Past Coach Talks

How To Overcome Your Inner Perfectionist… Mar 4, 2010

I’ve got a wish. I wish I could erase a word from your vocabulary. That word is perfection. I know I am being dramatic here and it’s not really the word I want to erase, but the baggage that comes along with it.

What's Your Promise Nov 25, 2009

I get a ton of questions from people who ask me how to choose a good niche. I'm going to tell you exactly what to do to get it figured out for good. It all boils down to one very simple thing.

The Business Secrets of a Poker Player Sep 24, 2009

There is a difference between knowing how to do something and being a master of it. There is a difference between dabbling in something and being a master of that pursuit. I know how instrumental this mind shift has been for me in my life. And naturally, I just want to share with you some of what I've learned.

Double Your Productivity with a Daily Power Hour Sep 7, 2009

Here’s a simple technique for making steady, daily progress on your most important priorities. I call it the “Power Hour.” If you schedule a Power Hour every day, you can see a doubling in your daily productivity, because you’ll make time to spend a highly productive hour on your top priority.

To-Do List a Mile Long Feb 16, 2009

For me, as for most of the conscious business owners I know, we have a to-do list a mile long. And its easy to get caught in a trap of thinking that more is better - if I can do this mile long list, then I can tackle that mile long list over there, etc. Problem is, this is what keeps me on the treadmill of focusing on the day-to-day and not stepping back to see the bigger picture, and picking my actions from there.

Jobless rate hits 7.2% - yikes! Jan 10, 2009

In reading the headlines from the New York Times today I saw this: "Jobless Rate Hits 7.2%, a 16-Year High." This is very disturbing news, especially if you are one of the 7.2%. It makes me wonder how many people see this as an opportunity vs. a curse.

Waiting Is OK Dec 10, 2008

One of the time mastery experts from whom we heard during our recent Time Experts Telesummit talked about the way we are conditioned to react to stimuli. He asked listeners to reflect on how they react to things such as a newly arrived email, a ringing phone, a doorbell, a fire alarm. And I noticed that all of those things have the power to elicit a response that has me immediately leaping to action (although I’m pretty sure that in the case of a fire alarm, that particular response is likely the preferred one).

Stop Playing Small Nov 6, 2008

Since I have taken on the Time Experts Telesummit, one question I have been hearing a lot is "What do you see as the biggest time management challenge?" My answer may surprise you at first.

Doing Less and Being Better Oct 23, 2008

I have been a citizen of the "doing a lot nation" for a long time. In high school, I was a member of dozens of clubs, played sports and managed to have a thriving social life. In college, I worked 3 jobs, DJ'ed every weekend, ran a weekly entertainment magazine and--oh yeah--I went to school. Things didn't slow down for me after college - I ran a nightclub, a record store and a distribution company while producing/remixing music in my spare time.

Can't Shake This Nagging Feeling Sep 25, 2008

Hello, it's good to be talking to you again. I've seemingly been quiet the last few months, but there's been a lot going on here in the trenches that I am bursting at the seams to share it with you. Most of the people in my life have thought that I was successful. I had a full coaching practice. I had successful associate coaches. My workshops have done well. So what's the problem?

Greetings! Aug 28, 2008

As I sit here, wanting to share a coaching thought, I realize my brain seems blank. No ideas are coming, and I'm feeling like I don't have anything to say. Which is weird, because I usually do! So that got me to thinking about monkey mind (your inner critic or censor), and the idea of being willing verses wanting. My monkey mind may try to convince me that I don't have anything to share, and yet I know rationally that is not true. This leads me into a monkey mind fit that says I don't want to write a coaching thought today. And this puts me into what I think of as the spin cycle of getting nowhere.

That's My Story May 6, 2008

Welcome to Spring! Spring fever has caught us, and we are celebrating by examining the stories we tell ourselves. "Tell Me Who You Are?" I heard this question over and over again at a four and a half day workshop I have just attended. One of the wonderful realizations that came out of my experience is the knowing that I am not my story. I am not the stories that I make up about myself and I am certainly not the stories that others make up about me. I am a spiritual being having a human experience and in that human experience exist an infinite number of stories and an infinite number of possibilities. I get to pick the story and I get to choose which possibilities will be created for me and around me. I am not my story and at the same time, the stories I pick influence my life. Explore your stories by reading the following article by Alan Roby.

Who Do You Think You Are? Apr 7, 2008

I have been studying various roadmaps people use toward success. Many books would have you think that it's about some 7-step process. All you have to do is follow this simple formula and you will get what you want. The truth is that any formula might work for some people and more than likely fail others. There is no general play-by-play book. Part of our own individual path in life is to find our own blueprint. A big part of being able to do that is to know your own purpose. Once we know that, being lost temporarily can actually be a valuable experience. Check out Kristine's thoughts on that in the following article.

Driving In China Mar 18, 2008

I have been thinking a lot about assumptions we make and the things we take for granted. Yesterday I was talking to a dear client of mine on a small island on Malta and realized that some of the things I assume about business to be universal are indeed specific to the United States and perhaps even to me. I assume that it's easy to get great phone service. I assume that I will grow my business. I assume that I can find employees with relative ease. These assumptions are supported by my circumstances. What if my circumstances changed? What would happen to my assumptions then? A better question for you might be, "What assumptions are you making and how are they affecting your business?" Check out some of Kristine's thoughts in the full article.

The Magic Energy Machine Mar 11, 2008

I'd like to share with you the concept of the Energy Machine. One of our next economic booms is in the alternative energy field. Oil is running out, coal has horrendous effects on our environment, nuclear is potentially dangerous, etc. So the holy grail in the energy field is to be able to come up with technology where you are able to get more energy then you put in without depleting your finite resources. So this got me thinking, what if we thought of our businesses as this Energy Machine? Read to explore more...

Soul of Success Mar 5, 2008

I have been noticing for a while how my clients tend to miraculously conspire to speak to me about a similar subject on any given week. This week the topic has been "success" - what it means and what are the secrets of attaining it. It's fascinating how different each person's take on it is. For one person it seems to be execution, for another, as in the article by Alan below, it's finding your soul and yet for someone else it's their network of support that means most. The one thing that all of these strategies have in common is the knowing that THIS is the way. It's that unshakable knowing that if you travel down this path, you will get to where you're going.

Don't Be Evil Feb 6, 2008

I am reminded today how we often work harder then we have to in order to avoid that which we fear most. We fear being broke so we work non-stop to prevent that from happening. We fear our spouse may leave us so we try really hard to please them. We fear that we are not bringing enough value to our clients so we go the extra mile to make sure they are satisfied. As a short-term strategy this works. As a sustainable way of being, this is a way to maximize the time and energy you spend and minimize what you get back. How much energy are you expending, and for what return? Read on to find out...

Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out Jan 16, 2008

This Coach Talk is packed with articles and exercises ranging from discovering your true nature to changing the way that you relate to money. The featured article uses Timothy Leary's 40 year old phrase, "Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out" to focus on bring more of your Self into what you do.

Year In Review Dec 17, 2007

Reflections on the past year at Bill Baren Coaching, intentions for the New Year, and the famous "Best Of 2007" picks for movies, books, and music.

Flip A Coin Nov 28, 2007

"I need to flip more coins." That's what the email from my client read. What it was really saying is that we lose so much time, energy and often money in the process of making a decision. This Coach Talk explores the process of making decisions and offers an exercise to help you "Get Unstuck and Get Going!"

Human Beings vs. Human Doings Nov 12, 2007

We all get busy and sometimes it seems all we do is go from place to place, task to task. What if you stopped and considered who you were being during the course of your day? Are you being happy, annoyed, satisfied, impatient? This Coach Talk explores how being yourself naturally leads to doing which in turn creates the results you want.

Prioritize What's Important Jul 11, 2007

What's important to you? It sounds like a simple question, yet most of the time we are not consciously aware of the answer. And if that's the case, we are certainly not allocating enough time and energy to doing things that will allow us to have that which we want. This Coach Talk is dedicated to exploring the importance of prioritizing what's important. It also includes an exercise to help you choose what to prioritize and how to do it.

15 Minutes of Fame Apr 11, 2007

In my years of being committed to my own personal and spiritual growth, I have noticed how I continually attract people, clients and situations that allow me to let go parts of my programming that are not working for me and are ready to be shed. I am now more boldly stepping into embracing this wonderful way the Universe is assisting me in my journey.

My Own Private Oscars Feb 24, 2007

In the week after the Oscars, I wanted to share my favorite films of the last year. Some are entertaining, some are spiritual, some are informational and all of them highly recommended.

Whisper of a Call Dec 11, 2006

One of my wonderful clients has quit her job. She is delighted at the prospect of devoting herself full-time to her business and her life?s work. She was arriving at the last big staff meeting, at her now past-employer?s, with the intention of breaking the news of her departure to most of her colleagues. How will they react? Will they be supportive of her pursuing her dream?

Life and Happiness May 4, 2006

This Coach Talk is dedicated to the memory of Micah Mei I was reluctant to start this Coach Talk with a topic that brings up so much sadness and discomfort for most people. Yet, to begin with anything else would simply be disingenuous. The 1 1/2 year-old daughter of two of my dear friends unexpectedly passed away this month. Can anything be done or said to help this family deal with the pain, the numbness and the realignment of life without their daughter? Probably not. I do want to pass on the message from the father of Micah Mei (at least my version of what I understood from his speech at the funeral):

Reality - What a Concept? Apr 1, 2006

I've always found travel to be one the most significant sources of emotional, physical and spiritual recharge. Just being away from the regular daily rituals of life and business can create a fresh perspective. Travel gives us an opportunity to get off the treadmill of our regular lives - away from the forces that create the illusion of forward movement. Upon our return, we are able to see our lives in a much more objective way. This perspective allows us to get more traction for conscious personal and career movement. Check out my personal reflections section to read a bit about my recent travels.

How Do You Handle Adversity? Mar 22, 2005

"Shining in the Dark" - Another Brilliant Story from my friend, Corii, about a carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee. You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

The Journey Feb 28, 2006

It's not always easy for me to start writing my Coach Talks, but when I finally do get started, I remember how much I enjoy it. I love the process of writing, of sharing my ideas and of coming up with new ways of thinking for myself. I often find greater clarity around ideas I thought were clear in the first place. So why is it so hard for me to start something I enjoy so much? Why have I not published this newsletter in over 3 months?

Belive and Be Inspired Aug 14, 2005

Am I Successful Enough? Jul 21, 2005

I am on a mission to redefine success. It is so often in our culture we define success in terms of what we do and not who we are. What would the world look like if success was measured by who we are being ? a loving father, a dedicated lover, a conscious business person, a compassionate human being. There is a great movement in today?s business climate to expand the definition of success from one ?p? to three ?p?s.? Many organizations are starting to define their own success from the perspective of their profit and additionally the planet and the people. This creates a holistic approach to business rather than a singular track ?money approach? to the situation. These companies do enjoy profits as well, but without sacrificing our planet nor people in the process. This works on a personal level as well. If we define our success solely based on how much money we are earning or how much power we have, we ultimately forget the greatest impact we can have on this planet. The greatest impact we can have is to be the best person we can be. If we learn to be more compassionate toward ourselves, our capacity to be more compassionate towards others effortlessly increases.

Why Does Life Coaching Work? Jun 14, 2005

Because coaching is a relatively new profession and most people I know haven't had any direct experience with it, the question of why coaching works is something I frequently hear. One of the biggest misconceptions is that coaching is about giving advice. I believe that all of the answers we seek are inside of ourselves. We shouldn't go to a coach to be told what to do. The reason to go to a coach is to empower yourself to listen to your own inner voice. Seeking outside help can be beneficial to your development or it can be an escape. Pushing the responsibility away from your self, from your own truth, and going with someone else's view is only a short term solution.

Best Year of our Lives Jan 5, 2005

Has this scenario ever happened to you? It's January 1st and it feels good to have all the resolutions written down. You feel hopeful and refreshed. 2005 will be a great year! Then six, five, four or perhaps even one week later, we find we have already broken many of our resolutions or have not taken any steps to getting what we want. Perhaps next year?