The Art Of Coaching: Clarify Your Aim, Focus Your Hunger
250 words/min = 4 min read
“Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a person does not know what harbor they are making for, no wind is the right wind”. -Seneca
In today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world, it’s more important than ever to have clear aims in life. But what happens when our hunger gets in the way of our aim? Successful leaders cultivate awareness and move towards their aim no matter how slow the progress. They take time to understand the difference between their aims and their hunger and why it’s important to coach our aim instead of our hunger. So many driven team members in organizations use hunger as the fuel of motivation but never take the time to understand the “why” behind the drive. They are motivated, but hunger and drive without direction can lead to disaster. Why do we coach our aim over our hunger?
Section 1: The Danger of Uninhibited Hunger
Moms everywhere have told us never to go to the grocery store on an empty stomach to keep from spending too much money! It’s like our stomachs shop instead of our brains. Did you know that your mind filters out other distractions when you’re hungry, and you literally won’t even experience things around you if it is not food? It’s called SELECTIVE FOCUS, and you can read more about it in this article. What happens when our hunger drives other areas in our lives?
We should always take time to question our motivations. Why do we want the promotion? Why do we want to lead others? Why do we want to grow our business or move into a new market? We always need first to understand the “why” of our goal. Without knowing what we are working towards, we are driven by desire alone and may not achieve the best outcome. If we are taking a promotion for the sole purpose of making more money, we risk stepping into a new job we hate or, worst, performing poorly in the role. We might go out to eat because we’re bored or sad. We might spend money on things we don’t need for a pick-me-up. We might date someone who isn’t good for us to feel good about ourselves. Our hunger is based on how we feel, not what is best for us. Instead of focusing on how we feel and letting the feelings, desires, and hunger lead us, we should focus on our aim.
Section 2: The Importance of Coaching to Uncover Aim
You can’t coach hunger out of someone. It exists even if it’s just in our heads. So the question is, what do we do with our hunger? We direct our hunger-energy to move towards achieving our aim. When our aims rest on strong and noble values, principles, and commitments, they guard our destructive hunger. We keep our motivation and hunger in check. We can use our hunger to get us to the grocery store, but our aim of being financially responsible keeps us on a budget. We use our aim to direct the energy that our hunger produces. When we focus on our aim, we are not working against our hunger, so it takes less self-discipline. We release our hunger to be free to roam as long as it aligns with our aim.
When we coach our aim, we reflect on what we want to create. Do we want to create a robust and profitable company, a high-performing team, a strong marriage, or well-adjusted kids? Then we take time to clarify the best ways to produce those results and move with intention. We coach our aim so that we can tell our hunger “this, not that.” The stronger our aim and the more we focus on achieving our aim, the more our brains block out other distractions that may entice our hunger. So coaching our aim is the way to direct our hunger and drive.
Many times we make the mistake of getting it reversed. We try and talk our aim into following our hunger. We listen to our hunger, our drive, then talk our aim into following it. We perform mental gymnastics to develop all the reasons our movement is right and just. The problem is that we haven’t spent the time it takes to understand ourselves, be honest with ourselves, and be acquainted with our own demons. The danger in these instances is that our hunger cannot be coached or quailed, and usually, we reap unintended negative consequences.
Section 3: Making Rocket Fuel by Combining Aim and Hunger
It takes tremendous self-awareness and humility to be honest enough to ask, “what are the real reasons I am doing this?” According to research, most people lack strong self-awareness. So, cultivate your awareness before coaching your aim and combining it with your hunger or drive. Ask a manager, friend, coworker, or family member some honest questions. Talk to a coach about what is driving you.
Hunger motivates us to work harder and achieve our goals. Aim directs the energy and drive that hunger produces. The key to achieving success is to combine these two forces and use them to achieve your goals. Once you better understand your drives and motivations, give them some guardrails and freedom.
When we combine our aim with hunger, we create personal rocket fuel. Fuel energizes and motivates us to achieve success or make it through tough times. Rocket fuel is essential for getting us started. It gives us the energy and persistence we need to achieve our goals. Without it, we might give up before we even start. Rocket fuel spent well, lifts us, our careers, those around us, and takes us on incredible new adventures. However, rocket fuel burning with no boundaries or control is simply a devastating explosion.
So next time you are working with your team (or have a late-night craving), remember that hunger is not bad as long as it follows our aim.
If you need some additional help gaining clarity around your aim or setting up boundaries around your hunger, check out MOVE!
~ Coach D
The Art Of Coaching: Clarify Your Aim, Focus Your Hunger
250 words/min = 4 min read
“Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a person does not know what harbor they are making for, no wind is the right wind”. -Seneca
In today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world, it’s more important than ever to have clear aims in life. But what happens when our hunger gets in the way of our aim? Successful leaders cultivate awareness and move towards their aim no matter how slow the progress. They take time to understand the difference between their aims and their hunger and why it’s important to coach our aim instead of our hunger. So many driven team members in organizations use hunger as the fuel of motivation but never take the time to understand the “why” behind the drive. They are motivated, but hunger and drive without direction can lead to disaster. Why do we coach our aim over our hunger?
Section 1: The Danger of Uninhibited Hunger
Moms everywhere have told us never to go to the grocery store on an empty stomach to keep from spending too much money! It’s like our stomachs shop instead of our brains. Did you know that your mind filters out other distractions when you’re hungry, and you literally won’t even experience things around you if it is not food? It’s called SELECTIVE FOCUS, and you can read more about it in this article. What happens when our hunger drives other areas in our lives?
We should always take time to question our motivations. Why do we want the promotion? Why do we want to lead others? Why do we want to grow our business or move into a new market? We always need first to understand the “why” of our goal. Without knowing what we are working towards, we are driven by desire alone and may not achieve the best outcome. If we are taking a promotion for the sole purpose of making more money, we risk stepping into a new job we hate or, worst, performing poorly in the role. We might go out to eat because we’re bored or sad. We might spend money on things we don’t need for a pick-me-up. We might date someone who isn’t good for us to feel good about ourselves. Our hunger is based on how we feel, not what is best for us. Instead of focusing on how we feel and letting the feelings, desires, and hunger lead us, we should focus on our aim.
Section 2: The Importance of Coaching to Uncover Aim
You can’t coach hunger out of someone. It exists even if it’s just in our heads. So the question is, what do we do with our hunger? We direct our hunger-energy to move towards achieving our aim. When our aims rest on strong and noble values, principles, and commitments, they guard our destructive hunger. We keep our motivation and hunger in check. We can use our hunger to get us to the grocery store, but our aim of being financially responsible keeps us on a budget. We use our aim to direct the energy that our hunger produces. When we focus on our aim, we are not working against our hunger, so it takes less self-discipline. We release our hunger to be free to roam as long as it aligns with our aim.
When we coach our aim, we reflect on what we want to create. Do we want to create a robust and profitable company, a high-performing team, a strong marriage, or well-adjusted kids? Then we take time to clarify the best ways to produce those results and move with intention. We coach our aim so that we can tell our hunger “this, not that.” The stronger our aim and the more we focus on achieving our aim, the more our brains block out other distractions that may entice our hunger. So coaching our aim is the way to direct our hunger and drive.
Many times we make the mistake of getting it reversed. We try and talk our aim into following our hunger. We listen to our hunger, our drive, then talk our aim into following it. We perform mental gymnastics to develop all the reasons our movement is right and just. The problem is that we haven’t spent the time it takes to understand ourselves, be honest with ourselves, and be acquainted with our own demons. The danger in these instances is that our hunger cannot be coached or quailed, and usually, we reap unintended negative consequences.
Section 3: Making Rocket Fuel by Combining Aim and Hunger
It takes tremendous self-awareness and humility to be honest enough to ask, “what are the real reasons I am doing this?” According to research, most people lack strong self-awareness. So, cultivate your awareness before coaching your aim and combining it with your hunger or drive. Ask a manager, friend, coworker, or family member some honest questions. Talk to a coach about what is driving you.
Hunger motivates us to work harder and achieve our goals. Aim directs the energy and drive that hunger produces. The key to achieving success is to combine these two forces and use them to achieve your goals. Once you better understand your drives and motivations, give them some guardrails and freedom.
When we combine our aim with hunger, we create personal rocket fuel. Fuel energizes and motivates us to achieve success or make it through tough times. Rocket fuel is essential for getting us started. It gives us the energy and persistence we need to achieve our goals. Without it, we might give up before we even start. Rocket fuel spent well, lifts us, our careers, those around us, and takes us on incredible new adventures. However, rocket fuel burning with no boundaries or control is simply a devastating explosion.
So next time you are working with your team (or have a late-night craving), remember that hunger is not bad as long as it follows our aim.
If you need some additional help gaining clarity around your aim or setting up boundaries around your hunger, check out MOVE!
~ Coach D
