Some time ago, I had an interesting online encounter with a phobia coach. I shared an article about a supermarket customer who burst out in tears feeling intimidated by an ‘aggressive’ supermarket employee who was scanning items ‘too fast’. While my comment was mostly meant to highlight the absurdity of the situation (it is quiteContinue reading “It’s OK to Laugh at Pain and Suffering”
Category Archives: coaching
Are You a Ghost in the Machine?
In his classic book ‘The Concept of Mind’ philosopher Gilbert Ryle argues against the concept of the ‘Ghost in the Machine’: the idea that our mental and physical worlds are two distinct realities which we vainly try to reconcile in illogical ways. Ryle argues that there is no such thing as a ‘ghost in theContinue reading “Are You a Ghost in the Machine?”
Whom Do You Serve?
Almost invariably, when talking to beginning solopreneurs about their ideal client base, I will always hear something along the lines: I can help anyone who needs a beauty treatment Everyone needs therapy, so I shouldn’t limit myself to a particular group I want to reach as many fans as possible, therefore I’m not limiting myselfContinue reading “Whom Do You Serve?”
Stick to the Plan
I have to confess that I am a bit of a football fan (soccer for my American readers). I find the complexity of a fast-paced game where 11 players compete against another 11, following well-defined, but often ‘loosely’ interpreted rules, an interesting miniature experiment of life itself. What casual observers who are not remotely interestedContinue reading “Stick to the Plan”
Only You Can Decide Your Worth
In the money-driven society we live in, we attach high importance on the ‘cost’ of things. However, very often our understanding of the true meaning of value is inadequate, and based on habit rather than a deeper insight about how that value is linked to our self-worth. We have a good idea of the valueContinue reading “Only You Can Decide Your Worth”
A Dream Is Not A Goal
Most people you ask, will tell you that they have goals in life. As sentient beings who are able to plan and anticipate the future, we usually have certain aspirations, expectations and desires about things to come. Upon closer inspection however, the goals most people formulate are not great goals. To be more precise, theyContinue reading “A Dream Is Not A Goal”
It’s Personal, Not Business
Recently, I sat on a training course delivered by a business coach. He expressed the interesting (and quite divisive) view that you can only be a proper coach when you work on people’s businesses. He mocked the concept of a ‘life coach’ as someone who isn’t measuring any real goals. They instead waffle on aboutContinue reading “It’s Personal, Not Business”
There Is No Work-Life Balance
Multi-entrepreneur Elon Musk has famously claimed to have regularly worked 120+ work weeks. He recommends that business founders work 80+ workweeks in order to achieve success. American lifestyle guru Tim Ferriss on the other side, has advocated the 4-hour work week in order to free yourself from the shackles of corporate work and live theContinue reading “There Is No Work-Life Balance”
The Big Picture Leads to the Root Cause
We live in a highly specialized world. The concept of ‘uomo universalis’, the universal polymath who is an expert in most scientific disciplines, is many centuries behind us. Our knowledge of the world has become so specialized and complex that it is no longer possible to be equally adept in every possible field of scientificContinue reading “The Big Picture Leads to the Root Cause”
What Are You Running Away From?
In a podcast interview I did last year, I shared my opinion that motivation is overrated. In the modern western world we live in, we overemphasize the importance of willpower and feeling ‘motivated’ in order to achieve our goals. In truth, as I wrote in a recent blog, we constantly do things without feeling motivatedContinue reading “What Are You Running Away From?”
KostasTheCoach-The Freedom Composer 