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The Other Side

I had the good fortune to hear Travis Bell, The Bucket List Guy recently.

He has some excellent processes and ideas on how to formalise creating and achieving bucket list items.

It is way more effective than that thought that “one day” you will achieve some dream.

The one key point of Trav’s that I really love is about the impact of achieving what is on your bucket list. Because it is not about the item. It is not about getting a photo of having achieved it. It is not about boosting your ego by achieving it. It is not even about bragging rights for having achieved it (let’s face it, most of our friends will say “that’s nice” and move the conversation on.)

What Trav says is that achieving your bucket list item is all about who you become on the other side of having achieved it.

Having proven to yourself that you CAN reach this goal, and having the inner satisfaction of knowing all the battles you have faced to get there. The internal reward of who you become on the other side of your achievement is what makes it all worth while.

So what do you need to put on your bucket list?

Sensation of Simplicity

Under the strict supervision of Winston the Wonder Poodle, my gorgeous wife and I spent the weekend at our shed doing a few more bits around the place with our good friends Danielle and David.

On Sunday when they left to go and volunteer for Rotary, we did a few more things and then had lunch in front of the fire.

I am the first to admit that our shed is “rustic”. We are slowly but surely adding the creature comforts, A recent addition has been the fireplace which came in handy since it was 2C overnight!

But a simple ploughman’s lunch (that’s posh for “whatever is in the fridge/cupboard on a plate”) in front of the fire with your loved one was sensational. There is something hypnotic about watching the flames, feeling toasty warm while you are eating yummy food at a warm drink.

There is a lot of pleasure in getting back to the simple things and not being reliant on technology or complex and sophisticated set ups.

In business, that may be a simple phone call, a direct conversation, a basic agreement or an understanding chat over coffee rather than some sophisticated communication strategy or complex legal contract. While there is a place for these things, never underestimate the power of simplicity.

Simplicity gives the feeling of effortlessness and connection, and that is simply sensational.

Isn’t It Enough?

Image: ShutterStock

As someone who shares the stage with many speakers, I have heard a lot of messages (inspirational and otherwise) over the years. An underlying them seems to be “you are not enough”. If only you did more of this, that and the other thing your life would be better.

Along comes social media. Again we are bombarded with images and messages from people many of which seem to say or imply that you should eat this, do that, exercise this much, work harder, achieve more, make more, parent better, be more creative… There is no end to it.

TV is loaded with fearful and guilt laden messages of “if you were a good parent/sibling/child/grandparent then you would buy this product/service”. Even the TV shows and movies set an unrealistic example. Compare the class of the tv show The West Wing with what is currently happening in the White House.

Here’s the thing. I am all for self improvement and creating a better life for yourself but at what cost?

I love the concept of learn from the past, plan for the future but live in today.

Too often many people (myself included) forget to enjoy the day and celebrate all you have achieved because their focus is in the future on what they want or “should” have.

Personally, I am spending a lot less time on social media as it does not serve me well. I have refocussed on the amazing things I already have in my life. Yes I have plans and goals but I am enjoying my life as I live it and not just waiting for the day that I have achieved everything I think I should.

Life as I am living it is great. It is enough. In fact, it is more than enough. How about yours?

Sometimes You Need A Distraction

Image: The view from the west wing in the Shed looking to the North.

The worst spot for me to be is in my own head.

I have thoughts that circle around so much that sometimes I find it hard to tell what is the truth and what is just an opinion.

My broken ankle has exacerbated this situation. For the last three months or so, I have been unable to walk, drive or leave the house. I so need a distraction. For the last couple of weeks my gorgeous wife has been in Sri Lanka to become a God Mother so I have felt this isolation more keenly.

Luckily I have some amazing friends. After a couple of phone calls, my fabulous friend Anne said she would happily drive me the 90 minutes to see our farm, hang around for 30 mins or so and then drive the 90 mins back.

During our drive we both agreed that we had stuff and thoughts we needed to be sidetracked from and a days adventure was just the trick.

The Australian countryside is amazing. Having a drive with a good friend, chatting about life (including the beauty of the Oxford comma) and enjoying the world what just what I needed. Then to spend about an hour foofing around at the Shed while Anne went and had a chat to the horses and strolled around the farm, was brilliant.

Today I feel refreshed, invigorated and have a lot more clarity around what is truly important. I have a renewed focus and connection with the world. All this from a simple distraction.

Where is your head at? What would a distraction do for you?

Winners are Grinners

Image: Deep Storage Facebook

This is Susan Earl.

She is an artist, a designer and an award winning director.

Her short film, Deep Storage, won the only award for short films at Geena Davis’ Bentonville Film Festival in Arkansas, USA.

Notice the grin. Winner are grinners.

You know when you wouldn’t have noticed the grin? Most likely during the scripting process, the finance raising, location scouting or the 20 years of foundation work she did before winning the award. Now there most certainly would have been some grins along the way (Susan is a naturally happy woman) but there was a lot of effort, uncertainty, and doubt as well.

This is not the first film win for Susan. A previous animation project, Valmay the Visitor, won Best Animation Short at Paris Independent Film Festival. She has also done a lot of work on other projects, some that were hers and some belonging to others.

What helps make the grin so big is that there is a lot that has gone into this win. She didn’t start out to win an award, she started to tell a decent story with two ideas in mind. What makes a home feel like home and why are storage facilities so prevalent? Why do we have so much stuff and why does it mean so much to us?

So a huge congratulations to Susan and a question for you dear reader. What are you working on today that will have you grinning like a winner in the not to distant future? You don’t have to win an award but your achievement or contribution will make you a winner.

That’s got to be something worth grinning about doesn’t it?

Why Would You Do That?

Last week i was fortunate enough to share the day with the other members of the Professional Speakers Association Board as well as our Past National President representative. It was a full on day which had some great outcomes.

Following my recent announcement that I had taken on the position of President for Professional Speakers Australia, several of my contacts asked, “why would you do that.”

It’s a great question.

Let’s be honest, in an Association President position, there is little kudos, a lot of extra work, distraction from your business, time away from family, many people advising you on what you “should” do and a ringing question of “is it worth it?”

My experience in being of service to an organisation is that it pays back in multiples, just never in the way you thought it would or should. I have been on the board several times, served at several chapter positions and even been the organiser of the national convention. This has added up to a lot of time and energy.

The benefits from all of this service continue to be delivered to me.

I have had tens of thousands of dollars worth of business referrals from members
I have been asked to speak at Global Speakers Federation sister associations in the USA, Singapore and New Zealand
I have met some of the top speakers in the world
Some of the best speakers have donated their time to me to help grow my skill sets
Event industry experts have sought me out for my opinion on Event issues the industry is facing
I have seen blossoming speakers create significant businesses
I have made some fantastic new friends
Big name speakers make themselves available for my projects like the Get More Success show and Get More Inspiration
I have made new friends all around the world

Too often the focus is “What’s in it for me?” But being of service to your industry and association pays off in ways you cannot begin to imagine, financial and non-financial.

So if you are wondering, that’s why I would do that.

What about you? Do you perform acts of service?

What CAN You Do?

broken leg in jeans

Today marks the last day of the fifth week of my broken leg and ankle (not that I am counting).

When I talk with my friends, family and customers they are quite surprised how positive I am.

Now don’t get me wrong. The cast is uncomfortable, it is hard to get around, crutches are no where near as much fun as my childhood memories, I can’t do anything around the house, making myself a cup of coffee is almost impossible and I have started to dream about walking.

To stay positive, I am firmly focussed on what I CAN do and not on what I can’t.

If I started to focus on what I can’t do, I would enter a spiral of self-pity, depression and self-loathing that would help no-one. While it is not easy, I am choosing to focus on what I CAN do.

Focussing on the simple things of being able to go to the toilet by myself, pat my dog, being able to put on jeans and go out for a coffee (like the Werribee Mansion where we went on Sunday as per the photo), take phone calls, write blogs, record podcasts, keeps me positive.

Coupling that with gratitude for all the positive things I have in my life means that my attitude stays healthy while my body heals. Yes it is inconvenient not being able to walk for the next 10 weeks but I know from personal experience how fortunate I am to have such a minor accident. My reason to be in hospital for four days was a simple one with a known answer. I have some brilliant friends, family and colleagues who have been visiting and keeping me fed. I am relatively independent on my crutches and I have experienced hardly any pain.

What about your situation? If you are stuck, feeling blocked, impacted by external factors just ask yourself, “What CAN you do?”

Then simply start doing that.

Spending Time With the Future

Image: ShutterStock

I spent time with the future this weekend.

Friday night, I hung out with my nephew chatting about all things that a young fella talks about. Watching movies, eating burgers and having a bit of fun.

Sunday morning I caught up with my friend’s son who wants to be a professional speaker when he grows up. I talked a fair bit but he shared some of his thoughts, asked some great questions and told me of his plans.

The future is in pretty good hands.

Both boys were a huge credit to their parents. They were respectful, polite and had a great sense of energy.

Too often we hear people talking about how the “younger generation” has it easier, are rude, have no respect, put whatever your thoughts are here. But maybe those ones are the exception to the rule.

What I heard was all about possibility, ideas, energy, enthusiasm, all without the heavy cynicism that many of us older people have.

From where I stand, the future is in good hands. It is up to us to make sure we operate in the best interest of ALL of our planet’s future inhabitants and not focus on a profit for the old farts who will soon be gone from this world.

So what are you doing today to make our world a better place for our future? It may even make things better for you too!

What’s Your Hobby?

This week is a special week.

It is a special week because both of my hobbies start again.

As I have commented before, I study with Impro Melbourne and sing with Mood Swing and this week we are back into rehearsals to get ready for some upcoming performances.

I have always been a fan of having a hobby. There are many different research papers showing that early retirement can lead to an early death and I believe that some of that is due to retiree’s not knowing who they are outside the work environment. I have seen this frequently for men in business.

Their identity is wrapped up in what they do rather than who they are.

Having a hobby can help combat this. Hobbies also tap into your passion and can energise and stabilise your emotive state while dealing with the other situations life throws at you.

By the way, a family is not a hobby! A hobby has to be something you do for YOU. Something that inspires YOU, challenges YOU, pushes YOU and delights YOU.
Like my hobbies, they can also contribute to your professional life but that is not the primary reason to choose a particular hobby.

So, what’s your hobby? When do you start?

Do You Rock?

2017-01-22 Chris Wilson

Over the weekend my vocal coach, Zerafina Zara, and I went to see one of Australia’s music legends, Chris Wilson.

Musically, he was amazing. I am yet to see anyone play harmonica better than he does and his raspy vocals inject such soul into his music. To be honest, the drummer and the guitarist were also fantastic.

But here’s the thing. Being a great muso is not enough!

Many may argue that is “should” be enough but the reality is, being a muso alone is not enough. When I put my event professional hat on and consider a performance as a Master MC, I think you need to be more.

My personal philosophy is that ANYONE who steps on stage to be in front of an audience, regardless of whether you are a rock star, a CEO, a speaker or a bride giving a speech, you must be Yourself, Amplified.

You have to be yourself because authenticity is essential to connecting to you audience and you have to be amplified as your work has to come across strongly and be able to break through any resistance. Your amplification of energy and confidence will do this.

Chris’ first bracket was fine. Good music performed will but he didn’t connect to the audience. This was contrasted with his second bracket. He chatted to us, made some jokes and told a story. The difference in energy in the room was noticeable.

The key element of success in any presentation or performance is to remember that “It is all about the audience.” They have to be connected with you, emotionally and energetically. You can do this via a ~~good~~ great introduction, looking at the audience, playing with the audience, acknowledging they are here and what it took for them to get here, or including them in your story.

When you connect with the audience, the whole place ROCKS! Your music and your message gets across easier, your fan base love you a little bit more and your event raises the bar that little bit higher.

So when you present, do you engage with your audience? Do you make them want to see you again?

Do you rock?

PS Here is a bit more of Chris for your enjoyment!

Summer Wonderland

Last week I was lucky enough to give away a holiday for two people, including tickets to the Super Bowl in Houston, worth over $20,000. It was all part of Air New Zealand’s new launch of Dave, the Frequent Flyer (That’s him pictured above – click on him to see him in action).

I like Air NZ. They are very clever but show it with a great sense of humour and humanity.

Dave is great way to show an alternate way for long haul travel.
Their new Christmas message (basically, it’s really hot in the southern hemisphere over summer, so no snow for us) is a fabulous mix up of the cheeky personality of Julian Dennison (the kid from Hunt for the Wilderpeople) and fabulous music from Ronan Keating. Click the image below to see the short film – it’s worth it.

They frequently have fights with other airlines on twitter. Recently it was with Aer Lingus. The best thing is that with their fights, everyone wins!
So much of their work is not a blatant promotion of their airline but generating fun while reminding you of what they do.

So how do you bring humour and humanity to what you do? How do relax and just enjoy the Summer Wonderland?

And the Winner Is …

Image: Shutterstock.com

It has been said that business is a game. If so, how do you play?
Who is the winner at the end?
Who is the winner as you go?

The arts are a great place for competition. The true artists know that it is not about them or their production, it is all about the audience, their customer. By making their customer the winner, they become winners too.

As an example, I saw a fabulous piece of improv theatre last night by my favourite improv troupe, Impro Melbourne. It was team against team, both striving for points. Both teams had been magnificent making us laugh, ponder, pause, even cry (almost) and at the end of the final round, the scores were level.

Oh no!

The host then declared a best of three Hat Off to decide the winner. A Hat Off is where the two players act out a scene while wearing a hat. Each player has to try and get the hat off the other player in the context of the scene. If they get it, they win. But if they try for it and miss, then they lose.

The first two out of the best of three competed and played well. But again, at the end of those two rounds the scores were still level. The final round would be the decider.

Two fine players, Rik and Katherine stepped up to the mark and as they started Rik did the unthinkable. He did what no one expected. He took his hat off and threw it on the floor in front of Katherine. He then told her to not pick it up as it symbolised their love and if she did it was over. A bit of toing and froing and finally Katherine succumbed and picked it up making her team the winner.

The real winner was the audience. Rik knew that throwing the hat down had a huuuuge chance of their team losing the match. But what it meant was that the audience got something unexpected. It got a framework of temptation that they had not thought about. Their level of tension and enjoyment was kicked up a notch.

They left with an increased feeling of satisfaction and an increased likelihood of returning and bringing their friends with them.

In great customer service, the focus has to be on the customer. Only by making the experience fantastic and memorable for them will your business continue to thrive. When you start to compete against your customer, you will always lose.

What about your customer? What would they say if you asked, “And the winner is?”

PS Want to make 2017 a Winner of a year?
Be sure to register for the full day planning session to make it happen.
You can get all the details here and take advantage of the early bird pricing.

What If You Have Nothing To Say?

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and all of a sudden you have nothing to say?

By the time you think of what you need to say it’s 30 minutes later in an elevator! In your head you have the conversation. “They would say …. and I would say … and they would respond ….”

With everything going on in your life today you know it is going to happen at some stage.

Maybe it’s on a stage? Maybe it is when you are introducing someone at an event and you suddenly forget their name or the location you are in. Maybe the sponsors name slips from your mind – so what do you do?

Personally, I just make stuff up and keep talking!

I don’t just make anything up. I make up something relevant, something about what is happening around me, hopefully something funny or so unfunny people think it’s a dad joke.
I work with what is in the room so that everyone can share the fun of what is happening.

This is the art of Improv.

The lovely Tanya (or as I call her Door Number 1) accompanied me to Theatre Sports recently, as performed by one of Australia’s premier improv companies, Impro Melbourne.

The stories we were beguiled with ranged included: the singing chickens at the country fair, the romantic version of Hansel and Gretel (with stalker room mate), the pivot table Shakespearean Halloween story, Euripides in the Wollongong Caravan park – plus many more.

The power of Improv is in the “Yes and.” It means you take what you have and then build on it with the intent of making your partner (or the audience) look great.

This concept is also powerful in every day conversation, showing that you listen or finding something to say when your brain suddenly stops and you have nothing to say.

So what will you say?

PS
If you are interested in Improv at all, I highly recommend you check out Impro Melbourne shows and Workshops. I have long been a student of theirs and it has really pushed my MC/Speaker work to the next level. If you are not based in Melbourne, an internet search will help find a company near you to visit.

PPS
Booking for the 2017 Success Session have started. If you want to make 2017 your best year ever, check out the details of the day to be held here in Melbourne and take advantage of the early bird special.

Ready for 2017?

“Whaaaat? But it’s only October?”

You are right. It is only October and already I am having discussions with people about next year.
Some of these discussions about holidays, some are about conference hosting and some are clients asking me to contact them next year as they “can’t even think about 2017 yet”.

So let’s talk about this year.

How is it going for you?
Have you achieved your goals?
Are you on track for budget?
What have you done differently?
What new skills have you achieved?
Would you call it a “successful year”?

Too often we waste time, energy and resources because we don’t set ourselves up for success. It may just be some high level considerations for next year.
Maybe it is defining how you will measure success for the year. It could even be a simple Bucketlist Brainstorm for 2017.

Whatever you do, it is time to start thinking about 2017.

You want to be ready for it.

PS Here is Help to Get Ready
Last year I ran a very successful 2 day retreat to help get ready for this year. I received some excellent feedback about it and wanted to act on that feedback. One of the comments was that it would be more accessible in a one day intensive. Others wanted the event in late December to get their brains started on it over the quiet time.

Here is what I have done. I am now running a one day Success Planning session in late December and another in early February. There are limited to 20 people each and I would love for you to be there. Click this link to discover some of the powerful tools and methods we will be learning about to plan your successful 2017. If you could do me a favour and share it with your friends, that would be awesome too.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Small is Big

It’s Upside Down

I’m not sure about you, but we seem to have it backwards sometimes. The BIG things seem to be small and the LITTLE things seem to be big.

I spent the day with my gorgeous wife yesterday visiting family and friends. Just the act of spending time with her means so much to me. I really enjoy her company and the many conversations we have. Some are deep and meaningful and others are ridiculous and nonsensical.

I have some friends that we catch up with every now and again. Nothing spectacular. Just to get together and share what is happening in our lives. How work is, what we are thinking about and what entertainment we may have seen lately.

Don’t get me wrong. It is not that the BIG things don’t count, but the consistent little things truly make my heart sing.

So what little thing will you do today for someone in your life?

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