Chris Barrow’s Blog

Another sleepless night.

This morning I am driving to Rome for a 4-day break so lets hope that breaks the habit of “not sleeping”.

I may blog if the fancy takes me but officially, I’ll be back next Monday.

After a very busy working day on Monday I was feeling pleased with myself.

In spite of some remnants of “jet lag” from last week, my determination to clear the decks before a short break had me ticking those boxes on the good old “to do” list.

At 4.30pm I decided to take a short siesta, to be woken by my daughters at 6.00pm for dinner.

Then watched a movie just to “chill” and went back to bed at about 10.30pm.

Sleep? Not a chance.

The “issues” of my life began to swirl around the room, occasionally swooping down to proverbially flick my ear and stop me from going to sleep.

At midnight I went for a wander around the apartment and made tea and toast.

At 2.00am I got up and started answering the overnight emails from the USA.

At 3.00am I settled down to read another chapter of The 8th habit, in the spare bedroom which doubles as my Italian office - with a glass of whiskey in hand.

At 4.30am I turned out the lights and fell into a troubled sleep, to be woken at 7.30am by the alarm I had set the night before.

Insomnia - the legacy of self-employment and the choice to live an extra-ordinary life.

Double jet-lag today.

I have to admit that the principle reason I bought this book was “fear” of being out-read by my clients, colleagues and competitors.

After all, so many people have read or listened to “The 7 habits” that buying the new book is similar to buying the latest version of Windows - you don’t need it but you have to have it - designer software and now, designer book series.

Maybe Stephen Covey is the adult J K Rowling?

Anyway (stop rambling Barrow).

I wanted to state for the record that The 8th Habit is a fabulous read. Clear, convincing and educational.

Books arrive in our lives when we are ready for them.

This book is helping me to navigate through a difficult period in my life and is a truly marvelous guide.

At the close of the two Intensives I made a specific request that those attending would send me a written testimonial, within 2 working days, to explain the benefits they had accrued from being there.

I am now sitting in a world of appreciation - its great.

And I also requested permission to use those testimonials in my marketing. They will feature in the ezine and on the web page at www.thecoachingbusinessschool.com in a few weeks when Team CB catch up.

Nobody refused or was offended to be asked - in fact, I suspect they were delighted.

I believe in the work I do and have sufficient self-esteem to ask.

Its a good business habit.

Some are one-liners and others are essays - all are welcome.

Here is an example:

Chris Barrow takes complicated material and makes it simple. He cuts through the fog and provides you a personal G.P.S. so that you can navigate your way to success. He shows you the way, all you have to do is follow the path he lays out for you. The material he provides is complete and well thought out. His unpretentious presentation style is direct and friendly. Chris is the real thing.
James Aubele, CEO Business Mentors

–
Developing Profits in Half the Time is at
www.BusinessMentorsPress.com

Interesting that I have started reading Covey’s “8th Habit” and, this morning, he talks about his 4 intelligences/capacities.

They are:

a. Mental Intelligence (IQ) - what we can do with our brains
b. Physical/Economic Intelligence (PQ) - what we can do with our bodies
c. Emotional/Social Intelligence (EQ) - what we can do with our hearts
d. Spiritual Intelligence (SQ) - what we can do with our soul

And that the “complete” person is able to engage all 4 in an effective way to “live, learn, love and leave a legacy” (that was the 7 habits outcome) and to “find your voice and inspire others to find their voice” - the 8th habit.

I realise that, in Strategy 1 of my own programmes, I ask for the annual retreat to engage all 4 intelligences.

IQ = 3 -year vision
PQ = 12-month plan and 90-day goals and spreadsheets
EQ = personal and professional mission statements
SQ = work/life balance = calendar

Its 4.45am in Vancouver and my car to the airport arrives in 15 minutes.

Here goes for a long journey - Toronto first, three hour stop over and then overnight to Milan and a week’s vacation.

There is much happening in Barrow-land, to do with immigration issues - I will reveal all in a few days time.

The blog will be less frequent for the next 10 days or so as I intend to take a rest and connect with my family.

Back “in force” week commencing 28th February - but keep your eye out, there may be some postings and photos.

The time in Canada has certainly evolved my professional thinking more than I expected - and that usually leads to innovation with me.

A word of thanks and tribute here to Jen Haver, who has been a tower of strength to me these last few days.

You are only as good as your support team.

Two Coaching Business School Intensives delivered.

Two unique experiences.

Two distinct groups with their own dynamic.

I am realising, after this trip to Canada, how important the “tribal experience” is to the coaches and how important it is that they have a tribal elder/leader who has the wisdom to teach, train and consultant, the patience to coach and the humanity to laugh.

I was really worried yesterday - because after the “party” at last week’s Toronto Intensive (22 of us never stopped laughing for 3 days), the prospect of working with 5 clients for 3 days was daunting.

The room was very quiet, few questions were asked during the morning. I was using lots of energy and we were racing through the material.

I was explaining the distinction (for me) between trainer, consultant and coach - and this small group helped me to gain a large insight.

Trainer - shows how to do something.

Consultant - shows how to apply training.

Coach?

We filled a board with words - second opinion, accountability, shoulder to cry on, inspiration, example, mentor, guide.

Suddenly, I saw Yoda in the original Star Wars movie - asking Luke to lift his X-wing spacecraft out of the bog.

And I realised that, as coaches, we are Yoda for our clients - we are a tribal elder.

In our coaching programmes we create a tribal experience for our clients - even solo-preneurs want to be part of a tribe.

Tribal elder - that works for me.

Then one of my “Famous 5″ here in Vancouver wrote to me overnight:

From Simon Reilly

Hi Chris,

All is well and things went very well today.

I appreciate that although the group is small, big things come in small packages.

Looking forward to tomorrow.

Simon

Luke can’t levitate his X-Wing out of the bog.

I don’t believe it. Luke Skywalker
That is why you fail. Yoda

Alright, I’ll give it a try. Luke Skywalker
No! Try not. Do… or do not. There is no try. Yoda

Luke Skywalker: I can’t. It’s too big.

Yoda: Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere. Yes, even between the land and the ship.

I was called to task on my use of language the other day.

A coach was asking me how easy/difficult it was to fill the two coaching programmes (or schools) that we offer.

I replied, “after 10 years it is still a struggle.”

The distinction came later.

“Chris, when you tell me its still a struggle you fill me with dismay at how long I will have to work to fill a practice. Would you be prepared to change your language and admit that it requires a lot of effort but it’s not a struggle?”

I realised that she was right - it’s not a struggle - I know what to do - it just requires lots of effort. And for a 7-figure practice that’s OK.

Good coaching.

Big “aha” moment in yesterday’s Intensive.

Its an old saying that:

“Efficient is doing things right.
but effective is doing the right thing right.”

I have always been efficient - ever since 1980 and my first time-management course.

1. make a list of all you have to do;
2. A/B/C the list;
3. do the “A’s” first.

So Mr Efficient always showed up on time, finished on time and delivered what he promised.

But wasn’t evolving in his career.

Then I realised what Covey was really talking about with his “rocks, stones and sand” metaphor.

The “rocks” were the really big decisions. Is this the:

a. right career?
b. right business colleagues?
c. right clients?
d. right country?
e. right home?

for me?

Listening to coaches these last 3 days I had a moment on Friday afternoon.

Coaches want to chat about the “small stuff”.

1. Which client management software is the best?
2. What does the perfect workshop look like?
3. How do I keep my accounting information?
4. What is the best way to set up my ezine?

But they don’t want to talk about the big stuff as much….

1. Right niche?
2. Right support team?
3. Sufficient capital to grow the business?
4. Do I know how to do this?

And the real distinction came when one client asked me a simple question.

“I’m thinking of doing X, which is the right software to use?”

My reply…….

“Re-phrase your question.”

“I want X to happen. Which is the right person to find who will make this happen?”

You cannot do it all yourself.

Or, perhaps, let’s rephrase that as well….

“You can do it all yourself - if you are happy with a mediocre business.”

“If you want a spectacular business, you cannot do it all yourself.”

“Oh - its OK for you, you are a million dollar coach - you can afford a support team.”

Nope.

“I became a million-dollar coach AS A CONSEQUENCE of the fact that I invested in a support team.”

Efficient is doing it all yourself.

Effective is building a support team.