This month we asked our staff "What is the best advice you've ever received?" Their responses were varied and interesting. We hope you find some inspiration from them.
THE BEST ADVICE YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED
"Advice"....I had to look up the word. It comes from a combination of Latin and Old French, basically meaning "to see". I think of it as being open to a fresh way of "seeing". With that one of the best pieces of advice I've gotten was when I called one of my teachers to declare I was failing in one aspect of my job. She said..." you probably are". Her simple acceptance allowed me to see that circumstance in a fresh way. I've had more room and less judgement for failing ever since.
Veronica Satalich, Director of Opportunities
The Golden Rule - Treating others as one wants to be treated. This has supported me what seems forever. Everyone has a different viewpoint, and how would I want to be treated if I had their view. It allows for compassion and relationship, not only for them but for myself as well.
Kathy Austin, Certified NeurOptimal Coach
"You're a smart player, but you've got an average wristshot, no slapshot, and a funny skating style". My Dad told me this one year in high school when I failed to make the varsity hockey team. Hearing an honest assessment of my actual skill level from someone I trusted helped take a lot of the sting out of it. He went on to tell me that I should keep trying hard, have fun on the JV team, and play for the love of the game itself. Ever since then, especially in my work as a coach, I've always lived by a principle of squarely facing uncomfortable truths, while helping people put them in perspective and stay empowered regardless.
Liam Mullaney, Business Coach
"People want to be heard- allow for that." I'm an action-oriented person by nature. If there's a problem, I want to get to the solution. If there's a task to do, I want to plan out the next steps to get it done. And, that's all well and good, but as far as human-to-human interactions go, that's only part of the equation. Before one can problem solve, plan, or strategize with another, a certain amount of trust must be built so that a partnership is possible. I found that when I suspend my tendency to do, to plan, to get things done, and instead listen to the needs, wants and cares of the other human being I'm engaging with, a baseline of mutual understanding, respect and partnership can be built as serve as the foundation that provides for a richer relationship and greater efficiency
Danielle Mason, Course Coordinator
A couple of pieces of "advice" that I refer to quite often. Joe Dispenza says, "The best way to predict your future is to create it." Additionally. Daniel Goodenough said, "The answer is always in the future." My past only gives me what I already know, so these are both great reminders not to get stuck in my past.
Geoff Helzer, Business Coach
"Seek the Question, not the answer" - I don't know where I first heard that. I do know that it's been repeated to me regularly throughout my life and it's something I continue to live into.One of my heros, Albert Einstein, thought questioning and curiosity were the key to learning... and one of my favorite quotes of his is "“If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask… for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes.”
Maren Oslac, Co-host, The Soulful Leader Podcast