Passport control was pretty much as I expected, quiet, busy but quick and efficient, and I was through in no time at all. A quick visit to the luggage carousel, a walk through customs and before you know it, you are stood outside the airport looking at Yellow Taxi's and breathing in cigarette smoke. I find the Bus to Grand Central Station NYC, buy my ticket, hand over my bags and get on board. The outside of the bus is covered in advertising and branding, meaning that once you are inside you cannot really see out. It was like looking through a window covered in small wire mesh. My hopes of seeing the New York skyline as we approached were well and truly scuppered. Time for a Dream Break, I slept for about half an hour and woke up just as we entered the city. The time was 1630 (2030 in the UK) so the dream break was just what I needed. "GRAND CENTRAL NEXT STOP" I stepped off the bus at the side of Grand Central Station, It was like walking into a movie, people everywhere, steam coming up through the pavements, everything was moving so fast it was hard to take it in. Remember the scene in any movie about some going to NY for the first time, and the way the person always stops on the last step and looks out the door? that was me. I stepped onto the sidewalk, grabbed my bags from the driver and ducked into a door way to get myself organised. I rolled a cigarette (much to the amazement to passers buy!) popped in in my mouth, flared my lighter to life and took a deep pull, my first one in eight hrs and as the nicotine entered my bloodstream, I felt myself relax in that oh so familiar way. I blow out, my smoke watching intently as it disappeared into the steam from a vent, and look around.
I had booked myself into a hotel
on W51st and had studied the map numerous times over the last few months. Perfect
I knew exactly where I was and where I needed to be. I grabbed my luggage, took a confident step
into the flow of people and started to walk. This was easy, just like walking
down Oxford Street on a busy day. I walked at my usual pace and found myself
getting ahead of the crowd, meaning that I could lift my head and look around a
little as I walked. Wow...this place is huge, towers of commercialism reach into
the blue all around you, the sun shimmering of the glass. I lower my head and find
a place to stop for a moment to take a picture and take it all in. I had the
afternoon and the evening to enjoy being here before I head up the Hudson River
to Ossining for my training...I spent the rest of the day doing the whole tourist thing, shopping for presents, gazing around and taking photos. I had something to eat in a typical Irish American pub, along with a couple of pints to help me get to sleep and got an early night. The time difference was rapidly catching up on me and I seriously needed to sleep if I was going to be on the ball the next morning.
I woke at about 0630 the next morning, had a quick shower, checked out and went to grab some breakfast. I picked a good looking diner, sat at the counter and ordered my bacon and eggs from the friendly Old Italian guy behind the counter (loving every minute). He filled my coffee cup, gave me a glass of water and a friendly comment before returned to his work, doing the same for everyone at the counter. I ate quickly, drank down the last of my coffee popped $10 on the counter and left with a wave of thanks to the guy behind the counter. Grand Central was a 30 minute walk away and I need to be in Ossining by 1100.
If stepping off the bus felt like stepping into a sitcom, walking into Grand Central was like walking into a thousand iconic movies at the same time. Everything I do feels like a scene from a movie, booking into my hotel, eating breakfast, buying a train ticket, surreal just doesn't quite explain it.
I find my train, take a seat and get ready for my 45 minute journey up the Hudson River. Time to get my head around the training and the experience I am about to go through...
Points of You had come into my life eight months previously, my wife had come across them at work and bought me "The Coaching Game ". I loved it from the moment that I received it, started using it almost every day by myself and then later started using it with clients during coaching sessions. Each time I used it, I marvelled at the way it helped you to see things from a different angles. Over the coming months my relationship with Points Of You grew, I attended on line training session and workshops, had Skype conversations with members of staff about how I was using it and finding out what other tools they had. One day I received an e-mail form them informing me that they were holding a certificated trainer programme in New York in October. So, I had a conversation with my soon wife to be and we decided that I should go. It was a great opportunity for our business as no one was a certified trainer here in the UK, it would also be great for me on a personal development basis as the programme contained a large amount of coaching. I was eager to say the least.
I arrived in
Ossining at 1000 and jumped in a taxi to take me to my home for the next 5
days. Bailey Farm was 3 miles out of the town was some of the most beautiful
country side I have ever seen (not including Yorkshire, of course!). Trees of
every colour, houses and picket fences of brilliant white, the lush green of
the grass, everything stood out in its own perfect grandeur. Before I knew it
we were driving down the driveway of Bailey Farms. I felt the hairs on my arms
stand up and my soul scream with joy at the sight that greeted me. I paid the
Taxi driver and was greeted at the door by sunshine… literally, they joyous,
very lovely lady who greeted us was called “Sunshine”. I she absolutely lived
up to her name, a friendly person with cheery outlook you do not often meet.
She showed me around a little and very proudly answered all my geeky questions
about the history of the place, showing the old hayloft and stables. Had been
given a room in a separate building to this one, so I grabbed my bags and
followed her outside. She said it was a short walk through the grounds to my
room, but as I had luggage she would drive me round. It was a short trip up the
road which lasted about two minutes and she pulled the car into the driveway of
another house. I thanked Sunshine and told her I would walk back to the house
once I had unpacked and freshened up.
The temptation to
lay on the bed for 5 minutes was very alluring, but I knew that if I did, it
would not be just a quick nap. I knew I just needed to keep going, even though
my jet lag was starting to kick in. A shower, change of clothes, something to eat
and a glass of water and I knew I would be back in the moment. I grabbed a
glass of water from the cooler downstairs and then went to take a shower, 20
minutes later I was walking out the door on the hunt for food. Sunshine had
pointed out the way back to the farm. “Just follow the pond on your left
hand side
and it will take you to the side of the farm, you will find your way.” She said
in her normal cheery way. So I stepped off the porch, sparing a glance for the
too rocking chairs on the porch, I walked on the path Sunshine had showed me
and walked down the small hill. The pond that she had mentioned in her
direction stood for everyone to see…
I walked into the
social area of Bailey Farm to find people from all over the world, Israel,
Costa Rica, Mexico, Canada, America and of course UK (me!). The greeting was
warm and friendly, what did I expect? These were all people from my field of
expertise, coaches, psychologists, mothers and fathers, of course they would be
lovely people. I spied sandwiches and muffins on the table and moved with
intent. I was halfway through my second sandwich when Effrat appeared from a
door in the corner of the room and asked us to enter… the journey begins!
I stopped to take
it all in, the colour of the tree’s the way that they reflected in the water.
The gentle calmness of the air and the way that the tension in my shoulders was
starting to fade away, the easiness of breath. I continued to walk after a short pause to
compose myself for the start of my training with Points of You. I knew that one
of the founders of the company Effrat Shani, but I had never met or spoken to
her before so did not know what to expect.
I walked into the
social area of Bailey Farm to find people from all over the world, Israel,
Costa Rica, Mexico, Canada, America and of course UK (me!). The greeting was
warm and friendly, what did I expect? These were all people from my field of
expertise, coaches, psychologists, mothers and fathers, of course they would be
lovely people. I spied sandwiches and muffins on the table and moved with
intent. I was halfway through my second sandwich when Effrat appeared from a
door in the corner of the room and asked us to enter… the journey begins!
The room was
cladded on all side with oak panelling befitting the buildings heritage, the
room had been set out with 16 chairs in a circle, all facing inwards, with
Effrat and her co facilitator Povilas sat side by side. The room had a faint
scent of Sage hanging in the air and in the centre of the circle was a circle
of Points of You cards, all face down showing only the logo, in the centre of
that was an ornate flower decoration with a candle in the centre.
I cannot tell you too much detail about the next five days, as everything on the programme is under coaching confidentiality, but here is what I can tell you.
Points of you is the brain child of Effrat Shani and Yoran Golan and was inspired by the film "Pay it forward". The Coaching Game was the first product to be created by these two amazing people and since it's birth in 2006 has spread to 147 countries and been translated into 6 different languages. The concept of Points of You is to allow people the opportunity to take a "Pause" from their daily routine. Effrat explains it like this "Pausing isn't easy. In everyday life we constantly rush to fulfil all our roles, yet there's one role that we tend to neglect - being me, getting together with myself. Pausing is an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with ourselves and in addition - every process of internal work begins by making the choice to pause, conduct an intimate meeting with ourselves and take the opportunity to introspect. Sometimes life forces us to take a pause whether we like it or not, the death of a relative, illness, a farewell, economic crises or even any major change in our lives. However, we can make a conscious choice to pause, breathe and ask - How am I doing.
Although it may sound like meditation and is not directly involve using the products, the pausing process allows us to peel off our external layers, listen and take a look at ourselves, away from the automatic patterns that compose our daily routine." Wise words!
The products work by combining traditional coaching techniques with photo therapy. By using both words and pictures we engage both sides of the brain at the same time, the creative and the intellect. By pausing to clear our filters and observing what we see and feel through the images and words, our mind takes on a different perspective allowing you to see subjects, issues from a different point of view. Looking at the issues concerning us with fresh eyes opens lots of doors and brings to the surface thoughts and feelings that are usually locked away in our subconscious. Once these doors are unlocked, new approaches and understandings can be formed and solutions can be found. In effect, when you use the products, you learn how to self coach, how to overcome your own barriers, how to ask yourself those all so insightful questions through the power of image and word.
Over the next five days, each member of the programme went through their own journey of discovery. Using the products to uncover hidden feelings and behaviours which up to now, was hidden from them. To say that we all went on a personal journey alongside our professional one. would be an understatement. The personal growth and increased focus I gained was amazing.
After five days of self discovery, it was time to head home. I noticed as I boarded the train to take me to Grand Central that the world seemed a very different place. I was more tolerant of people, I noticed more of what was going on around me. Every leaf that fell from a tree, every bird that flew overhead, every colour and every sound was magnified and I saw them through very different eyes. My journey back to the UK seemed to disappear in the blink of an eye, and before I knew it I was getting off the train in Huddersfield.
Over the past two weeks, as with everything, life has started to take over and although I still see things very differently, the usual routines and roles have returned. Some changes have stayed with me though, I still take time to pause everyday and take time not to react to situations, but to try and see them from a different point of view. I feel more confident, more organised and more together than I have ever felt in my entire life, and when something comes up, I just pull out my Coaching Game and work through it.
The quote John Lennon..."Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans."
Take a pause, look at life from a different Point of You and make a choice to do things differently.
Points of you is the brain child of Effrat Shani and Yoran Golan and was inspired by the film "Pay it forward". The Coaching Game was the first product to be created by these two amazing people and since it's birth in 2006 has spread to 147 countries and been translated into 6 different languages. The concept of Points of You is to allow people the opportunity to take a "Pause" from their daily routine. Effrat explains it like this "Pausing isn't easy. In everyday life we constantly rush to fulfil all our roles, yet there's one role that we tend to neglect - being me, getting together with myself. Pausing is an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with ourselves and in addition - every process of internal work begins by making the choice to pause, conduct an intimate meeting with ourselves and take the opportunity to introspect. Sometimes life forces us to take a pause whether we like it or not, the death of a relative, illness, a farewell, economic crises or even any major change in our lives. However, we can make a conscious choice to pause, breathe and ask - How am I doing.
Although it may sound like meditation and is not directly involve using the products, the pausing process allows us to peel off our external layers, listen and take a look at ourselves, away from the automatic patterns that compose our daily routine." Wise words!
The products work by combining traditional coaching techniques with photo therapy. By using both words and pictures we engage both sides of the brain at the same time, the creative and the intellect. By pausing to clear our filters and observing what we see and feel through the images and words, our mind takes on a different perspective allowing you to see subjects, issues from a different point of view. Looking at the issues concerning us with fresh eyes opens lots of doors and brings to the surface thoughts and feelings that are usually locked away in our subconscious. Once these doors are unlocked, new approaches and understandings can be formed and solutions can be found. In effect, when you use the products, you learn how to self coach, how to overcome your own barriers, how to ask yourself those all so insightful questions through the power of image and word.Over the next five days, each member of the programme went through their own journey of discovery. Using the products to uncover hidden feelings and behaviours which up to now, was hidden from them. To say that we all went on a personal journey alongside our professional one. would be an understatement. The personal growth and increased focus I gained was amazing.
After five days of self discovery, it was time to head home. I noticed as I boarded the train to take me to Grand Central that the world seemed a very different place. I was more tolerant of people, I noticed more of what was going on around me. Every leaf that fell from a tree, every bird that flew overhead, every colour and every sound was magnified and I saw them through very different eyes. My journey back to the UK seemed to disappear in the blink of an eye, and before I knew it I was getting off the train in Huddersfield.
Over the past two weeks, as with everything, life has started to take over and although I still see things very differently, the usual routines and roles have returned. Some changes have stayed with me though, I still take time to pause everyday and take time not to react to situations, but to try and see them from a different point of view. I feel more confident, more organised and more together than I have ever felt in my entire life, and when something comes up, I just pull out my Coaching Game and work through it.
The quote John Lennon..."Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans."
Take a pause, look at life from a different Point of You and make a choice to do things differently.
To find out more about Points of You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiNqUKEuWm0
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