Coached to Greatness: Unlock Your Full Potential with Limitless Growth

By John M. Hawkins

You don’t find greatness in a day or overnight.

Change takes time, and making too many changes in a short period of time creates chaos. But incremental, positive changes can help you find your purpose, hold yourself accountable, and achieve goals and objectives.

Coach and leader John M. Hawkins reveals strategies that will help you accomplish more and—most importantly—be in a better position to help others who are also seeking growth. Get the guidance you need to • reflect on what motivates you; • rediscover and assess your core values, philosophies, and competencies; • find settings that allow you to be the most productive; and • track your progress toward accomplishing goals.

If you know you can accomplish more but change is slow to come; if you don’t wake up excited and ready to achieve; and if you don’t know what to do with your life, career, or business, you need this guide to success.

By keeping an open mind, tuning into your senses, and being on the lookout for motivation, opportunities, and like-minded individuals who want to do more, you’ll be coached to greatness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jan 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781532032660

John M. Hawkins

John M. Hawkins is an author, coach, and leader. He is the author of two other books: Building a Strategic Plan for Your Life and Business and Affinity. He graduated with a degree in business from the University of Portland. He lives outside of Portland, Oregon.

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Copyright © 2018 John M. Hawkins.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-5320-3265-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-3267-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-3266-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017916146

iUniverse rev. date: 01/05/2018

CONTENTS

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1 Journeys Start With A Single Step

Every Journey Starts With A Step

Self-Belief

Self-Belief And Being Open To Change

Time Commitment

Daily

Symbolism

A Fountain Pen

The Consultants’ Bible

Develop New Time-Management Habits

Strategies To Prioritize Activities

Tactical Versus Strategic

Develop Your Reasons For Writing

Proper Decision-Making

Visualize

Planning

The Successful Mind Comes From Within

Focus

Reflection

Chapter 2 Why Do You Need A Coach?

What Does Coaching Provide?

Why Coaches?

Increasing Need

Consequences

Accountability

Coaches Like Consultants

Boss Coach

Friend Mentors

Environment Matters

Beach

Café

Frigid Office

Airplane Seat

Find Your Environment

Fuel

Focus

Reflection

Chapter 3 Finding Your Motivation

Finding Motivation

What Is Motivation?

Types Of Motivation

A Child’s Motivation

Situational Motivation

Money As A Motivator

People As Motivation

Business

Will

Love

Purpose

Heart

Passion At Work Or School

Finding Your Passion And Motivation

Love Motivates Parents

Family As Motivation

Finding Motivation In Magazines

Finding Motivation

Motivation In The Challenges

External Motivation

Focus

Reflection

Chapter 4 Commit To The Change

It Takes Time

Writing Enforces Knowledge And Helps With Planning

Remembering

Note Taking Helps With Memory

Some Note-Taking Ideas

Past

Present

Future

Example: Writing A Book

Writing Environment—Same Place And Time

Self-Doubt

First

Second

Third

Find Those Who Have Had Success

The Same Time Every Day

Time Wasted By Americans

Housework

Leisure Activities

Daily Adult Time

Adults With Children Under Six

Summary—Make The Time!

Takeaways Of Time Spent On Activities

No Excuses

People Do Fear Success

Anxiety

Achievement

Focus

Reflection

Chapter 5 Learn More About Yourself Through Assessments

I Was Wrong

Dear Diary

Finding Center

What Is Your Superpower?

Superhero

What Are Your Values?

Self-Assessment Can Help Us Find Our Superpowers (Swot)

What Are Your Strengths?

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Story: The Cartoonist

Threats

Focus

Reflection

Chapter 6 The Macro Situation (External Factors)

Job Satisfaction In America

A Rosier Picture

Working Americans

Satisfaction

Starting Points

Tips To Increase Job Satisfaction

Some Change Is Good, But Too Much Change Creates Chaos

Percent Change Impact Chaos

Story: Coffee Shop Chaos

Middle-Class Decline Causes Uncertainty

Paycheck To Paycheck

Squeezing A Balloon

Why Should You Care?

Middle-Class Choices

Five Tactics

Take Steps Now

Mathematically Speaking

Percent Change

Focus

Reflection

Chapter 7 The Past—Your Greatest Ally And Your Biggest Enemy

Throw Your Past Away

Story: Mr. Money

Past Failures

How To Handle Failure

Write About Painful Situations

Parental Income Potential Passed To Children

Antisynergy Is The Quickest Path To Failure

Negative Words From Good People

Drop The Negativity Monkey

Games

Focus

Reflection

Chapter 8 Mind, Body, And Soul—Unlimited Energy And The Ability To Laser Focus

Tuned Mind And Body

Tuning The Human Mind

The Zone

Supercomputer

Brain Waves Are Important

Drugs

Story: Companies Fabricate The Work Environment

The Machine Started

Environment

Think About Settings

Ideal Setting

Try This Experiment

Sleep

Chemistry

Body

Body Temperature

Persistent Pain

Exercise

Fat Epidemic

Story: The Fat Man

Fat Was A Choice

Choose Fat

Tactic 1—Seek Medical Advice

Tactic 2—Chew Food Twenty-Eight Times

Tactic 3—Nutrition

Tactic 4—Job Stress And Career

Tactic 6—Exercise

Tactic 7—Stand, Don’t Sit

Cardio

It’s About The Calories

Supporting Environments

Deal With Your Emotional/Physical Issues

Focus

Reflection

Chapter 9 Tools (Capabilities) For The Journey

Learn To Tell A Story

What Is Your Story?

A Child’s Perspective

Ghost Stories

Good Stories Have Structure

Stand For Something

Vision And Goals

Symbolism

Learn To Listen

Consultative Approach

No Need For An Introduction

Social Net Worth

Develop Friendships

Story: First Impressions Count

Plumber A

Plumber B

How To Ask For And Get Anything

Tactics To Ensure A Yes

Maximize Education Investments

Seven Tactics To Maximize Education

Focus

Reflection

Chapter 10 Gain Instant Credibility With People

Change Is Possible

The People Chameleon

Handwritten Thank-You Letters

Story: A Billionaire’s Handwritten Letters

Mind Control Of Other People

Senses

Body Language

How Do You React?

Remember Personal Details

Do We Have To Like People?

Disc Personalities

Assessment

Don’t Waste Your Time On Losers

To Receive, You Must Give Back

Time, Talent, Or Treasure

Public Image

Take Notes On The People You Want To Remember

Focus

Reflection

Chapter 11 Develop Your Image

Own Your Image

Brainstorm

Are You A Mercedes Or A Toyota?

Finding Your Symbols

Professional Pictures

Public Speaking Builds Confidence

The Secret To Public Speaking—Oral Communication

Ready To Present

Blogging—Written Communication

Blog Post: Simple Story—Keep It Concise

Digital Age

The Secret To Social Net Worth

Social Media

Social Thrills

Develop Your Image

Developing Personas

Friendships Declining

Professional Networks

Social Media Can Be An Unknown, Scary Quantity

Social Media Don’ts

Social Media Engagement/Content Tactic

Build Your Image By Examining Others Who Are Successful

Focus

Reflection

Chapter 12 Become The Ceo Of Your Life

What Billionaire Ceos Do Best

Moguls

Similarities

Moguls Are Strategic

Self-Promotion

Accountable Versus Responsible

Becoming A Mogul Takes Time

Strategic Plan Framework

Copy Your Mentor’s Strategies

Role Models And Mentors

Copy Your Mentor’s Strategies

Mentor Others

Hire To Your Weakness

Work Ethic

See The Possibilities

Excellent Communication Skills

Time Management

Problem-Solving Skills

A Team Player

Self-Confidence

Accept And Learn From Criticism

Flexible/Adaptable

Resilient

Work Well Under Pressure

Ask For Help

Ceos Put Priorities First

Ceos Are Accountable

Ceos Keep Journals

You’re In Charge

Commit To Finding Your Greatness

Your Ceo Leadership Style

Adaptive Style

Capture Your Success

Metrics

Focus

Chapter 13 Planning For Success

What Is Your Primary Objective?

Achieve A Specific Goal

Solving A Problem

Strategy And Planning

Feedback From Others

Career Planning

Executive Coaching

Tips For Setting Goals

Tactics For Setting And Achieving Goals

Goal Details Matter

Learn To Set Smarty Goals

New Year’s Resolutions—A Time For Reflection

Daily Realignment Affords Focus Toward Achieving A Goal

Focus

Reflections

Chapter 14 Traps To Watch Out For

Can’t Sleep At Night? The Virtual Thought Box

Write Down Your Thoughts

Misaligned Goals

Right Actions, Wrong Order

Lack Of Follow-Through

Your Greatest Enemy Might Be You!

Dark Forces

Story: Don’t Take Business Personally

Negativity

Complexity

Material Goods

Instant Gratification

Holding A Grudge

Selfish People

Selfless Guilt

Focus

Reflections

Chapter 15 Work-Life Balance

Story: Life Throws A Curveball

Learn To Say No

Keep Or Lose Your Friends

Habits Highly Successful Parents Use To Balance Family And Career

Life Is Full Of Limitations—You Can Control The Mental Ones

Story: Successful People Are Strategic

Plan The Journey Together

Supportive Family

Develop Your Support Team

Spectators

You Can Choose

Focus

Reflection

Chapter 16 Putting It Into Practice

Others Are Seeking What You Seek

Be True To Yourself

Settings

Money Can’t Buy Happiness, But It Can Provide Comfort

Giving Could Lead To A Windfall

Happiness Bank Account

Planning For Success

Daily Motivational Habits

Mental Stimulation

Family People Are Strategic—You Can Be Too!

Mentors

Story: Life Is Like Golfing At Pebble Beach

Once You’ve Found Success, It’s Time To Maintain It

Entities Evolve

The Next Level

There Are Few Overnight Successes

Focus

Reflections

Final Thoughts

Works Cited

To my mother, who taught me the value of education and an appreciation for books. If this book helps just one person, then this effort will have been worthwhile.

PREFACE

This book is for those who know there is more they can accomplish and who feel their performance is underwhelming. Perhaps the change you want is slow to come. You don’t wake up excited and ready to achieve. You don’t have a clear path and might not be sure what to do with your life, career, or business. You may feel as though you are stuck.

As you read, keep an open mind, tune into your senses, and engage in your environments. With an open mind, you should be on the lookout for motivation, opportunities, symbols, and like-minded individuals who can help along the way.

This book was designed as a guide to explore strategies and tactics to help you develop a solid plan to gain motivation, find your passion, and find ways to grow. This methodology isn’t meant to be a replacement for a coach; it is a way to help you explore coaching options and situations. At the end of each chapter, the reflection questions are designed to help you assess your current situation and find areas to focus on.

This book is not intended to be a passive read; to get the most out of coaching, you will need to be actively engaged in the process. This methodology works and is effective. However, these techniques might not work for everyone. Take some time to review the table of contents, chapters, and reflection sections. Then decide whether this approach might be beneficial for you.

You must accept that you are the only one who can do this. Always be true to yourself. Stick to your core values and strengths. Acknowledge that the choices you’ve made may not be working. Be realistic about your goals. Be open to new opportunities and possibilities.

You must become accountable and commit to change. Set a timeline for your change, and devote the time. Find your passion. Reward yourself for making positive change.

We all have the capability to accomplish amazing things. It requires engaging in our surroundings, educating our minds, tuning our bodies, and finding other like-minded individuals to help along the way.

You won’t find greatness in a day or overnight.

Change takes time. Making too many changes in a short period of time creates chaos. With incremental positive changes, you will become more accomplished, which leads to clarity, purpose, and awareness, which can provide new directions. You will devise ways to hold yourself accountable, find clarity, focus, and have more energy to accomplish your goals and objectives. As you accomplish more, you will—most importantly—be in a better position to help others who are also seeking growth.

INTRODUCTION

Accomplishments are achievements that nobody can take away from you—no matter how hard they try to minimize or discredit them. You accomplish your goals by investing time and energy in areas that you have a passion for or an interest in. In life, we accidentally find ourselves in so many situations. As a result, what others tell us to do overwhelms us. We forget our goals and our purpose, and we end up compromising and settling. Initially, the constant activity of a busy schedule can make you feel like you are accomplishing something, but the reality is that you are spinning. Days turn into weeks, and weeks turn into months, and months turn into years. Pretty soon, you will feel like you are stuck.

We nourish our bodies by eating three times a day (sometimes more or less), but what about the nourishment of our minds? This journey is about feeding the mind to unlock our potential and achieve the goals we seek. Taking a journey like this requires you to invest time. Expect to trade some activities. There is time in everyone’s day. Activities to consider trading out include entertainment, TV, or housework or other chores. Focus on new strategies.

This journey is about action and spending the time and energy to look inward and outward. Assess and reflect on who you are as a person. Through reflection and assessment, you will develop a plan. During this journey, you should develop a sense of self-awareness and start to see yourself from a new and exciting perspective. With a new perspective, you’ll develop clarity and be able to make decisions. Going from good to great doesn’t happen overnight. This journey is designed as a guide to take you through an experience and help you push pause on all the daily busyness so you can focus on yourself. In this journey, we will explore how you can look at your current situation through assessments, take a step back, look at the big picture, and ultimately develop smart tactics that will help you today and for years to come.

You will learn to identify high-energy settings and reflect on what motivates you, which can help you uncover where you are spending time. You will be able to identify any strengths that may have faded.

It will be important to rediscover and assess your core values, philosophies, and competencies. You will start to think differently about your daily situation and work toward a brighter, healthier future.

To do this effectively, you will need to learn to accept and deal with unhappiness from the past while holding on to valuable experiences. You’ll learn how to tune the mind, body, and soul. You will find productive settings that will increase your creativity and help you focus on your priorities.

The change will not occur if you only rely on your current tool set. You’ll need to develop additional capabilities to help along the way, like gaining immediate rapport with people. You’ll learn to build an image that will attract people who can help you achieve, ultimately giving you the ability to accomplish more than you have ever imagined.

This journey will take commitment, passion, will, desire, and an investment of your time and energy. You’ll develop your focused state and be able to sit down and accomplish goals and objectives. You’ll start to look at an object in different ways; these objects can become symbols that will help fuel your progress.

You may have had the motivation and desire at some time in the past and are now seeking a new and different perspective to help realize your full potential. If we are put in the right setting