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Old and simple remedies

There was an item on the news tonight about some research into flu. They've found that you can significantly reduce your risk of infection by wearing a mask. Not just any old wad of cotton though, a proper sugical mask. Its really surprising that no-one has done this research before. It just indicates that there are still old fashioned and easy ways to solve problems still waiting to be discovered, even today in the 21st century. We should remember this when trying to solve our own problems. Instead of seeking a complicated and many layered solution, ask yourself "Whats the simplest and easiest answer to this problem?" I have a friend who is trying to get his dog looked after when he's on holiday. Taking it to the kennels seems obvious but its complicated by their strict opening hours, his lack of car and of course the cost. He has another friend who loves dogs, would pick it up, drop it off and lavish it with love and long walks. Problem solved easily. The other day I ended up at Birmingham instead of Bristol when my flight was re-routed. The complexity of getting from there to my final destination by public transport was baffling. Just hire a car, get in it and drive there. Simple. Sorted. Ok, not very kind to the planet but got me where I needed to be. So don't struggle with long winded answers, solutions that need a degree to understand them or resolutions written on more than half a page. Get simple and your problems at home and at work disappear more quickly.

Your top team

Who are your top team? They are your board of directors, your trusted advisors, your unofficial mentors and coaches. Most companies however small have a team that helps them set strategy, deal with major issues and plan their growth. As an individual you can do exactly the same thing and have a top team who you talk to when you need advice.

I'm considering making major changes to my business life and about a month ago I was mulling over the opportunity. I felt uncomfortable and sort of edgy about it and knew I needed to get the advice of my top team. Because my business is me, any major changes are as much about me as they are about the business. I have a top team who I consult about major things in my life. In the space of one evening I spoke to 7 very different people, all friends who know me well. They had very different perceptions of what this might mean for me. They each highlighted different things that I should be thinking about and had a different reaction to the idea. Some were very cautious, some thought it was a risky move, some thought it might compromise my freedom to do the other things that I enjoy doing and some saw it as a fantastic opportunity.

However none of them said they didn't want to talk about it and they all said that I should keep in touch about what was happening. After these calls I felt much more settled. Although I hadn't made a final decision about what to do I felt I was better prepared to ask the right questions that would help me to gather the data that I needed. I've spoken to them all again this week as the matter progresses. It's a difficult one to make a decision about and although no-one else can make the decision for me, knowing that the top team care about my happiness and my future really helps.

Who are your top team? When did you last ask then for advice? How can you include them more in your decision making? What can you do to help them in return?

Making Dreams Come True

Today one of my long desired dreams came true. I clipped into my skis outside my back door and skied off down into the village to the Post Office. Skiing from the back door is something I've wanted to do for a long time. We have a lot less snow in Cumbria than we used to so I've had to wait 6 years for the opportunity. Although there have been times when we've had sufficient snow before, I've always been away from home. Everyone in the village now think that I'm mad but I really enjoyed the experience. And it was a superb work-out too; I got home glowing and very very warm from the exercise. Later I was talking with a friend and she said how lucky I was to be able to do that. Well surprisingly I don't really believe in luck. Either you've sent an intention out to the universe that has delivered what you wanted or it's a combination of preparation meeting opportunity. I've been preparing for years; getting the right kit, learning the techniques, building confidence, watching and learning about the weather and the snow. And the opportunity was created because of the way that I've been managing my work. I'm having more concentrated periods of work and therefore longer periods at home. So to create your own luck you need to be preparing so that when that opportunity arises you are ready to jump right in. What's your heart's desire? What are you doing now to be ready when that opportunity presents itself?

New Year Revolutions

We live in the age of recycling and reusing.  At this time of year everyone is rushing around trying to keep to thier new year resulotions or trying to make some up if they got left out of the New Year hurly burly.  Trying here of course is the operative word.  And the problem with it is that as long as you tell yourself you are trying, that is all you will do.  You will keep trying and possibly never actually succeed. 

Its a very plucky thing to do, just keep trying.  Well I say that never mind new resolutions, just recycle the ones that you already have.  How's that for a revolution!  Well its easy really.  How many times last year did you say to yourself "I really must stop doing that" or maybe "I must rememebr that when I do X I need to do it that way" or maybe "I really should do X or Y this week". 

So my new year revolution is to advise you to just recycle all of those everyday resolutions that you made at any time last year.  These are only small things and they can make a big difference to your life.  Achieving suuccess in these small things, rather than just trying, will make you feel good about yourself and will spur you on to greater challenges.  And because they are small things they are not intimidating or difficult to achieve.

So get out all those tired old resolutions, dust them off and get cracking!!

Where have you come from?

I've just reached my company financial year end. I was discussing this with a friend on Sunday. We have had a slight drop in overall income this year for a variety of reasons. None of these are to do with the credit crunch. However, looking forward to next year I am optimistic. We already have as much work scheduled for next year as we have done this year. That means that whatever new work I secure from here on is an addition to our bottom line, giving a greater income for next year. That's really good news to have just before xmas. But even better, my friend asked how that compared to last year. Well that's the critical thing. Looking back to December 2007, we didn't have the same level of work already programmed in for 2008. So that means that we are already ahead year on year. And that feels even better. I hadn't really taken that in until my friend asked that question. Sometimes we can only see how far we have come by looking back and seeing where we have come from. We often don't do that cos life is always moving forwards, we look to the future, we plan and set goals. So actually analysing where we were a year ago, a few months ago or even a week ago allows us to see how far we have progressed up our success ladder. And of course our success is not just measured financially but also in how we feel, how well our projects are progressing, how well our relationships are going and a million other measures that are meaningful to you. So how far have you come this year? Where were you a year ago? Where do you plan to be in a year's time?

Move along the bus

I've been on the bus to Newcastle today to see some clients. It's about a 90 minutes journey and on the outward trip I was almost the first on the bus so could sit right at the front. I can suffer from travel sickness so I like to be able to see where I am going. On the way back the bus was much busier and I ended up near the back. My window was covered with a logo on the outside. Looking through it was like peering through mesh and made me feel queasy. As soon as I could I moved to the next row forwards. I really wanted to be nearer to the front but there were no seats available. However, gradually, as people got off I was able to move first a few rows, then a few more until finally I had the seat I wanted. This didn't take too long and I spent most of the journey in the place that I wanted. That's actually how most of us make progress in life. It's about taking opportunities as they arrive, moving forwards in small steps towards where you want to be. Sometimes, as I did, you might have to move from side to side to get to your ultimate seat, but each of those moves takes you closer to the front and gives you a fresh outlook. Of course if a space does come up right at the front then its great to leap right for it, cos you never know who is going to get on next and take that seat ahead of you. If you don't leap, even if you're not quite ready to move, then there may not be any seats when you are ready. Don't walk away from any opportunities without considering them. You never know just when they'll come past again. Where is the seat that you ultimately want to travel in? What steps did you take towards it today?

Keeping up

I've been away walking in the Lake District with friends this weekend.  We bashed up Fairfield through frequent squally hail and snow showers.  It was quite hard managing to walk in a straight line through some of the gusty wind with the hail lashing painfully in your face.  I have never walked very fast so although we were often walking in a group chatting, there were a lot of times when I was walking at the back of hte group.

This doesn't worry me at all, I have learnt that I don't need to keep up with everyone else in the party. This has only come though with the benefit of age. I know that I can keep going at my speed all day. I know that this rate of travel has got me successfully to the top of a 5,900m volcano in Peru so trudging up a Lake District peak is small beer by comparison (although we never under-estimate the power of the weather to turn a stroll into a serious expedition).

So when you are facing challenging times in your life ask yourself - what else have I achieved that is bigger than this?  How did you do that?  What did you learn from that achievement that you can apply to your current challenge? Do you really have to keep up with the Jones's?  We can all put ourselves under too much pressure to keep up.  You know that your way of doing things will get you there as it has done through the rest of your life.  Don't be pushed into competition with others (unless that is what you really want).

Thinking big

A couple of years ago I was working with a coach on my business plans. We were discussing what my targets were for turnover in the next couple of years. I suggested a figure and he refused to write it down.  He then proceeded to give me a lecture on thinking small. I tried again and he still refused to write it down. Finally he accepted a figure that was about twice what I had first thought of.

He was right. We would all benefit from  thinking bigger. I'm not talking world domination or anything like that. Just up your game a bit. Instead of that promotion to the department across the way what about your bosses job? Instead of just learning to play the piano what about joining a group?  How about making a coat instead of just a top?  What about running a marathon instead of just jogging round the park? What about dinner for 12 instead of cold buffet?

This is the size of thinking that drives you on and keeps you motivated. If you don't try to stretch yourself you'll never know what you can achieve, really.  If you plan to take great leaps rather than just shuffling forwards then your whole thinking and physiology changes. Your body starts to get behind the task. If you need to jump 4 inches you can do that from a standing start. But if you are planning to jump 4 or 6 feel then you approach that very differntly. There is more planning and prearation, different interim targets, more support taken, a whole different energy comes into your life.

What are your big dreams?  How are you going to think bigger?  What bigger targets are you going to set yourself and thern achieve?

Weasely time

I seem to have been really busy today yet not crossed too many things off my to-do list. In fact the list got longer as I just got notice of a new tender today and also have a complicated form to complete to join a women's business group.  I think that what I often forget is how long all the little things take.  Then I feel like today might have been a failure, maybe I haven't made any progress.  In those moments I have to reflect what I really did.

In counting all of the small things, that weren't even on my list, I feel better. Its easy to be sidetracked by the glorious big things that seem to give you a big win. Tick them off, you feel great.  However isn't it always the small things that keep life ticking over. Remembering to buy the tea, service the car, pay the gas man, send your mother's birthday card. These things can also upset everything if they are left undone. So don't allocate them zero time, as I am wont to do.  Then when you have done them give yourself a reward. All these little rewards will keep you going as you set yourself on to those bigger tasks that forever lurk further down the list.

Taking action

I was chatting with a friend a while ago. He was moaning about the success of someone  that we both know, lets call him Bob (not his real name).  He felt that Bob was a bit of a fraud. Bob actually isn't very good at what he does and has nothing new or different to offer anyone. My friend was jealous as he felt that he should have that level of success as Bob.  However we both agreed that what Bob had done was take a huge amount of action and this had lead to him reaping the rewards.

We all start off with the same chances in life and also the playing field is level to all of us at many other times in our life.  If you are all emerging from uinversity with similar quality degrees then you all have equal chances. If you are on a training course with lots of others then you all have equal chances to learn. If you are on The Apprentice or in Dragon's Den then you have equal chances.  If you are applying for a job then you have just as much chance as the next person of being successful. 

However when we start to examine success what we find is that more often than not, what distinguishes those successful people is that they take action. They make a commitment, whatever it is, and then they just get on with it.  They have seized the chance and put their absolute best efforts into getting the very best out of everything that chance offers them.  I certainly would much rather regret something that I did rather than something I didn't do, wouldn't you?

So if you have been offered a chance - whatever it is - you MUST take action, otherwise in 5 years time you will be no closer to achieving your goals. Instead of getting promotion you'll still be sitting in that same chair. Instead of going on that fab holiday you'll be sitting in a wet Butlins. Instead of living in that great house in the country you'll be struggling to shut the warped door in your damp flat.  Whatever your goals they require action to make them happen.

What chances have you been offered?  What action are you going to take today to make the most of those chances?  What actions have you not taken that you regret? Do them now!

Running towards your goals

I was in West Kirby on the Wirral today and after my meetings had finished I went for a run along the beach. This was really all about effective use of time, as after I had driven home it would have been too dark to go running.

I ran for about 15 minutes, into the wind, reaching Hoylake, at which point I turned around to run back.  It seemed so far back that I didn't really believe that I could possibly have run that far in only 15 minutes (and I don't even run very fast). It really depressed me as I felt that it would take much longer to run back, it seemed just too far, somehow physics seemed to have stretched the distance.  Anyway I had no option, my car was back there and hence my transport home.

So I focused on just running to the next area of puddles, the next bit where there were grassy tussocks, the next bit where I could see horse hoof prints, then the next bit where the path ran next to the sand.  Suddenly I looked into the distance and saw that the steps back up from the beach were only a couple of hundred yards away. Then I felt great and sprinted to reach them.

By focusing on just the bits that were immediately in front of me I was easily able to complete my run back and it didn't even feel like it was a great deal of effort.  Many of us have goals that seem far too big to reach, like running back to where I started from today.  However if instead of focusing on that big scary goal you focus on just that first small step you need to take, then the one after that, then the one after that.  Suddenly you'll find that you are making real progress towards achieving your end goal.

What's the first step that you need to take today?  And then what is the next step you'll take tomorrow?

Bucket List

I’ve just been to see Bucket List with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. It’s a great film and one that we should watch about every five years once we get past 30.

The bucket list is the list of things you MUST do before you “kick the bucket”.  It’s a great idea that I have seen people use often – things to do before I get to 40, 50, 60 or whatever.  But how many of the things on the list do you actually get round to doing and how many of them are worthy rather than fun, fulfilling, just plain daft and expressive of the inner you?

So here’s another idea. Write another list. This list is a Memory List. A list of things that you’d like other people to remember you for. I bet if you write this list it will get more to the heart of what you’re about at this stage of your life AND there will also be things on it that you still need to do, want to do, will do before the end. Many of us will find this list motivational, driving us on to action better than the Bucket List might.

Setting standards

I've had a friend staying this weekend and on Saturday we went for a circular walk taking in a section of Hadrian's Wall. We were out for about 5 hours and walked about 9 miles. Although it was cold and frosty it was also very sunny and we had a very enjoyable walk.  If I  had been planning a walk that I was going to do by myself I would probably not have set out on the route that we did as it would have seemed too short and not challenging enough.  This would have been a mistake as the route was very interesting with some tricky navigation across fields and great views across to the Solway Firth.  We met friendly horses, furry cows and noisy geese.  We saw oystercatchers, herons and more geese at a bird hide along the route.  It was altogether a worthwhile trip.

It reminded me that I need to be careful about setting standards that are too high or working towards goals that are too big.  This has the effect of putting me off even starting.  If I am thinking about a 15 mile walk then I need the whole day to do it and if I'm juggling with time (as I always am) then I am never going to set out on that walk.  However, a long half day is much easier to fit in, as we demonstrated at the weekend, yet I will often dismiss that as being too small a target.

Where in your life are you keeping your standards so high that they are unattainable and you are setting yourself up for failure?  Which of your goals are so big that you can't even see how to get started?  Have you bitten off more than you can chew?  Think about how you can cut these things down to size, split them into smaller chunks or steps, review the standards of achievement so that they are more practical and realistic.  This way you are much more likely to achieve success and all those smaller successes soon build towards your bigger goal.

The Wisdom of Taxi Drivers

I was in a taxi the other day and the driver was talking about his business.  He has a fleet of Mercs which he bought when he set the business up and after about 4 years he is now getting to pay-back time when he is starting to make money.  He was saying that when he left his last job he felt that his only option was to start his own business since he was nearly 50 and stood no chance of getting another job, because the government does not value the skills and experience of older workers.  He felt that the secret of his success was setting long term goals, which he had found that many people he talked to in that age group didn't do.

This can happen to us as we get older.  We do a lot of planning earlier in life and then as we start to realise those dreams and achieve those goals we can allow ourselves to drift, becalmed in the glow of our own success until we notice that 5 or 10 or 15 years have passed and we suddenly become aware that we have no direction.  I am not saying that we shouldn't enjoy and revel in and reward success, just that we should continue to plan for the future.

Whatever age you are, having a plan will give you structure and will prevent anyone else taking control of your life.  Cos if you don't have a plan then its all too easy for your children, partner, friends, boss or colleagues to make plans for your life that means you'll end up somewhere you may not really have wanted to be.

So what do you want in the longer term for you?  How are you going to build on your past successes?  What new horizons are going to set a course for now?

Tangled hedge

I was out for a walk a couple of weeks ago and the reasonable footpath that I was on suddenly disappeared into a tangled hedge with no possible means of getting through.  It was frustrating as last time I had walked down there there had been a lot of work done to clear the path from brambles and shrubs that had badly overgrown it.  I found the walk very pleasant until I just had to stop.

We had been talking earlier in the day about how many of us are great at setting goals and forging ahead when we are younger but we didn't really have a vision of what we wanted any more.  We had seen our path taking us forward to success as a trainer or artist or super-mum or or whatever but after that the path just stopped.  We could see ourselves being successful but we weren't quite sure what would come next. It literally was as if our view was blocked by that tangled hedge.

This happens to lots of us as we take our journey through life - we are not really sure what comes after the success, that wasn't really included in the original plan.  At that point its time to sit down and make a new plan, possibly also asking again what things are important to you now.  I know that certainly those things have changed for me.

I managed to find a way around the hedge and carry on with my walk and as I looked back at it, it didn't seem quite as tangled from the other side. Once you decide to think constructively about your future its surprisingly how easily the threads can fall into place and looking back you'll wonder what seemed so difficult.

So what is beyond your tangled hedge?  Where is your success going to lead you?  What is important now that you should be working on?

Losing control

One of the things that a lot of us fear about getting older is being short of cash maybe when we eventually retire. I am no different from anyone else and regularly fret about not putting enough into my pension or not being on the property ladder.  Am I saving enough (or anything at all).  I often get a serious talking to from Tim my ex-boyfriend from 20 odd years ago now turned financial advisor.  How much will all that be worth when I want to go off and climb and ski around the world if work ever begins to pale.

Well its all very well to worry about that but a lot of us are even neglecting the day to day finances.  I had a pile of bank statements on my table going back nearly a year and a half. As a result of this I ended up paying more charges than I should have done by going over my overdraft limit accidentally (honest guv). As we are all now adults we should be more organsied about all our finances, not just those that are there to support us later in life. If we don't look after our finances today how can we possibly hope to make an impression on our future-pot.  The trick for me is to be systematic about it, file things properly and then make sure that I read stuff when it comes in so I can see what is going on.

So how are you looking after your money today and how does that reflect your financial aspirations for the future?  How much should you be saving and where?  Who is looking after your interests today?  Where are you spending too much?  Where are you not spending enough?

Building buttons

Its not a normal day here at all.  My neigbours are moving to the beautiful town of Wooler and the removal men are here.  I have just been to my doctor and they've taken some blood to find out if I'm ill or just getting older! And I'm finally getting back into my online bank accounts after my laptop was stolen in May. And all of this on very little sleep cos I was up till 3am working on the blog.

The blogosphere and web are all about linking. I'm a kind and helpful person and I have had so much excellent feedback on the blog content from all of you, my loyal readers, that I'd like to let more people know about the blog so they can also live more positively.  So I have started listing in blog directories.  When I started this I thought it would be an easy job.  Then I found out that I had to build back links with buttons and clever html stuff.  I was a bit hesitant about this as its not something that I've done before and all the clever stuff on the web site is done by Sylvia, my indispensible right-hand woman.

So I first of all just attacked it using the techniques that I'd used for adding other stuff like the website links. This didn't work properly.  Then (at about midnight) I read all of the stuff in the Typepad knowledge base and after translating it into non-technospeak I thought I knew what to do.  My first couple of attempts at the coding didn't work but then I had a light bulb moment and it all fell into place.  It's a sort of work around as there is no easy way of doing this in Typepad.  But the result is all the button links that you can find by scrolling down on the right below the daily cartoon. As we are accepted into the directories I'll update these so you can go right to our entry and vote or rate this blog.

My sense of achievement is huge over this.  And I was really hesitant about doing it, it didn't work properly the first few times but I knew that it should be do-able.  So lessons for us all here in terms of actually just getting stuck in.  It also absolutley typical of me to charge in without reading the instructions so if you are like that don't give yourself a hard time - cos I actually had it about half right in the way that I first tried. And I knew that when I'd done it I'd feel really proud.  Stepping outside your comfort zone and trying something new can be intimidating but if you don't take that first step you will never reach your goal.

Disappointment Peak

I am at Chicago airport on my way home and pondering about my holiday in the Teton National Park, Wyoming. I have had a great time and have unfortunately not got as much climbing done as I would have liked. This was due to a vareity of circumstances. I am disappointed as its a long way to travel.  There is a peak there called Disappointment Peak. It was climbed by the earlier expolorers and as it did not lead where they were hoping so they named it Disappointment Peak.

One of the side effects of not managing so much climbing is that I have seen a LOT of wildlife that I may not have encountered. Count amongst that lots of bear, buffalo and elk, as well as some spectacular birdlife and it all adds up to not a disappointment but a great success. In life its all a matter of attitude. I could call it a disappointing climbing holiday or a successful break in the Tetons. I choose the latter.

What are the things that you are viewing as a disappointment?  What are the positive aspects of that apparent disappointment?.  How can you reframe how you are looking at things to give yourself a more positive outlook?

Not making a decision

I've bought a new car!  For most of us this is an exciting event and it is also for me. I phoned a couple of friends to tell them about this and the response that I got surprised me. "Boring" "How predictable" "What not another one!"  This is all due to the fact that my new car is in fact the same car again. This will by my third lime green fast "boy-racer" Seat Ibiza and that is why I am being called predictable.

What I actually did was not make a decision. I have not had time to consider what new car I should get so when this one just fell into my lap it seemed a good idea to just go with it and avoid that decision for a few years longer.

In fact I did make a decision - not to make a decision - and its certainly OK to do that if you don't feel that you have the time, space or information to  make a decision. At least if you decide not to decide you can redirect your energies elsewhere rather than continually nagging yourself about the decision that needs to be made.

So what do you need to not make a decision about so that you can allow yourself to move on in other areas.