Coaching Corner: What! I need to learn something from this???
By "Coach" Marilou Butcher Roth
OK, today I am going to share a story that is relatively embarrassing for me, and one that you will hopefully benefit from. The reason I am doing this is two-fold which I will go into after my sad tale of woe!
It all seemed to begin the day after Easter. Notice that I said “seemed.†The reality is this particular saga began a few days before when plans changed and suddenly I was not only having a houseful of people for dinner on Easter (complete with an Easter Egg Hunt), but now I was having people for Passover Dinner the night before as well. The reasons don't matter here -- the important part is that I agreed reluctantly and fell into the old mental trap of feeling I had no choice. It may not sound like this is a funny story, yet I am laughing! So, in preparation, I rush through the necessities of both of these events and I can say they were both not only successful but enjoyable as well -- yay!
So now its the next day and I am in full work mode, headed back to my office (at home) when suddenly, with my hands filled with paperwork, I trip ever so gracefully over the dog bed and crack my lower arm into the corner of the wall. It literally took me to my knees in pain and a hump appeared immediately. After having each of my four sons break an arm, I was well familiar with the “hump,†so off to the orthopedist we went. I luckily did not break anything but did have a bone bruise, which was certainly a new term for me.
Fast forward two weeks -- the weather was beautiful and I felt inspired to clean the screened in porch to prepare for our much sought after lounging. There was some left over firewood which I so efficiently (or so I thought) was tossing over towards the wood pile. One toss in particular caught my foot and over the steps I again gracefully went, flat down onto the flagstone patio. Oh yeah! This time my right knee took the hit and I can tell you it is a sight to see! Again, nothing broken with the exception of my pride!
To finish (hopefully) this new distasteful trend, I was leaving an appointment this past Monday and the beautiful sun was shining brightly and I backed into a trailer that I did not see. I am sure this was graceful as well. Yep, my car now has a lovely dent on its rear fender with red paint on it!
It appears I am quite the slow learner here and I finally got myself centered enough to ask what the heck was up with all of these so called “accidents.†The realization came right away. In thinking back to each incident I was clearly not present. In each case I was thinking about what was happening later, what I needed to do and feeling very much as if my time was limited!
As I mentioned earlier, my reason for sharing is two-fold -- one to remind each of you busy people that you need to be 100 percent present with whatever you are doing. Whether it is writing a contract or doing your laundry. Anything other than your complete attention can lead to situations you do not want! The other reason is that my apparent misfortune can be of service to you. Its easy to blame situations or others for our mishaps, but there is true value when we can turn these events into learning not just for ourselves but for others as well!
Marilou Butcher Roth
Marilou Butcher Roth is the owner of The MBR Group, a coaching and training company working primarily with REALTORS who have a desire to work and live from a more inspired place. She is also the Broker/Owner of Group REALTORS in Cincinnati.
Marilou is a member of the Ohio REALTORS Board of Directors and past chairman of the organization’s Communications Committee.
