Tweet

So Thats What The Brake Pedal Is For! Great Executive Coaches Add Balance

Written by: Grant Fairley

Article Overview: Successful entrepreneurs understand that executive coaches can add an important dimension to their growth in business and as people. Great executive coaches add balance that can make all the difference in how effective the entrepreneur ultimately is.

So Thats What The Brake Pedal Is For! Great Executive Coaches Add Balance

Most successful executives, government leaders and top sales professionals have an ability to move forward quickly. They understand how to accelerate ahead of their competitors. In most cases, their greatest competition is not the other person in their company or the competition - it's competing against themselves. They try to better their bottom line, their productivity, their sales or whatever they measure. It is this ability and desire to strive that has brought the executive to the level of success they now enjoy. They know how to use the gas pedal!

Less well worn for most of these top executives is the brake pedal. Some seem to have never even used it at all. The pressure to stay ahead encourages the executive to try to floor it throughout their career because the other driver is either ahead of you or at least in your rear-view mirror and closing fast.

What retired executive successes will often share with their fast-lane successors is that it's important to use the brakes too. The unintended consequence for many top executives is loneliness, frustration and ultimately despair. Life - that non-renewable resource has gone by in a blur. The time with spouse, children, friends and exploring yourself as a person have been left behind in the dust of getting ahead. The achievements of executive life are colored by the losses of the dimensions of relationships and the true joy of living.

Many driven executives have spent their lives convinced that they will slow down after the next big deal or the next promotion. Then they will relax and take time for their spouse, children and friends. That worthwhile charity will have my time once I retire. I'll help out in my community when work lets up. I'll pick up the paint brushes, learn that musical instrument or take that trip another time. Many executives wake up one day to find out its too late. The company they invested their life into has been sold. They've been replaced. A health problem takes you out of the game. Or like many executives who have finally achieved all their goals - you have a moment where you ask, "Is this all there is?"

Great executive coaches help the executive make choices for balance in their life and career. With a commitment to a whole person approach to the executive coaching process, the effective coach believes that not only is this kind of balance wise - it actually will make you more successful in your career as well.

Then at the end of your life - you'll not only have a great career story - you'll have a great life story!

Related Articles
  Executive Business Coaches Increase Sales by Creating Balance Between Marketing and Sales Plans
  Achieve Inside Out Results through an Executive Business Coach
  Can Be Before Can Do! Great Executive Coaches Add Encouragement
  Is Executive Coaching For You?
  Why the Movement to License Business Coaches to Executive Coaches

Article Tags: entrepreneur, executive coaches, successful entrepreneurs



Related Forum Posts
Re: Sources of Cash - Thanks for the help. The items will be recorded in the Balance Sheet. But why does the Balance Sheet always balances. Is there a specific reason
$1000 and a stupid idea - [quote="OmnivoreInk":8mkh1lv7]Bill and Heidi Dittmar: Executive Lifestyle founders of a magazine called Executive Lifestyle. Started in 1991. Revenue has grown more than 200% since 2004. 4 full time, 3 part time employees "We started off with $1,000 and a stupid idea." It began as This Month, a guide for tourists, and morphed into Executive Lifestyle.[/quote:8mkh1lv7] Hi Barbara, I find this story about Bill and Heidi Dittmar's success to be especially interesting! Would you happen to know what the catalyst or tipping point was for their change from a guide for tourists to an Executive Lifestyle magazine? Thanks
Re: Sources of Cash - Thank you for guidance and direction. Is there a simpler way of understanding the Balance Sheet and all the components that are to be recorded.
5 Entrepreneur's success stories - My local paper's business section profiled 5 successful entrepreneurs in the Jan 6, 2008 issue of the paper. Thought I'd share just a bit of it here. Bill and Heidi Dittmar: Executive Lifestyle Jeff Wassmer: Spectrum Deloise Hawkins, Star Whitaker and Lenzy Hill: Touch of Elegance Stephen Brosius: Advanced Door Systems Pam Watson: Goodrich and Watson Insurers Bill and Heidi Dittmar: Executive Lifestyle founders of a magazine called Executive Lifestyle. Started in 1991. Revenue has grown more than 200% since 2004. 4 full time, 3 part time employees "We started off with $1,000 and a stupid idea." It began as This Month, a guide for tourists, and morphed into Executive Lifestyle. Jeff Wassmer: Spectrum Company specializes in computer network security and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance. Wassmer was an 11-year Air Force guy, so he had "ins" in order to form this business. Deloise Hawkins, Star Whitaker and Lenzy Hill: Touch of Elegance Founded business in 1994. 12 employees. Their company designs and plans an average of 25 events each month in Hampton Roads and other parts of Virginia. Stephen Brosius: Advanced Door Systems Started company in 1995. 5 full-time employees, plus subcontractors. After having worked as a subcontractor for others in the construction business for 20 years, he decided to start his own business. Pam Watson: Goodrich and Watson Insurers At age 49, she was approached by an insurance colleague to buy out their employer's insurance division. They did so, and became employers themselves., witj 4 full-time people.
Mentors vs. Coaches - martin, that's a good point about Coaches Vs. Wise old owls... would be great to have a "wise old owl" with Coaching abilities... I have noticed a previous mentor of mine was not open to new ways of doing things as she mentioned that the tired and true method that worked for her was the only thing she would support that I do. It worked ofcourse and we got the desired outcome just as planned - so I'm not complaining.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Starting a Business a Brave Move or a NoBrainer

Top 5 Tips for Better Online Ads

Providing Feedback

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.