My 31 Day Challenge......

Art and photography are real passions of mine and I have lots of fun being creative away from my day to day job.

During the last couple of years art has taken preference and the photographs have been more as a point of reference to the pictures painted. However, my father was a keen photographer, and since his passing a few months ago, I have inherited all his camera equipment, some of which I know how to use, others I simply haven't a clue.

So now that my house is being filled up with all this wonderous equipment, I thought it's a shame not to use it. But then various thoughts crossed my mind.....such as how? When? I'm too rusty? Will I remember the settings I need etc etc.

So I decided to set myself a little challenge..........the challenge being, 31 days, 31 pictures! And what fun I am having! I decided to take a picture a day......which sounds so simple?!!? However, the first challenge I've faced is that I have an apalling memory....so on Day 1 I forgot!!!! Hmnnn......however, facing challenges can mean changing our behaviour....so now every day, I carry my little point and shoot to make sure I don't forget and at the weekends I take out my digital SLR with me. That way I always have a camera at hand.

I am having fun looking at every day objects as a photo opportunity. The idea being the picture I choose to take reflects something that has happened in my day. And at the start of the day I have no idea what that could be - and that in itself is exciting. And when it's gets late and I haven't taken a photo I realise that by using my imagination, I can find a photo opportunity. But quite often, now my shift in thinking has changed, I have taken a picture by lunchtime!

I think it's fun setting ourselves challenges. They stretch us, they can take us out of our comfort zone and more importantly, what we learn from them can be invaluable. I have already decided that next month I will do a sketch-a-day........but in the meantime, I will continue to snap away, take some interesting pictures and just have some fun. And to me, that is what life is all about...!

Helen Mills

Financial Controller

http://www.london.dalecarnegie.com

Eye Contact - Especially When Under Pressure

What goes through the mind of a prospective Open Golf Champion playing the final 36 holes - and in the lead? To know exactly would require sixth sense but there are some things that can give it away.

Last Saturday found me standing at the 13th tee at Turnberry, this years venue for the Open Golf Championship. Having been there for a while it was easy to become connected with the different moods, pressures and energies of the different golfers as they shot their drives anything up to and in excess of 300 yards and then passed on.

All without fail acknowledged the support of the crowd, doffing their sun visors, tugging a forelock, or simply raising a hand. There was one exception. Maybe it was the years of treading the fairways, maybe it was the memories of being in the lead and what awaited, perhaps it was acknowledging that the first prize of £750,000 was only possible with the support of the crowds present and watching television.

The one real exception was Tom Watson, five time open champion and now at 59 about to stand on the cusp of a second immortality. Tom did one thing that no one else did on that day on the 13th tee. For every voice he heard he returned a look right in the eye of the owning source of the whoop, shout or cry of 'Come on, Tom'. AND along with the look came the words - thank you.

For the remainder of that day and throughout the next no matter what the pressure I saw Tom Watson make a true connection with the whole crowd and where possible one person at a time.

Can we do simple things to build lasting impressions with people we may never see again/ Leadership is made up of simple things. Tom was leading the way and teaching others a lot about leadership. Well done Tom you will remain in my heart for ever.

David Pickering
Consultant

www.London.dalecarnegie.com

Seeing and Coming From Your Perspective

Picture a snow globe....you shake it about (and you do the hokey kokey oops got carried away there :) and you watch the snowflakes - in what appears to be chaos -slowly fall in different places; yet the essence of the globe remains intact, complete and silent.

I recently felt like the snowflakes falling; I was moving house, returning from a beautiful holiday being with my family, completing some rigorous training to instruct and facilitate the Dale Carnegie Programmes and returning to my business which felt like my first day! Amidst the discomfort, the place I call the ‘peace room’ was waiting, waiting patiently for me to connect with. My experiences were a gentle and kind reminder to be in the moment and to live from my core, which is where you and I are at our most powerful!

Then a discussion with a client provoked my thinking of a particular habit I have had – that once served me well – which is now redundant and has been a barrier to my deepening the quality of my connections with family, friends, colleagues and clients: that I assume what someone is going to say or need and that I have the answer for them! What a humbling moment! There is no right answer, no-one has an answer for someone else and our greatest joy is in serving each other. As I approach the world of buying and selling and delivering training, one of the biggest gift I can give to my clients is the space to allow them to come up with the right solution to solve their problems, live the life they so desire and create their desired environment. In other words, focus on their agenda. Now that is liberating and will make me a lot more money!

Public Speaking

I was watching American Gangster with Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington at the weekend. For those of you who haven’t watched the movie, it’s based on a true story and it’s about someone who, against all odds, establishes himself as the number one importer of drugs in America.

Russell Crowe plays a police officer who’s taking adult classes to get rid of his public speaking fear. He says: “You know the number one fear of most people isn’t dying; it’s public speaking. They get physically ill”. Fascinating, isn’t it?

In the short space of time I’ve worked for Dale Carnegie, I have found variations of this fear that a lot of people have. Some are nervous throughout their presentation and calm when it gets to the Q&A part. For some it’s the opposite, they are totally comfortable until the end…and then it starts…the fear of being asked something they might not know the answer to.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve learned that it’s good to be nervous when presenting; it shows you respect your audience and you care about the outcome.

So whether you join an Association, Club Talk organisation or take one of our courses, if you want to get better at public speaking, TAKE ACTION TODAY!

Corina Balaneanu
Sales Consultant

www.London.Dalecarnegie.com

Reaching the Stars

On the 21st July 1969 Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. In 2001 I was fortunate to see him present to an audience on Broadway, New York, where for one hour he spoke about his adventures. This is not something he is known for doing, so priviliged we all were. What stuck in my mind since actually watching the moon landing at the age of 8 and then seeing him at the age of 40 has been the incredible achievement that can be reached if only we believe the impossible is possible. I am living life like this now.

Last weekend I passed the Dale Carnegie endorsement to become a trainer and although that was excellent for me, it was the participants of the programme that showed me anything was possible. A small excersise I ran asked the class to lay down and visualise taking off from the earth and landing on the moon. What would be the first words you spoke if you had been Neil Armstrong? I placed a step ladder from the hotel in the centre of the room and the responses were inspirational. Everything from "women were first to the moon" - "this human made it so can everyone else" and one of my favourites was "I can hold the whole world in my hands". This reminded me of when Neil Armstrong spoke of how beautiful but fragile our planet looked.

If in two days we can develop our ability to stretch our capabilties further then there is no reason why Humans will not be able to send a craft of some description to the stars.

The mind has the ability to visualise anything, try imagining achieving something you thought impossible for you and see how much nearer that becomes for you to actually try. After my back operation I imagined climbing mountains to raise money for poorly children and now I actually do it. Do something amazing today and shout from the rooftops when you achieve it. We all want to hear you. The stars are part of us so reach for them and you will do the impossible.

Frank Steggall
Consultant

www.London.dalecarnegie.com

Overcoming Procrastination in Busy Times

I’ve found in seminars and meetings that I’ve run in the past couple of months the recurring theme of getting more done each day seems to be in the front of many peoples minds and as we’re overwhelmed by more and more work the tendency to procrastinate grows and grows .... !

I have so much to do I don’t know where to start ....! Do those words sound familiar?

Being somewhat of a champion procrastinator myself I thought this week I’d share some words that I came across about six months ago that have helped me to focus on those mornings when I don’t feel like starting anything.















The following Poem was found in Paul "Bear" Bryants wallet after he passed away in 1983 (for those who don’t know Paul was one of the most successful American College football coaches of all time)

This is the beginning of a new day.
I have been given this day to use as I will.
I can waste it or use it for good.
What I do today is very important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever.
Leaving something in its place I have traded for it.
I want it to be a gain, not a loss - good, not evil.
Success, not failure, in order that I shall not forget the price I paid for it.

The words that really ring out for me are ‘exchanging a day of my life for it’ and ‘this day will be gone forever’ It has spurred me into action on many days in the past six months .... I hope it does the same for you!

David Anderson
Managing Director
Dale Carnegie London

Game, Set and Match

Today the nation awakes in anticipation...can Murray win it? That is the question on everyones lips. Wherever we are this afternoon we will be glued to our TV sets and radios willing the Scotsman to win a place in the final. A British player hasn't won Wimbledon since 1936 when Fred Perry took the title.

In Murray it is refreshing to see someone with such a determination and drive to win, this year we feel we may actually have a player who can lead us to victory. For too long we have been seen as the unsuccessful underdog of the tennis world with no chance of seeing one of our players lift the trophy, our spirits have been at a low.

Watching Murray make his way through each round has brought our competitive streak back, our morale has been boosted and we are ready for action! A bit of competitiveness keeps us motivated, upbeat and wanting more.

I have begun to play tennis again myself and although the pace is a far cry from the likes of Federer, Roddick and Murray, playing has definitely aroused a competetive streak within me which I find I'm really enjoying. This desire to win keeps me playing and puts a spring in my step.

So with Murray in the semi-final of Wimbledon and the nation behind him let us remember that a bit of competitiveness is healthy, it drives us forwards and keeps us moving.

Sophie Whittall

Marketing & Admin Co-ordinator

http://www.london.dalecarnegie.com/