A very dear colleague sent me this quote today (I don't know the original source):
"A life well lived is not the kind we ration and not how long it lasts, but its donation."
What a beautiful sentiment and something I feel is perfect for wrapping up the past few days of blog entries in response to The Inaugural ECI Australasian Coaching Conference: The Future of Coaching - Embracing the Opportunities of the 2010s.
I am so grateful for so many things related to this extraordinary event. Below is a list which I'm sure doesn't cover everything and everyone as currently I'm thinking that a million more things to be grateful for regarding the event will come to me the moment I press the publish button on today's blog entry.
- The ECI for the trust they've shown in allowing Sarah and I to organise and host this event. Special thanks to Gerard O'Donovan, Barbara Dalpra, John Dalpra and PaTrisha-Anne Todd
- My wonderful business partner, Sarah Hue-Williams for her unending inspiration, support and leadership for the coaching community and to me personally.
- To my life partner, Andrew, for all the support and care he's shown me during such a long process involving this conference. He's taken such good care of me and I love him dearly.
- Our fantastic volunteers, Carol McGowan, Gary Scholz and Sharon Chisholm, without whom this event could never have happened
- The entire volunteer team also needs special acknowledgement for the personal attention and care shown to every delegate before, during and after the event
- To our wonderful speakers for being so generous with their wisdom and passion: Sarah Hue-Williams, Gerard O'Donovan, Allan Parker, John Raymond, Neville Dean, Sandhi Spears, Brian Lucas, Peter Lightbody, Rene Sickle, Angela Heise, Claire Stretch, (Me...I was a speaker so I might as well put myself in this list) and Sir John Whitmore
- To our fantastic sponsors for their generosity and commitment to helping our coaching colleagues: askacoach.com, pcbs, Unlock Your Potential, LCIA, ANZI Coaching, New Level Leaders, Peggy Chiu Coaching, LCSi, Data Manager Solo, emPOWER Magazine, CHOICE Magazine, Affirmations.com, CoachMecca, Play of Life, High Ideals, the Vibe Hotel Sydney and the South Steyne Restaurant
- To Brendon Stretch of Stretch Consulting for filming some of the conference and the amazing talent you have!
- To Sally Parish (nee Higgins) who will be stepping up into the role of International Head of Asia for ECI, as Sarah and I step down from the role.
- And of course to our delegates, as it was truly you who made this event so extraordinary by being so willing and open to share, learn, grow, give and accept.
I know that I also need to acknowledge and give thanks to my own contribution to this event.
In line with the quote at the beginning of this blog entry, I know that my contribution was more than the eight months of work or the tens of thousands of dollars worth of volunteering time committed to the project. I know that it is actually far more about the desire to create an environment where we could honestly share our fears and joys, concerns and opportunities, needs and gifts related to coaching. It was about giving myself permission to stand up in front of my colleagues and share my opinions and passions and know that I have their permission to do so as well.
There were so many wonderful comments about the impact this environment had, and I'm truly grateful for that.
There have been so many examples since then of people following through on the commitments they made within that environment and I'm overwhelmingly grateful for those actions too.
So, when I look at the quote and consider how well I'm living my life, I can see that the donations I give in my live in one form or another, and especially with this conference, means that I am confident I'm on track and living life well.
Thank you to everyone, everywhere, who has inspired the journey to this point and to all of those who will inspire the journey moving forward.
Coaching Exercises
1. Reread the quote at the beginning of this blog entry and consider what you believe it means.
2. Based on your interpretation of that quote, how does it apply to your life? How are you living well?
3. If you feel you could be living life better based on your interpretation of the quote, what could you be doing differently than you are now?
4. As a result of these questions and your personal exploration and answers, what are you committing to?
As always, if you need any further personal support in response to any of these coaching exercises, please consider using the askacoach.com service.
All the best,
Noel
Noel Posus - Master Coach
www.askacoach.com
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Noel Posus (MECI) is a former member of the Board of Directors and former Head of Marketing - Asia Pacific for The-ECI - www.europeancoachinginstitute.org http://www.internationalcoachinginstitute.org
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