CategoriesActionThink About It

Let’s Go!

Posted on February 27, 2021

I love a great call to action. I can clench my fist, pump my arm and shout it out. This one has a lot of power in it. Let’s go!

This phrase is fantastic for getting the blood flowing and building huge enthusiasm from the start. People rally around it because it includes everyone when it is said.

Some phrases invoke almost warrior status. This is one of those phrases. I coach U14 rugby for London Scottish and it is a phrase I use quite a bit. I am missing the training sessions during this lockdown. And it has been almost a year since our last match. I know the boys are getting antsy for it too.

So come on! Let’s go! We will be getting back into it soon.

When you want to rally the troops and you need a good phrase, this one fits the bill. It implies we are going together. And this is what makes it so great. You feel like a team when you use it. And it can really get people full of passion and intensity.

The team that can harness this phrase in a positive way, will succeed. They will also feel greater camaraderie. So use it and unleash the passion.

Let’s go!

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CategoriesObserveTime

Nothing Lasts Forever

Posted on February 26, 2021

It was a huge adrenaline rush jumping off the Pipeline Bungy Bridge in Queenstown New Zealand. It was a long way down but nothing lasts forever. Eventually, as my head stretched toward the thin ribbon of water carving between two giant walls of rock, I went no further.

Then as the bungy cord began to have its effect, I slowly began to be pulled back up into the sky. Then more rapidly, as I was slingshot back toward the bridge that I had lept off less than a minute before. The time did seem to freeze and last forever. Then gravity kicked in and had its way with me once again.

I remember peaking high in the air, like the coyote after running off the side of the mountain in a roadrunner episode. Everything seemed to stop.

Then my rapid descent started again.

It’s a bit like life. There are ups and downs. Moments that freeze in time. Fascinating moments of adrenaline. But in the end, things keep moving. We don’t linger very long at any point. Things that are scary become less so. Anxieties that seem to get worse will get better. Success and amazing outcomes soon return to the normal.

You can find things to be amazing, awesome, frightening and challenging.

Nothing lasts forever, so enjoy the full range of emotions.

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CategoriesActionObserveReframe your thoughts

Argue For Your Limitations

Posted on February 25, 2021

Have you ever told someone the reason why you can’t do something? What if they try to help you? Do you argue for your limitations?

We can be our own worst enemy. By saying that we can’t do something, we are making our own lives more difficult or miserable. Why do we do that?

If I say, “I can’t learn to use a computer,” I am telling you the problem I have. Then, if you say to me that you think I can learn to use a computer, you’d think I would hear you and agree. Maybe I could get curious and ask you why you think I can do it. I could look into courses, books or people who could help me learn.

However, many times we explain why we can’t use the computer. We might say that phrase about old dogs and tricks. Or maybe we note how we tried once and it did not work out well. Sometimes we might even resort to blaming someone else for not showing us in our youth.

Please, be a person who says they will give it a try. Be that person who will put some effort in and get started. Learn to grow and improve.

When we argue for our limitations, we usually get to keep them!

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CategoriesActionGratitudeObserveThink About It

Put That Can Back

Posted on February 24, 2021

The environment is an important topic for many. Yet often people will be discussing ways to reduce emissions while drinking. Put that can back! And that bottle of whatever.

People forget that the main cause of pollution and emissions is people consuming things. So look at what you are consuming and reflect on how things could be different.

I’m an advocate of being sensible and practical and reducing all unnecessary consumption. Every time we consume something, it creates a chain of events of disruption, pollutions and emissions. The can or bottle you are holding in your hand while at your own home is likely to be unnecessary.

When I am at home or in an office, I try to drink water from the tap. As much as I would like to have a different drink, I try to use the one that is contributing the least to greenhouse gases. This is often plain tap water.

No kettle required. No heat needed to boil water for a hot drink. It’s very simple. No machines created to dig up metals and minerals. Those materials then aren’t required to become cans or bottles. If they do, they are then filled, shipped and distributed locally. It feels like an awful lot of effort to get some flavoured water in you.

If you actually want to help reduce emissions, put that can back!

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CategoriesActionFinancialHealth & FitnessObserveThink About ItTime

Gen X Will Be skipped

Posted on February 23, 2021

Reading an article yesterday struck a chord. It noted that because Baby Boomers have held onto their jobs so long, that Gen X will be skipped in the career process.

I used to think that all those Baby Boomers would be retired by 60 or 65. They were wiser, better with their money and more aware. Consequently, my overriding thought was that there would be incredible opportunities. Many senior level leadership roles would open up as the ageing work force meant declining numbers available to work.

30 years later it may be that the opposite is true. People are healthier now. They feel they have to work longer as they know they will live longer. They will require more money. Some want to work longer as they enjoy their career and enjoy the experience.

Whatever the reason, Baby Boomers are not retiring as early or as quickly as I had anticipated. This seems to be adding a strange overhang in the market. Without the OG’s retiring or moving on, the Gen X’ers are stuck on the second or third rung with little upward mobility.

There are worse places to be in this world. If they have a nice job and are waiting for the other person to die or at least be sidelined, they may be disappointed. But we will all carry on. Soon roles will open up a plenty. Though it may be the Gen Z’ers that fill them.

Gen X will be skipped.

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CategoriesActionObserve

All Creators And No Consumers

Posted on February 22, 2021

Social media content creation is to the 21st century as radio was to the 20th century. It’s early but rapidly growing. Imagine all creators and no consumers.

Now that creating content for social media channels and platforms is virtually no cost, it is within the grasp of the majority of the people on the planet.

This mass distribution method is not only effective in distributing news and opinion, almost anyone can do it. If nearly anyone can do it, well that is interesting.

What if we get to the point where we simply live, post and share it? There is no time to consume content. If we are all mini media moguls, churning out our perspective on the world, the full continuum of thoughts could be represented. But what if we were so busy creating and posting that we couldn’t read the posts of others?

What an interesting world we could be living in.

All creators and no consumers.

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CategoriesActionFinancialGratitudeTime

Stay Focused On Your Plan

Posted on February 21, 2021

There are two levels to this. We are able to spend our time in a variety of ways. Some good and some less so. Stay focused on your plan to progress your highest priorities.

It can be so easy to get distracted. And it can be easy enough to think there is nothing you can do for a situation. You might even think that you can do something but it might not truly progress your highest priorities. Make sure you play the best game possible and forget about the rest.

Should you spend your time and energy on arguing that someone has done something unjust? Or are you better to simply start making the situation better in any way that you can?

In addition, do you help someone because you can, or no one because none of the others get the benefit of your help? Should you help some children because you are able to? Or should you wait until you can help all children equally?

People tend to have thoughts like these everyday. Some will freeze and do nothing. Others will go off trying to change something in the past. Your highest priority, however, should be to stick to your vision and work towards that alone. Ignore the naysayers. Brush off the trolls and critics.

Stay focused on your plan.

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CategoriesActionGratitudeHealth & FitnessReframe your thoughtsWeightWeight loss

Keeping Fit Is Essential

Posted on February 20, 2021

There are a lot of reasons why you should want to be as fit as possible. From feeling better, moving well, and feeling confident, keeping fit is essential. At least it is for me.

Maybe growing up in a house with a type 1 diabetic, made me more aware of the role of food and exercise in our lives. Maybe my Dad’s high level of physical activity was a great role model for me. Eating healthy was important. Not paying attention to food and exercise and how it affects you was potentially lethal.

Food wasn’t simply an eat all you want, of any kind, until you’re bursting. And exercise was premeditated and planned. Training for the Montreal Marathon in the early 80’s could have been a disaster. However, thankfully it was not.

Keep fit by walking more, with a friend or with a podcast or audio book. Perhaps you could develop a love for running too. Clubhouse is also excellent to listen to, or even participate in, while being active. You could do 200 pushups a day as well.

But even more important than the exercise is your consumption. Learn to observe, investigate and monitor your food intake. Sleep is the other major challenge for many people. Getting enough sleep can be critical.

Keeping fit is essential. Don’t let your one and only body go to waste.

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CategoriesActionObserveReframe your thoughts

The Masses Have Power

Posted on February 19, 2021

This is where we are headed. The internet, when allowed to be used openly, is a great place to build understanding. The masses have power that they are only beginning to realise.

The ability to organise, persuade, speak to and learn from large groups of people has become much easier. Combining the mobile phone, the internet and some curiosity, should create a fascinating mix.

The current mix is in Clubhouse, which I know I have mentioned here before. Anyone not taking complete opportunistic advantage of this simple yet powerful platform is missing out.

It’s new. It’s exciting. And, it’s free to use if you have an iPhone. The power it has given to the regular Joe is quite incredible. Few people have heard of the app and still fewer have jumped on it. He who hesitates is lost, or last in this case.

When you have the power to make groups, solve problems with the greatest minds, cross borders and build a better world, you should move quickly. Few times in life do all the stars align so that you can prosper. So when this happens, you need to strike.

The masses have power. What will they (you!) do with it.

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CategoriesActionObserveProgressReframe your thoughts

Get Into The Groove

Posted on February 18, 2021

Oh I love that feeling when you’re in that state of flow. When everything is clicking and you’re set to go go go. Get into the groove has a real feeling of being at one with something. It is not just a mid-80’s pop song.

Right now things are going very well. Not much sleep, but a lot of fun and getting a lot of interesting new things done. It is so much easier to glide through a day on little sleep when you are really enjoying things.

It is also easier to push through any challenges. Sometimes they don’t even feel like real challenges.

Getting into this state is not always easy. However, like anything else, with a little practice you can start making it happen more frequently. One of the key insights is to not try too hard to make it happen. You need to let it happen, or flow, naturally.

For me, I know that if I try to slow it down or analyse what I am doing, I make it clunky. So if I am walking with a glass of water and then think I need to be more careful, it can backfire. I can get so caught up in trying to make sure all is fine, that I can then spill it. Strange but true.

Get into the groove. And try to spend more time there.

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