What We Learn From Politics:

How NOT to Build Trusting Relationships

With elections just past us in Canada and US elections just zooming around the corner next month, it has been so educational (and often times, entertaining) watching how people interact with others from a place of fear and insignificance. Gone are the days when political parties pride themselves in rich, well-thought-out platforms and plans.  These days, the only way candidates can feel good and garner votes is by throwing dirt on the opponent, NOT only on their opponents' political stance but also their personalities. Seriously, how low can we go?  Has our society really, I mean really, deteriorated to this point of one upmanship? 

What's been great about this display of "NOT", is that we can take our observations, do a 180, and learn from this horrific attempt of building trust.  Here's what we've learned that we hope you will find useful...:

- Be clear on why you want to be "in relationship" with someone, know your own stance and know your boundaries.  Think about all your relationships - spouse, child, supplier, client, parent....

- Instead of a "give and take" mentality, replace it with a "service and gratitude" mentality

- Count to 10 and take 3 deep breaths when you get the urge to say something you will regret.  Give yourself time to process WHY you want to react a certain way.  It may be servicing your ego and ultimately takes you on a detour from where you want your relationship to go.

- And lastly, be consistent and honest.  One Starbucks cup I picked up recently said something about the fact that hypocrisy is bad but what's worse is promising something that you don't follow up with.  Broken promises can lead to distrust in a milli-second!

What to check out this month at enSpire Coaching:

enSpireblog - www.enspirecoaching/blog

enSpiration Story of the Month- Introducing Lynn Petruskavich of

enspiration book - Daniel Pink's book "A Whole New Mind - Why Right-Brainers Will Rule The Future ". Read the review here

Take our entrepreneur survey here and help form the foundation of enSpire's new e-book, launching in Jan. 2009

Entrepreneur "Check Up" Workshop: What Every Entrepreneur Must Do in the Next 30 Days to Get Thru' This Economic Dip

Don't just "hope" YOUR business will survive this turbulence; hope is not a plan.  Attend this workshop NOW.

Date and Time: Wednesday, November 19th, 8:30am - 11am

Location: Cora's Restaurant in Oakville, North Service Rd. & Dorval

Cost: $59 for enSpire clients and $75 for non-clients.  Includes a healthy, hot breakfast.

RSVP: Ruth Catney, Client and Systems Manager - ruth@enspirecoaching.com

Read more here.

Personal Reflection

At the time of writing this, it is a day before my birthday and I really don't feel like celebrating.  I really want to be happy and joyful but I am stuck.  I am stuck in an emotion that I don't often visit - anger! Usually, I live in the space of curiosity, gratitude, love and compassion but today, I am just pissed.  One of my suppliers has completely let me down.  I have counted on him repeatedly to complete work for me yet he keeps coming up short.  I think, masked behind my anger at him is not only ABSOLUTE disappointment with him but also, disappointment at myself for allowing this standard to be acceptable in my life.  The lesson I am learning is that when I hold myself to high standards, that MUST translate to those around me.  When I put up with broken promises and sub-standard behaviour and actions, I let myself down too.  Interesting self-learning.  Tomorrow, I will celebrate but now I just need to calm down.