A Little Challenge with a Big Purpose.

Don’t know what to do with your life? Then pretend you’re planning your own funeral and write your own eulogy. This exercise will very quickly help you realise what you want to achieve in your lifetime.

Yesterday I completed my first triathlon, a ‘mini-tri’ to raise funds for breast cancer. I have always been a sporty person and love feeling fit, but it was my friend Rose who inspired me to take on what for me was ‘a little challenge with a big purpose’.

Rose was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 43. Doctors said it was ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and that she had 50 per cent chance of the cancer recurring in her left breast. She bravely decided to undergo a bilateral mastectomy and have reconstructive surgery.

Now, six years on, Rose knows she was saved by early detection. She was spared further treatment by her choice to have a mammogram and subsequent surgery – so she spends a lot of time raising awareness about breast cancer and encouraging women to take mammograms.

Altogether Rose inspired our team of 24 women to raise over $4,000 for breast cancer. We each did our bit, encouraged our friends to donate and yes, we made difference. I knew now I was on the right path.

I want to make positive change. (Well sure, don’t we all?) But I have come to realise you don’t have to be Bill Gates, Angelina Jolie, Mother Teresa, Bono or John Lennon to do it. We can all do something small to leave a big impact on someone’s life.

Be inspired by the people around you: a green-fingered sister who shows you how to grow your own organic vegetables, a flatmate who helps you build a compost-bin in the back-yard, an amazing friend who challenges you. Or perhaps even a rock-band that makes you sing ballads at the top of your lungs and makes you feel alive and driven to take action. It’s the little things, after all.

by Bibi Bliekendaal

What’s Your Story? Email Russell and Share on our Guest Blog!

Bibi Bliekendaal

Bibi is a writer, art-dweeb, hopeless muso, amateur enviranmentalist, social media geek and a travel junkie.

 @Bibi_NZ
Website: www.thingsididntknowabouttheworld.blogspot.com
Email: Bibi.Bliekendaal@gmail.com

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You Can Succeed!

However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. – Prof. Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking is the physics professor who is renowned for work on the cosmos and his ‘robot voice’ assistance machine. He was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, a neurological disorder while a student at Cambridge University over 50 years ago. Hawking has survived longer than most people with Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. ALS attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control the muscles. People gradually have more and more trouble breathing and moving as muscles weaken and waste away. There’s no cure and no way to reverse the disease’s progression. Few people with ALS live longer than a decade. Hawking continues to defy the odds and is dedicated to his passion.

However, initially after his diagnosis, he recalled how he became depressed and did not see a point in finishing his doctorate. Fortunately, he continued to delve into his studies. Decades on, Hawking continues to be a source of inspiration for anyone living with a disability and able bodied physicians alike.

During a recent speech he offered valuable advice to his listeners:

“Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Be curious.”

“However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.”

Russell O’Neill

Performance Coach and Founder
www.befreetoday.com.au
@russelljoneill

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How to Get Clarity Fast! 

In our busy lives, it is easy to become overwhelmed with the seemingly insurmountable tasks that lay before us. We all seek clarity, but some will find it easier than others. If you are reading this, today is your lucky day. I am going to share with you one of my most successful Coaching activities.  It’s quick, easy, and you can do it at the home, office, school or whenever you need a quick clarity fix. This process will map out a detailed plan of action breaking you free of your sticking point.

Who will benefit from this activity?

• Business Professionals Seeking New Ideas (Tip: Use in meetings to engage members)
• Entrepreneurs
• Artists and Creative People
• People Seeking Clarity with Personal or Professional Goals
• If You are Stuck in a Rut
• Prioritizing Lifestyle Needs

If you have ever felt lost, confused, overwhelmed, lacking creativity, self motivation, and the only sure cure is to hide under a rock in hopes that it will all go away – then this is for you. Quite often, the reason we feel bogged down, is not that we do not have ideas or a plan of action; it is that we have too many ideas! These are all jumbled around in a clouded mess in our minds preventing clarity and action. The result is lack of enthusiasm, productivity, creativity and a feeling of helplessness.

What do I need and when is a good time to use this?

Anywhere or anytime you are beginning to feel overwhelmed or confused. All you need is a pen and your diary (blank paper will work too). It is very important that you use a pen or pencil and not your computer or smart phone. There is something magical in handwriting that cannot be matched with using a computer device. And worse still is to use nothing at all and rely on memory. Harvard University and Yale conducted a study and confirmed that hand written goals were far more effective than non-written.

When you write your thoughts down, they are created into a type of physical form. Once in a physical form, they are easier to ‘see’, manipulate, and work with. By writing your ideas down, you eliminate the need to have them clogging up your conscious. This will free up room to focus and build on a single point or generate fresh pro-active ideas. The effect does not seem as powerful if you write in a computer or smart phone.  I like to imagine my pen as a magic wand ready to create magic!

What you need:

• Pen or pencil
• Diary, Goal Setting Book, or… if you must, scrap paper
• A quiet area free from distractions
• Timer (use a clock, watch or smart phone)

Why it Works…

When you set yourself a task with a defined outcome and time frame, you are more likely to achieve it. Furthermore, many people perform better under a bit of pressure and quite often produce alarming results close to deadlines. Remember how you surprised yourself in university starting and finishing that report at the last possible minute? Athletes have long used this concept in a process called, Optimal Arousal Performance. A small amount of anxiety and pressure helps increase brain function and activity. The TWO minute boundary of this exercise challenges you to produce a set task under a small amount of pressure. You will be amazed at what you can produce.

Two Minutes to Clarity Procedure

Step 1.  Once you have a found your quiet and distraction free place, set your timer to ONE minute. At the top of your page, write a goal or something that has been occupying your thoughts for some time.

Example:

What topic can I write about today?

Step 2.  In that ONE minute, as a minimum, write down the first 5 things that come into your mind. It is okay to write more than 5 things in that minute, if the pen is flowing, just keep writing. Important — Do not think or censor any thoughts — Just write! Trust me on this one. Ready, Set, Go!

Example:

I.             What social media platforms to use
II.            Am I using what I have correctly
III.           Teaching methods
IV.          Why I hate cheese
V.           How do I get more clients

Step 3.  Now for the magic. In the second minute, once you have previously thought you have exhausted all of your ideas, write down 3 more points in a minute. Ready, Set, Go!

Example:

I.         Discover a more focused client niche area
II.        How do I attract potential clients in that area
III.       Who can I seek assistance from

Once again, if the pen is flowing, do not stop, just keep writing. A lot of the magic happens in this step. The ideas that come here are quite often the sticking points that hold us back. The extra three or so ideas that you have written down I like to call ‘money‘! Why? Because these ideas are often trapped deep in our subconscious and are can be the root cause of your inactivity. They may also bring out your suppressed passions and desires. Importantly, once they are on paper in front of you, you will already begin to feel a great deal of clarity.

Congratulations! That completes the TWO minutes. If you have done this activity correctly, without cheating, you will notice a great deal more clarity. But we’re not done just yet! Continue reading for two more valuable bonus steps…

 Read how successful this strategy and more have worked with real people in my client testimonials

Step 4.  With your list of ideas, choose ONE that stands out as the most important, most fun, or the easiest thing to do first. I would highly recommend turning that point into a SMART goal making it measurable and timely. Enter your email below and I will send you my SMART 5-Step Performance Enhancer e-Guide with valuable goal setting information and a working template absolutely free. No signups or confirmations.

[contact-form-7] 

The idea you have chosen is the one to take action on first. If you have chosen to use the SMART formula, then the process will be mapped out for you. If not, then do your best to turn this idea into an achievable and measurable goal. But first, you must choose which idea you wish to work on…

Example:

I.          Discover a more focused client niche area ✔✔
II.         How do I attract potential clients in that area
III.       Who can I seek assistance from

Step 5.  (Optional). Build on the point you selected and turn it into an action network. You may wish to incorporate some of the other points and ideas into your Action Network.

And that’s it! At this point you will have clarity and a detailed plan of action. If you are still confused about where to begin, repeat the process until one of the point’s sticks out more than the rest. Use that and build on it. If you are really in trouble, drop me an email and tell me your situation. I will be glad to offer you a free coaching session to help you get unstuck. If you are ready, it is now up to you to get things moving forward. Turn the computer off and make it happen!

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Russell O’Neill

Performance Coach and Founder
www.befreetoday.com.au
@russelljoneill

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Never Give Up – Practical Advice for New Startups

By Russell O’Neill

There will come a point (usually several points) when those initial envisioned ideas do not come into fruition as was originally planned. During these moments, it is easy to start thinking of your safety net,

“Maybe I should just go back to my old job… This is not working; I think I will give up… It seems easy for everyone else, but I guess this is not for me…”

I am here to tell you not to panic; you are not alone and do not give up your quest. These thoughts are natural, and even the most successful people have uninspiring self thoughts. It’s all a matter of how you choose to react. If you allow yourself to continue thinking un-proactive thoughts, they will become toxic. Soon enough those thoughts will become a physical habit and sabotage all that hard work. What defines success from failure however is a person’s determination and willingness to succeed. So, how bad do you want it?

You will be faced with continuous challenges as your progress towards your vision, goals, and dreams. To combat these setbacks, you will have to be prepared, mentally. Remember, there is always a way. There are always solutions to any problem. But what lengths are you willing to go; what mountains are you willing to climb; what barriers are you willing to jump?

Check out this article on Positive Affirmations and Visualization for some helpful hints.

Failure resides in a person’s inability to learn, build, and grow from problems. Success resides in a person’s ability to overcome and adapt to change, turn problems into solutions and learn from every experience, whether positive or negative. Sometimes the easiest thoughts are to sweep problems and setback under a rug in hope they will go away. Perhaps it may also be easier to ignore the issues and keep trying the same thing; it’s bound to work soon… right?!

Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein

Hang in there! If you are determined enough, there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. You will succeed if you want it bad enough. Here are 5 quick tips to help you try something new when things are working as planned.

1.  If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again!

Reflect on what worked, and what did not work last time using data where possible — Then! try, try, try again using slight modifications. More often than not, our own limiting thoughts can create a worse scenario than the reality (or vise-a-versa). Use hard facts and figures to determine the reality of your business goals. Google Analytics and Mouseflow are two must haves for tracking potential client movements, revenue, and much more on your website.

2.  Set measurable short term and long term goals

If you are not goal setting, then you are running through a dark cave expecting to find a light switch somewhere. You are bound to fail and will surely get a sore head once you run into a wall. Get in the habit of setting SMART Goals. This is a great formula which allows you to set timely, measurable, and realistic goals that will continually keep you motivated and on track. Check out and download this SMART Goals e-Guide for free. It provides a detailed explanation on how/why goal setting works as well as a working template to try your own.

3.  Understand and Seek Out Your Target Audience

Build it, and they will come… But they’re not coming! Gone are the days where you simply make a product and throw it out there to an all-encompassing audience and expect high returns. It makes perfect sense right? The bigger the audience, the greater number of sales! In fact, it’s quite the opposite, to a certain extent. Learn who is interested in your product or service. The more clarity and concise your target audience, the easier it is to seek them out and target them directly.

4.  Are you Passionate about your Product or Service? 

While it is possible to make a few bucks selling something you personally have no interest in, the chances are you won’t succeed for very long. When a person is truly passionate about something, they will understand it better than most. Beyond understanding, they will convey a lasting conviction of just how beneficial their product or service is. If you are passionate about it, you will be determined to break through those moments of doubt and seeking new avenues previously left unexplored. Most importantly, you will jump out of bed each morning knowing you are doing something you love! You will be a lot happier, and your life will have meaning and purpose.

 5.  When all else fails – Get a Coach.

A coach will help you clear through that clouded mess in your mind and give you clarity on what it is you desire. Unlike a consultant, a coach will use your thoughts and ideas to keep you in the pilot seat. You remain in control and come out with that sense your euphoria you felt when you first began. Only this time, you will have a concrete plan of action with a re-shaped mindset ready to tackle and move forward from any problems you face.

Have some thoughts or experiences you would like to share? Write a comment in the Reply Section below.

Russell O’Neill

Performance Coach and Founder
www.befreetoday.com.au
@russelljoneill

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Create A Vision For Your Future

“Envisioning the end is enough to put the means in motion.” — Dorothea Brande

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” — Napoleon Hill

“Fears are nothing more than a state of mind.” — Napoleon Hill

“Only when you are able to live your world from the inside out rather than the outside in, are you truly free” — Russell ONeill

“Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” — Francis of Assisi

“Capital isn’t scarce; vision is.” — Sam Walton

“If you want to succeed you should strike out on new paths, rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success.” — John D. Rockefeller

“You cannot change the past, but you can influence the future.” — Stephen Joynes

“The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.” — Ray Kroc

“The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes

“Success is a state of mind.” If you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success.” — Joyce Brothers

“The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes

“Luck is a dividend of sweat.” The more you sweat, the luckier you get.” — Ray Kroc

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Goal Setting = Clarity & Success

“Envisioning the end is enough to put the means in motion.” — Dorothea Brande

“Success is steady progress toward one’s personal goals.” — Jim Rohn

“When you affirm big, believe big and pray big, putting faith into action, big things happen.” — Norman Vincent Peale

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” — Napoleon Hill

“Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” — Francis of Assisi

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” — Darrell Royal

“Who aims at excellence will be above mediocrity; who aims at mediocrity will be far short of it.” — Burmese Saying

“You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration.” — James Allen

“Our power is in our ability to decide.” — Buckminster Fuller

“All achievements, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea.” — Napoleon Hill

“To know yourself is the first and most important step in pursuing your dreams and goals.” — Stedman Graham

“Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want.” — Jim Rohn

“Failures do what is tension relieving, while winners do what is goal achieving.” — Denis Waitley

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Hard Work Pays…

“If you want to leave your footprints on the sands of time, be sure you’re wearing work shoes.” — Anonymous

“Once you decide to work for yourself, you never go back to work for somebody else.” — Alan Sugar

“Determine never to be idle.” It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.” — Thomas Jefferson

“The difference between an ordinary business and an extraordinary business is implementation.” — Bill Glazer

“Recession is when a neighbor loses his job.” Depression is when you lose yours.” — Ronald Reagan

“I am a great believer in luck, and I find that the harder I work, the more I have of it.” — Thomas Jefferson

“Gardens are not made by sitting in the shade.” — Rudyard Kipling

“To succeed in life in today’s world, you must have the will and tenacity to finish the job.” — Chin-Ning Chu

“We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong.” The amount of work is the same.” — Carlos Castaneda

“Life begins when you do.” — Hugh Downs

“Luck is a dividend of sweat.” The more you sweat, the luckier you get.” — Ray Kroc

“It’s easy to have principles when you’re rich.” The important thing is to have principles when you’re poor.” — Ray Kroc

“You cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind.” — Anonymous

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Success Begins With a Dream

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” — Napoleon Hill

The Tragedy Of Life Is Not That It Ends So Soon, But That We Wait So Long To Begin It — w.m. lewis

“Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.” — George Halas

“You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration.” — James Allen

“I believe that one of life’s greatest risks is never daring to risk.” — Oprah Winfrey

“You CAN have it all.” You just can’t have it all at once.” — Oprah Winfrey

“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.” — Oprah Winfrey

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Be Inspired To Lead Your Team

“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” — Harry Truman

“You’re not a puppet, You’re the puppet master.” — Russell ONeill

“Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.” — Publilius Syrus

“When you innovate, you’ve got to be prepared for everyone telling you you’re nuts.” — Larry Ellison

“Obstacles are only opportunities to succeed or fail; how we handle them determines what will happen.” — James Caan

“Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.” — George Halas

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

“I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an excuse.” — Florence Nightingale

“The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.” — Ray Kroc

“A man, as a general rule, owes very little to what he is born with.” A man is what he makes of himself.” — Alexander Graham Bell

“Luck is a word devoid of sense.” Nothing can exist without a cause.” — Voltaire

“Either you run the day or the day runs you.” — Jim Rohn

“I believe in benevolent dictatorship provided I am the dictator.” — Richard Branson

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Optimistic Quotes To Move You Forward

“I am an optimist.” It does not seem too much use being anything else.” — Winston Churchill

“Who aims at excellence will be above mediocrity; who aims at mediocrity will be far short of it.” — Burmese Saying

“I believe that one of life’s greatest risks is never daring to risk.” — Oprah Winfrey

“Think big thoughts, but relish small pleasures.” — Jackson Brow

“You cannot change the past, but you can influence the future.” — Stephen Joynes

“If you don’t like something, change it.” If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” Don’t complain.” — Maya Angelou

“The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes

“You CAN have it all.” You just can’t have it all at once.” — Oprah Winfrey

“The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes

“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.” — Oprah Winfrey

“I really do think that any deep crisis is an opportunity to make your life extraordinary in some way.” — Martha Beck

“A stumbling block to the pessimist is a stepping stone to the optimist.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

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