Don't Let Fear Hold You Back!

👉Is there something that you have always wanted to do and found a way of not doing it?

👉 Has there been something in the back of your mind that says, "As soon as I have this, I will do such and such?”

👉 Have you ever sat watching TV or reading a magazine and said to yourself “I would love to have a go at that”, or “I would love to visit there?”

👉 Do you find yourself in a bit of a rut that you can’t seem to get out of and wish that there was a way to move forward and change your life for the better?

👉 Is there an organisation that you want to support, a company that you’ve always wanted to work for, something that you wanted to build, or perhaps a challenge that seemed out of your reach?

We tend to hold ourselves back because of fear. Mostly subconsciously, a fear of what could go wrong rather than what could go right. What if we can swap that negative fear around and use it to encourage us, to see what could happen 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 we succeed.

If your plan doesn't work out the way you thought it might, what did you learn to use again for your next goal?

𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 – 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥.

It is far better to say “At least I gave it a go” than not trying at all because regret for not doing something can be terribly demotivating.

Let's talk!

What I Learned From My Father!

What I Learned from My Father

He was a man of few words and raised us how he thought would give us the greatest opportunity in life. Here is what he used to say to me, and what I've learned from him:

👉 "Finish your homework before going out to play." - It's important to get your priorities right. Do the things that you have to do before relaxing, and doing so will allow you to relax without thinking about those unfinished tasks.

👉 “I told you to help your mother.” – Helping others should always be a high priority. Altruism is a reward in itself.

👉 “Stop mucking about and get it done” – Procrastination plays on your mind, if you start something make sure that you finish it, and importantly don’t waste your energy on worry or other frivolous things.

👉 “Be home by dark.” – Timeframes help us set boundaries but timeframes should also be flexible so that you don’t place yourself under pressure.

👉 “I told you not to do that and you ignored me.” – We often ignore advice from others because we think we know best. If you did what you did for the right reasons, then no one has the right to judge you for doing it your own way.

👉 “Why do you keep doing dumb things?” – Mistakes are made so we can learn. Sometimes we keep making the same mistakes, that’s because we haven’t learned the lesson, yet.

👉 “If you don’t know what you want to do in life, always get a trade first.” – When making a plan always have a fall-back strategy, an exit strategy, or a way to modify your original plan. Life is built on a solid foundation.

👉 “As long as you do your best I will always be proud of you.” – No one can ask anything more of you than giving your best, ensure that you always do so and you will be rewarded accordingly.

Let's talk!

What I Learned From My Mother

What I Learned From My Mother 🫶

We all know our mothers had a great impact on our future. Here is what my mother used to say to me, and my interpretation of how it has helped me as an adult;

👉 “Stop being lazy and get out of bed.” - Mornings are when we are at our most creative, don’t waste it lying in bed.

👉 “Make your damn bed.” – Starting each day by making your bed puts your head in order, allows you to start the day with a ritual, helps you to wake properly, and provides you with the time to think about your day ahead.

👉 “Make sure you eat at all of your breakfast.” – a balanced breakfast will give you energy to get you through the day, help minimise cravings and prevent that afternoon slump. ravings.

👉 “Brush your teeth!” – Personal hygiene not only makes you look (and smell) better, it is these small actions that help us feel good about ourselves.

👉 “Have you got a clean handkerchief?” – You never know when others may need a shoulder to cry on and you can sit, listen, and offer a handkerchief as a small gesture of care.

👉 “Don’t waste your pocket money on junk.” – Spend your money wisely, and put aside money for when you really need it.

👉 “Listen to me!” - Listening is what we should all strive to do before opening our mouth. Aim for twice as much listening as you do talking where appropriate.

👉 “Stand still for 5 minutes.” – in a busy day - slow down and stop to smell the roses, listen to the birds, and centre yourself.

👉 “Have you done your homework yet?” – To have a restful sleep, write a list of the things you have to do the next day so that you can relax knowing that you have your list ready for tomorrow.

👉 “Get to sleep now, or else.” – You've heard me say it before, but sleep is probably the most important thing that you can do for your wellbeing.

My mother also told me that I had to wear clean underwear in case I was in an accident. What she actually meant was to take pride in who you are, what you do, and what you stand for.

Listen to your mothers, they are much wiser than you may think.

Let's talk!

What Can We Learn From Animals?

What can we learn from animals?

There are a few things that I have learned from watching animals that we can use in business;

1. The smallest does not necessarily mean the weakest - often the smallest animals have the largest heart, so too can it be in business.

2. The runt of the litter need not remain that way - just because we have been rejected and isolated need not mean that we have to stay that way, and if you fight hard enough you can become stronger than the rest.

3. There is strength in numbers - if you have a small business, collaborate with others when needed to become stronger.

4. Natural enemies can become friends - if you reach out to your competitors you may be able to work together using each of your strengths.

5. Bigger is not necessarily better - Smaller businesses are more flexible, can adapt quickly to the ever-changing environment, and offer value for money.

6. Rats don't desert a sinking ship - they leave when the time is right to find a better place to survive. Sometimes we may have to change what we do and how we do it.

7. A turtle on its back will keep trying - no matter how bad things get; it is important to keep going.

8. Weak species survive with numbers - surround yourself with good people; those who care about you, support you, and want you to succeed.

9. Animals are loyal - be loyal to your business, your values, and mostly, yourself.

10. Animals will fight to the death for their family – ‘familia omnia’, family is all. Fight for your family because that is the most important thing in most of our lives.

10 Things I Learned as a Crisis Negotiator.

10 things I learned in my time as a crisis negotiator

1. Never make a promise that you cannot keep - When we break a promise, not only does the person we made it to feel bad but we also feel the same way. Under-promise and over-deliver is a great guide.

2. Be honest - honesty is the most important thing that you can do for yourself and for others.

3. Be the first to give - Always give something first and never ask for anything in return. Why, because generally, the other person will always reciprocate if they have the opportunity to.

4. Listen - We have two ears and one mouth to do twice as much listening as talking.

5. Only speak if you have something to say - as above, silence is the key to listening. Less is more.

6. Make it about them - Focus on the other person's needs, then your own.

7. Be humble - If we take the lower ground, we gain respect. It is so easy to become aggressive if we need to but difficult to retract what we said in anger.

8. Keep an open mind - A closed mind causes friction and is a barrier to understanding.

9. Never leave anything unsaid - just like on a sports field we give everything, the same rule applies in conversations. Say all that you have to say, in particular if expressing emotions. Men often find this one difficult to do.

10. Always finish with an agreement - never leave a conversation on a negative note, always finish on a positive or with an agreement.

Let's talk!