Business, Engagement Edition Editors Letter – Engagement Edition

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By: Stewart Fleming •  4 years ago •  

T

he road has been long and hard; you’ve paid your dues and survived to tell the tale. It has been said that all of the stories we read, watch or tell ourselves can be divided into just a handful of categories. Regardless of category, the one thing that they all include is a journey. Whether it is a journey of the mind or a trip down the yellow brick road, they all have a start and end, and the longer it is, the better the story. We have an inbuilt need for the variety and the sense of motion afforded by a journey. And, of course, we want to see that journey as long and meaningful.

As a counterpoint to variety and motion, we have a need for security. Engagement provides this for us and becomes our anchor in a moving world. Whether we engage with a spouse, friend or coach, we need the perceived safety to counterpoint the changes we wish to experience. The bigger the change, the greater the need for security. Teams lean on their teammates during difficult times. By going through the process together, they provide security within change.

At 40, I started training for my first marathon. Before then, I had trouble running a bath. The guy that trained me told me that there were three races in a marathon and the first was to the starting line. I needed to train with a long term goal and he provided the anchor for my change into a runner. We have all seen the results of impatience or over commitment.

From kids to adults, and from adults to masters, our individual journeys all proceed along similar lines. As coaches, we know this and can provide security for what may seem the most terrifying journey. Whether it is an Olympic gold medal, getting a pass on the maths test or overcoming a fear of speaking in public, there is a journey and a need for security during that journey. Sometimes that security might just be permission to succeed or an external supply of belief.

Like compound interest, the longer the investment, the greater the results. Some coaching changes can be very quick but the real differences are noticed over time. Your journey continues with the stories in this edition and I hope it is a long one…

Happy Coaching

STEWART FLEMING

COACHINGLIFE is the vision of our founder, Stewart Fleming. With over 20 businesses to his name, he has created ventures around the world in many industries.

Now as the creator of COACHINGLIFE, Stewart brings his skills and vision to build the best community of coaches the world has ever seen.