Archive For: Work Life Balance

Make No Mistakes

Over the weekend, my lovely wife Sam and I did a bit of handy man work up at our shed.

Sam was operating the drop saw and … well … the picture says it all. Drop Saw 1, Sam 0.

The good news is that it was only a minor incident with a small graze on her hand. As the Black Knight said, “tis but a scratch.”

In a recent episode of the Get More Success show, guests Sonya and Sacha said that they make no mistakes. They are purely learning experiences. When something doesn’t work, they now know what NOT to do so they do something different.

This is what Sam did.

I guarantee she will not put her hand under a rotating blade again. She has learnt how little effort is needed to break the skin. I also know she will be a lot more focussed on where her hands are in relation to all the tools she is using.

What about you?

Whether it is using tools, dealing with your kids or dealing with customers and colleagues in the work place, do you make mistakes or is your experience purely focussed on learning what will move you forward?

 

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It Takes Time

Image: ShutterStock

Are we there yet?

It feels like I have been on the road to recovery from this broken ankle for eons, but it has only been a matter of months. I have had the screws and metal work out for a little while now but still I am not cured.

It seems that sitting on your backside, doing no physical activity and not putting any weight on your leg means that for that leg, the ligaments and tendons have all constricted. So that now when I walk I look a little like Quasi Modo!

I am frustrated.

I had plans. When that metal work was out and I stopped using the boot, I had stuff to do. But it turns out that it takes time.

Too much physical exertion exhausts me. My fitness (the little I had) has left me so that even when I am singing with my choir, I am out of breath on songs that didn’t use to affect me. Regaining that fitness takes time.

While my mind is ready for my body to be better, my body needs more time. A lot more time. There will be stretching, gentle exercise and plenty of positive self talk to get me there.

It is frustrating but it is also my reality.

Do you find that as well? Maybe you aren’t getting the sales results you are after, the promotion you know you deserve hasn’t been realised or even after all your workouts, your fitness hasn’t improved yet. It takes time.

You are on the path. Keep doing the work and know that sometimes it just takes time.

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It’s Done

There is nothing like seeing your name in print.

It is even better when it is on a body of work that contributes to the lives of others.

The book above, Mortgages Demystified, has been a labour of love for one of my mentoring clients, Andrew Larcombe. After months of work, years of experience and a lot of fine work detail, the book is DONE!

Now naturally as a mentoring client of mine I want to rave about how good the book is (and it is really good!)
I also want you to make sure that you know there is a really good first release deal which includes postage, a finance audit and audio program on the Negative Gearing Trap (you can check out the deal here).
As an avid property investor myself, I also want to make sure that you learn some of the basic finance principles and ideas in this book that will have a significant impact on your financial future.

Most importantly, I want you to experience the feeling of “It’s Done”.

That feeling when you have finally achieved something you have been striving for. All the hard work, inconvenience, and effort finally turning into the outcome you are after. The look that Andrew had on his face holding the copy of his book that he had been talking about for years and finally had been able to put together. It’s Done!

Andrew willingly admits that I have been his “fluffy slipper”. It was easy for him to get sidetracked on more “urgent” issues in his business and his life (he got married, had a honeymoon, hired new staff, doubled his mortgage broker mentor program all while writing this book). Knowing I was around to give him a kick in the backside with the “fluffy slipper” and focus on what was “important” made all the difference.

Where do you need the “fluffy slipper”? What is happening in your life where you want to feel “It’s Done!”

 

 

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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?

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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?

 

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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.

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What Are You Working On?

Image: ShutterStock

Do you spend much time working on yourself?

There are many people in this world who think they are pretty magnificent. All you need to do is ask them and they will tell you how good they are!

I love the concepts of “If you don’t grow, you go” and “once you are ripe, you rot“.

Simple statements that position how important it is to continually work on yourself.

Now before you thank, “I don’t have time”, “I’m too busy” or “what the? Something ELSE to do?” you need to understand that working on yourself doesn’t have to be a formal education process or something ADDITIONAL you need to do.

Here are some simple ideas that have a positive impact on you and can help you grow:

  • Read a book (it doesn’t have to be a business book, novels add new ideas and perspectives too)
  • Attend an industry convention
  • Join a mastermind group
  • Attend a networking function
  • Listen to a podcast (Naturally I recommend the Get More Success Show)
  • Spend time with friend talking about challenges you all face
  • Write a gratitude journal
  • Join your Professional Association
  • Sing in a choir
  • Join a charitable organisation
  • Create something
  • Ask someone else what they would do in your position and truly listen to their answer
  • Watch a foreign film (some classics you can start with include Amelie, Cinema Paradiso, Babette’s Feast and Mon Oncle)
  • Play with some kids and some Lego or building blocks to see what they create
  • Attend a trade show
  • Have a hobby

The trap of thinking we know enough is that the world keeps moving on and we can get stuck in our own way of thinking.

So what are you working on?

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Make it Fast by Going Slow

Ooops!

It seems I have caused myself a little damage. I was going for a short ride and right outside the front of my house, the back wheel slipped and I fell breaking my ankle.

I was going about 10 km/h, I was wearing full leathers and I was doing everything right. It is what you call an accident. (Not a purposedent!)

After four days in hospital, some ankle reconstruction surgery and some fabulous pain killers, I am now home recovering.

The prescription is six weeks without any weight bearing on my right leg.

SIX WEEKS!!

OK so it is a long time. My commitment is to be a patient patient. Too many people I know rush back early and do more damage and that is not what I want to do. I want to heal my ankle the first time and not have to go back for further treatment.

What about you? Can you be patient? Will you make it fast by going slow?

 

 

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Sometimes You Have to Say “NO”

Facebook Phone No

Image: ShutterStock

I have deleted the Facebook app off my phone. It is a huge relief.

Over the past few months I have become more and more disillusioned with Facebook.

It sucks up huge chunks of my day and I let it. I seem to pay more attention to it than I do my gorgeous wife. I will spend large amounts of time looking at it and then feel worse afterwards. My comparing and competing is at an all time high (that is, I look at what others are doing and think, “why aren’t I doing that”) and all the political rubbish was syphoning all the hope and positivity out of my life.

Something had to be done.

I deleted it off my phone and only access it for limited amounts of time during the day on my computer.

I feel so much better.

My hope has lifted, I am less concerned with other peoples business, my focus has returned to the actions I need to take, I engage more with my wife and my dog and I am continuing to look at what counts.

What you say No to determines your success far more than what you say Yes to.

I am slowly saying No to more social media and it is helping me get a clearer and healthier perspective on my world and the world around me.

Sometimes you have to say “NO”. What will you say NO to?

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New Year – So What!

2017-target-small

Image: ShutterStock

By now you will have seen all the “New Year, New Goals”, “Make 2017 Your Own”, “Get Things Done in 2017” kind of posts.
January is the time of year that Gym business make their money and in a couple of weeks people stop coming and it all goes back to normal.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of goal setting and creating a vision for yourself, your business and your family. But it also creates a lot of discomfort too. Some people are comparing themselves to the Facebook life of others and thinking “What a crap year I had last year, why will this year be any better”. Others feel like they are impostors and maybe this year they will get found out.

Here is what works for me.

It is nice to have annual goals but chances are they will change well before you get there. My gorgeous wife and I have a THEME for the year. This becomes our focus.

We also examine the year just gone. What are the great things that happened to us, that we did, that we experienced.

Then we focus on the day ahead of us.

The simple adage of “learn from the past, plan from the future but live in today” is a powerful way to live your year and your life, one day at a time.

 

PS My latest edition of the Get More Success show has a great discussion on Impostor Syndrome. You can listen to it here.
PPS You can use this Regular Results Review one pager to capture lessons from last year and plan for 2017.
PPPS I have TWO mentoring spots open. If you are interested in having some Success Mentoring get in touch.

 

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All Set?

This is the venue where I am hosting the 2016 Professional Conference Organisers Association Conference.

Everything is good to go.
The venue is all dressed up.
My run sheets are finalised.
Introductions are all complete.
Speakers have been briefed.
All the AV is sorted and I have spoken with the AV team.
I have posted a lot on the App so people know who I am.
Over the welcome networking I have been chatting to people for a warm start.

I am all set.

It is amazing how the better the preparation I do, the better my performance.
The more I put into an event, the more the delegates and the clients get out of it.

What about you?

Do you do enough preparation, planning, and pre work to ensure you are a success?

Are you all set?

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What Do You See?

 

future-vision-small

Image: ShutterStock

Having a Vision for the future is so important. It drives your actions and desires and gives you a reason to do what you do. It helps define your “Why.”

Of late, we have seen politicians the world over trying to create a vision of the future (even if that vision is based on useless foundations).
Although, it has been missing in Australia for some years. We lack a vision of what the future Australia will look like and how we should work for it.

It’s not just politicians. We also need a personal vision. What do we want our future to look like? Where will we be, what will we be doing, who will be with us, how will we achieve fulfilment?

Too often people bumble along in their lives and never achieve the fulfilment they crave. Part of this reason is that they have not defined it.

Do you have a vision? Do you work for this vision and know that it is worthwhile?

By the way, it is OK if you don’t have a vision. All you have to do now is create one.

Sometimes it is as simple as taking a check point and reviewing how far you have come and where do you want to go. This Regular Result Review is a great tool for that.

When you look to the future, what do you see?

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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.

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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.

 

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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.

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