Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Artificial Intelligence or Intelligent Action?

You’ve heard of artificial intelligence (AI)? I call AI someone who thinks they can achieve greatness and make great strides by creating a flurry of activity and throwing a whole lot of energy at a vague goal. This not only exhausts them, but also causes an imbalance elsewhere in their lives, which can create more exhaustion just to set right. Coaching turns this around to IA (Intelligent Action). In the coaching process you get clear on an end state that you want to achieve, one that you can realistically accomplish within a defined timeframe. We build a plan for getting there and work together to see it through. Each week you get closer and closer by taking on only actions that you can handle. Incremental change. New habits. Big results.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Women who make it happen

In the movie, "As Good As It Gets," Diane Keaton is a playwright betrayed by Jack Nicholson, a confirmed bachelor. But Keaton draws on her writing expertise to turn her angst into creative genius and then to material success. Inspired by tragedy and turmoil, she produces a comedy, at Nicholson's expense. In so doing, she processes her feelings on stage, gaining catharsis. Of course, since this is Hollywood, her play becomes wildly successful. And it becomes an object lesson for Nicholson, who sees the play, recognizes himself on stage, and kicks off some soul searching of his own. The play transforms them both and they end up together (Hollywood again).

The point is Keaton's positive transformation of a negative situation. Do you have your own example? If so, please share it with us here.