front of you!”

When we want things to be better in some way, we often look for what’s missing. We assume that if it’s not working, it’s because we haven’t got the resources we need. So we ask ourselves, “What extra resources do I have to bring in, that I haven’t got already?” Then we start thinking, “Well, here we go. First I’ll have to figure out what I need, then go out and get it. What a pain.”

Often when we do that, we’re missing something that’s right in front of us. Here’s an example that’s hot off the presses.

We’ve been in this office for a year now, and this summer I’ve been commuting in on my bike. I love cycling, so riding 10 miles each way every day whatever the weather is my idea of heaven. However, I can be a bit warm and, not to put too fine a point on it, sweaty when I arrive.

Not ideal for others in the building.

I’ve been drying off and changing clothes, and really it’s been fine. But there’s something I’ve been ignoring.

There’s a shower.

So today I decided to use it. It was great! All morning I’ve felt fresh and lovely like never before. In this afternoon’s coaching sessions and meetings, people won’t have to be polite. I’ll be making a habit of showering at work in future.

In short, using the resources that have been right under my nose all along made a big difference.

So, what’s right under YOUR nose, that you could just pick up and make a difference to your life with?

Early-bird rates on innovative new career coaching programme

Career Hub Scotland specialise in providing workshops for people who are taking next steps in their careers. They’ve just launched their autumn series – workshops cover a wide range of subjects, from writing a great CV to starting your own business. More info here at our Career Coaching page.

There’s a really good early bird discount – 50% off if you book before September 9th. Spaces are limited, so we wanted to get the word out to you asap! You can get in touch and book right here at their website.

How Happy?

Click here to explore your happiness!

Happiness looks like it has the makings of being the next political football.

We have a cabinet of Old Etonian millionaires trumpeting the virtues of measuring happiness as well as GDP. We have journalists, statisticians and politicians telling us we can’t tell how happy we are because it’s subjective.
At the Edinburgh Coaching Centre, we figure that’s the point. If you want to know how happy someone is, you ask them. You’re the best judge of how happy you are and what that means.

However, in our lives it’s easy to get embedded in the daily grind and lose sight of how happy we actually are. So we created the Edinburgh Coaching Centre “It’s My Happiness” survey.
It’s very short – there’s only 3 questions. It’s designed as a tool for you to get some clarity about where your happinesses lie. We hope you’ll get some useful insights from it.

We’ll also give you a free coaching session, to make you even happier!

Meet and Discuss: Persistence

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
- Calvin Coolidge

After the success of our last get-together, our MeetUp group reconvenes on April 18th, 7.30pm at the Cumberland Bar.
This time we’ll be discussing Persistence.
It something that makes the difference between giving up or carrying on. Coolidge obviously rated it pretty highly. But what about you? Do you want to be more determined? Or is it something you think is overrated – maybe sometimes it gets in the way? Could one even say it’s overbearing, bullish and macho?

You can join the MeetUp group here . It’s free, and it means you can RSVP, get notice of events, join in online discussions etc.

If you’d prefer not to join the group that’s not a problem at all. It’d be helpful if you could let us know you’re coming so we can book enough space!

Embrace Your Inner Arse!

Last night’s Salon in the Pub was a great success – thanks very much to all who came along!

We discussed Confidence – a subject that comes up a great deal in coaching of all types. There were interesting insights and revelations all round. A question we found ourselves considering was: what’s there – or not there – when you’re not feeling confident? There may be a number of situations in which you find your confidence dipping; what do they tend to have in common? Answers we came up with ranged from feeling a lack of control to feeling under over-critical scrutiny. Everyone has their own answers – and that’s the real point. What’s yours?

But my favourite insight of the evening was this. The key to feeling confident is embracing your inner arse.

We figured that, one way or another, if you feel unconfident, you’re worried you’ll look stupid/make a fool of yourself/etc etc. In other words – you’ll make an arse of yourself. So embrace it! That’s how it works when you start to play Jazz. It’s improvised – you make it up as it goes along. You don’t know what you’re going to play, and it isn’t written down anywhere. So for your first few public performances, you’ll play lots of duff notes. In other words, you’ll make an arse of yourself. The trick is not to mind; and it’s only when you don’t mind any more that you start to play well.

That’s what embracing your inner arse is all about.

Free Open Workshop: Take Your Business Beyond The Comfort Zone

This month’s Open Workshop takes a focus on business.
It’ll be led by our business coaching specialist, Mark Lister.
We’ll be looking at what’s possible with your business if you push the boundaries.

If you’re running your own business, you’ve no doubt come across SMART goals.
We hate SMART goals.
They’re holding you back. There’s sooooo much more to you and your business than that which is “achievable” and “realistic”.
This workshop is a chance to peek outside the SMART cotton-wool and see what lies on the other side.

Come ON!

There’ll also be plenty of opportunity to discuss and ask questions about business coaching. You’ll be able to book yourself a free sample session to get a sense of just how much it could benefit you and your business.

You can RSVP at our Facebook page and our Meetup group, or by emailing us.

When: 7.30-9pm, Wednesday 23rd March

Where:
Edinburgh Coaching Centre
38 Henderson Row
EH3 5DN