"Coaching is a process used to empower employees to put forth their best efforts to reach the limits of their abilities." Tricked you here...since there is no limit to your abilities...your greatness. That being written, coaching does help you to be the best you can be and reach for being even better.

For more on coaching, check out my Coaching: A Beginning and Coaching: Now Do It eWorkbooks and modules as well as my Coaching and Feedback Training Kit.

David Warne, the new Director of Training at CommuniCare Health Services recently sent me these kind words in an email..."I get a number of newsletters/emails from various training professionals and organizations and yours is consistently one of the most helpful and well organized. In each letter I find at least 2-3 ideas that are immediately relevant to something I'm working on, or to my role in general. Over the years, you've introduced me to a variety of resources, ideas, websites, etc that I still tap into. Thanks for keeping me on your distribution list."

As many of you know, things "arrive" just when you need them. I received this email at a very special time. It's nice to know that people are reading my newsletters (and blogs), but it's even nicer when I hear that people find meaning or value in what I deliver. Thank you, David, and all of you that communicate your appreciation to me. With a song in my heart:)

Get ready to be awed by this video. It was submitted in a contest by a 20-year old. The contest was titled "u @ 50" by AARP. This video won second place. When they showed it, everyone in the room was awestruck and broke into spontaneous applause. It’s worth the two minutes it takes to watch it.

When it comes to finding content when you need it, a great source is our professional and trade magazines, journals, and/or publications. Unfortunately, weeding through each issue can be daunting. So, cut them up.

Here is what I recommend:

1. Collect your stacks of magazines, journals, and publications.
2. Tear them apart and throw the ads away.
3. Read through and/or skim the articles, noting a category at the top. (Remember, unless you're interested in the content or working on a project regarding the content, you have permission to file it until you need it - without reading it!)
4. Throw away any article with content you'll never use.
5. If one article ends on an odd page and a new article begins on its even side, make a copy of the odd side of the page so that it can remain with its article. The original page can be used for the beginning of the new article. (This is only necessary if you choose to file both articles.)
6. Staple the pages of the article together if there is more than one page.
7. Categorize the articles. Possible articles might include:

• Team
• Leadership
• Human Resources
• Ethics
• Diversity
• Sales

8. Place the articles in the appropriate file folder.

Note: If you're like me, 6 to 9 months go by before there is time to read or skim my collection of magazines, journals, and publications. Organizing it all at the same time saves time when filing…at least that is what I tell myself. It's a time management plus.

Our Coaching and Feedback Training Kit consists of:

• 8 AudioCast Lessons plus the AudioCast instructions.
• Handouts for each lesson.
• Coaching Assessment.
• Coaching Discussion Preparation and Follow Up form.
• Feedback Effectiveness Self-Assessment.
• Coaching and Feedback Job Aids.
• Self-Study Course Follow Up Checklist.
• Self-Study Schedule.
• Qualification Quiz.
• Certificate of Completion. (Submit the Self-Study Schedule and Qualification Quiz for your eligibility.)

Read more about the Coaching and Feedback Self-Study Course.

"Joy is prayer - Joy is strength - Joy is love - Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. She gives most who gives with Joy."

-- Mother Teresa

Some people unconsciously believe it's not okay to feel more joyful than the people around them. Out of a mistaken sense of caring, they squelch their joy and tune in to the sadness of the one they are with.

In truth, joy is one of the greatest gifts we can give to people around us. Those who are unhappy need our joy, not our sadness.

"Never miss a joy in this world of trouble...that's my theory!... Happiness, like mercy, is twice blest: it blesses those most intimately associated with it and it blesses all those who see it, hear it, touch it or breathe the same atmosphere."

-- Kate Douglas Wiggin

(This is brought to you by Higher Awareness.)

The Pareto Principle says that in any set of elements, the critical elements usually constitute a minority of the set. This has come to be known as the 80/20 rule.

In other words, 80% of your activities produce 20% of the results, while only 20% of your activities produce about 80% of the results. Or 80% of all success comes from 20% of your efforts. What areas of your life need to be considered in light of this principle?

For more on time management, check out my Time Management eWorkbook and module.