September 14, 2012

"What are you working on these days, Grasshopper?" Orion asked me this morning.  "I am once again working on presence, being in the moment to allow my mind to be exposed to information that is not cognitive so my intuition can kick in.  Does that sound corny?" "No, not corny," Orion said.  "Deep." "What I'm learning, with help from my coach, is that being more present is NOT being aware of what is around me, but being more aware of what is inside me."

August 5, 2012

"The Olympics sure motivate me," I told Orion this morning. "What about it?" Orion asked.  "To see the physical and mental excellence reminds me how important the mind-body connection is in all that we do throughout our lives.  I am as impressed with the mental focus as I am with the physical conditioning and how hard the work is on both fronts. Very few of us make the Olympics, but all of us have the capacity for the same kind of excellence.  Never give up!  Never surrender!"

July14, 2012

"I'm tired," I told Orion this morning.  "You certainly should be after conducting a two-day executive retreat with scientists and engineers," Orion responded.  "What did you learn?" "I think the biggest thing I learned, is that when I receive feedback about activities that they didn't like, it does NOT mean I shouldn't have done them. It is almost the opposite.  Because my intent is to force them out of their linear comfort zones, maybe the more they don't like, the better for them."

June 26,2012

"Hey, Orion," I said. "I figured out why the staff of the Department of Environmental Quality in Saipan like it when I visit."  "Okay, I'll bite," answered Orion. "Why do they like it when you come out?" "Because they use my visit as a justification for rewarding the staff.  This trip they reserved a conference room at a resort hotel, including refreshments morning and afternoon, and a huge buffet lunch.  This is a way to reward hard working staff who earn an average of $12 to 15K in salary."  "I'm sure the staff enjoys that," Orion said.  "Do you think they also get a lot out of what you are teaching them?" "Well, I guess there might be a little of that.  One person, who remembered me from 7 years ago, gave me a hug and said 'welcome home, John.'"

June 24, 2012

"Hi, Orion," I said, as I drink a beer at 4:30 p.m. in Saipan. "We haven't talked in a long time, like two months," Orion answered.  "Anything wrong?" "I have to admit, I started feeling silly talking to a constellation of stars," I said. "That sounds like a normal thing to think," Orion responded.  "Why are you talking to me now?" "I feel a little down, maybe a little lonely." "So here's the thing, john-boy, you tell all of your coaching clients that they have their own answers inside them, right? And what you do is bring out their own wisdom, right? Isn't that kind of what you use me for?  To bring out your own wisdom?"  "I guess so," I said. "So what's up now that is causing you to be down?"  "I just finished a stressful week in Guam with a resistant boss, and now I face a week working with 50 people, all by myself."  "We've got lots to talk about, grasshopper!"

April 13, 2012

"I don't always tell people that I'm coaching them when they want to talk to me," I told Orion today. "I just listen, ask questions, make suggestions on how to think differently about issues.  Yesterday an expert on oil refineries talked to me about issues he is having with his management, as well as with executives at oil refineries who don't want to do inspections that would protect workers from injury or death.  I talked to him about his personal values that drive him to be so adamant in presenting his case.  He had an aha moment, and when he left, he told me, 'I don't know exactly what you do, but you sure do it good.'"

April 6, 2012

"Why is it, Orion, that some people can overcome childhood traumas while others are not able to?" I asked my friend this morning. "Several factors come to mind," Orion answered. "The personal courage and strength to look at it, the desire to find life fulfillment, and a loving supportive environment."