Teachable moments: How to listen to what life is teaching you — to perform and live better
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
There’s a story from my childhood that I’ll always remember — and that informs how I approach my work as a business coach.
It’s 1962, and I’m nine-years-old. My father’s driving the car, and I’m wrestling with my brothers in the back seat. The vehicle comes to a stop, and we notice a man sweeping outside; he’s talking to himself and swaying back and forth. Being kids, my brothers and I started cracking jokes about this man’s seemingly low position in life — and our dad quickly looks back at us and says:
Don’t ever make fun of a man working to earn a living.
(And though I didn’t fully understand what he meant at the time, my father’s words stuck with me over the years.)
Fast forward: I’m thirteen and sitting in American History class. The teacher has invited World War II veterans to speak to our class — and in walks the man from the street, only now he’s dressed in his decorated uniform from the war. I then recalled what my father had said to us that day in the car. He was right: I didn’t know this man and his situation — far from it.
I should be thanking him for his service and recognize the dignity of his work.
My father taught me that life is full of teachable moments, the unexpected experiences that reveal a lesson that helps us grow. If I don’t pay attention to the teachable moments in my life, they will quickly pass me by, and I’ll miss a valuable lesson.
In my experience, awareness is the first step to any transformation, whether it be in life or business. As President and Head Coach of Rock Spring Coaching, I help companies, executives, and other coaches elevate their leadership potential and maximize performance via the Energy Leadership Index from iPEC (the principles of which I will continue to unpack in future blog posts).
Most people have their blinders on and fail to learn from their experiences, repeating unproductive patterns that leave them stuck or worse off than before. Albert Einstein said it best: The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. To break this cycle, they have to become aware of their teachable moments and put their lessons to work. As a coach, I help my clients build the capacity to identify their teachable moments, and use the lessons to change their circumstances.
Albert Einstein said it best: The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.
In coming blog posts, I’ll dive into how Energy Leadership principles guide how I work with my business clients. As a seasoned entrepreneur, I’ve been in my client’s shoes more times than I can count. Knowing what it’s like to be up one minute and down the next gives me insight into the challenges they face.