Saturday 31 December 2011

MAKE AN 'ALL YEAR ROUND SELF REVOLUTION' DECISION

Be it you want stop smoking, lose weight, change careers, build a better business, start something new, or end something bad, we all make new year’s resolutions year in and year out. One year later most of us return to make the same resolution, pretending that the last time out didn’t count or even happen. The fire in these self promises lose their spark as fast as they come to one’s mind. Resolutions are all about goal setting. Goal setting is about making decisions and sticking to them. For example: If today you were to buy an airline ticket to fly to Barcelona, you will make sure you are on that plane. When you’re on that plane there is no turning back. You are going to Barcelona. You may not like the smell of the person beside you. There might be some turbulence; maybe you have a fear of flying. It doesn’t matter. You made a decision to go. You will do what it takes and put up with unpleasantness. You are focus on where you are going and you will get there. It’s the same frame of mind you need to tap into if you want success with you resolution. Buy the ticket for the goal you want to achieve. Get on that plane and arrive at your destination. Make the decision. Nobody wants to be left behind in the airport.  How can you achieve your new year’s resolution?  Firstly, change the words. Call it an ‘all year resolution’. It’s not just for the New Year. That's why most of us fail. Once the New Year is over we forget about our resolutions. You have to think: it’s from this point forward. Then, change the word resolution to revolution, self revolution. The word revolution doesn’t always mean uprising or war. John Lennon promoted the revolution of love and peace. A resolution is an idea, a promise of a self contract, which in the case of a New Year’s resolution is easily broken. A revolution, on the other hand, is an action, act to bring change. Write down your goal, stick on your wall and look at it daily. Want it. Really want it. Update your progress on a weekly base. Like all great revolutionaries, when you reach your goal help others to reach theirs.

Drop themonkey business and make an ‘all year round self revolution’. It could be the best decision you ever make.

Friday 30 December 2011

BE WATER AND ALLOW SUCCESS TO FLOW


Be water and allow success to flow. Be water and allow success to follow. Be the great person that you are in life by being water. Think about it. The water always arrives to where it is going. There is no stress or wanting in water.  It doesn’t struggle, it flows. It allows for others to be in its space. If a rock is blocking its path it goes around it and can eventually erode it. Water is strong and always moving. It knows how and when to be calm and knows when to be tough. According to Arthur Guyton 's Textbook of Medical Physiology the total amount of water in a man of average weight (70 kilograms) is approximately 40 litres, averaging 57 percent of his total body weight. You are water so start acting like it! Think about this when you have a problem or a situation where you are not flowing, Just ask yourself the following: “In this moment how can I be the water that I am?and do I need to move in a different direction in order to flow?" You can get around any rock that is on front of you. After all, you are water.


Drop the monkey business and be water. This is a great way to look your life, your business and invite change. 

Thursday 29 December 2011

IT'S THE PEOPLE AT THE TABLE THAT COUNT


How many times have you arranged a party, a business meeting, a workshop or simply to meet a few friends for a drink with an expectation of who will be there. Somebody doesn’t show and you give all you energy to them wondering why they didn't come. Remember, it’s the people at the table that count. If somebody doesn’t show up, don’t give them a second thought. Why they didn’t show is not important. Who did show up are the people who you need to talk with. The people who have your attention and who want to be in that place at that time. There are no excuses. If you need or want to be somewhere you will do everything to be there. If you give your attention to the people at the party as oppose to the people who didn’t make an effort your energy will flow without fail. It's the people on the boat that will reach the destination. If you spend your time thinking about the people back on the shore your focus will not be on the boat. Focus on the boat. Focus on the people on the boat and how they can help you reach your goal. Do this and the destination will come. If the seas are calm, fantastic. You'll reach your goal with ease. If the sea is rough, you'll still reach your destination with determination, effort and the people who showed up. Rough seas make great sailors. That can be applied to everything in your work and your life. Support the people who are there and they will support you.

Drop the monkey business and focus on those who are at the party and not on those who are missing in action. More success will come to you.

Wednesday 28 December 2011

THE BUSINESS OF CHILDBIRTH: BEAUTIFUL, REAL AND JOYFUL

When my wife gave birth to our second child I summed it up in three words. It was beautiful, real and joyful. I pondered about the world and the day to day goings on of business and life. I thought that’s exactly how it should be: beautiful, real and joyful. Look at the Women who give birth. They prepare for a final result; the birth. They know the time limit; nine months. They go into labour; work hard. They have control by breathing deeply. They overcome and face great pain; they scream. They love the end result before they see it; belief, trust and knowing. At the end of all that they have something beautiful, real and joyful. So if we take these simple steps, maybe we can be successful if we relate them to our goals and dreams in business and in life.

Drop the monkey business and look at the business of childbirth for inspiration. Put preparation, a deadline, the hard work, the control, the pain, and the faith all into where you most want to succeed and you more than likely will.

Tuesday 27 December 2011

THE GREAT CINEMA EXPERIENCE


There are two cinemas where I live. there is the Eye cinema and the Omniplex. The experiences they offer are very different. My favourite has a style that appeals to my taste. I like their brand of popcorn and the staff seems to always be in the right place at the right time, saying and doing the right things. From the word go I have put value on my cinema of choice and that’s before I’ve even seen the movie. Going to the cinema is a ritual for me. It’s not just about the film, it’s also about the popcorn, the drink and most importantly, the tuning in to tune out factor. Of course, I want to see something that I will like, but if I don’t that’s no problem because I’m guaranteed the great cinema experience. If I was to put all my eggs in the one basket when it comes to the cinema experience and think I’m only paying to see the movie I’d more than likely never return after seeing one film that I didn't like. I always get value for my buck when I go to the movies because of how I gauge and see the whole experience. Always remember, two people can see the same movie in the same place at the same time and offer different points of views on the film. Your thoughts on the movie are an opinion. The value is in the experience that surrounds the viewing. The same can be said for a lot of things in business and life. When you are buying or selling a product or service do you put value only on the product or service or do you look at the bigger picture, the experience? Buy into the experience when making a purchase and if you are selling a product, give an experience that makes people want to come back for more.

Drop the monkey business and put the great cinema experience in everything that you do.

Monday 26 December 2011

CONNECT WITH THE ROCK CLIMBER

Do you know your colleagues by titles such as Bob, the accountant or Mary, the office manager? Do they know you by your title; John, the boss or William who works in the mailroom. Do you know the person outside the title? Most of us don’t know each other too well in the workplace. We lose the opportunity to build stronger connections, trust, and improved output. Imagine the person who works as a receptionist is considered average or below average. Outside the workplace the receptionist partakes in rock climbing activities where they are miles above average. They are inspired and inspiring when talking about their hobby. They put one hundred percent into every second and every movement. They plan two steps ahead while focusing on their present step. They know exactly where they are going. They have all the tools to reach their destination successfully and nothing and nobody will distract them. The passion and energy that they put into the rock climbing is one hundred times more then what they put into the job they do. The job which pays for the hobby! This is the case for most people. Why do most employers find it difficult to get the maximum productivity from workers? They know the title of each worker and the workers know the title of each other . They may even know about each others passions outside the workplace, but in order to truly connect with staff within an organization no matter what your position you need to look outside their title. You need to look outside their hobbies. Look at the energy they put into what they love. That is who they really are. When communicating with others connect with the energy where it is the best. Don’t connect with the receptionist who answers the phone, connect with the rock climber and you will know and work with a world class receptionist.

Drop the monkey business and connect with your work colleagues where their energy is best.

Sunday 25 December 2011

THE ACT OF GIVING

The beautiful magic of Christmas is in the giving. The giver is sometimes more excited than the receiver, but in the end the enthusiasm of the giver can be so contagious that the happiness and excitement of the receiver is a result of the action and not the gift. When the act of giving is applied to every other day of our life in personal or business moments it can change the energy of the people that are around us. It can help you arrive to where you need to be.

Drop the monkey business, give daily and give from the heart.


Saturday 24 December 2011

STICK TO THE LIST

When on a break, have a think about what you are going to do in order to put yourself, your life and your business in a better position. Think of three goals. Write out the simple steps you must take to achieve them. keep it sweet and simple! Write down the answers to the following three questions; Can you do it? Will you do it and When? and do just like you do when you go to the shopping center to pick up a few bits and pieces... You stick to the list like glue. Every year can be your year if you give yourself no excuses, 

Just drop the monkey business and do it!