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Posts Tagged ‘coaching’

Procrastination is the Devil

19 Mar

My mom told me she’s giving up procrastination for lent. Hmm…I didn’t give up anything for lent this year and haven’t for the past few years. In the past, when I’ve given up something, it has been a half-hearted attempt. As in, I don’t really mean to give up ice cream. If the opportunity for ice cream presents itself, I’m still going to take it.

But that’s not the point of lent.

So I said I’ll give up swearing. And that didn’t last long. About 30 minutes, actually.

Which brings me back to my mom. Procrastination is the devil. Truly. It does you absolutely no good, and in fact, could harm you if used too frequently.

I haven’t been writing posts lately, and it was noticed. I didn’t like it that someone called me out on the floor. I was procrastinating. I told myself I didn’t feel creative, or no one reads this blog anyway. And, the most useful excuse, I couldn’t carve out the time.

I’m sick of the excuses. So, mom, you are right. I am giving up procrastination for lent and truly, I am forcing the devil away from me. Last night, I organized my files and shredded documents that were five years old. Today, I am writing this #*&@ blog post no matter what. And I feel really good.

What did you give up for lent? (I don’t recommend giving up sweet treats, it just never pans out.)

 
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Stillness Retreats

31 Jan

I like to compare things. I like comparing our network to other networks. I enjoy seeing contests and asking myself how I can adapt it for a contest with Sportsman Channel. When I see slogans my mind automatically thinks of ways to spin it for the hunting/shooting/fishing crowd. For example, HGTV has a new contest called “HGTV’d.” I don’t even know what it is about, but as soon as I saw the commercial, I was wondering if we could get our viewers  “Sportsman’d”

My latest comparison inspiration came from a life-coach blog. (You know I love those life coaches, read a post about it here.) This one is called “Your Courageous Life” and she’s promoting a “Stillness Retreat” in early March in California. The description says “you’ll be surrounded by the smells of cedar and eucalyptus, with the ocean just a ten-minute walk away.” I gathered the purpose of the retreat is to find peace and quiet to write, meditate with the opportunity to unwind and get a downward dog or two in there.

Stillness by Lady-bug

I sort of grunted when I read the retreat description. As in, does she make money doing a “stillness retreat?” Do people not have the time/energy to just be still for an hour or an afternoon? That they need to travel somewhere and PAY someone for the pleasure of being alone and still?

I already know the answer is “yes” to all of the above. We are so busy, so tied up, so stressed we need to pay someone for the pleasure of stilling our body and minds.

But I have news for you over-stressed folk – there is another way and it’s FREE!

It’s called Being Outdoors.

For those who hunt deer in a treestand, would you say you are practicing stillness for those 4-5 hours?

For those who hunt turkey in blind, are quieting your mind and body so as not to alert any sharp-eyed turkeys?

For those who fly fish or just drop a line in a smooth stream, don’t you have a quiet focus about you as you perfect your cast or tie your fly?

Granted you don’t have your journal or laptop with you as you do these things, but I’ve heard hundreds of stories of fellow hunters who’ve solved problems, created lists and generally sorted out their life while in a treestand. Call it therapy.

So if the outdoors industry could capitalize on these “Stillness Retreats,” I think we could really get some stress-out suburbanites enjoying the outdoors with us.

The ad would say something along the lines of:

Be surrounded by the smells of pine and fresh moss, with a gurgling mountain spring just steps away. Be able to contemplate the meaning of life and organize your mind’s “to-do” list while sitting comfortably in a safely enclosed area with your own private view of the forest. (This is my version of a blind in corporate speak) Back at the cabin, a quilted bed and roaring fireplace welcome you to share your day’s journey with your comrades. And you can bring your camera, journal and laptop, as you’ll have plenty of time during the day to capture memories. All the while you are surrounded by quiet….Stillness.

 
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Life Coach/Hunting Coach

03 Nov

I’ve dabbled in the idea of hiring a life coach, but I haven’t pulled the trigger for several reasons:

1. I was never really sure what they did – part psychologist? part cheerleader?  What makes someone a life coach?

2. I couldn’t validate the hundreds of dollars per month they wanted (and yes, you have to buy more than just one month)

3. Isn’t this what a mentor is for?

Haley & G.O. Heath, hosts of "Family Traditions with Haley Heath" always try to have their kids with them when outdoors

Have you noticed the increase in life coaches infiltrating our blogs, books and conversation? I’ve read two blog posts this week on Men with Pens who were written by life coaches. I was at a recent WICT panel and two of the women said they’ve hired “executive coaches” for their careers. (Executive coach means the same as life coach, only focusing on your career)

So I started wondering if there is such a thing as a “hunting coach” or “outdoors coach?” What about the folks that have visited their tree stand no less than a dozen times each season only to come up empty-handed? Or what if you want to take part in some outdoors activity, but don’t want to do the group thing, like “Becoming an Outdoors Woman” and would much prefer private coaching as you catch your backcast on the brush for the umpteenth time? Maybe you just need encouragement to get outside. Not a guide, mind you, but a real coach.

Is there such a thing?

Someone who knows a little of psychology, is positive and doesn’t tie your fly for you or carry your equipment to the stand (because that would be too ‘guide-ish’ and not ‘coaching’). This person would share their wisdom of the particular activity and review your goals for the season. Is your goal to finally get your first buck? Or to cast on your own and actually catch something?

A hunting coach, as I see it, would have a pre-hunt call to go over strategy, which may include a trip to the woods to view stand placement etc. Then, the next visit is the actual hunt with a final follow up for review. Perhaps this person does this cycle with you two or three times before leaving you to your own devices.

Of course, this begs the question – is there also a mental game to fly fishing or hunting etc? They say golf is 90 percent mental. You can psych yourself out of making a putt, or be your own cheerleader during a string of birdies. Is our lifestyle the same way? I think having someone in your corner who isn’t a competitor, whose sole purpose is to help you reach your goals, could be a breakthrough for many outdoorsmen and women.

If such a “job” existed, would it get more people involved in the outdoors? Maybe these coaches become certified by NSSF or some governing board.

Most importantly, would people buy this sort of thing? Or would they ask the same questions as I did in the beginning of this post?

 
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