Q-Tip It!


Back in the 1920's when Polish-American entrepreneur Leo Gerstenzang invented cotton swabs as a safer way to clean his baby's ears, he called his product "Q-Tip." Actually, his first name-choice was "Baby Gay" ? but that didn't sell, so the by-now familiar name emerged. Mr. Gerstenzang chose "Q" for Quality . . . and he must have been on to something, because Q-Tip has become a household word (and we've developed a whole 'nother set of connotations for 'Baby Gay.')

Which made Q-Tip a good choice for an acronym that's going 'round in motivational workshops these days: Quit Taking It Personally! I have a jar of those little white-tipped tools on my vanity, and every morning they remind me to use this quick-and-easy stress reduction technique: Q-Tip It!

? The traffic jam or the flat tire, or the keys that get locked in the car are not part of a plan to ruin your day. Q-Tip It ? Quit Taking It Personally!

? The keys that can never be found are just inanimate objects, and there is no moral value attributable to being able to find everything anyway. Q-Tip It!

? The computer that freezes just when you've got an important report to print really IS just a stupid machine. Take a deep breath and repeat the maxim about accepting the things you cannot change. Above all -- Q-Tip It!

? The supervisor who wants everything done yesterday has a problem with time management and scheduling. You're more likely to find a constructive way to deal with this of persistent stress situation if you Q-Tip It!

? The 5 pounds you can't seem to lose are just a ball of fat . . . not a moral failure. You know what to do ? eat less, move more. So get moving . . . and Q-Tip It!

? The kids who don't call often enough probably really ARE busy (and didn't you raise them to be independent?). Q-Tip It! ? The colleague who consistently says you're doing something all wrong is telling you more about her needs than about your way of doing things. Q-Tip It!

? Got a spouse (or friend, or child) who seems always to ignore things you say? Odds are she/he is hard of hearing, forgetful, or caught up in her own priorities rather than trying to drive you nuts. Q-Tip It!

? ______________________________________________ (fill in your own stressors ? and Q-Tip It!)

You get the picture . . . and the image, too. Stress is not what happens to us. It's our response TO what happens. And RESPONSE is something we can choose.

So ? Q-Tip It! Let Mr. Gerstenzang's little white-tipped tool be a memory-hook, a way to ease the your personal stress reactions, the way YOU choose to respond to the happenings of your days.

(c) Maureen Killoran, 2005

Maureen Killoran, MA, DMin, is a Life Coach with a passion for helping people connect their strengths with their vision. Maureen offers dynamic individual and group coaching, work team empowerment training, teleclasses, and a free monthly e-zine, "Seeds of Change." Her articles are published on over 50 websites, and have been translated into several languages. Watch for Maureen's upcoming e-workbook, SpiritQuesting (tm) -- a non-sectarian path to personal deepening and growth. Why not contact Maureen for a complimentary coaching consultation? http://www.spiritquestcoaching.com







Related News



Executives Headed Overseas Benefit From Expat Coaching - Workforce Management

Executives Headed Overseas Benefit From Expat Coaching
Workforce Management, Ca -8 hours ago
Executive coaching has increasingly shifted away from fixing problem managers to helping corporate stars achieve peak performance. ...
The Boom in Business CoachingWorkforce Management
all 3 news articles

The new face of Michigan football Rodriguez leads new coaching ... - The Ann Arbor News - MLive.com

USA Today

The new face of Michigan football Rodriguez leads new coaching...
The Ann Arbor News - MLive.com, MI -15 hours ago
BY ANTOINE PITTS A new coach with a different offensive scheme, a stadium under massive renovation and a switch in apparel suppliers are among the many ...
Rodriguez's story is more than just West VirginiaHuntington Herald Dispatch
Whole new maize and blue for Michigan footballUSA Today
Ann Arbor outsider bears promise of change at UMDetNews.com
Minneapolis Star Tribune - MLive.com
all 62 news articles

Sherman hopes to get A&M football on forward march - Houston Chronicle

CSTV.com

Sherman hopes to get A&M football on forward march
Houston Chronicle, United States -10 hours ago
A lot of my philosophy on coaching, raising my kids, living my life was formulated here while I was at College Station, whether it was in a staff meeting ...
Ark. St. coach recalls rousing atmosphere at A&MKSLA-TV
Sherman using old-school approachTopeka Capital Journal
all 28 news articles

Listens To Good Coaching - Patriots Insider

Listens To Good Coaching
Patriots Insider -5 hours ago
Coach Bill Belichick preaches that every year is a new one, and that what happened last week, last month or last year is irrelevant. His players listen. ...

The long and short of coaching golf - The Gazette (Montreal)

The long and short of coaching golf
The Gazette (Montreal), Canada -17 hours ago
I'm coaching people that love the game, that want to learn the game. Today, everybody wants to play golf. If you're in business, you've got to be playing ...

Creampuffs, coaching debuts on the menu for first week - Detroit Free Press

Point-Spreads.com

Creampuffs, coaching debuts on the menu for first week
Detroit Free Press, United States -12 hours ago
One certainly will be LSU coach Les Miles, who will lead his Tigers against the aforementioned giant-killing Mountaineers in a game matching national ...
College football primer: Dogs will hunt, but pick is USCRocky Mountain News
Can they keep it up?FOXSports.com
PAC-10 Preview: Six achilles' heelsTheNewsTribune.com
Myrtle Beach Sun News - Outsports.com
all 115 news articles

Wake Forest dealing with rare coaching departures - International Herald Tribune

Washington Post

Wake Forest dealing with rare coaching departures
International Herald Tribune, France -Aug 27, 2008
Defensive coordinator Dean Hood took the head job at Eastern Kentucky, and quarterbacks coach Jeff Mullen took over as offensive coordinator at West ...
Making believers under BrilesAustin American-Statesman
Wake Forest at BaylorNews & Observer
Wake Forest expects the unexpected from BaylorESPN
Houston Chronicle - Waco Tribune Herald
all 289 news articles

Stu Barnes announces retirement, joins Dallas Stars coaching staff - The Canadian Press

CBC.ca

Stu Barnes announces retirement, joins Dallas Stars coaching staff
The Canadian Press -9 hours ago
"I feel good about it being the end now and being able to walk away in one piece," Barnes said Thursday after being named an assistant coach with the Stars. ...
Barnes Joins Coaching StaffNHL.com
Stu Barnes retires, joins Dallas Stars' coaching staffDallas Morning News
Stu Barnes retires, joins Stars' coaching staffThe Associated Press
Sports Network - Bleacher Report
all 212 news articles


Roddick Wins at US Open After Parting With Coaching Brother - Bloomberg

Telegraph.co.uk

Roddick Wins at US Open After Parting With Coaching Brother
Bloomberg -23 hours ago
28 (Bloomberg) -- Andy Roddick cruised into the second round of the US Open, the scene of his only Grand Slam title, with a new coach, while Lindsay ...
Courier, The Quiet Guy in the Booth, and the Coaching Drought in ...Most Valuable Network
Roddick's rockets fire warning to the worldIndependent
Andy Roddick's brother no longer coaching himInternational Herald Tribune
guardian.co.uk - Glasgow Daily Record
all 249 news articles

Friedgen Takes Step Back, Gets Closer to Team - Washington Post

Washington Post

Friedgen Takes Step Back, Gets Closer to Team
Washington Post, United States -58 minutes ago
So Friedgen "grinded" through last season, working harder than he had in nearly four decades of coaching, feeling as if he was not doing a good job and ...
Hens undecided but Maryland's QB settledThe News Journal
It's Time to Pick, and Roll With ItWashington Post
all 10 news articles