Wouldn’t you agree that grandparents are unquestionably the wisest people on the planet? They always seem to know exactly what to say to make us feel better by the use of their wisdom – they truly appear to comprehend the purpose of life.
They are not, however, born wise. Wisdom is gained through a lifetime of experience; making mistakes and learning from them, saying the wrong thing at the wrong moment, and eventually realising what matters most to them.
Consider the things your grandparents used to tell you. “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” “The pen is mightier than the sword.” “Be patient, better things are coming.” Back then, we thought, “Sure, easy for you to say!” However, as grownups we finally realise just how much wisdom our grandparents managed to squeeze into these tiny tidbits of advice and, if we have been wise we have used that wisdom to shape our lives.
My Nana Mac was the wisest of most grandparents, but then again, I am biased, and I am sure many others would agree. My Nana Mac had a tough life, living on the docks, as the wife of a trawlerman who spent the majority of his time at sea. She pretty much brought up her family of four children on her own and a shoestring.
She always had a saying for every situation. She was teaching me to be a better person with all her quirky sayings like ‘money isn’t everything’, ‘a firm tree does not fear the storm’, and ‘fall down seven times and get up eight’. I would ask her what she meant when she come out with one of her ‘quotes’, and she would look me in the eyes and respond with another; ‘interpretation is independent thinking – now you decide what they mean’. I thought she was a little eccentric, but her words have stuck with me throughout my life. I learnt so much about the value of life from my Nana Mac without even realising it until I was well into my adulthood.
That is why I want to share wisdom with you through some incredible coaches that work with ‘Nana Mac,’ all of whom are committed to helping individuals and businesses on their development journeys.
The coaches I have chosen to work with have received Nana Mac’s seal of approval. They were chosen because they offer something unique, often unconventional, and have a breadth of knowledge and experience. I don’t believe people can teach or coach others through academia alone. Academic training is a structure, but without substance or filling, that structure is merely an empty shell. Just like my Nana Mac our coaches have lived life, they have a wide breadth of experience and knowledge and are passionate about coaching.
‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’, but I believe everyone can learn.