Today marks the 16th anniversary of the awful 9/11 attacks on the United States. It was a devastating day for the world. The four co-ordinated attacks using passenger aircraft killed 2996 people and injured 6000. The attacks led to the collapse of the North and South towers of the World Trade Centre and cost $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage.

I remember that day vividly and can recall the immense shock and sadness that I felt. It was hard to comprehend and take in what had happened. I recall thinking that the world would never be the same and that the attacks would lead to change and further conflict.

The day had added significance for me. Having just completed my Executive Coach training and gained a qualification, I undertook my first official client coaching session at 2pm that day (UK time). This was 9am in New York. The first attack happened 14 minutes before this and the second 3 minutes later.

On this significant day I have taken some time to reflect on the insights and lessons I’ve learned from the client coaching and other development work I’ve completed over the past 16 years.

I’m very grateful for all the present and previous clients who have engaged me to help them and take me into their confidence. I feel very privileged to get to do what I love to do and feel humbled that people trust me to help them achieve their goals and dreams.

It’s a real honour to get to do this and it gives me a great deal of satisfaction when I see people grow and overcome their fears and challenges.

16 insights and lessons gained from my coaching and development work:

  1. Good health is our real wealth.
  2. Quit comparing yourself to others as you will never find anyone exactly the same as you. Be yourself as everyone else is taken.
  3. You learn more from listening than talking. You have two ears and one mouth for a reason.
  4. Small actions applied consistently lead to outstanding results and it’s the smallest margins sometimes that create victories and successes.
  5. Clarity is power. Taking the time to get clear on what you want in life is a very valuable use of time.
  6. Be careful what you think about as our thoughts very often create our reality.
  7. A simple act of kindness has the power to transform someone’s life and doesn’t have to cost much apart from the investment of time.
  8. When people focus on their strengths rather their weaknesses they achieve amazing things.
  9. Our biggest limitations are the ones we have in our own mind. We have 60,000 thoughts a day and most of them are negative and about our self!
  10. A ship in a harbour is safe but that isn’t what ships were built for. Great treasure and discoveries lie outside the harbour and our comfort zone.
  11. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication (Leonardo Di Vinci). Less is more.
  12. Happy teams are 12% more productive (Warwick University research).
  13. An attitude of gratitude increases happiness by 25% (Emmons and McCullough research)
  14. Each day is a gift and blessing. Never take it for granted.
  15. When you encounter challenges in life know that “this too will pass.”
  16. If you always do the same things, you will always get the same results. If you want different results, you need to do something different.

This week, why not take a few moments out to reflect and consider what have been the biggest insights and lessons you have learned over the past 16 years. What has your work and life taught you?

This week’s quotation.

“Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.” Brian Tracy.

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk