Roy Evernham, the highest-rated crew chief in NASCAR (The National Association for Stock Car Racing) was once crew chief for racing superstar Jeff Gordon. Evernham's motto is, "To speed up, slow down."
"I still have to prove this principle to Jeff sometimes," said Evernham. "I'll say, 'Go out and bust me a lap.' He'll drive the car hard, really work it. He'll mash the pedal on a straight-away, drive down into a corner, and mash the pedal again. Then I'll say, 'Now, take it easy and drive a smooth lap.' And by letting the car do the work, he actually improves his time."
One slow thing at a time is a strong way to live. Being focused is a strong way to live.
Richard Sloma explains it in his book No-Nonsense Management:
Pardon the cliché, but General Custer could have become one of our most famous military heroes if, somehow, he could have forced the Sioux nation to attack over the hill one at a time. Supremacy of the seas was guaranteed for the British when Lord Nelson maximized and exploited the technique of "crossing the 'T' " so as to allow all of his ships to fire broadside at each enemy ship as it appeared next in line. Look at problems as adversaries. Summon all your forces and deal with them one at a time.
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BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND
Based on the success of the recent Steve Chandler Coaching School held in Phoenix I am opening a new school that begins October 10. Like the last school, this school will admit only nine coaches. (And you can also be a consultant, public speaker or counselor to apply....) Remember that the school will not teach you how to coach. There is no "certification" because it's not an entry-level "how to."
This is a school for building a prosperous practice. How to get clients, how to get bigger and better clients, how to expand services for existing clients, how to increase fees without losing business, how to manage time and resources so your practice can be stress-free with plenty of time off....etc. To receive my CD "How To Double Your Income as a Coach" simply email me… and to apply to this school, email me as well (100Ways@Compuserve.com).
We had nine coaches and consultants from England, North Carolina, California, Minnesota, Colorado, Ohio, Washington DC and all over the globe in the first school....and they are now participating the rigorous six-month accountability portion of the school. Although October seems far away, it is not ... and this school will fill up very quickly.... the fee is $9,000, with $4500 due up front and the other half when you successfully complete six months after the opening two days….you will be live in Phoenix October 10 and 11 AND back again to finish April 10 and 11 of 2009. We will focus, in the weekly accountability program for the six months between, on doubling your income.
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"When Fate throws a knife at you there are two ways to catch it--by the handle, or by the blade."
---Chinese saying
Bad news from corporate. Good news from home. Bad news from the world of baseball. Good news from my best client. Bad news from my daughter's school. Good news from my doctor. Bad news from the evening news. No wonder we are crazy. No wonder EVERYONE isn't bipolar swinging from the opposite poles all day of bad news/good news.
And to further complicate things, a lot of what I thought was bad news last month actually turned out to be good. Bad news that my grandfather fell and hurt himself became good news that he's in a retirement village he now loves with better safety and assisted living. Bad turns to good. And oh no! Good turns to bad! That promotion I got pushed me into a department I hate with responsibilities that scare me to death! Good turned to bad!
So why not just suspend all judgment. Why not slow things down so that I can always catch the knife by the handle. If it's the bad news knife being thrown at me, I can handle it because I know I can convert it to something good…eventually, if I give it half a chance and a little imagination. And if it's the good news knife I can catch it with mature wisdom and realize that there's always more work involved than is immediately realized in any good new thing, and I'm ready to do that work.
I just recently started reading your blogs! I love and look forward to them now! I always get something out of everything you write! Thank you!
Posted by: M~ | June 26, 2008 at 12:06 PM