Conscious Business Building - balancing business and passion

Interesting how one's perspective changes what we see and hear.

The other day my daughter came home all excited to tell me about her success in P.E. (physical education) class. She was all energy and smiles as she told me about the low ropes course she had experienced in class that day. I am always elated that I have a teen that will talk to me about her day, so I listen with genuine interest. As she spoke, I heard a coaching metaphor developing.

My daughter was surprised by two elements of this class. First, that she'd been at middle school for three years and didn't know the low ropes course existed - tucked away in a woodsy area of campus. Second, that she was the first in her P.E. class to successfully navigate the length of not one but two of the low ropes.

To put this in perspective, my daughter is athletic, but did not find this out until Middle School - when she began to realize that P.E. was not simply recess-with-a-teacher. This is when she began to apply herself and confidence blossomed. She was eager to tell me how this confidence increased her belief that she could make it across - even though each of the children before her hit the ground. When I asked what made the difference, she told me that it was her (positive) perspective that got her off on the right foot - literally. She told me she focused on strategy rather than fear or disbelief - and needed to have a good attitude. As she told me of her success, my mind went to a coaching scenario.

She spoke with an air of experience as she told me how she carefully positioned her front then her back foot to balance on the ropes, and "How it is important that your front foot face forward". Most important was that even when she felt like she would fall that the only way to keep her balance was to remember, "not to stop and keep moving (forward)".

As she moved along the ropes in long, sliding strides she resisted the temptation to grab the ropes hanging along the way. She chose to focus on and move toward the tree at the end of the ropes (path). When I asked why, she answered, "I realized that the ropes were close but the tree was stable."

I realized I was listening from two perspectives, one as a mom and the other as a coach. As a mom I beamed with joy and pride as I heard her tell of her success and how she coached others to retry and make a successful run along the ropes. As a coach, I heard the making of a great metaphor to use as I remind clients of 5 Elements for coaching ourselves to balance the elements of our lives: 1) don't let fear rule - especially fear of the unknown 2) keep a great attitude 3) put one foot in front of the other and take well-planned steps 4) keep moving (forward) 5) keep your eye on the goal and not the obstacles or temptations that lie on your path to success, and a life in balance.

As a mom, I'll add a 6th element, i.e., remember that we can learn as much as we teach ... even from our teens. We just have to listen, with new perspective.

I would also like to take a moment to express my gratitude, for a teen that will share with me, and for her father that makes it possible for her to attend a school that offers the empowering lessons learned on the low ropes.

Wishing you peace, and a life in balance.