Author: Scott Asai

Helping people develop their leadership skills to advance in their career

Failing Forward

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One mother asked Dr. Henry Cloud, “If you could teach my son one thing in life, what would it be?” After pondering that thought for a moment he replied, “To learn how to fail!” “Why would you teach him THAT?!” she exclaimed. “Because he will…” Failure is an inevitable part of life, impossible to avoid. Here are 3 steps to Fail Forward…

1) Try. Failure is not trying. One of the worst feelings in life you can experience is regret. Through media we hear success stories all the time, but what they don’t mention is the failure they encountered along the way. I’d say the more successful a person is, the better he/she deals with failure. Successful people aren’t scared of failing, they embrace it.

2) Learn. Failure is a better teacher than is success. Don’t look at failure as an end in itself, see it as an opportunity to learn from. People learn by trail and error. In certain situations, you can prepare to the best of your ability, but there are always unforeseen circumstances that just happen. Remember, failure produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. Learn to become more adaptable to adversity. It can become your best friend during times of crisis.

3) Move on. In coaching, we tell our clients that the past has no power over the present or future. For some reason, most people like to dwell on the past, but that gets us nowhere. Next time you fail, grieve a little, then pick yourself up and move on! Your biggest obstacle to success is getting past your doubts. History has taken place in the past, so leave it where it belongs. Focus your thoughts on the future, then set goals in the present to make it happen!

The most successful people deal with failure the best. Instead of getting “stuck,” they see failure as necessary to succeed. In life we experience “teachable moments” all the time. The problem is most of us forget to learn from them. Everything happens for a reason, therefore don’t be afraid to fail. Try, learn and move forward!

Em-URGENCY!

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by John P. Kotter
Success easily produces complacency. In business or in life, our biggest detractor to acting with urgency is reminiscing about past successes. Complacency whispers, “Nothing is wrong. Everything is great!” In John P. Kotter’s book, A Sense of Urgency, he believes a true sense of urgency focuses on the critical issues and is driven to win now! Here are some practical ways to apply his principles:

1) Behave with Urgency Every Day. Learn to purge and delegate: eliminate activity that no longer adds high value. Next, move with speed: respond fast, move now. Thirdly, speak with passion: attitudes, feelings and actions are contagious. Try creating a strategy aimed at the hearts and minds of others. Past success tells us nothing about the future. Be “urgently patient”: act each day with a sense of urgency, but have a realistic view of time.

2) Find Opportunities in Crisis. Crisis isn’t always bad, it may actually be required to succeed under certain conditions. The next time you encounter a dilemma, try using the crisis to develop the urgency needed to create a better organization. Create a carefully considered strategy, then get buy-in from others. Create goals that will “stretch” others and seek to find more powerful partners. Overall, be proactive in assessing how people will react to change then do your best to turn disaster into triumph.

3) The Future Begins Today. Try something new. If an action doesn’t help, abandon it. If it works well, consider doing it more. Ask, “Is the way we do things around here a barrier to success?” Acting urgently is the tactic that creates results quickly. Action is the true test. You need to activate alertness, movement and leadership NOW!

Acting with a sense of urgency decreases complacency in your organization. It takes discipline to see the external world clearly. Don’t be a “victim” of “what’s worked in the past, will work in the future.” Start today by identifying new opportunities, avoiding hazards and finding ways to win!

Helping Young Professionals Be Professional (Inc.com by Renee Oricchio)

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We’re heading into that time of year when businesses may pick up a college intern for the summer or, better yet, hire a new graduate on staff.

If they’ve had any coaching, they assume you’re going to check them out online making sure no unflattering spring break photos pop up on Google images.

It raises a lot of questions:

1. What off time, but online image, is too unprofessional for your organization?

2. Do you have a criteria for assessing what you find?

3. Is it so strict that you’re going to have a hard time finding young talent?

The fact is that if you’re ruling out every young professional with a MySpace of Facebook page, you’re going to have a very thin pool of candidates.

Here’s a modest proposal:

Instead of quietly blackballing a young candidate, coach them to clean up their online prescence. Assuming everything else about them is attractive to you, guide them in what you expect from them.

– Advise them to tighten the permissions on their social networking pages.

– Give them some guidelines of what pictures and other forms of self-expression are acceptable and what is not. Give them an amnesty period to clean up their profiles.

– Warn them that the company reserves the right to periodically check them out in the search engines.

– For the twenty-something just starting out in the professional world; the Internet to them has always been a playground. Introduce them to the Internet that is also the business world. Show them sites and blogs relevant to your business. Train them to use online business tools like Salesforce.com and Highrise.

Remember: you were once twenty one, too, and someone took you under wing. Someone told you how to dress, the importance of showing up on time for work, keeping your cool and losing the quadruple pierced ear.

Now, its your turn to do the 2009 version of the same thing.

Your Most Important Resource

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The 3 P’s of Time Management
No matter what you do, your ability to manage your time determines how “successful” you will be. We are all given the same amount of time to work with in a day, so being efficient is essential. Through trial and error these are the strategies I’ve used to help me get the most out of my day…

1) Purpose. What is your goal? Start by filling in your weekly schedule based on what you want to accomplish. Eliminate activities that serve no purpose. Being busy is not the same as being productive. Spend your time with a goal in mind. That’s focused efficiency.

2) Prioritize. Having a to-do list is good. Labeling your to-do list based on importance is better. Completing items on your list makes you feel accomplished, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve made progress. For example, make list, but give each item letter grades (A, B, C, etc.) based on priority. Work on the A’s first, B’s second and so on. This ensures the most important items get done first and the ones that can wait are saved for later.

3) Performance. Ever heard of the 80/20 principle? In order to manage your time effectively, spend 80% of your time doing the things that you are good at. Think about it. We all have 1 or 2 things that we would consider strengths. How much more efficient would we be if we spent 80% of our time doing those things? I’m not saying ignore the 20%, but do that when the 80% is complete.

Since we all have the same amount of hours in the day, we need to spend our time wisely. For everything you do, make sure you have a purpose, prioritize your time and perform at a high level. How you spend your time each day is a choice. Choose to manage your time wisely!

Company Life Coach

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Forward Thinking…
Last issue I talked about people being your greatest asset. Recently, I found a company who is living this value out. Zappos.com is a Nevada based online shoe company. They have an on-site Company Life Coach, Dr. Vik, who is available to assist employees. Their basis for hiring a Life Coach is “How can an upset worker be productive?”

What can a Life Coach do for my Company?

Meet Zappos.com Life Coach, Dr. Vik

1) Blurred Boundaries. Today there is no separation between work and life. Problems outside of work are brought into work. A Company Life Coach will benefit you by sitting down with troubled or upset employees and help them overcome their problems. Did you know that managers spend 50% of their time dealing with staff interpersonal issues? How much more time would you save by hiring a Company Life Coach to deal with their problems?


2) How are you doing? A question we are asked on a daily basis, but who really cares? A Company Life Coach cares what you are thinking about and how you are feeling. Thoughts and feelings directly determine how you will perform. I am amazed at how many workers walk into a session with me feeling very frustrated, then leave feeling refreshed and ready to conquer the world! Your thoughts and feelings “trigger” your actions. Sometimes, we as workers just need someone to validate how we are feeling. Once we are understood, we’re ready to perform at a high level.

3) Motivation. One of my favorite aspects of being a Life Coach is understanding different personalities. No two people are alike. Each person is unique. A Company Life Coach identifies what motivates each worker, then empowers them to take action. Ever watch an inspiring story on TV and feel motivated to make a difference? That’s how you feel at the conclusion of each Life Coaching session. We choose to change.

If you are in the Customer Service Industry (who isn’t), the Customer-Employee transaction is crucial to increasing profits. A Company Life Coach keeps your workers engaged so they can perform at their best!

During this recession, Growing Forward wants to be sensitive to your situation. If you do not have the funds to hire a full-time Company Life Coach, that’s OK! We are willing to partner with you once a week or on a part-time basis depending on what serves your current needs.

3 Myths of Networking

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FREE Life Coaching Webinar!
Join the REBROADCAST of Life Coaching 101: An Intro to Life Coaching
April 29 @ 12 PM PST – click here to join!

True or False?
My perception of networking used to be attending group functions to pass out and collect as many business cards as possible. I carried this assumption with me until just a month ago. Just recently, I learned the following lessons…

1) I Have to be Extroverted. False. Those who are extroverted probably do thrive at large group functions because they are energized by meeting new people and sharing stories. For those who are more introverted, think of ways to connect on a smaller scale. Try scheduling meetings one-on-one. Build the depth of your connections over time.

2) A Bigger Network is Better. False. You may have a large number of acquaintances, but very few “friends.” True, a bigger pool of connections helps, BUT still doesn’t guarantee anything. Think Quality over Quantity. I’d rather have 5 connections that I can depend on, than 100 whom I barely know.

3) The More Events I attend, the Faster Results will happen. False. Networking takes time. Success doesn’t happen overnight. Just because you are “busy” with many groups, doesn’t mean you are being “productive.” Managing your time is an essential skill in today’s world. Joining a group isn’t a bad thing, just make sure it serves a long-term goal. Get focused and prioritize your time. Knowing what NOT to spend your time on is just as important as what to spend your time on.

No one formula works for everyone. You have to know your personality, strengths and weaknesses, then go with what strategy “fits” you best. Networking is about building, not just making connections. Don’t “sell” to people, try to help them. Be genuine and have normal conversations. You’ll be amazed at what opportunities will pop up when you’re just being yourself…

Your Company’s Greatest Asset

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The Answer is YOU!

During the FEAR of this economy, companies are laying off employees left and right. The objective is to cut costs, but the problem is NOW your business has no chance to succeed. Let me explain…

People are Your Greatest Asset


1) Productivity. When you cut workers, you cut production. For each person you layoff, someone else has to carry an additional worker’s job responsibilities. I understand that diminishing profits means cuts somewhere, but why not cut energy usage, hours of service or overhead costs? When the economy picks back up you will be in no position to thrive without enough help.

2) Customer Service. No matter what industry you are in, the employee-customer transaction is essential to success. How many times are there problems with a product or service that calls for personal assistance? Great Customer Service is given by Great Customer Servants. If you want to create customer loyalty, hold on to your high performing workers. Great customer service turns a normal customer into a raving fan!

3) Solutions. When sales are down, look to your employees for answers. Try forming groups comprised from different departments to brainstorm potential solutions. Innovation is bred through management who is willing to be transparent about their current situation and humble enough to share the troubling data with their workers. As a worker, if your job was at stake in this economy wouldn’t you offer to help turn things around?

Remember, the only way businesses will survive this current economy is by empowering their workers to try harder, work harder and think harder. People are the only solution to turning this economy around. Make sure you value them as Your Greatest Asset!


Growing Forward creates customized programs for businesses with 5 – 500+ employees. We’ll meet with you and set up a program that meets your current needs.

Corporate Career Development

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Help is on the way!
Let’s say you are a manager that oversees younger workers. You have performance expectations that are not being met. Turnover is expensive and time consuming, yet you are frustrated and don’t know how to get the MOST out of your workers. Here’s your solution…


Corporate Career Development

There are some skills that colleges do not teach in order to be successful for the “business world” such as:
  • Good Communication Skills (written & oral)
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Motivation
  • Good Work Habits
  • Utilizing your Strengths
  • Goal Setting
  • Career Planning
  • Etc.
As a Manager, you don’t have the time or energy to teach these skills in addition to your normal job responsibilities.

That’s where Growing Forward comes to the rescue. Growing Forward offers:
  • Career Development Workshops
  • Individual Coaching
  • Management Techniques
  • Performance Reviews
  • Mentoring Programs
  • Generational Coaching

Growing Forward will create a customized program for businesses with 5 – 500+ employees. We’ll meet with you and set up a program that meets your current needs.

4/22 @ 12 PM PST FREE Life Coaching Webinar!

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4/22 @ 12 PM PST!
Life Coaching 101: An Introduction to Life Coaching
Have you ever wondered what Life Coaching does? Well, this is YOUR chance to experience it yourself!

Join me Wednesday, April 22 at 12 PM PST for an FREE interactive webinar on Life Coaching. This will be an audio and visual presentation, so all you need is a computer and an internet connection.

*If you plan to listen at work or in a public place, you might want to bring ear buds so you can hear clearly!

This short 30 minute presentation will include:

* a live coaching session
* visual imagery of coaching
* and a real-time Q & A session

This webinar is open to all so feel free to invite your friends, but sign on fast because it will close when it is full!

All you need to do is click on the following link on 4/22 @ 12 PM PST:
http://vyew.com/143891/Life Coaching 101

Leaders Need a Coach

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Article by Dr. John Townsend
 Every once in a while an article is written by someone else that explains the value of what you do clearer than you could. This is an article by Dr. John Townsend who has teamed up with Dr. Henry Cloud to create Cloud-Townsend Resources. They have written many books including Boundaries, Changes that Heal & 9 Things you Must Do. Here is an article by Dr. Townsend entitled “Leaders Need a Coach.”

If you aren’t getting some sort of coaching in your particular area of leadership, you probably should consider doing so. A high percentage of people reading this article are likely getting some form of coaching. In fact, it is the norm today to have a coach, and almost aberrant not to have one. Coaching has been proven to be not only highly effective, but practically necessary, in helping leaders to reach the next level.

What is a coach? While there are many definitions, it is essentially a person trained to help people improve their lives in specific ways. A coach knows how to help you improve your business, become a better leader, or meet personal goals.

I personally have received coaching for a long time, and have benefited greatly, both professionally and personally. I can’t imagine not having some sort of structured relationship which intentionally focuses on my growth and success.

Advocacy. A coach is for you. His role is to help you get where you want to go. He functions as an advocate – someone who is on your side. Leaders often find themselves surrounded by people who are seeking personal gain, or have some other agenda behind their advice. The objective nature of the coaching position protects the leader from these hidden agendas. The coach wants your best, and your best alone.

A structure. The coach has an orientation and structure she has studied and is competent in. She has a philosophy of improvement. She knows what leaders need to do, and how to provide the resources they need to be successful. This structure is what distinguishes coaching from friendship, support and encouragement. It may include these elements, but the structure takes you much further. Friends won’t usually ask you to report back to them on a homework assignment, but a coach will. She operates much like a football coach; designing the plays that will help you to win the game. She knows what to anticipate, and what the outcome likely will be.

Individual understanding. The best coaches are very good listeners. They know that real success doesn’t come from a cookie-cutter approach, but from an individualized understanding. While the overall coaching structure may apply to all clients, a good coach actively listens to you and understands your individual situation and context. There is a great deal of room within the framework of the structure. He then tailors the approach to you, rather than tailoring you to the approach. He also digs beneath the surface, beyond the symptoms and behaviors that are going on.

To illustrate, let’s say that you have a difficult time completing tasks and projects. You are a great starter, but somehow you find that things never get finished. You know you could be achieving at a higher level, but those unfinished things are holding you back, and you want your coach to help you resolve this. There are several possible causes of your problem, such as: allowing others to dictate your schedule, living a chaotic life, having a tendency to rescue others, being attracted to the urgent over the important, becoming bored in being diligent, experiencing a personal crisis, fearing failure, or fearing success. A good coach will listen and get to know you. He will uncover with you the real theme that is holding you back, and then set up the steps to help you get past it.

A process orientation. Achieving lasting change and improvement takes time, so don’t expect instant results. In his book Outliers, cultural and business expert Malcolm Gladwell says that truly exceptional people who make a difference have had around 10,000 hours of experience in their field of expertise (pp. 35-68). Real success involves real time. A coach understands the process, and uses it for your betterment. Together you develop the path, set the incremental goals, deal with the obstacles, and keep things accountable. Your coach keeps you in the process of life and leadership change.

If you want to find a good coach, talk to others who are getting good coaching and experiencing improvements in their lives. Coaching relationships tend to be very personal, so asking people you know personally is the best first step. Ask them what the experience is like for them.

Coaching can help you make the changes you want to see; it can also help you make the changes you haven’t yet recognized, but need to. Best wishes on the process. God bless you.