Business Choices: Starting With Peace

Three Stories and a Question

• I just spoke with a fellow who needed to end a freelance career and return to corporate life. Although he is a real pro at what he does and enjoys the consulting life, other factors impacted the decision. While this would seem like a real blow to many, he sounded very calm and relaxed. He was at peace with the decision.

• If you don't know Glenda Watson-Wyatt, you should. She typed her entire book manuscript with her thumb.

Why?

She didn't have a choice. When you visit the links above, note the bright smile that lights up the pages.

• Some years back I received a phone call asking if I would consult/coach with a VP of Engineering at a major corporation. Part of his company had actually been shut down by a government monitoring agency. I was told by associates from other consulting firms not to work with him. They said he was  "old school," "narrow minded," and "kept to himself." (Whatever that was supposed to mean).

What had his part been in the company's situation? He had actually warned the CEO and Board of Directors, verbally and in writing,  that things were happening which were wrong. When the smoke finally cleared, he was the only one of the management team left.

The proposed task? To re-invigorate and re-structure a large organization of people who had been under close scrutiny and investigation. They were ultimately found not only to be above-board in their behavior but highly competent in their profession.

I decided to ignore the comments and went to meet with him. At the end of our initial meeting it was clear to me that he wanted to make a real difference and leave a legacy of professionalism and integrity for his group, and that the road ahead would be difficult. At that point I knew little about his personal background. I heard my voice begin a question that I had never asked a prospective client before: "How is your relationship with God?"

His answer: "I am totally at peace."

We worked together for 3 years on the project until his retirement. He was not only not old school or narrow minded; he was willing to consistently be "out there" with his people to lead and encourage throughout the rebuilding of the division and the company.

Here we have three different people facing major challenges and obstacles that were not of their doing. The first person will do just fine. The second two made decisions and acted upon them with courage.

None blamed their boss, their company, or their life.

Instead, they began by becoming peaceful with the situation and themselves. It allowed them to think clearly and act wisely.

Are you starting at the right place?

What do you need to be at peace with today?

photo source: dreampad.org

Comments

[Jackie Cameron]

Steve - I was asked to coach a lady, in a senior role in her profession and going for another promotion. When I started asking questions about her background to get a picture of her from her own words every sentence included a negative. After about 10 minutes I stopped her and asked if she had noticed this. It was a lightbulb moment for her. She realised that she had changed from a positive, can do person into someone who drained other people's energy. She went off to think about things and came back to me, ready to work on going forward. She had been blaming others on her current situation and truthfully at that point did not expect to get the promoted post - and then she could go on and blame that on some external force.
Long story short- it took a while but she did come to a level of "peace" with herself and went on to get the promoted post, which was challenging but instead of sinking under the pressure she thrived on it.
As a coach I come across this situation regularly - but as human beings we also know people in our lives who are struggling with their inner peace - being at peace with themselves. Can I suggest we reach out a hand ( or ear..) and help them if you do.

[peter vajda]

Hi, Steve,

I think I see a little creature nestled on a stump, or small branch, right under the greenery of the tree..in the shadow, outside the rays of the sun.

What I need for peace today is to accept any part of my shadow side, my dark side, that may leak out or peek out in some way, shape or form, and remember to remember the sun, my sun, is always there, shining...that this shadow element is but a part of me but not the totality of who I am...that the sun, my goodness, my spirit, my 'brightness' overshadows any of my 'darkness I may experience today.

Thanks for the post and the question.

[Steve Roesler]

Jackie,

Sometimes all it takes is a trusted, non-judgmental friend or mentor to ask the direct question and allow the response to formulate.

Clearly, this person sensed the helpful intent of your query.

[Steve Roesler]

Here's to a peaceful day, Peter.