Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem Blog

In addition to my work as a business coach, one of my interests is blogging about life in Israel. This is a country full of contrasts – over eight million citizens living in an area the size of Wales. You can see snow and the lowest place on the globe in the same day. Although surrounded by geopolitical extremes, Israel has achieved a decade of high economic growth. My work brings me in contact with an array of new companies, exciting technologies and dynamic characters. Sitting back with a relaxing cup of strong tea (with milk), you realise just how much there is to appreciate in the Holyland. Large or small operations, private sector or non profit, my clients provide experiences from which others can learn and benefit.

One of the ironies of being a business coach is that I regularly come across people who claim to be happy and comfortable in the work place. Yet I often do not have to dig very far to find a much harsher truth.

So let me introduce you to two interesting articles and a fascinating case study from the Jerusalem area, which together highlight some ways forward.

Amy Morin’s blog on “5 exercises that will train your brain for happiness and success” introduces several helpful concepts. I particularly liked the line about ‘giving yourself the same advice that you would offer to others’. As she says, we so often judge ourselves by standards that are either too high or simply irrelevant.

A more comprehensive item featured an interview with Andy Molinsky, a professor of organizational behavior, who paves the way forward to ‘leave your comfort zone’. Comfort zones are false. They create a sense of happiness, which has no meaning. The only place they exist is in our heads, but not in any reality.

As Molinsky explains, they hide our true competences. He goes on to argue in his new book how so many of us shrink back from networking, public speaking, or even approaching colleagues. And yet: –

What often sets successful people apart is their willingness to do things most of us fear. What’s more, we have the false notion that successful people like to do these things, when the truth is that successful people have simply found their own way to do them.

These themes come up regularly in my discussions with CEOs and others as their business coach. Even though, they have knowledge and training, they shrink back from doing what they know needs to be done, often with the most creative of excuses. It is easier to remain where they are, theoretically happy in that spot, rather than move ahead.

Some weeks back, I was talking with a female entrepreneur, who had been sent for a series of consultations with an expert in her field. Half way through the meetings, she gave up. She cited several reasons for opting out, and the one she stressed referred to the fact that the person had a long waiting list of people who deserved the time more than she did.

Sounds very noble. Now think again. Who is she to make such an assessment? How can she compare her needs with those of others, who she has not met? Does she know what advice she may be missing out on?

So why did she run off? The probable answer is that the expert was beginning ask questions, which were forcing her to go beyond what she had achieved. that raises the thought of not succeeding fully. And that implies failure. This is what I call the “ouch factor”.

The funny thing is that the opposite of success is not necessarily failure!

Meanwhile, my intrepid entrepreneur is happy where she is, wondering what to do next, although not having the support of the expert who probably knows the answer!

0 comments

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

Client Feedback

"Michael transformed the way I think and approach working, and also how to monetize my social media and communal projects."

CEO of digital media company

"Michael helped my high tech company take off."

CEO of clean energy start up

"Michael has been an invaluable resource to me throughout all of the steps of starting up my business."

Art Studio owner

“Working with Michael Horesh is like having root canal treatment, marriage counselling and business coaching all rolled into one, successfully.”

CEO of digital media company
CEO of clean energy start up
Art Studio owner