Contents In This Issue GUEST ARTICLE: Living a GREAT Life! by Dr. Philip E. Humbert COACHING CALL TO ACTION IDEAS AND INFORMATION ABOUT ANDREA NOVAKOWSKI PASS IT ON

GUEST ARTICLE:
Living a GREAT Life!
by Dr. Philip E. Humbert

What does a GREAT life mean to you? That is one of the most important questions an adult can ask -- and answer.

Too many of us wander through life and never examine that question. We fantasize that a great life is having money or fame or raising a family, perhaps driving a new car or having a house in the Hamptons, but we never rigorously decide exactly how we want to live our lives and what a GREAT life would look like.

We all know that a great life does not happen by accident.

A great life is not inherited and it does not come with a diploma, a promotion, getting married (or divorced), having kids or retiring early. A great life is NEVER automatic. It cannot be inherited and it never comes like an accessory with the "goodies" of life. Sure, lots of money, a penthouse apartment, political power or winning the Nobel Prize are wonderful things and I encourage you to aspire to ALL of them.

But none of them will guarantee you a great life.

It seems to me that a GREAT life has a grand purpose, a central theme and a unifying vision. A great life is a lifestyle that is chosen "on purpose" and is lived in the service of a vision greater than itself. A great life is living "a life on one's own" and it is invested, not merely spent.

Second, it seems to me that a GREAT life makes a great contribution. A great life uses its talents and abilities to make at least one small corner of the world better. A great life stands up, speaks out, and gets things done. A GREAT life makes a measurable difference and leaves the world better than we found it.

Third, it seems to me that a GREAT life leaves a path for others to follow. It is good to do great things; it's even BETTER to do great things and teach others to follow your lead. A GREAT life leaves a legacy. A GREAT life inspires the next generation to go further, reach farther, dream bigger and achieve more.

I am convinced that every one of us has the ability and the right to a GREAT life. Greatness is not reserved for a lucky few, for the rich or the powerful, for the artistic or for any small category of people. Living a GREAT life is the birthright of every human being, whether we express greatness in designing tall buildings, or by teaching children to stand tall.

Greatness is our birthright, whether we express our unique greatness in business or government, in art or music, in parenting, or in any of the thousands of so-called "small" ways that we often over-look, but which are absolutely essential. Most people remember a special teacher, and many of us had an uncle who taught us to whistle or a grandmother who taught us to read. Perhaps there was a neighbor who taught us to fish, who gave us our first job, or dared us to persevere when things were hard.

We all have the opportunity, and the challenge, to make a difference and to be GREAT. Each of us is invited to live a magnificent life, a life of substance and distinction that changes the world for those we touch.

I love the story of the "star thrower," about a man walking on a beach after a storm, throwing starfish back into the ocean so they won't die on the shore. Someone criticizes him for wasting his time, noting there are millions of starfish, and the few he saves won't make much difference.

The man silently bends over, throws a starfish into the surf and replies, "It made a difference for that one."

Set it as your minimum standard to live a GREAT life, to make a difference and have some fun! Eventually, down the road one day, we all have to look back and assess our life and when that time comes, we want to smile, knowing we did it right. Set that as your standard, and go for it!

Copyright © 2005, all rights reserved. Dr. Philip E. Humbert, professional coach, author and popular speaker. He has an excellent weekly newsletter and I encourage you to subscribe at: http://www.philiphumbert.com.

	COACHING CALL TO ACTION
Many times we keep "doing" our lives, getting tasks done, going here and there without regard to where we are heading with all of this doing. If you have determined your grand purpose and central theme and have a unifying vision of your life, CONGRATULATIONS! If you don't, consider taking some time this week and think about it. 1. What are your values? 2. What are your priorities? 3. What's most important for you to accomplish? 4. What do you want to contribute? 5. What legacy do you want to leave behind? Write down your answers to these questions. Over the next few weeks, continue adding to this so that you get clearer and clearer on what will make your life GREAT!

	IDEAS AND INFORMATION
Leading Quietly: An Unorthodox Guide to Doing the Right Thing by Joseph L. Badaracca, Jr. This Harvard Business School Professor's book sheds a different light on leadership. There are many people who choose responsible, behind-the-scenes action over public heroism to resolve tough leadership challenges. They want to do the "right thing" for their organizations, their coworkers and themselves, but inconspicously and without casualties. They are realistic about their own motives and of the dilemmas they face. Drawing from a four-year study of quiet leadership, Badaracca presents eight practical and counterintuitive guidelines for confronting situations in which right and wrong seem like moving targets. "Quiet leadership is a way of thinking about people, organizations and effective action. It is a way of understanding the flow of events and discerning the best ways to make a difference. And in some small way, quiet leadership is also an act of faith." Page 10, Leading Quietly: An Unorthodox Guide to Doing the Right Thing, Harvard Business School Press, Boston, MA The book examines quiet leaders at work and draws lessons from their efforts. It shows why this approach to leadership is so effective and also examines its drawbacks and risks. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1578514878 /coachandrea

	ABOUT ANDREA NOVAKOWSKI
Coach Andrea's Coaching Tip of the Week is brought to you by Andrea Novakowski, Master Certified Coach who provides Business and Personal Coaching to Corporations, Businesses, and Individuals. Andrea is a professional coach who partners with people to set goals and create momentum to produce effective results in their business and/or personal lives. Andrea is available for individual coaching. If you are serious about reaching your goals and living with greater fulfillment and satisfaction, consider using a coach. To schedule a COMPLIMENTARY initial consultation, send an e-mail to Andrea at andrea@coachandrea.com.

	PASS IT ON
Please feel free to pass on Coach Andrea's Coaching Tip of the Week to your friends and colleagues. To subscribe, click the "Subscribe" button below. You may also subscribe at http://coachandrea.com. We never send unsolicited e-mail. If you have received this message and you did not subscribe yourself or you wish to unsubscribe your e-mail address from the list, please click the link below. You may also unsubscribe at http://coachandrea.com. If you need to get in contact with us directly (if you have trouble subscribing/unsubscribing, or have questions about the list itself), send an e-mail to andrea@coachandrea.com. Copyright 2005. When you forward Coach Andrea's Coaching Tip of the Week to your friends and colleagues, please keep the copyright and contact information intact. Coach Andrea Focusing your vision, achieving results

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