Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Coaching Tip #1057 "The Voice Of Happiness"



Within you there is a constant desire to be happy. Sometimes, the voice of happiness may be faint and seem distant, but it is there. At other times, happiness effortlessly sings within you sending its waves of positive energy into the world and the lives of others. When your happiness seems elusive and hard to find always know that the desire to be happy is alive in you and, if you will turn your attention toward it, that desire will grow and be fulfilled by you.

Friday, January 9, 2015

Coaching Tip #1056 "We Want..."


We want more money, clothes, vacations, cars and all sorts of other things. We want the qualities of sound health, intelligence, strength, vitality, good looks and so much more. We want to experience more excitement, adventure, power, freedom and fun. We want to feel passion, contentment, joy, peace, love and all the other wonderful emotions available to us. More than anything, we want to be happy and our lives are the unique expression of this desire. Things, qualities and experiences come and go - they rise and fall - throughout our lifetime, but our desire to be happy remains constant. The most consistent feeling of happiness comes to us through being grateful for and truly enjoying the everyday things that make up the vast majority of our lives, as we reach for more.

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Coaching Tip #1055 "See Yourself Through Triumphant Eyes"

As you look back on 2014 see your accomplishments - both large and small - and give yourself credit for the happiness, joy and successes you've sponsored through your choices. See yourself through triumphant eyes and recognize this past year of your life as the victory it is. Allow confidence and gratitude to grow and flourish in your heart and mind as you take stock of your accomplishments. Lastly, let your good feelings and pleasant memories sink in to the core of your being so that they may sustain and inspire you throughout 2015. A very Happy New Year to you all!

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Happy Holidays

May your heart be full and your Spirit joyous this Holiday Season.

Wishing you the very best life has to offer in the New Year!

Thank you for being in my life and allowing me to share mine with you.

All my best,
Marcus

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Business Times Column #89

Do You Hire Potential Superstars For Your Business?

Marcus Straub
Marcus Straub

The quality and character of the individuals essential to the operations of a company directly affect the efficiency and effectiveness of the business — not to mention the pleasure of those who own and operate it. Simply put, the higher the caliber of those you choose to hire, the more happiness and success you’ll derive from your company.

As an executive business coach and consultant, every business I work with has at some point experienced issues with its team members. A reality for every business is the potential for people on staff to continually inhibit the smooth operation of the company and harm the work environment.

These team members typically don’t handle themselves or their positions well. They’re not easy to communicate with, exhibit negative attitudes and consistently have complaints and personal issues. They also could lack the necessary skills and attributes; are likely to be resistant to learning and change; and, due to one or more of these factors, exert a drag on the overall morale and success of the entire organization.

Owners and managers must frequently spend a great amount of time and other resources working with these team members to improve performance and attitude. Alternatively, they might find it easier to avoid them altogether because they don’t know how to effectively handle the situation. In the end, these people must be let go and the position refilled with “hopefully” a higher-performing individual.

There’s a better choice. By hiring potential superstars — individuals with a positive attitude who are solution-oriented, with a willingness to learn, a desirable skill set and strong character — you’ll position your company to operate far more effectively and achieve new levels of happiness and success.

In hiring potential superstars, the first step is to “stack your bench.” Think of your company in terms of a sports team. Should a member of your team need to be replaced due to underperformance, a bad attitude or lack of commitment, you must replace them. Unless you have qualified, motivated and effective “players” to bring in, you’ll be hesitant to make a change.

Many business owners and managers fail to let go of ineffective team members because they don’t have qualified candidates ready to replace them. By compiling a list of solid individuals to choose from, you’ll be better positioned to make the necessary changes that will enhance your team, and therefore, the performance of your business.

As with any successful team, it’s vital you don’t just “fill” a position with the first available person. Instead, strive to hire the very best person you can by considering candidates who embody the values, mission, goals and objectives of your business. By doing so, you’ll make a strong choice for your company, your team, the clients and customers you serve and yourself.

I work with companies to hire potential superstars through the proven process of Job Benchmarking. When this is correctly employed with the assistance of key accountabilities, high-quality candidate assessments, comparison reports and a final interview before hiring, the success rate rises dramatically.

I recommend that final interviews be conducted in person. The vast majority of communication comes to us through body language and tonality, with spoken words accounting for a mere 6 percent of the actual message. Knowing this and preparing to interview with the assistance of a qualified coach and consultant can help you understand what an interviewee is telling you not only with their words, but also in their tone and body language.

Quality professional assistance can also position you to ask questions that provide clues into a person’s level of commitment and involvement. There’s typically a significant difference between a person who spends a great deal of idle time on the computer or watching television and one who seeks out opportunities to learn, read and stay physically active. The more engaged a person is in their personal life, the more likely they are to be an engaged team member.

There are no guarantees you’ll hire the best person for the job and the company every time. But when you do your due diligence through sophisticated hiring practices with the guidance of a competent coach or consultant, you’ll position yourself to make the best choice possible in identifying potential superstars for your team.

Marcus Straub owns Life is Great! Inc. in Grand Junction. His personalized coaching and consulting services help individuals, business owners, executives and companies build teams, organizations and lives that are filled with happiness and success. He is the winner of the 2011 International Coach of the Year Award, and is also the author of “Is It Fun Being You?.” He is available for free consultations regarding coaching, speaking and trainings. Reach Straub by phone at 208-3150, by e-mail at marcus@lifeisgreatcoaching.com or on the website at www.lifeisgreatcoaching.com.
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Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Coaching Tip #1054 "Savor Your Abundance"



A full belly, shelter, heat, hot and cold clean running water, transportation, peace, and a some money at your disposal... These basics are but a few of the reasons to be grateful and happy each day. The vast majority of human beings on this planet do not have consistent access to most of these life sustaining things which are often taken for granted. Savor, share and use these gifts in your life to increase your happiness, success and contentment.

Monday, December 8, 2014

Coaching Tip #1053 "Reality is..."


Life will have its periods of smooth sailing and also its rough patches that sometimes seem to go on for far too long. Some days you will feel strong, clear headed and ready for whatever comes your way and other days this won't be the case. At times, being happy is effortless while at other times it can be elusive. It seems to me that there is an ebb and flow to life, almost like the movement of ocean tides. Life will come to us each and every day without bias and prejudice toward us. It's just life, and it is up to each of us to chart the best course we can whether it's smooth sailing or not. Reality is what we make of it.