Hello again.
It's been a busy few weeks since my last post.
I spent three wonderful weeks up in North Yorkshire studying with NLP Master trainers Susi Strang and Craig Wood and have now qualified as an INLPTA certified NLP Trainer. Since returning, my business partner Suzanne and I have been busy networking, setting up our website and generally preparing our 2011 course programme of NLP trainings. These will be up on my NLP4Medics website very soon. As well as this I've been coaching clients and working in the GP practice.
I made some great friends whilst on the course. It was fabulous to be surrounded by a group of like-minded people, who all took responsibility for their own lives. None one moaned, even though the workload was pretty relentless at times. On the contrary, everyone rose to the challenge. The evaluations were tough - two presentations, a four hour written paper, NLP technique demonstration and an interview.
Next step is to get out there and introduce a whole new batch of medics to the wonderful world of NLP.
Sunday, 13 February 2011
Friday, 11 June 2010
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH
Well I don't know about you but I can't wait for the World Cup to start.
First game kicks off any minute now, then a whole month of solid football - ah, life is sweet!
Maybe football isn't your cup of tea - I believe there are people like that out there - but even if this is the case there is still so much for you to enjoy and appreciate.
It is undoubtedly one of the world's great sporting events. Over the next few weeks there will be some 'where were you when X happened?' sort of moments. There will be surprises, shocks, thrills - things that absolutely no-one could possibly have predicted. Take last year's final for a start. Who could possibly have imagined in their wildest dreams that Zinadane Zidan, one of the greatest players the world has ever seen would end his career as he did. In the World Cup final, he lead France out against Italy and seemed destined to lift the trophy when a moment of madness caused him to be sent off for head-butting an Italian opponent. Amazing! A really dramitic moment.
I love the way that sport brings people together and this event, like the Olympic Games is a worldwide celebration of that. So whether like me you'll be cheering on England, or if you're a Scot or an Irishman who's cheering on 'anyone but England!', sit back,relax and enjoy the greatest show on earth !
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
TIME TO CHOOSE
Those of us in the UK will be going to the polls tomorrow to elect a new Prime Minister. It promises to be the closest general election for many years but how does the prospect of choosing a new leader make you feel?
Personally I love the general election, I always have done, even as a kid. I'll be staying up until the early hours watching the results come in. Somehow it wouldn't be right to not do this. It's our election, our chance to vote. If we can't take an interest in that then how can we complain when things don't go our way? I think what I find most exciting is that nobody really knows what is going to happen. They can publish all the polls in the world but when you get into that polling booth, you are absolutely free to vote for whoever you choose. It's too easy to take that freedom for granted. People died to give us that right - for goodness sake let's not waste it because of apathy or thoughts of, "oh they're all the same anyway."
A defining moment of my growing up occurred during one general election, I can't honestly remember which. The results were a real shock, not what had been predicted. I finally understood that adults, even those whom I had looked up to as being in a position of authority didn't really know what was going to happen. More than that, when I was old enough to vote, they wouldn't have any greater say in the outcome than I had. That was somehow a revelation to me. It marked something of a transition from all-accepting child to independent-thinking adult. Many years later, I've never forgotten that lesson. Democracy is priceless. Freedom is valuable beyond measure. Power is in all of our hands - don't waste it.
Personally I love the general election, I always have done, even as a kid. I'll be staying up until the early hours watching the results come in. Somehow it wouldn't be right to not do this. It's our election, our chance to vote. If we can't take an interest in that then how can we complain when things don't go our way? I think what I find most exciting is that nobody really knows what is going to happen. They can publish all the polls in the world but when you get into that polling booth, you are absolutely free to vote for whoever you choose. It's too easy to take that freedom for granted. People died to give us that right - for goodness sake let's not waste it because of apathy or thoughts of, "oh they're all the same anyway."
A defining moment of my growing up occurred during one general election, I can't honestly remember which. The results were a real shock, not what had been predicted. I finally understood that adults, even those whom I had looked up to as being in a position of authority didn't really know what was going to happen. More than that, when I was old enough to vote, they wouldn't have any greater say in the outcome than I had. That was somehow a revelation to me. It marked something of a transition from all-accepting child to independent-thinking adult. Many years later, I've never forgotten that lesson. Democracy is priceless. Freedom is valuable beyond measure. Power is in all of our hands - don't waste it.
Monday, 26 April 2010
TWITTERING AT LAST
It's been a busy couple of weeks for me with some new individual coaching clients and some speaking engagements to prepare for too. I've also been busy networking, both in person and virtually and have finally ventured into the world of Twitter.
There's something wonderful about it, something I heard someone describe as very "democratising" although I'm not sure that's a proper word. If it isn't, it should be. I mean it's a great leveller. You can follow people you admire and send them a message direct to their account, so you know they will see it.
For example, in yesterday's Sunday Times I read an interview with entrepreneur Gavin Wheeldon. He talks about how he starts each day by watching a five minute Powerpoint presentation of his goals. I thought that was a wonderful idea, really inspiring, so I sent him a message to say so. I'll let you know if he replies although that wasn't the reason I sent it.
I'm also in the process of making a short video for the WIBN website. Regular readers will have heard me talking about this networking group before. It's a women-only business networking organisation that is growing rapidly and is soon to launch it's own internet TV channel. Members can load up videos promoting their services and benefit from the umbrella of the big organisation. I'm sure it will be fabulous and a very useful way for many business women to get their message out there.
The answers are always out there. It's just a question of talking to the right people.
There's something wonderful about it, something I heard someone describe as very "democratising" although I'm not sure that's a proper word. If it isn't, it should be. I mean it's a great leveller. You can follow people you admire and send them a message direct to their account, so you know they will see it.
For example, in yesterday's Sunday Times I read an interview with entrepreneur Gavin Wheeldon. He talks about how he starts each day by watching a five minute Powerpoint presentation of his goals. I thought that was a wonderful idea, really inspiring, so I sent him a message to say so. I'll let you know if he replies although that wasn't the reason I sent it.
I'm also in the process of making a short video for the WIBN website. Regular readers will have heard me talking about this networking group before. It's a women-only business networking organisation that is growing rapidly and is soon to launch it's own internet TV channel. Members can load up videos promoting their services and benefit from the umbrella of the big organisation. I'm sure it will be fabulous and a very useful way for many business women to get their message out there.
The answers are always out there. It's just a question of talking to the right people.
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
UTTERLY INSPIRATIONAL
It's been a while since my last post - too long.
Recently I've ben concentrating on sending out a daily inspirational thought to my list which I call Daily Motivation.
It's just a short quote for your inbox each weekday. It's designed to make you think, make you smile and get you up and going!
Interested in receiving it? Just contact me through the blog or via the website and I'll add you to my list.
I felt I had to share this one with you. Regular readers will know that I love a good sports autobiography and have recommended quite a number over time, but the one I read last week was absolutely amazing. It was "Taking on the World" by Ellen MacArthur and tells her story from childhood up until the end of the Vendee Globe single-handed round the world race in 2001. It is all written by her, no ghost-writing and her personality shines through each and every page. She really wears her heart on her sleeve and gives the reader a fabulous insight into her thoughts and feelings - I loved it.
You don't have to be into sailing to enjoy it either. I barely know one end of a boat from the other but it's about so much more than the sailing. Her single-minded determination and drive to achieve her goals is nothing short of incredible. If you only read one book this year - make it this one!
In recognition of her achievements, she has been made a Dame of the British Empire, received the OBE and the Legion D'Honeur from the French people. She is still only 33. Ellen has, at least for now, given up competitive sailing to concentrate on her charity work and her environmental campaigning. I'd be hard pushed to think of a more inspirational role model. As she says in the book, A donf! (Go for it!) Yes - she speaks fluent french as well....
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
GET ENERGY FROM ACTION !
Have you noticed how tired having lots of things to do makes you feel?
Or rather, how having lots of unfinished things on the go, makes you tired....?
Energy comes from completing tasks, from ticking them off as being done and over with. If you know that you still have things hanging over you, that can be a big drain on your emotional and physical energy.
Does this sound familiar? Do you recognise yourself as someone who starts lots of things but doesn't complete them? Then try this.....
Make a list of every task that you both start AND finish today...... however small it is. Keep the list with you throughout the day so you can add to it. Look at it this evening. How did you do? Did you do more than you thought? Does that feel good? Notice how much energy it gives you.
Keep it going tomorrow and for the next few days. Include really small seemingly trivial stuff on there that you have both started AND finished.
The purpose of this is to re-educate your brain into realising that you are the sort of person who finishes what they start.
Remember - energy comes from action. Change begins with small steps, taken today, tomorrow and every day. Blog finished !
Or rather, how having lots of unfinished things on the go, makes you tired....?
Energy comes from completing tasks, from ticking them off as being done and over with. If you know that you still have things hanging over you, that can be a big drain on your emotional and physical energy.
Does this sound familiar? Do you recognise yourself as someone who starts lots of things but doesn't complete them? Then try this.....
Make a list of every task that you both start AND finish today...... however small it is. Keep the list with you throughout the day so you can add to it. Look at it this evening. How did you do? Did you do more than you thought? Does that feel good? Notice how much energy it gives you.
Keep it going tomorrow and for the next few days. Include really small seemingly trivial stuff on there that you have both started AND finished.
The purpose of this is to re-educate your brain into realising that you are the sort of person who finishes what they start.
Remember - energy comes from action. Change begins with small steps, taken today, tomorrow and every day. Blog finished !
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
ENTHUSIASM
"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm!" Ralph Waldo Emerson
I love this quote, Like many of the things that Emerson said it really gets to the heart of the matter, really says something about the essential spirit within us.
I have another of his quotes on the homepage of my website:
"Change your thoughts and you change your world". Really powerful I think. So simple yet so true.
The word enthusiasm comes from the greek "en theos", meaning God within.
Now whether that to you means a religious God or some other being higher than ourselves doesn't really matter.
It's just an acknowledgement that when we are enthusiastic we are filled with something wonderful, something above and beyond what we normally are. This gives us power to act in all sorts of wonderful ways and to achieve far more than we think we can do.
What are you really enthusiastic about? When you think about that, how does it make you feel? Don't just read this, actually answer the questions for yourself. Now that you've got that feeling going on, think about something you want to do. Feel that great enthusiastic feeling as you think about the new task. Feeling up for it now? Then shut down your computer and get going!
I love this quote, Like many of the things that Emerson said it really gets to the heart of the matter, really says something about the essential spirit within us.
I have another of his quotes on the homepage of my website:
"Change your thoughts and you change your world". Really powerful I think. So simple yet so true.
The word enthusiasm comes from the greek "en theos", meaning God within.
Now whether that to you means a religious God or some other being higher than ourselves doesn't really matter.
It's just an acknowledgement that when we are enthusiastic we are filled with something wonderful, something above and beyond what we normally are. This gives us power to act in all sorts of wonderful ways and to achieve far more than we think we can do.
What are you really enthusiastic about? When you think about that, how does it make you feel? Don't just read this, actually answer the questions for yourself. Now that you've got that feeling going on, think about something you want to do. Feel that great enthusiastic feeling as you think about the new task. Feeling up for it now? Then shut down your computer and get going!
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