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Monday 30 November 2009

What's Your Mountain?

As we got out of the tent soon after dawn it was obvious that the weather was going to be fine. It was one of those September days when summer is still with you.
Glencoe, which can be dark and forbidding, was today bright, clear and welcoming. Our objective was out of our direct view but on our journey through the Glen the previous day its full might was seen – albeit from the safety of our car. The Aonach Eagach ridge runs on the northern side of the glen and its reputation as a fine ridge walk was well known.
Do you ever have those days when everything is set fair and yet when you look back from the start never gave a clue of how things would end up? Doesn’t matter whether its work or leisure we all have them, don’t we.
The climb to the ridge is significant for me, the hill walker, over 1000 metres straight up from sea level at Glencoe village to the col below the Pap of Glencoe and then on up to the ridge itself.
Like any job we have to do we plan what needs to happen when and in what sequence. The guide book said the usual route is east to west – we decided to go the other way. There’s usually a good reason for given advice; doesn’t matter what the situation and you ignore it at your peril.
When pushing the limits – whether organisational or individual you often get so far and hit the proverbial brick wall. So it was, that just over half way along the ridge, the proverbial came true. This time it was not a brick wall but a very narrow arête stone, no more than 20 feet in length and narrow enough to sit astride.
So what, I hear you say. Either side, below my suspended boots were near vertical drops into the floor of the glens on either side. “This is not a place I want to be right now,” I said to my companion as I turned to see where we had just come from and the view back along the ridge was amazing – but laid out an alternative that even having completed it I did not relish renegotiating.
This journey to the metaphorical ‘brick wall’ was not one I wished to do in reverse. So, as in business, going back was not an option. This was on the edge stuff if you’ll excuse the pun, but we had come so far it was right to see it through.
You see we had the skill, the strength, will and desire to complete the plan. Back in the office its easy to give up – out there it’s not an option – its life threatening.
The were so many powerful lessons on that day that have a place in business life, not just hill walking and scrambling, but the one that will stick with me the longest is about pushing the boundaries mental and physical.
I saw the significance of this when after climbing the buttress at the end of the arête when three climbers came the other way complete with interlinking ropes and who were visibly staggered to see us in tee shirts, shorts and climbing boots.
No challenge in the business environment is too great, no situation too intimidating, no problem too difficult to overcome, providing you have the required knowledge, skill and above all – the right attitude.


What’s your mountain?

David Pickering
Sales Consultant and Trainer
www.london.dalecarnegie.com

What's your mountain?

As we got out of the tent soon after dawn it was obvious that the weather was going to be fine. It was one of those September days when summer is still with you.
Glencoe, which can be dark and forbidding, was today bright, clear and welcoming. Our objective was out of our direct view but on our journey through the Glen the previous day its full might was seen – albeit from the safety of our car. The Aonach Eagach ridge runs on the northern side of the glen and its reputation as a fine ridge walk was well known.
Do you ever have those days when everything is set fair and yet when you look back from the start never gave a clue of how things would end up? Doesn’t matter whether its work or leisure we all have them, don’t we.
The climb to the ridge is significant for me, the hill walker, over 1000 metres straight up from sea level at Glencoe village to the col below the Pap of Glencoe and then on up to the ridge itself.
Like any job we have to do we plan what needs to happen when and in what sequence. The guide book said the usual route is east to west – we decided to go the other way. There’s usually a good reason for given advice; doesn’t matter what the situation and you ignore it at your peril.
When pushing the limits – whether organisational or individual you often get so far and hit the proverbial brick wall. So it was, that just over half way along the ridge, the proverbial came true. This time it was not a brick wall but a very narrow arête stone, no more than 20 feet in length and narrow enough to sit astride.
So what, I hear you say. Either side, below my suspended boots were near vertical drops into the floor of the glens on either side. “This is not a place I want to be right now,” I said to my companion as I turned to see where we had just come from and the view back along the ridge was amazing – but laid out an alternative that even having completed it I did not relish renegotiating.
This journey to the metaphorical ‘brick wall’ was not one I wished to do in reverse. So, as in business, going back was not an option. This was on the edge stuff if you’ll excuse the pun, but we had come so far it was right to see it through.
You see we had the skill, the strength, will and desire to complete the plan. Back in the office its easy to give up – out there it’s not an option – its life threatening.
The were so many powerful lessons on that day that have a place in business life, not just hill walking and scrambling, but the one that will stick with me the longest is about pushing the boundaries mental and physical.
I saw the significance of this when after climbing the buttress at the end of the arête when three climbers came the other way complete with interlinking ropes and who were visibly staggered to see us in tee shirts, shorts and climbing boots.
No challenge in the business environment is too great, no situation too intimidating, no problem too difficult to overcome, providing you have the required knowledge, skill and above all – the right attitude.

What’s your mountain?

Wednesday 18 November 2009

Live a mellow world of acceptance

Life has a wonderful way of throwing us challenges which are both beautiful and detrimental to our being at peace with ourselves or others. How we handle these everyday situations is key to our personal success and self belief. I recently met a gentleman from Japan who emanates a being of calmness who has accepted life for what it is. He is a 9th DAN (ranking) Black Belt Karate Master from Okinawa. He travels the world visiting different countries where his Karate Dojo's (training rooms) have been set up.

When visiting my sons Dojo he took time out to speak with me personally about why he enjoys travelling and mentoring his instructors and students alike. His teachings are based not just on technical abilities but on who his students are as people. Learning to accept that all emotions are in their own way beautiful, learning becomes even more powerful.
When he moves, he glides. When he speaks, there is silence. When he listens, there is understanding.
"Everything in life that we really accept undergoes a change" Katherine Mansfield. British Author (1888- 1923)

Today, do something for yourself and learn that acceptance allows you to see beauty, enjoy the transition to a more fulfilling and mellow life.
Frank Steggall
Consultant






Friday 13 November 2009

Focus on the important things and achieve more each day!

The title of this piece comes from something that I’ve often found myself saying when working with managers to address their time management skills. It’s a very easy thing to say but how do we actually do it?

Below I’ve included a number of simple tips that I find useful and hope you will to! Before that though! I often ask the question of people in seminars ... “When you have a big project or difficult task to do ..... do you ever find you have an overwhelming desire to tidy your desk, do some filing and tackle all those little mundane tasks that you’ve been putting off for weeks rather than focusing on the really important task you must complete?” When people nod and agree they do, I often quote Robert Kiyosaki ... the author of the book ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad.’ He refers to this as ‘busy-ness’ that being that we make ourselves feel busy whilst avoiding the actually important task. He argues that eradicating this habit can make you far more successful and having tried it myself I have to agree.... that said you can take things too far and my desk and cupboard have become a bit of a state in the past few months. Therefore I took the time last night to clear the decks, three bin liners later, I’ve experienced the satisfaction of really clearing out all the rubbish from my desk and thrown away old documents and files that I’ve held on to for far too long and experienced that clarity of thought that comes from a tidy work area. Therefore my advice to you so you maintain focus particularly in this very busy time as we run up to Christmas is:


  1. Quickly clear up your work environment .... throw out the things you’ll never read and make room for the important tasks. (Be ruthless)

  2. Write a ‘To Do’ list of no more than 10 items and feel the satisfaction of getting through it in a day. (Even if you have a list of 30 pick the 10 most important put them on a separate list and get working)

  3. Celebrate your success .... do something to reward yourself for being productive, we are after all heading into the festive season, treat yourself!

At a time of year when it’s easy to loose focus try these three simple tips and have a productive end to 2009!

David Anderson
Managing Director

www.London.Dalecarnegie.com

Friday 6 November 2009

Financial Ruin

I found a piece of paper with some writing on it and I grinned like a “Cheshire Cat”.

The picture looked different about 3 months ago...

It’s a credit crunch, I’m 30 years old and I am constantly tired because of stress and worry. I get up at 5am to travel two hours to a call centre temp job and then go home to sleep on a friends floor because I have no money and no flat. This wasn't the vision of the successful entrepreneur that I had set out to be. I had often taught the Dale Carnegie "Stress and Worry Principles" but on reflection, I never truly understood the meaning of them until now.

The Principle: "What is the worst that can happen?" Well...it already had.

It was a friend of mine who helped me to see how I could "improve on the worst". He said: "set a goal but don’t become attached to the goal". Then "Get Active” and finally, “Choose one project and do that project with all your heart and soul 110%".

I wrote my goal as a question, "How can I make my first £5000?” Next, I brainstormed some actions that I could take to help me answer the question. I then put the paper away and tried to forget about it. I have always been someone who wants everything right now!! By putting the goal away I was able to stay motivated by the actions rather than becoming emotionally attached to the goal. I eventually found my opportunity and I gave it 110%.

I found that piece of paper again and I grinned like a Cheshire cat because I had smashed the goal. On reflection, the goal could have been even bigger and even braver. There is no magic bullet to overcome financial ruin:

  1. Write down a “brave” goal as a question.
  2. Brainstorm actions that you CAN take to answer the question.
  3. Get active in anyway you can.
  4. Choose one thing and do it with all of your heart and soul.
Hayley Kennedy
Dale Carnegie Trainer

www.London.Dalecarnegie.com