Status quo

An interesting conversation this week led me to think about the fact that we're always more protective of the status quo than of what we could have, which is odd as we always moan about the status quo!

You see things and say, why? But I dream of things that
never were and say, why not? George Bernard Shaw

So ask why not, what have you go to lose?

Fear and courage

Spring starts to unfold as Easter disappears behind us, it's a time of change and a great time to focus on personal development. I had a conversation with a client last week week about change, and they said they didn't have the courage to go through with it.

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence
of fear." Mark Twain

They have pursued the change they desire, they had the courage, so have you.

Questions and answers

There are times when we all feel that we want to move forward; being able to help people move on from there is one of the great things about being a coach. This week's thought is simple, and can help refocus the thinking.

Are you searching for the answer without understanding the
question?

Have a great week looking to understand the question instead of the answer!

A child's view

Children are great aren't they, they make you realise just how much rubbish we adults put in the way of life.

A child's world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of
wonder and excitement - Rachel Carson

Look at things through a childs view this week, enjoy and have fun!

Leadership

A wonderful sunny and warm weekend and it really feels as if the seasons have changed, excellent news indeed. I was having a conversation with a friend last week about leadership. It's easy to think that leadership is something in business, or that "I don't do leadership"; not so. A key thing about leaders is that they help others to grow, something that we can all do.

"A leader is not known by the number of followers, but the
number of leaders he creates "

Enjoy Easter, help create some leaders

Although last week it didn't seem likely, but it was the beginning of spring. This week seems much better, sunnier, lighter and much more pleasant. Spring, the season of rebirth and new vigour is a good opportunity to bring out all those plans you never quite round to doing. Yes, the ones to improve things, so forget yesterday and move forwards.

Yesterday ended last night. Every day is a new beginning,
learn the skill of forgetting and move on. - Norman Vincent Peale

Look at things differently this week, and enjoy.

Fantasy and living

Well you already know that Dr Seuss is one of my favourite authors; this week I've had to laugh at lots of things, it's a great way to get a different perspective and learn something more.

Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope and that enables you to laugh at all of life's realities.

- Dr Seuss

Look at things differently this week, and enjoy.

It's fun to have fun

I met that group again, still working hard, but now starting to have some fun at work as well. It's improving things, but they needed some more help. Guess what?

It's fun to have fun, but you have to
know how - The Cat in the Hat

So keep on working at having fun, especially for Mothers day. If you, or someone you know, need some help getting more fun into your life, or getting things going, see the coupon at the bottom of this email.

Success and fun

I was working with a group of people recently that were certainly dedicated to what they wanted to do, had all the skills they needed and had a wonderful environment to work in. BUT, they weren't delivering the goods. I struggled with this one as I thought how can I improve things here. Later that night it hit me, they weren't having any fun.

"People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing." - Dale Carnegie

It's obvious really, but we often forget. So have a great week, and remember fun is a key item in success.

6/3/07

All the answers?

Last week I spent some time with a couple of people that continuously knew the answers to everything, and were very happy to tell me all about them. After a few minutes it became very frustrating, it seemed as if I didn't need to open my mouth to be given the answer. I vowed to ensure I don't become like that.

"The person who has all the answers understands none of the
problems." Unknown

Ask good questions, listen to the answers, try to understand and then see if you have any answers.

Listen to understand

One conversation I had last week made me reflect on understanding. It's not always easy to achieve, being quiet and trying are the beginning and sometimes are in themselves pleasing to the other person.

"I'm very hard to understand but extremely easy to please."

Nathan Gilkarov

So listen, try to understand and see how much pleasing you can do.

"You don't understand me"

As we approach Valentines day I was thinking about the way people sometimes act. It is easy in the busy lives we lead to run around trying to ensure that other people understand us and what we want. Is this missing the point?

"Do not worry if others do not understand you. Instead worry if you do not understand others." (Confucius, Chinese philosopher, 551-479 BC)

This is true whether talking about the special person in your life, or all the people you deal with. This month enjoy understanding others, see what a difference it makes,

Jon
12/2/07

Self belief

I, like you, could hardly have failed to notice that Valentines day is on the way. Like so many other things today it seems to have been overtaken by commercialism, but underneath it is something important.

An opportunity to remind somebody important in your life how important they are to you. But if they are to believe in you, firstly you must believe in yourself.

When people believe in themselves they have the first secret of success - Norman Vincent Peale

This week remember the good things that are you, remember where you are going and how good you can feel about that.

Jon
5/2/07

Be yourself

Have you ever wondered why so many people around you are trying to be somebody else, ever thought they'd be better off as themselves?
They, like you, are unique and incredible. This weeks' quote is from my favourite author, so I hope you enjoy it.

Today you are You, that is truer than true.

There is no one alive who is Youer than You - Dr Seuss

This week go out, be yourself, enjoy it and be proud of it.
Jon
29/1/07

Failure

Suddenly the month is flying by, it's nearly the end of January; our first workshop of the year went really well and I hope all is going well for you too.
One last thought before we move on from the new year and the new start that many people make at this time of the year.

Failure lies not in falling down. Failure
lies in not getting up." (traditional Chinese proverb)

So if you should ever fall, don't worry about it (and a great tip about this to follow soon). Have a great week,

Jon
24/1/07

Keep attempting

Whilst on a long drive at the weekend I was listening to the radio and learnt that last Sunday was the day people were most likely to break their new year resolutions.
This weeks quote is longer than normal, but stick with it and if you want help keeping that resolution going, call me or consider our coaching workshop on January 20th (a couple of places left if you act quickly)

"Everything you accomplish you must first attempt. So get busy making those attempts. Procrastination and excuses do not lead to achievement.The way to make it happen is to make the attempt.You may very well fall short on the first few attempts. There may very well be plenty of good reasons to give up. Even so, keep making the attempt. Action and persistence will get you everywhere. How do you get yourself to make the attempt? By connecting that attempt, and the achievement it will ultimately bring, with a real and meaningful purpose deep within you. When you are clear about why you must do what you must do, you'll have no trouble finding the will and the commitment to step boldly forward. Make the attempt, as often as necessary, and you will surely make it happen."

- Ralph Marston

Don't procrastinate, find the meaningful purpose deep within you, do keep attempting - you can get there.
17/1/07

Dare to fail

Welcome to the new year, and all the best for 2007. This is the time when many people have set new year resolutions and are starting to waver, perhaps you chose something you're now thinking was too brave?
So I have two thoughts for you this week, firstly consider our coaching workshop on January 20th and secondly this weeks quote. You were daring enough to start your resolution, I know you can see it through.
Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.- Robert F. Kennedy
12/1/07

Trying to please everybody

All ready for what seems to have become the season of eating and drinking? Are you looking forward to having lots of relatives to visit for the weekend? This time of year can often get tense, because we have loads of people round and try to please them all; so don't!!

I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is
trying to please everybody." Bill Cosby

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas

20/12/06

Success

We've often heard that success creates success, this week I have a good example of the opposite. I recently had a discussion with somebody who believed they had no successes and were achieving less and less as a result.

Success to them meant the complete and perfect execution of a very big project, that couldn't be achieved for months. We redefined success as the steps that needed to be taken to achieve the project; an important part of goal setting is breaking the goals into a regular achievable set of goals. The difference in performance, motivation and achievements have been incredible. This weeks quote came to mind while this discussion took place.

"Success consists of a series of little daily efforts" Mamie
McCulloch

Ensure you have the ability to reward yourself with regular success, and you will achieve more. Have a great week

Fear

How often do we build up a fear of something and then allow that fear to stop us from doing what we want the most?

It is not the mountain that we conquer, but ourselves. - Sir Edmund Hillary

Don't fear the mountain, look inside; you can do it. Have a great week,