SECRET ADVANTAGE

It was beautiful this morning, so I was up at 5.30am and running by 6am.
I managed a 9 miler before work and felt great about it all day.

For me, doing something extra early in the morning really sets me up for the day. Somehow knowing that you've achieved something, whatever it is, before your normal day gets under way, really gives you the edge all day.

It doesn't matter if running's not your thing, or if you're not a morning person..... but think about what extra little thing you can squeeze into your day that'll keep you smiling all day long. Now now..... keep it clean! (or not, choice is yours!)

Whatever it is, don't just think about it, actually do it.
I can't remember who said "Life is a series of little victories" but I couldn't agree more.

Have a great weekend.

NO LIMITS

"It's not the will to win that makes a champion, it's the will to prepare to win."
Bobby Knight

I love this quote. I saw it again yesterday in some stuff sent through to me by coach Steve Chandler. Steve runs a world mastermind group called Club Fearless and is a great source of inspiration and positivity. Well worth checking out his site if you haven't done so already.

The quote made me think about a book I read whilst I was away, "No Limits" by Michael Phelps.
It was fascinating, a real insight into the mental and physical preparation that he went through to win those amazing eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics.

One of the favourite phrases of his coach Bob, and he had a lot of them, was "money in the bank".
All the time and effort Michael put in in his training was like money in the bank, not in the financial sense but in terms of building up a reserve that could be drawn upon later when it was really needed.

I look at those great athletes in Berlin this week and marvel at what has gone before. All those weeks, months, years of dedicated single-minded preparation...... and I learn from it. You get out of life what you put into it so let's get out there today and put it all in.... 100%. Nothing else will do.

JUST AMAZING....

Did you see the men's 100m final last night?
How amazing was that? Usain Bolt not only won but absolutely smashed the world record. How much faster can he go?

Jessica Ennis was incredible too, winning the heptathlon. So inspiring.

Not sure if I was influenced by what I'd seen but I had a fabulous run myself today, lopping a full six minutes off my best time for the run to the gym (6.6 miles). I followed it with a training session and felt on good enough form to do an extra set of weights and tempo run.

Earlier on I'd coached a new client and we'd done some face to face NLP work together. I am sure she is going to do really well, she's got a great attitude.

Afterwards I even felt up to braving the school uniform shop for new blazers and trousers for the boys. Must be getting an appetite for those frogs!

I'VE EATEN THE FROG!

No, not a reference to my recent trip to France...... though I am partial to a bit of grenouille now and again.
I'm referring to accomplishing a much hated task - as described in Brian Tracy's book "Eat That Frog".

I was very pleased with myself yesterday for sorting out the paperwork for our practice accountant. In truth it's not that big a job, maybe two hours worth of work, but one that I loathe doing every year. In comparison with the sorting out I have been doing of my Nan's estate since she died, this stuff was very simple..... but nevertheless, a frog for me.

The idea in the book is that to eat a frog would be very unpleasant, so when you are looking at a list of tasks, make yourself do the worst thing first...... hence eating the frog. I certainly felt great once I'd done it and rewarded myself with...... a fifteen mile run. Yes, you knew I was strange didn't you! I have to confess I was really looking forward to running yesterday...... as they say on Reggie Perrin, "almost physically excited". No I'm kidding, but while I'm on the subject of Reggie Perrin, I thought that series turned out rather well, so much better than expected. I loved that programme as a kid and when I saw it was being remade thought it was bound to be awful..... but I rather enjoyed it. Martin Clunes brought something new to the role and didn't try to be Leonard Rossiter. If only the same could be said for the remake of the Pink Panther films with Steve Martin, surely the worst remake ever? Unless you know better of course!

Anyway, the run went really well but was fairly hard in the last 4 miles. It was quite hot yesterday and I tried running with a backpack for the first time, for my drinks. As always, it was hugely worth it, not only for the enormous endorphin high at the end - makes you wonder why anyone bothers with drugs - but for the great feeling of knowing that it is one more step along the road to my goal.

I've had an easy morning this morning. Stretched out on the sofa, sun streaming through the window, watching the World Athletics Championships live from Berlin - fantastic. Starts again at 5pm and hopefully I'll see Jessica Ennis take the heptathlon gold medal and Usain Bolt "jog" to win the 100m. Lots to do before then..... enjoy the rest of the weekend.

BACK HOME

First day back at work today......

I've taken a bit of a break and spent a week in France followed by a week in Ireland.
It was great to spend time with the family. My boys were really missing facebook, MSN etc. For me it was a deliberate decision not to blog. I checked my emails once during the fortnight - 53 messages, only a couple of which needed my attention. On my return there were 72 more waiting for me.... but the world had kept on turning without the internet.....

I've been good whilst I've been away and kept up with my running and exercise regime.
Running past fields of sunflowers and along tree lined avenues was a real pleasure, as was the time spent in Ireland.

I had a lot of messages from prospective clients on my return, all of which I'll get to in the next couple of days.

I was in the gym today before work and as usual found the session really set me up for the day. It's lunchtime now and so far so good..... but I am on-call this afternoon, so who knows what might happen! It's a beautiful day here though, the sun is shining and the council guy is strimming right outside my consulting room window. I feel like shouting down to him - "Hey mate you're 15 minutes early, I don't restart until 2pm!"