The Opposite End of the Spectrum

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – March 11, 2024

Frustrated by your weak­nesses?  Why not look at the opposite end of the spectrum?

I yam what I yam and that’s all that I yam.
I am Popeye, the Sailor Man.
—Popeye, the Sailor Man

Although this quote may seem a bit simplistic, I think it illustrates how free you may feel when you pay attention to who you are, and Popeye did just that. We all have the option to choose what we pay attention to. Consider this: Would this be Popeye’s quote if he paid attention to what he could NOT do? Or does he feel great about himself because he is paying attention to what he CAN do? Continue reading “The Opposite End of the Spectrum”

ADHD: How Heavy Is a Glass of Water? It All Depends!

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – February 12, 2024

I’m a fan of what I call insightful thinking, and I’m sharing a simple example that I think beautifully illustrates the difference between insightful thinking and methodical thinking as a way to help delineate the different types of problem-solving strategies. Let’s begin by defining a few terms so we are paying attention to the same thing.

Continue reading “ADHD: How Heavy Is a Glass of Water? It All Depends!”

The Relationship Between Attention and the Placebo Effect

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – December 18, 2023

The placebo effect has been documented to positively impact physical and mental health. How can this be? After all, a placebo is benign. It’s a sham or simulated intervention designed to produce a perceived or actual improvement. Many times, a placebo is used to reinforce a person’s expectation of getting well or moving forward. Studies show this phenomenon is pervasive. But, if a placebo is benign, how can it have positive effects? I’m calling this to your attention as evidence of the power of what you pay attention to. Continue reading “The Relationship Between Attention and the Placebo Effect”

To Be You or To Be What Others Want You To Be

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – November 20, 2023

I’d like to share an old parable used by Mark Twain that I feel illustrates the dangers of searching for, or succumbing to, the control of others regarding what you should do in life.

A schooled military history buff died and was met by Saint Peter at the pearly gates. The man curiously asked for the identity of the most talented general of all time. To the man’s surprise, Saint Peter exclaimed, “There is no question who that is,” and pointed out the individual. Continue reading “To Be You or To Be What Others Want You To Be”

ADHD: Try Harder? Why Not Try Different?

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – September 11, 2023

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” Isn’t that what they say? But trying harder is impossible if you are already trying as hard as you can and getting no results. So, what can you do?

Should you keep trying harder, repeating the same action and getting the same outcome? Of course not! According to Albert Einstein, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. Continue reading “ADHD: Try Harder? Why Not Try Different?”

Not All To-Do Lists Look the Same

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – August 14, 2023

Jane, a woman with attention deficit disorder (ADD), came to coaching, wanting help with organ­i­zation, specifically, getting things done. So, we focused our work on paying attention to what she pays attention to. Now, understand that this means we focused on her natural tendencies and habits, not necessarily on what she was consciously thinking of.

Continue reading “Not All To-Do Lists Look the Same”

ADHD: When the Dream Becomes the Obstacle

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – July 17, 2023

A Lesson from Professor Dumbledore,
Headmaster at Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

In the movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter finds himself gazing into the Mirror of Erised. In his reflection, he sees the image of himself with his parents standing behind him, both of whom are deceased. Puzzled, Harry looks behind himself only to find his parents are not there. As he gazes into the mirror and dreams, Professor Dumbledore walks in:

Continue reading “ADHD: When the Dream Becomes the Obstacle”

ADHD Is Hard. Can a Coach Help?

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – June 19, 2023

Jeff Copper & Aha BobThe first written record of the concept of ADHD coaching was in the book, Driven to Distraction, by Dr. Ned Hallowell and Dr. John Ratey in 1994. Little did they know at that time, the entire coaching industry would grow into a new ADHD intervention. In the late 1990s, a handful of individuals became life coaches that had ADHD and began touting the concept. In 2004, we saw the official formation of the ADHD Coaches Organization (ACO) as a means for coaches to come together and share best practices and competencies. Continue reading “ADHD Is Hard. Can a Coach Help?”

Insights on ADHD and Executive Functioning (A Thinking Impairment)

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – May 1, 2023

Self-awareness is an executive function, and success in life is highly correlated with self- awareness. Executive functioning (EF) is a set of mental faculties that enable us to identify, organize, and sequence relevant information over time towards a goal. In short, executive functioning is what we use to engineer a plan to achieve a goal. Continue reading “Insights on ADHD and Executive Functioning (A Thinking Impairment)”