In Search of Brilliance

The London Marathon

2016-03-07T18:29:00.000+00:00

The inaugural London marathon was in 1981 and 7,747 people were fortunate enough to take part in what has become a global, iconic event. Last year in 2015, there were 37,800 participants and they included hundreds of people in various weird and wacky fancy dress costumes, teams of people pushing large objects and the oldest runner was the grand old age of 90. And he was over a decade younger than the oldest ever runner, Fauja Singh who was 101 when he completed the full distance.

So it begs the questions….what does it take to run a marathon and more specifically what has changed in the last 30 years to make it so accessible to everyone?

Notwithstanding, we have clearly had advances in nutrition and physical training but I’m not convinced everyone is eating avocados’, drinking coconut water and tracking their heart rate zones with a smart watch.

First of all let’s cover off the basics. If you speak to any elite athlete, in any sport and there will be common themes they will talk about in the context of performance. Determination, effort, commitment and consistency to name a few – and these are great characteristics needed to achieve anything in life. However as a performance coach who has worked with a wide range of successful individuals from all walks of life I come across one element that is critical to this success. You have to 100% believe it is possible.

Let me give you an example.

Before the 6^th May 1954, most of the planet thought that a sub 4 minute mile was nigh on impossible. Many athletes had come so close for such a long time it was genuinely believed to be out of reach of the human body. But one person had a different mindset and just after 6pm at a windy racetrack in Oxford, Roger Bannister recorded a 3m59.4s in front of 3000 spellbound spectators - and changed the world.

Within days this record had been broken again and again by other athletes. Why? Because now they knew it was possible and they believed they could do it. Before it was unreachable, intangible and a lingering element of doubt hung in the air. Now they had seen it with their own eyes and the impossible had become possible in the blink of an eye.

Too often in our own lives we hold on to self-limiting beliefs that weigh us down and before we know it we have accepted our fate. We make elaborate excuses that are linked to our environment, our background and our circumstance to reinforce this negative behavior.

Henry Ford famously said, “If you think you can, or you think you can’t you are probably right” and you can choose what to think, at any time, in any place and take responsibility for your future.

So learn from your past, embrace your present and look forward. Change your thinking, change your life.

Failure - The Secret to Success

2016-02-10T07:55:00.003+00:00

The road to success is not easy. And never has been. Despite what our current X Factor, quick fix society may think this road is littered with failure. And these failures are always a key determining factor in shaping and defining the character of the person who ultimately succeeds in whatever endeavor they are focused on. And one other thing they all have in common? They never, ever give up.

Although I have witnessed this first hand in many diverse individuals you don't need to take my word for it. Below I have listed a few famous examples who embraced their failures and went onto to bigger successes:

Henry Ford is the undisputed godfather of the motoring industry. He actually failed twice and despite the whole industry losing faith in him he eventually succeeded. In spectacular fashion.

Walt Disney was fired in his early career for not being creative enough and his first cartoon and film company went bankrupt within a year. Undeterred he went on to build a global empire.

Thomas Edison had a unique take on failure. He famously said "I have not failed a 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways NOT to make a light bulb"

Richard Branson dropped out of school and started a student magazine that didn't really take off. Everyone knows how successful Virgin has been but do you remember the failures? Virgin Cola, Virgin Vodka, Virgin Clothes, Virgin Vie, Virgin cards? They havent stopped Richard forging ahead in his successful ventures.

Oprah Winfrey has been ranked No 1 in the Forbes celebrity list and is recognised as the queen of entertainment based on an amazing career. She is an iconic talk show host, media proprietor, actress and producer. However in her earlier career she had numerous set-backs, including being fired as a reporter because she was 'unfit for television'.........

J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame has sold over 400 million books and created one of the most successful and lucrative book and film series ever. But what we don't see is the endless rejections from publishers for reasons such as 'it was far too long for a children's book' or 'childrens books never make any money'. and she kept on going whilst being a divorced single mum surviving on benefits.

Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard and his first company ran up debts before failing miserably. The next venture called Microsoft however was a different story.

So next time your next venture doesn't work or you fail in a difficult task - remember you are in great company and every set back is an opportunity to learn. Just pick yourself up, dust yourself down and go onto bigger and better things.

Ironman UK 2015 - A different perspective

2015-07-27T19:46:00.002+01:00

I have been to see Ironman UK twice before - but this time I was lucky enough to see a different side of this amazing event.

The previous occasions had been focused on an athlete I was supporting who was capable of posting a good time and when his race was done it was time go. (or go to the hospital but that's a different story.....) And I didn't know what I was missing. Don't get me wrong - I had been fortunate enough to watch the pros and top age groupers race at the sharp end but there was a more humbling and emotional experience waiting for me as the hours ticked by.

What you need to understand about Ironman is that its a true feat of human endurance and arguably the hardest one day event on the planet. No disrespect to people who do long bike sportives or run a marathon - this is different gravy and takes long term dedication and sacrifice to train to a level to have even a chance of finishing within the time limit. And without cast iron will to pull you through when the inevitable dark times arrive then you in for a whole world of mental and physical pain and the heartache of your dream being shattered.

So I was here again, in familiar territory but I had 2 focal points for the day. Firstly I was again following my good friend and aspiring Ironman athlete, John Mcavoy, who was geared up to post a blistering time and challenge the front runners. But I also had another good friend, Darren Davis, competing in his first Ironman race and he was an unknown quantity with regards to his potential performance.

Anyway, the reason for this post is actually nothing to do with them as I was confident that John would be in the game and I knew Darren would finish - so in this respect I could enjoy the moment, give them encouragement and wait to see them succeed. However as Darrens race extended in to the early hours of the evening I witnessed scenes that will live with me forever.

During the day it is not unusual to see people vomiting at the side of the road, struggling to even jog and suffering more than us mere mortals can imagine. But they are still moving forwards and are in control. But as the sun goes down and the crowds thin out things start to change. The smiles disappear, the pace subsides and people cast long, lonely shadows as they realise they could be close to failure. A year or more of training, untold hours pushing yourself to the edge of human endurance and all for a DNF (Did Not Finish).

I wasn't prepared for this harrowing spectacle and I actually felt helpless and isolated behind the cold, metal barriers. You could see the super human effort being expended to get to the finish line but for some there was no happy ending, no rapturous applause and no shiny medal to hang around their weary necks.

But that's not the point.

I watched in awe of these ordinary people attempting an extraordinary thing. They had stepped way outside their comfort zone and were willing to lay themselves bare and challenge themselves in a way that most of us won't even dare to think about. For that one day they learn more about themselves and their limits than most people learn in a lifetime. For that they deserve utter respect.

So I suppose the final question is what are you doing to learn about yourself, push your own limits and be the best you can be? I think its a question most of us leave unanswered.

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

2015-04-19T07:30:00.000+01:00

We've heard them all before. Either as thoughts in our own head or verbally expressed. Or they could be written down, set in stone, as a more permanent reminder of what I call evasive thinking.

At best they are a distraction, at worst they destroy progress.

Real improvement is only seen when people take responsibility for their results. Good, bad or indifferent. And when they give an honest appreciation of their performance - every, single time.

This takes real guts. Because the human condition doesn't like criticism, especially not your own. It can be like open heart surgery and can be an emotionally painful process however the rewards can be spectacular.

Once our ego is out of the way and we stop worrying about what people think or what it means to others we are free to logically inspect the reality - and act.

So next time you are about to blame an outside influence for that failed attempt, slow time or missed opportunity try something different. Take a cold, hard look at yourself and embrace the power of true self reflection.

Win at all costs

2015-04-18T07:24:00.000+01:00

I have been fortunate to work and interact with some top class athletes and business teams over the years and I am also involved in coaching young children in a sporting environment. And I have some serious concerns about what I see as a "Win at all costs" mentality which is filtering down to our younger generation.

Over the last few years we have seen the fall from grace of Lance Armstrong and witnessed drug doping issues appear in a multitude of sports. We also see every week the lack of respect for football referees and the simulated diving and play acting to gain an advantage. But what is more concerning is the justification of the above activities due to the pressures to win.

What are we teaching our children? What happened to enjoyment of sport and life?

This is not a new issue and at grassroots there has always been the over enthusiastic adult wanting to live their life through their children. But what I see now in our modern society is an absolute need to win at all levels irrespective of the human cost.

Its a cost to honour, innocence, integrity, trust, happiness. And the list goes on. Is it any wonder that levels of depression and anxiety are exponentially increasing in our society?

I don't know what the answer is but what I do know is it needs to change.

Don't measure your success by what you lost by winning, measure your success by what you retained by winning.

Lance Armstrong divides opinion like no other. But there is no disputing he lost trust, honour and integrity in his incredible 7 tour wins. Is this really "winning"?

Can anyone do an Ironman?

2013-08-06T19:27:00.000+01:00

The answer is yes. But it's the wrong question to ask and I will explain why at the end of this blog.

An Ironman is one of the worlds most gruelling endurance events and involves swimming in open water for 2.4 miles, cycling for 112 miles and then running a full 26.2 mile marathon. All three parts of an Ironman are considered tough challenges in their own right however when you combine them together you are facing a task that many can not even finish. And when you consider that the cycling part is as long as some single Tour De France stages, but you are not allowed to slipstream otherwise you face disqualification, then you have some idea what you are up against.

I have just had the privilege of watching the Ironman UK 2013 and seen many people putting themselves through this incredible ordeal. It was a strangely emotional day watching ordinary people do extraordinary things and the sheer magnitude of what they were doing was hard to comprehend. What surprised me the most was that there were obviously some visibly honed athletes competing for a place at the World Championships at Kona Beach. However there were also many others of various shapes and sizes, with no real chance of winning, who through sheer will, drove themselves mentally to the finish line. They were a picture of pain and suffering. Some were smiling through agony and engaging the crowd. Others inwardly focused and oblivious to the outside world.

I'm not going to profess to know what it takes to be an Ironman. Only the great ladies and gentlemen who crossed the finish line can answer that with any authority. But I do think that if you ask yourself the right questions then anything is possible.

So the question should be - Do you really BELIEVE you can do an Ironman? Because if you believe you can or you believe you can't, you're probably right. On that rainy day in Bolton many people really did believe in themselves and they fulfilled their ambition of becoming an Ironman

Mastering the Masters

2013-04-11T17:27:00.001+01:00

Who will win this years Augusta Masters?

They can all hit the ball pretty straight and fairly long at times.

They can all pitch and chip from around the greens and out of bunkers at times.

And they can all sink putts from varying distances at times.

But they all cannot do this when it counts. When it's for a grand prize and the world is watching many will falter as many have done before. Some will learn from their failure and go on to greatness. Some will survive the experience and soldier on. However some will never recover.

Those special few who can control their inner voice and deal with the situation will give themselves an advantage. Because when it comes to the crunch, swing mechanics and physical conditioning won't be the deciding factor. Neither will luck. Mastering the mind will ultimately master the Masters and it will be fascinating to see who responds or reacts to the pressure.

Do you React or Respond?

2013-04-10T17:37:00.004+01:00

What do you normally do?

Every moment of our waking hours we do one of these two things. "Respond" or "React." When the kids wake you up early, when you get cut up in traffic or when you forget your brolly and it rains. These small and seemingly insignificant occurances can have a huge impact on us both physically and mentally and over time can even damage your brain!

When you go to the doctors you will have heard the expression that your body has "Responded" to a medicine (positive) or that you have "Reacted" to a medicine (negative). And its the same principal with our minds.

If every time you encounter a situation you "React" by shouting, being angry or frustrated then your adrenal glands will release cortisol which flows through your body and wreaks havoc on your biological system. To counteract this your endoctrine glands produce hormones to suppress the cortisol until the body returns to a state of metabolic equilibrium. And although this "Reaction" was momentary, these chemicals can stay floating around for quite some time. This constant repetition of a micro process over time can cause many systematic problems.

So, what to do?

The first step in this cycle is recognition. As and when this happens there needs to be a conscious awarness of the process. Once this is readily recognisable then the next stage is to take responsibility. You see, whether we like it or not, we ultimately have a choice. We can choose to either "Respond" or "React" to everything that happens in our life. So listen to your inner voice, which I have have written about here previously and take control. You never know, a deep breath and an outward smile may just change your life.

Perseverance + Determination = Results.

2012-08-21T18:29:00.001+01:00

Today I want to share another story of endeavour. This story is about disappointment, setbacks and heartache but ultimately it's about the age old recipe for success that is behind all triumphs and successes.

Laura is an elite rower who has sacrificed much in life to achieve her goals. She often trains twice a day, travelling long distances and has a job that fits around her sport. Expensive yet nutritious food is a must and any edge such as sports massage or good supplements also come at a substantial cost.

Laura had great expectations last year. A personal best was there to be smashed and with an eye on some medals she was working hard on the mental aspects of performance. All was going well, improvements were being made and obstacles were scaled and overcome. Then Laura's trials and tribulations started..

For several months Laura suffered with colds, infections and sinusitis. There were injuries and hospitalisations to the team and nothing was going to plan. From what seemed like a promising season a dark, empty future loomed ahead. But Laura carried on. She trained, listened, practised and above all else believed in herself. She had a powerful vision of her end goal, unwavering in its clarity despite all the challenges she faced. The mental techniques she recently embraced endured throughout her adversity however there is never any guarantee of success. But perseverance and determination give you a chance.

So what result for all this hard toil.......?

A gold medal at the British Rowing Championship and a gold medal representing England at the Home International regatta!

And in true champion fashion Laura is already focused on the next goal and working as hard as ever to succeed. As Winston Churchill once said "when your going through hell...keep going"

If you are interested in finding out more about Laura you can read her own blog here

http://lfwheeler.blogspot.co.uk

"I never got this far in my dreams"

2012-04-09T19:48:00.000+01:00

"I never got this far in my dreams" was the response Bubba Watson gave when asked how it felt to win the Masters. He was overcome with emotion and was struggling to hold back the tears however the elation he was experiencing was clear to see. He was just being brutally honest as he has done before when admitting he plays the game of golf for the money. And this straight talking, from the hip delivery has got Bubba in hot water many times before including the infamous remarks he made about some famous French landmarks whilst in France. In fact Bubba is unconventional in many different ways including the way he hits a golf ball. And nobody gave him a chance of winning.

Other things of interest which tend to get less coverage in the media are his love of life, his strong Christian faith and his incredible work for charity. But these facts don't sell papers.

What I'm interested in is quite simple. Now that Bubba has surpassed his dreams what will he go on to do next? If he can win a Masters event without believing he can then surely the skies the limit?

Inspirational Change.

2012-03-26T10:49:00.001+01:00

This is a story for those that think they must accept their lot in life. Its a story for those that think that leopards cannot change their spots. It's a story about human spirit and the incredible capacity we have for fundamentally turning our lives around irrespective of our circumstances, our chequered past or even our present situation. Its a story about a man named John. And John is an inspiration.

7 years ago John was a career criminal. He was brought up in an environment where money was his master and was gained from foul play. It was a path that was laid out for him and he chose to follow it. He worked the system and had some near misses but then he got caught and was sent away for 7 years.

Nothing changed at first. He was playing the game, biding his time and planning his return to the outside world and back onto the path he knew well. But then his world collapsed. In a cruel twist of fate his best friend outside the prison walls was shot dead in a robbery. This was the catalyst for changing Johns life for the better.

He cannot adequately explain how he felt at that time or describe the emotions he experienced. All John knew was that it could have been him and he would have made nothing of his life. He knew he had to change or would be doomed to live a life devoid of fulfilment.

Johns last 4 years have been a story of focus, dedication and self reflection. He has channeled his energy into indoor rowing as the prison was fortunate to have such a machine and he has excelled beyond any rationale expectation by beating world endurance records and winning the GB indoor championships. He also recently came third in the European championships amongst a field of high performance athletes used to competing at this level. Yet I know this is only the beginning for John. He has exciting times ahead of him. He has jettisoned his old life and is working hard to create a new one and he has shown me how we all sometimes cling to our old lives which can lead to excuses which ultimately hold us back.

And Johns metamorphosis is not solely based around sporting endeavours. He reads voraciously about self development and philosophy. He gains friends and admirers everywhere he goes. He has a contagious smile and a huge appetite for life. And for someone so focussed on winning he is incredibly gracious in defeat. He is a true champion.

Too often we assume we have no control over our own destiny and are defined by our past. I beg to differ. And so does John. Do you?

Stories

2011-12-10T08:26:00.002+00:00

As my personal fitness trainer used to say "everyone has a story". This is his response to any whining or moaning that i decide to pitch to him before our session has even began. And he is right. It's odd that I think telling him that I am tired or stressed or pressured will help me train better. It wont. Or that he will treat the session any differently and take it easy on me. He wont. He's a smart cookie. I have written before about you think, you talk, you act and these self limiting stories have no place in a high performance mentality.

However stories can be your ally. They can be uplifting, inspiring and incredibly powerful. I long ago changed my story when training to "I feel fantastic, let's go have it" and if I do slip I now catch myself before my trainer does. Go listen to the stories of any top sportsman or highly successful business person and you will hear the same thing: positivity, excitement, passion, focus, bravery.......

Everyone has a story. What's your going to be?

Principles vs Tactics

2011-11-08T08:35:00.001+00:00

So what's the difference between a principle and a tactic. Well firstly let me describe each and then we can make the link.

Principles are absolute. They exist in their own right and are external to personal representation systems. Trust, integrity, courage, humility and honour are all examples of principles that are the bedrock to a character ethic. As individuals we develop and choose to own these as values - or not as the case may be. However they remain constant irrespective of our perceptions.

This is where tactics come in. So what is a tactic?

When you decide to act for gain by flexing the use of a principle then you are using tactics.
I have talked about doing the right thing before (no matter what) and it's along the same lines. You are either principled in an area or you are not. External factors should not affect your principles, if they do you are using tactics.

So embrace the principles you believe in and let them show you the way to authenticity and consistency.

Your Inner Voice

2011-09-03T21:52:00.001+01:00

How often are you aware of the voice inside your head? Mine is currently helping me to write this blog and encouraging me to finish it today as I haven't written for a while. What does yours say to you? What is it saying now? Do you like what you hear?

I ran a great group session on this topic recently with the fantastic Laura Hussein where lots of people worked hard to examine their own inner voices and many were surprised with what they heard. This is not unusual as it's easy to let this internal dialogue just have it's say. But be wary - this voice is a powerful tool and a great ally if understood and used in a positive way. It can be critical, judgemental and assumptive. Or supportive, motivational and open minded. And remember it is your voice for you to control so take notice of it's pitch and tone. Check if it wants to help or hinder and ultimately if it is empowering or destructive.

So ignore the negative and encourage the positive and soon enough you will have your own personal inner performance coach to drive you to brilliance.

Perception Deception

2011-07-16T20:23:00.000+01:00

There is no reality. All we have is our perception. Hence the expression that "Perception is Reality" Each of these perceptions is unique to us as individuals and have been formed by our genes, our experiences, our environment and most importantly by how we choose to think. And they can change over time or even in an instant as the above influences shape our view of the world. But you probably knew this already? And were aware of how it affects your emotions? And regularly make allowances for the deception it can cause?

You see the issue is that we have an incomplete and often warped sense of what is going on around us. And sometimes what's going on within us. Therefore our capacity to misjudge or overreact or misunderstand is huge. It's so huge that unless you consciously challenge yourself and disassociate from your own perception you will get caught out and get led astray. Don't expect a perfect vista by applying this process but you can welcome a rationale, reasoned and well balanced picture of events.

So be aware of perception deception. And try some different viewing angles.

High Standards

2011-07-09T17:12:00.001+01:00

Never apologise for high standards.

Some people will want you to. Some people will not match your expectations. Many will use their energy not to reach up and achieve. No matter. We must continue to push ourselves and pull others if we strive to get the best from us all. There will be distractions, detractors and destructive influences to overcome. Get used to them, embrace them and turn them if you can. The more that join you on your journey the higher your standards will become.

But don't do it by talking and telling and preaching. How you act and how you behave are the keys to success. So drive forwards, upwards and onwards and welcome people aboard as they ask to walk your path.

Try, Hope and Luck

2011-06-19T07:17:00.001+01:00

I often go on about how important words are. They differentiate us. They proceed and set up our actions. And when used wisely are the most powerful tool you have to encourage, motivate and drive yourself and others forward. Politicians are made (and damned) by them, therapists heal with them and leaders inspire with them. Is it any coincidence that professional speech writers are employed by many people across business and sports? We even talk in movie terms about great scripts and admire people who "have a way with words"

So where am I going with this? Well, there are three particular words that I would suggest you delete from your vocabulary. Permanently. They have no value and will hold you back every time they pass your lips. They are energy sappers, ambition thieves and goal terrorists. So what are these heinous words - try, luck and hope. Here's why:

In the words of Master Yoda "Do or not do - there is no try"

Benjamin Franklin wrote "He that lives upon hope will die fasting"

Gary Player said "The harder I practice the luckier I get"

So eradicate them and don't let them underpin your excuses. Replace hope for trust and you'll be amazed at the difference.

Who's drama is this?

2011-06-12T17:29:00.000+01:00

I've had an interesting few weeks with lots of activities, travel, expectations and pressures to get things done. Now this situation and environment is nothing new to me and I actually enjoy having so much going on to the point where I positively encourage myself to create such a hubris. However I had a blip. I got wrapped into joining the problems and spent a few days scratching my head wondering how it had happened. After a little soul searching it was clear I had not practised what I continually preach in my work, blogs and tweets - no need to dwell on in, just recognise it, process it, learn from it and move forwards. Simple.

Now this blog is not about what I did as it was fairly unspectacular but I would like to tell you the story of a response I got from an innocuous tweet I sent just making a statement of my situation. Just at the point I was getting myself back together I got a tweet reply from a valued colleague saying "note to self - who's drama is this?" It hit me so hard I nearly fell over - I kid you not. The reason that this short, uncomplicated statement had such a profound impact is it cut to the core of my issue in a heartbeat. I had allowed myself to get embroiled in other people's "dramas" which added to the problem not the solution.

Now the positives don't end there. I have paid this forward several times in the last few weeks and what seems like a throw away comment has helped numerous people both in my work team and home life. It's as good as it gets. I asked for nothing and gained everything. Yet again an example of what you focus on just happens to appear in your view.

So I would like to thank the incredible @lynnpickford. Your choice words at the perfect time were a tonic for the soul.

Ridicule is Rocket Fuel.

2011-05-30T16:20:00.000+01:00

It never ceases to amaze me how much time, energy and even creativity people put into ridiculing others. Whenever somebody does something different, unusual or out of the ordinary there is always a queue of cynics and pessimists ready to pounce. Whether it's blatant, subtle or humourous, this commentary is a sure fire sign that you are on the right track to fulfilment. Since the dawn of time our greatest achievers have been locked up, chased away and even murdered. Luckily for us there is little chance of suffering such attrocities in our (civilised?) world. All we have to contend with is small minded people who would rather focus their energies on us rather than doing something for themselves. So suck it up, use ridicule as rocket fuel and go create stuff.

Think Yourself Brilliant

2011-05-28T10:54:00.002+01:00

I've just come back from a great golfing holiday with some good friends where we played a Ryder Cup style team event. I decided to take the opportunity to observe and listen carefully throughout the games and also during the none golfing times to see what people said and also watch how they performed. Being a little competitive, ok a very competitive person myself, I consciously talk confidently and positively about my own intentions. Even during games whilst playing below my best my internal and external dialogue remains upbeat. However I was staggered when I realised just how much people actually talk their games down both before, during and after the match. Most of this was probably unintentional and I only noticed it so much because I was focused on listening for it. But what value does it have? Is there any reason to barrack yourself so much? Be careful what you wish for as acts, follow words, follow thoughts. Think brilliance, say brilliant things, play brilliantly.

I was 2 down with 3 to play against the best player on tour on the final day. I had stayed up rather late the night before and had a little too much to drink. I wasn't exactly fresh. All day I had challenges with my game and was clinging on, barely! Giving my self a hard time really wasn't going to cut it. I used all the positive mental techniques at my disposal, and even with my sore head and dehydrated body I won the last hole with a sandy par to half the match. I was physically and mentally spent. And ecstatic.

So next time all you have are harsh words for yourself just reflect on how it makes you feel and what it will achieve. And say something else. The subconscious mind just does as it's told. And your in control.

Make yourself Dispensible to become Indispensible.

2011-05-12T20:05:00.000+01:00

Sounds like a contradiction in terms however let me explain what I mean. The idea of developing talent is all about creating an environment to help people flourish and empowering them to make their own decisions. As we know this can be a slow process with many challenges and it is certainly not a quick fix solution. When you look at any process that involves change and growth there is always a struggle, maybe pain and sometimes even suffering. Think of the development of a child, the training of a champion or any scientific breakthrough. All covered in blood, sweat and tears but wearing proud smiles and standing tall at the end of the achievement.

So once you get your team or group to these heady heights then what next? Surely you have made yourself dispensable by definition. Well it's exactly the opposite. What companies need now more than ever is talent agents, change catalysts and improvement facilitators.

Once you harness the powers of empowering you will be on a perpetual roller coaster of breeding success and the world is your proverbial oyster.

Ask not what they can do for you...

2011-05-09T20:11:00.000+01:00

How many times do we expect people to behave or act in a certain way and then get disappointed. Even when we have told them a gazillion times what you want them to do they still let you down. Some even think its better to actually ask them to do things and this is certainly a slightly better strategy. However there is a better way which requires us to be a little more collaborative and engaging.

Perhaps we could ask people what they expect from us first?

Brilliance Everywhere

2011-05-06T20:18:00.000+01:00

Todays blog is going to be an indulgent reflection on a Sales Conference I have just returned from which was simply brilliant. From spectacular prizes, challenging sessions and amazing guest speakers - it was entertaining, thought provoking, life affirming and inspiring. My simple words do not do it justice.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank two amazing people who attended the event, namely Manj and Damien Hughes.

Although a brief session, Manj spent a few minutes confirming the powerful nature of visualisation and I have had the pleasure of seeing him previously present on creating high performance teams. If you have the slightest interest in the subject I implore you to find out more here.

Now to Damien. What can I say. Creative, relevant, realistic, authentic, enthusiastic and funny. He framed most of the sessions for the day and offered extraordinary insights into human potential. There was too much great stuff to mention here so go and find out for yourself here.

I would like to personally thank them for the time they gifted me on the day and wish them the very best for the future. I've found another two heroes to add to my list.

I will leave you with two very different ways to greet people.

"I'm on the crest of a slump" - Anon

"Im fantastic, but I'll get better" - the legend that is Zig Ziglar

Remember you Think, Speak, Act. Say the wrong one often enough and guess what you'll get?

Yes if........not no because

2011-04-26T20:48:00.000+01:00

Give this a go for a day. Or maybe an hour. Do a week and really see the difference.

Every time you are faced with a request to do something, either from yourself or from someone else, think and respond with "Yes if...."

Shall I go to the gym today - yes if i make time in my diary now.
Can you finish that report early - yes if you help me prioritise my work.
Will you close that big deal this week - yes if we get the commercials signed off

Yes because has options, puts you in control and frames responsibility.

No beacause has no future. It's a dead stop.

Paying It Forward

2011-04-24T07:27:00.002+01:00

I've had a few people ask me about what I meant by "Paying it forward" in my first blog so I thought I'd write a few words to explain what I meant. I wish I could take the credit for such a great idea however the concept has been around since ancient Greek times. It became famous in 2000 when the novel "Pay it Forward" by Catherine Ryan Hyde was released and it was popularised by the film of the same name starring Haley Joel Osment and Kevin Spacey. And you can find out more at

So what is it?

Most people will be familiar with the saying "Paying someone back" where a good deed or act of kindness (although sadly sometimes bad) is returned to the person who originally made the gesture. Although this is undoubtably a fantastic thing to do, "Paying it forward" takes philanthropy to another level. In this process, when you are the recipient of an act of generosity, you are asked to pass on this act to a different person therefore creating a perpetual path of goodness passing from person to person. With no end. And many unknown possibilities.

The skeptics will doubt it's effectiveness, the pessimists will think it is pointless and the critics will say it will never work.

I paid it forward today. I remember the moment and feel great. If the person talks about it even better. If they then act upon it how fantastic is that? I don't need to know what happens afterwards to reap the benefits. And neither do you.