Didn’t You See It?

How many times have you overlooked something that is right in front of you? Is it because you have thought more broadly about what you plan to do or is it that you have simply forgotten what /who you do know is right there staring you in the face?

Chances are many of you, like me, have done this on more than one occasion. Yesterday was a prime example. Presently one of my collaborative partners and I are developing a series of workshops to be delivered in London and along the M4 corridor. Sourcing the right venue to benefit the delegates and ourselves is a primary focus. So after several Google searches and emails to venues toward Bristol we were faced with a range of results, namely the different costs. Some were high, some were mid level, and some were really quite ludicrous. Shouldn’t this restless period in the economy be an ideal opportunity for training buyers to get good value rates from venues? You would think so. Obviously we all need to survive and make money in our businesses however it is apparent that a more agreeable approach can be taken.

Anyway let’s move on. Faced with the cost issue my colleague and I discussed our options yesterday. With considerable experience in training, therefore with good knowledge of costs etc, we talked about exactly what we need to offer the delegates. As the conversation flowed, ideas and thoughts surfaced, familiar names were shared, and then I realised that I have a strong connection with a training centre who can provide all we require. It was right in front of me all the time.

Sometimes we embark on a journey around the park to see all the sights. This is a positive approach and it is fascinating what you can discover. However remember not to overlook what is right in front of you. Think about what you are planning to achieve and what needs to be met. Utilise the good connections you have; those who know you, who you have built a relationship with, and who can offer you sometimes the “best” opportunity. Keep it “local” in a broadest sense of the term.

  “When you seek it, you cannot find it. “

Anon

Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na…Batman!

It really is amazing what inspires you to write. While relaxing in our hotel in London on the weekend we watched an episode of the original Batman series from the 1960′s. Amid the huge onslaught of “Kerpows”, “Thwacks” and “Biffs” that Batman and Robin inflicted on Penguin and his motley crew of baddies, I too was “kerpowed” by an unbelievable quote shared by Batman himself. These are his words: “A dream is a blueprint for courageous action”. Are you blown away by his utterance as well?

In the scene where Batman said perhaps the most prophetic comic hero words ever, he and Robin were battling with how to rid a building of bomb which would destroy the crystallised remains of the world leaders. (Yes I know this is a 1960′s storyline at it’s best!) Faced with the prospect of losing such global wisdom and leadership Batman was required to step up, to make a speedy decision and to save the day. It was his choice either way that would directly determine the outcome of the situation. Would he allow the dreams of millions be destroyed in a flash or would he rescue these great minds through brave action?

So what relation does “A dream is a blueprint for courageous action” have to  you and I? Our dreams are our goals in life or business. We create goals to aspire toward and to ultimately achieve them. Each dream is unique and it only applies to the destination you desire to reach. Our dreams are our blueprint; our roadmap, our detailed plan, or our design.

And it is only through courageous action, conviction, and consistency that we will achieve our dreams. Dreams take effort and commitment. Dreams need feeding; motivation, inspiration, creativity and innovation. Dreams need you to step out of your comfort zone; to be brave like Batman and to say to yourself: “I believe I can”. Without you believing in yourself and the skills and talents you have, together with assistance from reliable, positive and proactive connections, the bomb will go off and your dream will go up in a puff of smoke!

Discover the courage you possess. Don’t hide it from yourself or the world. With your blueprint in hand, take action and “Kerpow” your way toward making your dreams a reality.

Will You Thrive or Falter in 2012?

At the end of every year people make resolutions. Then at the start of the new year most of these well intended resolutions disappear at a rapid pace. Within six weeks (based on new gym membership sign up statistics) as we head into February, the upbeat “new year, new start” level of energy wanes and will peter out…

Rather than sending your thoughts to the bottom of the sea while you read my blog, how about staying afloat and riding the waves of success throughout 2012 instead? Surf’s up!

Taking time off over the Christmas break is nourishment for your body and soul. It’s a chance to unwind and to enjoy the simple things in life; family, friends and you. This time gives you an ideal opportunity to recharge your batteries and to return with new energy and verve. No doubt this adds power to the “in the moment” new year resolution planning? A big lead up then all too soon you’ve run out of puff.

So are you someone who has set realistic goals with clear objectives for yourself or your business? Will you stay on track to make sure you remain focused and reach your goals? What about the business owner who employs a team of people? What will you and your team do (maybe differently?) in 2012 to achieve your business goals? Will your business falter or thrive?

Who will falter? Every business faces challenges. Challenges provide us with an opportunity to change, to edit and to amend what we do and how we do it. Face your challenges with a positive and open attitude and you will learn and improve. Fail to alter the course you may be heading on, by burying your head in the sand or by ignoring simple alternatives, and you will falter. Don’t neglect performance improvement and be open to and learn to accept that change is a good thing.

How can you thrive in 2012? With innovation, collaboration and empowerment. Be original with your ideas. Make your concepts stand out. See them through the eyes and needs of your market. Make better use of the connections you have made. Strengthen young associations and build a positive group of reliable, key people who can grow with you. Empower yourself and your people. Encourage responsibility for actions and outcomes.

“Drive to thrive, but fail to alter and you will falter”

Gail Gibson

Momentum

Building up the pace then keeping all the plates spinning describes momentum. It’s just like driving a car. First you start by turning on the engine. Then you accelerate to a certain speed. While you maintain your driving speed,  at times braking or going faster/ slower, it’s also important to be mindful off everything else going on, both on the road and within your vehicle. In effect you are in control of keeping your plates spinning while you keep the momentum of your journey.

Key opportunities are gaining momentum in my business right now. As a result of many months of conversation, introductions and collaborative thinking, new horizons beckon for 2012 and beyond. It’s all very exciting. But one of my observations is that I have seen this pattern happen before with previous connections over the years of my business. However this feels very different. Why? Because I have chosen to adopt the attitude and belief that this time I am on the right journey with the right people.

During past collaborative experiences there have been several contrasts to this new opportunity such as lack of shared belief, one-sided promotion, and failure to position the opportunity. So what’s new? Momentum is the answer. More so it’s the convergence of two paths of momentum, both being encouraged to ensure that all of the combined plates spin together.

Currently (and finally) enjoying “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho, this book gave rise to my thoughts around momentum. Appearing last night on the pages of this great read, Coelho writes, “…before the dream is realised, the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned along the way. It does this not because it is evil, but so that we can, in addition to realising our dreams, master the lessons we’ve learned as we’ve moved toward the dream”.

In short, Coelho’s words summarise exactly where my momentum is at right now. Through connections, I’ve been tried and tested, I’ve learned and lost. Through connections I’ve made choices; some right, some wrong. Through connections I’ve arrived at the realisation that I am on the right path toward my dream. And now, due to the strength of these positive connections, together with my belief that we will achieve success, the momentum is building to a crescendo.

“Success comes from taking the initiative and following up… persisting… eloquently expressing the depth of your love.

What simple action could you take today to produce a new momentum toward success in your life?”

Anthony Robbins

Tell Your Story

Reading “The last post” in the recent edition of Legion, the Royal British Legion magazine, it dawned on me that social media is really all about sharing your story. In the article I read an Army reservist used his PR skills to tell the folk back home what life was like on the front line. Through blogs, Facebook and YouTube, he with others, collaboratively painted a clear and more real picture of the everyday lives, thoughts and feelings of our troops. It really was that simple.

So why is it that so many people just don’t “get” social media? Millions of us are using it around the planet. Millions of us are having great online conversations. Millions of us are building effective networks and connections across the globe. And what are we all doing? We are telling our own story.

Take the current conflict in Afghanistan. Via the media we hear and see events almost daily, stories of attacks, injuries and the unfortunate tragedy of war – death. But what this army reservist has done is to take a real life situation and share it with a global audience. It’s believable, the stories shared are actually happening. The stories give the viewer a unique understanding or awareness of the highs and lows of military life in Afghanistan.

Even in the depths of battle with bullets ricocheting and dust flying, a bird’s-eye view of war is captured on film. It’s edited then transported around the world via the internet. It promotes people being able to connect together to find out more, to follow with interest, and to educate about the reality of the situation.

What lessons can be learned from this effective and successful use of social media on the front line?

* Share the story of your business – the highs and lows, the celebrations and learning curves

* Share your story in the moment – as it grows and evolves

* Share your story to build a positive following or group of fans (think potential clients) and create a network of business builders to help you achieve success

* Share your story to inspire, to celebrate your unique offering and to educate about the benefits of what your business is all about

“Not only is your story worth telling, but it can be told in words so painstakingly eloquent that it becomes a song.”

Gloria Naylor

Are you a Recovering Caterpillar?

Don’t you just love it when you receive a link to something fantastic that sums up exactly what you want to say or what you believe in?

So to see if you are a recovering caterpillar or not, I invite you to sit back, enjoy this great video, and be inspired to achieve prosperity in your life!

“Create the outcomes you want in life”

Pat Mesiti

Are you an Egg?

Time after time I keep seeing eggs when I visit Twitter and LinkedIn. There are spamming eggs, well-known eggs and eggs who really should not be eggs! I think it’s time to put all these eggs in one basket; actually no let’s put them in a frying pan and cook them up!

What is all this egg stuff that I’m going on about? How many of you have an egg as your avatar on social media platforms? Is that really you? Is the shell an exterior to protect your real identity? Why are you hiding? More importantly what does an egg say about you?

Regardless of whether you have just embarked on your new social media journey, one of the first things I always explain to people who attend my workshop is to upload a professional image of yourself or your product. Consider what message you are sharing when you use an egg to represent you and your business. Spam is one of the first things that springs to mind, and then other words like unprofessional, fake, dishonest…

Each time you imprint your mark or your “business stamp”, it is vital to always ask yourself this question: “Does this meet with my brand?” Think about your own key standards and values that you have chosen to believe in, to commit to and to promote. Do you meet them every time? Is this the perception others see? How are you building your reputation and credibility in the eyes of your audience?

Remember the egg? That’s not you. Remove the egg. Scramble it, fry it or poach it. Unless of course you ARE a chicken farmer, egg distributor or an omelette maker supremo! Even then your own egg logo or you must become your avatar.

Delete the egg. Allow prospective connections and customers to see the authentic you. Seal your mark of approval online with a professional image and a credible reputation.

 “When you wear a disguise for too long, you slowly forget about the real person behind the mask, and you’ll end up hiding behind one disguise after another.”

Anon

 

 

Greed

Probably the worst of the seven deadly sins, greed is the backbone of what’s happening in the world right now. Always a positive person, my thoughts and reflections today may appear somewhat negative however there is an upside to my story.

Watching the news last night the subject of the Eurozone crisis was centre stage. Countries and governments are floundering in their attempts to manage accrued financial debts. As we know it is the people who are suffering as a result. Jobs have been and continue to be cut, many people face redundancy, and job prospects look less hopeful. You may question – “Who is to blame?”

No one person, government or country can be solely blamed for the global downturn. It is the result of a pattern of greed. For too long money has been the focus of people’s lives. Money has driven countries and governments and it will continue to do so. However I believe that it is greed that really has knocked the world for six.

Is now the time to re-evaluate what is most important to you, what matters to you most? What do you truly value in life that can ultimately bring you happiness? Are these the things that we should be focussing all of our energy on? Yes money is required to live; to feed, clothe and to enjoy things in life. No money is not the answer to happiness.

You might say that not everyone has shared this era of greed. Some people have never had any money, they have done without. Have they been unhappy or have they discovered a way within themselves to make do with what they have? Do they derive happiness from not having?

I believe this era of greed is now at critical mass. It cannot continue. We have the change the way we think, act and do. We have to challenge ourselves to start thinking more about others instead of ourselves. We must consider the implications of what won’t be left if we continue on the same road we are currently travelling on. Globally there is an immediate need to shift our mindset from money, greed and wealth to happiness, value and sharing.

It’s amazing how calming it is to write the words happiness, value and sharing. It gives me a moment to reflect on what really does matter most to me, especially those I hold dear.

Together we can ride through this storm. Together we can make a difference to how we live and what we do. Together we can change our mind to focus on true happiness in life. Why not start today?

Is to Um to Err?

When it comes to presenting, how often do you get the opportunity to actually observe how well you speak? Since September I have been studying to complete a formal teaching qualification. Alongside written assessments each person in the group has to present a 30 minute microteach about our specialist area of expertise.

On Tuesday it was my turn to kick off the micro teaching sessions. As an experienced speaker and trainer I chose to share with my group a few ways to develop confident presentation skills. And what’s more this teaching opportunity also taught me a few things about how I present, what I say and how I come across. How? I was filmed while teaching.

After my session which was well received by my peers I sat down to review my performance. What did I notice first? My initial observations were that I was calm, engaging and I made positive eye contact with the group. My session flowed well, I smiled and brought in humour, I questioned and involved the participants, and I shared knowledge and personal anecdotes. OK, these are all very positive attributes to being a good presenter but within my delivery I noticed what I believe to be a crucial area for development.

Do you know what I did? I actually “ummed” 45 times! Is this a negative trait for a presenter? Umming is something that you do not always consciously notice when you speak however I was shocked as to the number of times I did um. Umming can be seen as a pause between phrases but I found that this did detract and stop the natural flow of my delivery. As the video progressed I then watched as my peers also ummed when they did a short presentation as part of my session.

So what is the negative impact of an umming presenter? When I reflect on my presentation I watch myself for the moments when I um. It appears as a pause but it also says to me that not enough rehearsal was done prior to delivery. Yes I used sections of workshops that I have previously delivered however I felt overall it was slightly disjointed. One characteristic of mine which I know pre-empts an um is when I scan my notes to move on to the next section. This is an area for me to work on.

Is to um to err? Yes and no in my opinion. I know personally that um is part of my speech. It is a pausing habit and one I don’t notice however it is a habit that I aim to break. My goal for future presentations is to prepare, rehearse and to transform my speaking skills. It will take practice and time but unless I had seen this recent video of myself presenting I would continue to um away…

“Communication works for those who work at it.”

 John Powell

A Tribute to Our Beautiful Maia (9/11/2000 – 28/10/2011)

Dearest Maia,

The moment you placed your tiny paw in my hand was the day I fell in love with you. From underneath your brothers and sisters you pushed your way through to choose me to be your Mum. Seven weeks later we brought you home and since then you have been the best companion and most loving dog that your Dad and I could have ever asked for.

Every day over the past eleven years you have brought us so much happiness and joy. Every morning you were so eager to get your lead on and go for a walk. This is a special memory I will always treasure as it was our time together each day. You brightened our days, showed us so much love and we loved every wonderful walking adventure we shared, in all weathers. You swam, chased rabbits, pheasant and deer, through forests, across streams and over fields. And then there were your favourite habits of rolling in Chanel No. Fox and eating snow! You were totally obsessed with balls and sticks, and our garden is proof of your ball addiction as almost daily you found a treasure and brought it home.

When Dad was away you were always there to love me, to keep me company and to bring a huge smile to my face. Through the laughter, the tears and the lonely nights you were always there to comfort me. Dad always missed your touch especially when you leaned against him or snuggled into his legs when you slept on the couch.

Everyone who ever met you Maia instantly fell in love with you. Your gentle nature, your warm, friendly welcome and little stumpy wag lit up the room and were always pure delight. You had so many wonderful friends; Max & Charlie, Fudge, Falcon & Kyte, Zara & Inca, Perrie & Cleo to name a few. Together you had fun adventures and as pups got up to lots of mischief.

What Dad and I will miss the most is having you here to give us a very waggy welcome whenever we came home. You loved us totally and unconditionally. Now there’ll be no one to tell me when the post man arrives and no more barking for breakfast & dinner. And when I look in the rear vision mirror in the car the backseat will be empty.

Today we set you free our gorgeous girl. We knew you could struggle no more with the cancer inside you. Because we love you so much we had to let you go. We could not sit by and let you suffer. These last few days have given us truly cherished memories of you – your soft, silken ears, your wet kisses, and the way you nuzzled into us as we slept.

Thank you for choosing us to be your Mum and Dad. Sharing the last eleven years with you have been the best years of our lives. We will always love and remember the time we had together with incredible happiness and joy. Maia our beautiful girl you were the light of our life.

Be free now Bubba One. As you cross the bridge know we will think of you daily and love you forever. Stay close in spirit and walk with us always. Just remember to share the sticks and balls with all the other dogs J

Much Love Always

Your Heartbroken Mum & Dad xxxxxxxxxxx