Friday, December 24, 2010

A Wagging Tail - Puppy Power

A few family members and friends are getting puppies as gifts this year.  I know the little balls of energy are a lot of work especially for Mom and Dad.  Don't believe that the kids will take care of the dog! You will be the one feeding, caring, and walking the dog.  In the beginning, you are adding an extra child to the family, but the effort is so worth it.  We all know of pets transforming lives bringing love and joy to a lonely, listless person or home.

WAGGING OF THE TAIL
What is about pets that attract us.  Why do we feel the need to add an extra mouth to feed, care for something else, and add another item to our already long list of things to do.  Our daughter has been asking for a dog for 10 years but we kept putting it off.  Too much work, not enough time, all that good stuff.  Children instinctively are attracted to the love and energy of a pet, they intuitively feel the connection and form an instant bond.  What attracts all of us to our pets especially the children is the unconditional love, joy, enthusiasm, and energy that they provide.

When your dog greets you it's tail is ALWAYS wagging!  How wonderful is that simple gesture of a wagging tail always greeting us with it's great to see you and I love you no matter what!

JOY
There's a reason we naturally gravitate to the wagging tail, it's called JOY! Our preference is to be around people and things that are uplifting, happy, joyful, and loving.  All the more so when those wonderful emotions come without judgement and prejudice. Wouldn't it be nice if humans had a tail and then we could see if the person is happy, sad, or fearful. Well, the good thing is that we do come with our own tails and for us it's the face, more specifically our eyes, our smiles. But how often do our tails wag?

Yes, we have a lot going on in our lives.  Adults, children, and families are busier than ever before but maybe we can start treating each other especially our loved ones with a little more kindness and a little more love.  Let's leave our past hurts behind, drop the judgement, try to forgive and forget. Live fully in the present moment.  Try to smile more, laugh more, drop the frown, lose the negativity, and restore the twinkle in your eyes. Watch how your energy and vitality improve.

 Keep that tail wagging!

All the best and continued success.

Much Love,

Tom Kaufmann
Coach K
kaufmanncoaching@gmail.com
tkaufmanncoaching.com

Friday, December 17, 2010

CLIFF LEE IS COMIN' TO TOWN

CLIFF LEE IS COMIN TO TOWN
Wow! Philly is on fire! Cliff Lee after being spurned by the Phillies a season ago returns after snubbing the offers from Texas and the Yankees, both of which involved more $$$.

Why did Cliff Lee come back to the Phils. I know in his press conference he referenced the passion of the fans, that his wife likes the Philly location, and that the team has the potential to win a championship. But there something a little deeper, something more than meets the eye that is not being discussed or even mentioned.

CHALIE, CHALIE, CHALIE
Simply stated Cliff Lee came back to Philly because of Charlie Manuel.  Chalie Manuel the stumblin, bumblin, folksy manager was almost run of town by the snooty, sophisticated media of Philadelphia for not being the sharpest tool in the shed. What the media and others didn't realize is that Charlie knew more about people, interpersonal, and communication skills than the media elite.  Charlie of course has expectations of greatness, but he more importantly leads his team as a family with no preferential treatment for the superstars. He is loyal to his players and he expects hard work, dedication, and loyalty in return. When a player is in a slump, he sticks by him and defends him even if it results in personal attacks on the manager.

LEADERSHIP STARTS AT THE TOP
Charlie leads by example. When one his top players didn't run out a ground ball, he was pulled from the lineup and benched. Charlie's thinking is if my top player can lolligag then so will the other guys. The same energy  that attracted  Roy Halliday to Philadelphia is the same power that brought Cliff Lee. When Roy came to town, he came with a work ethic. His reputation for hard work preceeded him and transcended the entire team. Roy of course won the Cy Young this year as the national league's best pitcher.

Charlie is a players manager, a guy that keeps things loose, sticks up for his guys, and in genuinely interested in the well being of his players.  Charlie Manuel is a leader, a guy that is friendly and likeable, but above all loyal.  We are all just like Cliff Lee we want to be loved, acknowledged, treated with kindness, and respect. Of course Cliff Lee wanted to play for a guy like that. Who wouldn't!

All the best and continued success.

Much Love,

Tom Kaufmann
Coach K
tkaufmanncoaching.com

Monday, December 13, 2010

A Simple Recipe for Success and Happiness

How do we become successful? What is success? Success is one of those ideas that is hard to measure, hard to quantify. I often think that success is a result of doing what we want to do with our lives, sharing our unique talents with the world.  If we enjoy doing what we love and sharing our talent, then as a result we will be successful and happy. Simple enough right. Yes, but HOW!

How do we becme successful and happy
What ever we set out to accomplish  for ourselves, our business, or with others it's important that we keep our committment.  I remember a young buck was starting a landscaping business in the neighborhood and dropped a flyer in the mailbox. I was looking for some help with the lawn and gave him a call. After deciding that he seemed like a nice guy, responsible, and earnest. We agreed that he would cut the grass, I was the first house to use him in the neighborhood.  Before he started, I offered him some simple advice. DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO DO.  If we agree that you're going to cut the grass weekly, then show up and cut the grass. Simple right. He provides the service, I provide the cash, but how many times do people and businesses fail in this simple concept.

Big Achievements Start with Small Accomplishments
The product didn't do what was advertised. The contractor that was supposed to show up for the work doesn't show, the mechanic doesn't fix the car, the cable kees going out.  Successful people do what they say they are going to do, they follow-through, they keep their committments to themselves and others. Start with the little things you say you will do every day. Do you do what you say you're going to do. You told your child you would take them to the movies, you promised a friend you would call, help someone move, or attend a party.  Now things come up, plans change we all know that but these simple acts of keeping our word, keeping our committment, give us the energy, confidence, and determination to accomplish our bigger goals. Without realizing it we develop personal integrity, a trueness to ourselves, and the knowing that I will accomplish what I set out to do.

Keeping Committments To Your Self
Whether you looking to make a million dollars, start you own dream business, accomplish some health or fitness goal, graduate high school or college, or become a better parent. The way to advance in life is to keep your committments starting with yourself.  I want to eat healthier, I want to exercise more, read more, be a little kinder to my spouse and kids, spend more time with my family, advance my career, finish that project, take that trip.  All these wonderful things start with an idea, a thought.  All of these goals, ideas, thoughts, involve many tasks and steps, and just like everything in life we start at the beginning.  Begin, and remember when you do stumble, stumble forward, forgive yourself, and keep moving ahead. I'm eating healthier but I occasionally snack, I'm exercising more but sometimes i take a few days off, I'm earning my degree but had a bad test.  Whatever it is give yourself leeway while keeping the committment.  I do what I say I'm going to do!

Your small successes will become your big achievements!

Continued Success. All the best.

Much Love,

Tom Kaufmann
Coach K
tkaufmanncoaching.com

Sunday, December 5, 2010

A Little Dog - Do you Believe in Miracles?

Miraculous! Miracles. Sounds like such a mysterious, daunting word doesn't it. Yet, they happen every day and all around us if we are open to them.  They probably have happened to you on an individual basis if you think about it or reflect on the things you perhaps attributed to luck or good fortune.

I had my own little miracle encounter the other week.  I was walking our 15 month old Cavalier King Charles, Shay, who of course is adorable and very lovable. My daughter Morgan has been asking for this dog for the past 10 years of her life! Well, we have a beautiful open space park of 20 plus acres right across a busy road from where we live. So, out we went for a little exercise crossing the busy road late on a Friday afternoon.  We got to the park with the sun starting to set and were enjoying our walk.

As I sometimes do, I let her off the leash to romp and roam chasing the birds. She never wanders too far and always comes back. Well for some reason when she was bird dogging, I decided to do a headstand in the nice soft grass, I've been working on balancing myself on my head for several months, and after my headstand of about one minute, I looked up and Shay was gone!

I thought she has to be close so I started calling her and my walk now became a brisk jog. The only other person at the park who was jogging around the area and spotted us earlier asked if I was looking for my dog.  As if it wasn't written all over my face, I answered yes and he kindly mentioned that he saw the dog a few hundred yards away near the house by the road.  My jog turned into a sprint and I was grateful that at least someone spotted her and I knew she was in the area.

I began calling her with a little more desperation. Twenty minutes passed and the sun was beginning to sink below the horizon and darkness was settling in. At this point, my mind started with all the chatter, "you knucklehead, you lost the dog! How will you face the family, what will you tell your daughter!" I told myself to be quiet, that Shay will be fine and that everything would be OK.  I was now debating whether to go back home and get help or continue looking for her. I kept telling myself that there was no way she would cross the busy road on a Friday night, and the very thought sent a shiver through me. I did my best to remain calm and keep the gremlins at bay. Not easy!!

At this point, we had been gone for over an hour and I was ready to head back home with MY tail between my legs, beg forgiveness, and organize a search party. I then heard a voice in the distance calling "Tom, Tom!" My wife Lisa, I knew instantly Shay was safe!!! The tone of her voice told me that everything was OK. She then provided the details that Shay had crossed the busy road, one of my son's friends, Noah, was in a car on the busy road had seen Shay running toward our home and followed her back to our house.  Noah called my son and asked if he knew where Shay was. My son explained that yes Shay was with his Dad out for a walk! Noah said that he was pretty sure he was following a solo Shay as she made a beeline for home.

Shay had crossed the intersection on Friday evening with heavy traffic and made it home safely all on her own. I can't tell you how relieved I was and how the first words out of my mouth were Thank You! Noah later explained that the traffic "parted" for Shay and that drivers pulled their cars sideways so that others vehicles could not pass while she crossed safely. Once she navigated the highway, she took the same shortcut we traverse to get to the park running like the wind.

My intellect wonders how Shay made it home on her own that evening. May be it was luck, may be it was good fortune, but I know better. Maybe just maybe it was one of the every day mircales that happen if we just pay attention.

Good girl Shay Shay!


Continued success and all the best.

Much Love,

Tom Kaufmann
Coach K
tkaufmanncoaching.com

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Giving and Receiving

Of course it's only fitting on this wonderful Thanksgiving day to talk about gratitude. Yes, one of those high energy words. The notion of gratitude is one of the simple yet very powerful acts we should do every day.  Just like we exercise to keep our bodies healthy, we can take a daily dose of gratitude to keep our spirits high.

A Dose of Vitamin G
 Just being thankful for all the things in our lives.  Our family, our health, our friends, freedom, sunshine, and even life itself. The list is long. The simple task of waking up and having this day is a great place to start giving thanks.  When we forget being grateful for all that shows up in our lives, we disconnect from our joy. Any time we feel a little out of sorts, a dose of gratitude or vitamin G will help revive us.

Being Thankful for Everything in Our Lives
Our world sometimes gets clouded in convincing us that we have no reason to celebrate or be thankful because perhaps life isn't exactly as we planned or that there is some perceived lack in our lives.  And yes maybe all the goodies that we desire haven't appeared yet, but we can still go right on being grateful and appreciative for all the wonderful things we do have.  Another thing we can do is tell someone how much you appreciate them, how thankful and grateful that they are in your life. When we acknowledge each other we lift each other up.


Giving and Receiving
One of the beautiful things about Thanksgiving is that we have the opportunity to give thanks for all of nature's gifts, for love and kindness, our talents, our peace and well being, and of course for good food and football!   And when we think about how to acquire more of the good things in life, we simply remember that by giving the gifts of love, kindness, and friendship they are returned to us in greater numbers.

The universal law of giving and receiving.  If we experience a lack in any of area of our lives, try giving away more of what you want, be it money, love, talents, peace, friendship, or kindness.  Watch how those areas expand in abundance.

Enjoy and celebrate today and let's remember every day is Thanksgiving!

Continued Success and All the Best.

Much Love,

Tom Kaufmann
Coach K
http://www.tkaufmanncoaching.com/

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Michael Vick an Inspiration?

The Power of Resiliency - Keep Getting Up

Down Not Out
Anyone watching Michael Vick last night had to be inspired by his performance and his story.  Here was a man that spent the past two years of his life in prison, a man that disappointed himself and his fans, a man whose life was basically over. Not so fast, he and his friends had other ideas.

Knocked Out
Michael Vick fell hard, was down and out, and left for dead. He wasn't simply knocked down, he was knocked out! Not many thought he could come back and have that incredible performance while the world was watching.  But someone gave him another opportunity and believed in him. How many of us have been knocked down or knocked out and how have we responded.

Get Up!
We all get knocked down and even knocked out in life.  We lose our jobs, our loves, our money, our careers, our prestige, our health. How do we respond.  Do we believe that we can get back up, do we believe that we deserve success and all the good things life has to offer.  It's not easy when things seem not to be going your way, but keep the faith. Find a friend that believes in you or a stranger, they are out there! The power of resiliency, to keep going even when things are difficult, to persevere. If Michael and others can come back from such long odds why not you.

Believe and Begin
In Michael Vick's darkest hours, sitting alone in prison, asking himself how he went from the top of the world to this he somehow believed that he could make it back. Just as importantly his friends believed he could make it back. Donovan McNabb who knew Michael Vick since high school beleived he could make a fresh start, and it's ironic how Michael had such a tremendous performance while playing against Donovan and his team.

You are Worthy
Believe in yourself. Look to your friends and family for support in finding your way back to the success you deserve, if you don't have a supportive, loving, nurturing environment reach out those resources are available to you. Coach K in the house! Start by looking around and being grateful for what you do have and then reclaim your joy. You are worthy and entitled to all the wonderful things life offers.

All the Best.

Much Love,

Tom Kaufmann
Coach K
tkaufmanncoaching.com

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

A Love Letter - True Love

Maureen, Reeno, a friend of mine passed on Saturday night, she was much too young at the age of 56. Reeno is a generous, kind, selfless person, and a great lover of children. She taught me

How to be a Lover, to love something bigger than yourself
How to be a Giver, even when you think you don't have much to give
How to be a Server, even when there's nothing in it for you
How to be Kind, to help someone at the moment they need you
How to be Selfless, always putting someone else in front of yourself

Reeno never had children of her own, but every time I talked to her she was raising another child in need. She helped raise over 20 children in her home all with limited means! When I tried to talk about financial matters or put the focus back on her, she always pushed me away. She had more important things to do.

Jimmy her husband and lover for over forty years never questioned her, he learned that her mission and his was to help these kids survive and thrive.  It was several months before we last spoke, she called me last week and we talked. She wasn't feeling well. I told her how much she meant to me, thanked her, and let her how much I loved her. We were planning to get together when I learned of her passing. She passed in Jimmy's arms on Sunday night.

Reeno taught me about unconditional love. She loved me and her other children unconditionally. She was one of those people that would do anything for you. She never had a lot of money, a nice car, or a nice home but Reeno and Jim would always share whatever they had. It always amazed me that they had so little yet gave so much.  Some day I hope to be as rich as Reeno. We all should be as wealthy.

Farewell my Love. And thank you I hope you know how much you mean to me and to so many others.

Tell someone how much you love them today and give them a nice big hug.  In honor of Reeno, please remember to help that child.

All the Best and Continued Success.

Much Love,

Tom Kaufmann
Coach K
http://www.tkaufmanncoaching.com/