Blog
The Rider and The Elephant (WT706)
It’s the start of a new year and most of us find ourselves looking forward to a bright sunny year ahead. Consciously we set intentions or goals for the year ahead and for many of us, soon become disappointed as the year progresses and we have not achieved what we wanted and we give up. For some, they know this is going to happen so they go straight past the disappointment stage and refuse to set goals, a.k.a. “new year’s resolutions”. So what does “the rider and the elephant” have to do with setting goals? As it turns out, everything. The rider and the elephant is a metaphor used in the...
Another Year – It’s a Wrap (WT705)
Well, here we are again at the end of another year. As we look back over the year, I encourage you to focus on the good and positive and be grateful for all that 2023 brought you. Even the things that were not to your preference. As David Bayer says, “Life is always working for us, even if at times, it is not to our preference”. When I think about this mantra, I’m reminded that the Universe or God or Infinite Intelligence (whatever name you prefer) is working tirelessly to bring us what we want. From our perspective here on earth, we can’t see all the moving parts that have to be...
Stop Watching Sucky Movies (WT704)
Today I want to share a story with you that my voice coach, Roger Love shared on our group call, in answer to a question by one of the other “Speakers Guild Members” about being nervous before giving a speech. Here’s how it goes: Two workers are standing at the water cooler on a Friday afternoon. Paul says to Ed, “What’s on for the weekend?” Ed replies, “I’m going to watch a movie.” “Great”, says Paul. “Let me know how it goes.” On Monday, they meet again at the water cooler. “How was the movie?” asks Paul. “Not that great”, replies Ed and proceeds to tell him all the reasons why it wasn’t...
Answer The Criteria (WT703)
A while ago I was talking with a client about recruitment. We’ll call him Dave. Dave had a need to fill a customer service/administration role in his business. I suggested looking for a mum. In the past, I’d had great success employing mums who dropped the kids at school, came to work, did an amazing job and then finished in time to pick up the kids. The mums benefitted by being able look after their kids and still have some social interaction with adults, make a difference and get paid. They were honest, reliable, had a great work ethic and were skilled and...
The Magic (WT702)
Right now, I wish I had an affiliate link to Amazon or Audible. I’m recommending you get “The Magic” by Rhonda Byrne. The book had been sitting in my library for quite some time and I hadn’t gotten around to reading it, until it was recommended by one of my mentors in an online group. Magically, the group turned into a team, aptly named “Team Magic” and we agreed to work through the book together. It truly was a magical experience. Having an online group provided support, encouragement, motivation and accountability. Each day we would post an image or message showing the task completed for...
The Awe of Expertise (WT701)
When I first started my business, I was blown away by the knowledge and expertise that people have in their respective industries. Seventeen years later, I’m still in awe of your expertise. I was coaching with a client and he was sharing the challenges he was experiencing with designing and fitting out a new retail shop. He had engaged a builder and an engineer and was thankful for their expertise and advice. The builder advised that new supports were required to hold up the roof. He encouraged the retailer, by explaining that it was “now or never” because he thought the retailer would be...
I Still Want You To Do It (WT700)
In our Mastermind meeting this week, one of the participants was talking about her experience interviewing potential financial planners to help her. We’ll call her Robyn. Robyn’s looking at selling her business in a few years and wants to know the best strategy and timing to maximise her return on her investment and minimise the tax to pay. She shared with me that she had met with three different planners and still could not decide which one to work with. What we discovered was that they had failed to demonstrate to her that they knew what they were doing and that they could help her. Robyn...
What Story Are You Making Up? (WT699)
As humans, we need to make sense of our world and what happens to us. In order to close the loops in our minds we tend to make up stories to explain what’s happening to us. Let me give you an example: Ross and went to the gym and later, over coffee, Ross asked me how I felt on a particular machine at the gym that morning. “Ok”, I said. “Why do you ask?” “You know the settings were different on each side of the machine?” he sort of asked but really told me. “Oh. I just thought my left arm was weaker than my right.” He laughed. “No, the settings were completely different, which caused one arm...
How Do You Feel? (WT698)
How did you wake up today? How do you feel? Thinking I was being funny, when a yoga teacher asked me one time, (very early in the morning), how I felt, I answered that “I didn’t know yet”. I now realise the folly of this type of comment. It’s not funny. I can’t remember which book or program I’ve been working on lately, (I often have multiple going at the same time) but one of them gave me a real wake up call about my language when I start the day. According to the teachings, most of us depend on external cues to decide how the day is going to go for us. Ouch! As an example, say you...
Don’t Do That (WT697)
Last week I shared that I was anxious about going to the gym. I also mentioned that I had been waiting for over a week for someone to call me to book in a training session. Here’s the rest of the story. If you’re in business or customer service, don’t do this: On the day we joined, I asked if someone could show me how to use the equipment. The lady on reception said to go on to the website and book in a session. A few days later I went to the website. I couldn’t see where to book it in. I sent a message through the contact page. I got an automatic reply and a personal reply from the lady on...