Get help along the way

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

Sometimes you need help along the way...don't be afraid to get it...

August 1st.

This spring and summer has been a great time of change for a lot of us. I mean look at how some of economic and social realities are forcing us to change and adapt. What I think is happening is that these socio-economic factors are really getting in touch with what matters most and really giving us a choice to having absolute focus on the areas in our life that impact us most.

But you know...change doesn't happen without help along the way.

I mentioned in the May newsletter about some personal change I was going through. One was taking weight off, two was re-configuring my business plan and concepts and three was personally adapting to those socio-economic conditions that we're all facing it seems these days.

So in taking weight off and so far I am down 20 pounds...thanks to some dedicated workouts with my personal trainer Chris Bennett at Good Life Fitness...Chris has coached me and pushed me to a point where I am jogging around the gym in between my sets of weights...he even makes me do squats...and I hate squats!

My good friends Kim Ades and Jacqui Markowitz and new colleagues Pauline and Esther helped me get my head on straight around my body, and weight loss at Frame of Mind Coaching...and now Louis from Isagenix...Louis introduced me to this wild cleanse program that has immediate results on weight loss and vitality. I am on this earth shattering cleanse program and it's working wonderfully. The energy is back, the vitality and the passion...all necessary to run a business these days...

The business is starting to take shape too as the re-branding and new website are oh so close to completion. Help from Sue Sutcliffe at A Web that works and Carol Ann Walker at the Business Advisory Centre along the way has me taking the business into a new and exciting direction.

I have been surrounded by great people. Helping me along my journey.

Now study and look at the picture above...because that's us sometimes...we are like little kids needing a guiding hand and when times are good we are the adult...leading the way. The sage, the spiritual warrior...knowing and guiding us along the path.

We all need help...and as entrepreneurs our downfall is that we don't ask for it. Out of shame maybe? Or God forbid...someone will think we're weak and not successful. Or sometimes our belief is you can't hire someone or my staff can't do it...I will do it myself!!!

I say park those stories and get some help. Train your staff to do what you do. Take on the tasks you like in your business and hand the ones you don't enjoy to someone else...oh and get the help you need...Ask...ask...ask...get the help along the way.

You know...I mentioned I got coaching help from Kim and Jacqui at Frame of mind coaching around my weight loss issues...The program that Kim and Jacqui designed included weekly coaching calls and journaling on a daily basis. Journaling your thoughts and feelings around a certain weekly discussion point. Well in week 7 of our 10 week program we had to journal about "Gratitude" and I wrote about a time in my life when I had lost my father. I was 10.

He died suddenly...the abruptness of it all left my entire family in shock, depression and wonderment...

It left me without a dad...totally not cool...and I felt like an outcast at school and in life...I mean crap eh? I was the only 10 year old at school without a dad...

So in writing about gratitude during my 10 week coaching calls with Kim and Jacqui at Frame of Mind Coaching...Kim reviewed my journal and asked me a critical question about this time in my life...

She asked...about who my mentors were after my father passed on? At first I thought who were they...I wasn't sure. At first thought I thought no one was a mentor...It wasn't my uncles or those closer to me...but then as I wrote my response it became apparent that the people you'd think would be your mentors weren't but my cousinsm my brother-in-law and a CFL football player...were my mentors. You know it's odd...but when you're not looking life supports you totally.

Sometimes if you expect people to show up they don't...and that clouds those that do show up and help you along the way.

So you've got to lose the expectations you have about and around people and just let life unfold...and the lesson I got in this time in my life was that life totally supported me.

I am going to share something very personal with you about that time in my life when I lost my father and had to reflect back on who my male mentors were...I was in tears when I wrote this...but I feel confident to share the important lessons of my own journey and hopefully they help you in yours.

Part of the "Frame of mind" coaching program involves journaling...it's vital to the outcomes of the program and I found it very cathartic in fact.

I thought I would share what I wrote about my past, my childhood, the lessons learned, the gratitude and the people in my life that influenced me. I hope I do their lives justice in mine now.

Before I leave you now and let you read the posting I made on June 30th in that journaling exercise. I want you to get some core lessons this month.

1. Ask for help if you need it in business.

2. Lose your expectations of others.

3. Trust that the universe is taking care of you at all times.

4. Know that the best people will show up if you allow them too...

5. Have an attitude of gratitude and

6. That you've got to get out of the way, let your thoughts, worries and fears vanish and choose positive ones!


All the best and have a great summer!

David

Here is my post for June 30th for the Frame of Mind Coaching Program I was on...

Little Davey is home with the flu today...wow...achy, tired, no energy, stiff and sore...oh man...I hate the flu...but intrinsically...maybe it's just time to rest up a little...and life will be ok when I crave "rice pudding" ...I haven't eaten anything today and don't feel like it...but you know I have turned that corner towards health and wellness when I have rice pudding...lol...I am such a suck eh? Did I say I want my mommy?

Ok...Kim...I had no role model from 10-17. My family was small. My dad's two brothers didn't have kids and my mom's brother lives in England. My uncles were all older...and not that good at getting close. I did have a cousins in Montreal...Irving and he and my other cousin Leon ...were nice to me...and so was Morry Krantzberg in Montreal. Morry was a family friend who fixed my mom and dad up in England...he started Kiddie Kobler shoe stores. I would work there when I visited as a kid and got Greb Kodiaks (work boots) and Adida Rom's (I was a slave to fashion can't ya tell)?

As a kid I went to Montreal a lot to visit my cousins and hang. Morry, Leon, Irving and Mickey and Moe all had kids my age that I would hang with. We had brilliant games of road hockey and street football.

It was at Mickey and Moe's that I saw my first ever Playboy magazine...going to Montreal from Ottawa had such a high to it...there was a vibe in Montreal...action, business, big buildings...great radio stations like CKGM and CHOM-FM. (I liked radio even then). Plus I would get to see the Montreal Expo's play or the Canadians at the Forum.

My family in Montreal and my little cousins my age were all awesome. But in Ottawa I didn't really have someone who stepped in. I also felt awkward still not having a dad. I had to go home after those great visits to Montreal and back to the reality of being that outsider kid again.

In fact...I even had a "Big Brother" and he lasted a short time due to he and his wife going through a divorce...but he was a nice guy.

I was really left to my own devices. I thank God...I had "Zaikel" ...that's Yiddish for common sense and direction...although I under achieved in school until I took Radio/TV journalism...(then I over achieved...yay me)...

But at 17 my sister Jan who lives in Toronto married the nicest guy. A doctor no less...he taught me the importance of being a mensch and being a solid guy. He's never missed a day of work, has total commitment to his family and is a fun, loving man. Jerome Lyons is his full name...he's not always a saint...but boy he's the one that's impacted me the most.

His practice is at Warden and Ellesmere...and he works hard...now later in his life he's a golf nut and his best friend Lorne Rubenstein is the golf writer in the Globe and Mail. Jerome is just one good guy. He was my best man at my wedding, he was there when my oldest sister passed away, he was there when I lived there after my marriage broke up...he was there to go to a baseball game with, he and my sister always host family events at their house, be it religious or celebrations and holidays. My niece and niece got married there, I had my 40th birthday celebration there a their home, his brother Carl had his 60th birthday their...Jerome and my sister Jan are just so generous.

Yeah...do they have some issues..yes...but when you can look past that...they shine like diamonds.

So I am grateful to them and now that I think of it my cousins in Montreal had a brilliant impact on me too. I loved Irving and his wife Doris the most...like an extra set of parents. Irving is no longer with us...but he taught me to pitch a baseball and took me to Jarry Park to see the Montreal Expos and would go for walks with me...he always said you have to walk fast like you have a purpose...

Irving also taught public speaking, which is a career that I engage in now. Maybe it rubbed off on me by osmosis.

I remember visiting their house in Montreal and he was an avid gardener and he'd take me to his basement where he had a herb garden and he'd wave his hand under a light and the light would magically go on...I was in wonder at how this light would work. Plus he'd take his thinning hair in front and lift it up into a point for us to knock down...it was so funny as a kid.

Irving was my dad's nephew. They were a couple of years apart and very close growing up ...he and Doris, were so close to my mom Doris and my dad. They were with us when Pierre Laporte was found dead in the car during the FLQ crisis, they were always there for us and we had real soft spots in our hearts for each other...I am almost literally in tears now as I write about because I realize now I maybe didn't mourn his passing enough...wow...and really appreciate the kind of man he was to me.

I remember going into Montreal in 1976 (after the Olympics) and he and his son Billy took me to see the Montreal Alouettes and the Ottawa Rough Riders at the newly built "Big Oh" ...wow the place was packed...65,000 fans...we share some great times in Montreal visiting Irving and Doris...but hopefully you get the magic of my cousin Irving.

They lived in a modest home in Cote St. Luc...but he and his wife Doris created a beautiful home. In fact I live in the Bathurst Manor today because it reminds me so much of Cote St. Luc...wow...big observation huh?

I will leave you with this last story about Irving...he passed away with brain cancer back in the late 80's (like about 87 I believe)...he didn't pass away until his grandson who was being Bar Mitzvahed (A commencement type ceremony for a Jewish child at 13...similar to a Christian commencement) until late at night as the party was wrapping up. Now is that an amazing thing to do. He didn't pass away until his grandson Lee had his Bar Mitzvah and the celebration was on and almost done...so we could enjoy the occasion as best as we can.

I had one more mentor...Rhome Nixon...he was a tight end with the Ottawa Rough Riders...and as a kid (14) I got to meet him. He took me into the dressing room after practice, allowed me to hang out on the field, meet the other players and give me the thrill of a lifetime. What an amazing player and man he was. I remember being 16 and I got to hang with the players at his place after a game for a little after game socializing. I got to hang with QB Condredge Holloway, Defensive tackle Rudy Sims, Art Cantrelle, Art Laster, Rhome Nixon, Art Green and Wayne Smith who's son plays with Montreal now...These guys weren't the crazy athletes you see now...these guys were really cool. I got a ride home with Condredge Holloway after that event and I would always be allowed to hang out on the field and interview the players for the school paper...

I realize now that although I lost my dad, God was taking care of me...and I had an amazing childhood with lots of mentors...

I am grateful to life an God today...and I am feeling like Rice pudding now too.

So those are my mentors Kim...now that you examine it. I was in pretty good hands wasn't I.

David

This months embedded video is about embracing change...it's really well done...but alas it's an ad for Tranquility Alive, a competing coaching company...

I like the video and thought I would share the message with you, check it out...as I think it's an uplifting way to end this edition of the Technicolour Report.

All the best.

David Cohen

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