A simple step

Today I was reminded of a valuable lesson in life. I am getting some personal coaching from Raechel. She is an internationally reknowned coach (amongst other things) and has travelled the globe learning her art. She is special, and I am very fortunate to have her as my coach. Today we set about goal setting - drawing on our previous discussions and the vision I created for the future  to establish tangible and achievable objectives for the coming years. Together, we explored previous conversations and coaching sessions to create a timeline and clear measurable goals for my life to come. For many, going through such an exercise can be very threatening, uncomfortable and confusing. Many people are offered coaching and decline because of the fear that this creates. Coaching is about having someone else help you to understand yourself, your world and the choices before you. Yes, these can often create internal tension, insecurity and fear. In reality this emotional resp...

Good morning! The most powerful thing you can do (and it is very powerful) to change the world is to  change your own beliefs about the nature of life, people and reality to something more positive  .. and begin to act accordingly. Success is a choice.. and it is possible to make friends with adversity and your misfortunes. Bear in mind that sometimes it doesn't take much to put things right - take for example a little water on a small plant to help it grow Paragon in Robin Hobbs' Liveships trilogy states .. "long or short, if you worry about every step of a journey you will divide it into endless pieces - any one of which may defeat you. Look only to the end".."teach yourself to believe you will succeed. Be now what you must be to succeed at the end of your journey, and when the end comes, you will find it is just another beginning"

As a little boy, like most people, I used to love doing dot-to-dots. It's one of those things that can be so much fun - at first a collection of random black points and after a while, as if by magic, a picture appears of an elephant, a bus, a truck or Yogi Bear... Today, my dot-to-dots are still a reality. Everything that we do has a connection in some way with something else that we have done. In marketing and sales, nothing is more real - we develop networks of people, like-minded individuals who want to work together to achieve common goals or who simply enjoy helping one another out. In soccer, we join the dots - thinking ahead a few steps, before we take that next step and kick the ball. Connections are often made deliberately, although for me 9 times out of 10, they happen 'by chance', or at least, the ones that really spur me on do! Having a focus and vision and staying true to it is what creates these 'by chance' connections. Going to a conference recently I...

To work, or not to work - many of us are thinking about our work, our jobs, our employment and what we do to make a living. In these turbulent times, we reflect on what we are doing and why we are doing it. For some it is about survival and ensuring our income is secure to support ourselves and our families; for others it is an opportunity for changing what we do to earn a living, to consider retraining or a change in career. So on the one hand there are those who seek security, for others the focus is on establishing a new direction first and worrying about where the dollars are coming from second. I am a firm believer that anyone will be successful and create enough wealth to support themselves and their families if they follow a few simple steps - 1. Make sure that whatever you are doing, you enjoy it (ie. you enjoy getting to work in the morning). 2. Whatever you are doing involves giving something back to others whether that is a service or a product - either way it is helping ot...

I remembered today that I used to be a regular contributor to the Press business supplement in Christchurch, and this week has been one of tumultuous change for me for a variety of reasons. The business environment is difficult, and people all over the world are learning (quickly) how to deal with change. I no longer write for The Press, nor anyone else at the moment for that matter, and looking back at the road I used to travel when I lived in Christchurch I am quite taken aback by the support that I had from so many people and by the fortune that I enjoyed as a result - not monetary fortune, personal feel good fortune. The change that has occurred for me these past two weeks has set me back on a path I know, a road that I remember like one of those side roads you pop down in a town you know but havn't been back to for a few years. So maybe that writing thing will come back - it is fun, and with it the fortune that I remember. So, if you're reading this, if it helps, change is...

Is inevitable, we all grow from day to day, as a seed grows into a flower - it may not feel like it sometimes, when times are hard or we are feeling at odds with ourselves or the world - it may feel like we are contracting rather than growing, and maybe we are. Contracting and growing are really the same thing. Contracting could be thought of as a time to reflect and let go, and let the world continue to go around and around without us wanting or feeling the need to contribute. Pausing from thought rather than for thought -  So take the time to be still. What do you notice?

Self belief is at the heart of success. Without it, success can evade us. At this time in my life, I am going through internal change and I am beginning to realise that this change is centred around (1) self belief (2) feelings relating to past rejection and (3) my misinterpretation of others feelings, desires and needs. Clearing these issues is not easy; it is interesting to see how positive thinking helps. Seeing things in a different light - reframing our perceptions and beliefs, appreciating the value of love and most importantly love of self is key. Not egotistical stuff, rather respect, passion and friendship for ourselves. In my mind, rejection is a personal thing, and the feeling that we have or are letting ourselves down (because maybe in the past we have been subjected to rejection which has translated into a lack of self worth) is at the heart of it. Life's journey is amazing - the journey towards self discovery; enjoy the ride!

Every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in like kind...we sow what we reap. And when we choose actions that bring happiness and success to others, the fruit of our karma is happiness and success...