Revolutionize your resolutions

So 2011 has gone and gone and what have you done? I’ve learnt a thing or two about resolutions which is partially the reason I haven’t made any. Others have had this epiphany ages ago, born from the idea that every day can be a New Years day, which is also rather refreshing.

I’ve pretty much settled on two replacements for resolutions. They are 1. Listen to your spirit. 2. Do everything better.

Having the old school resolution type thing is not bad either, especially if you’ve habitualised the art of achieving them in a reach for the stars and touch the clouds kind of way. So if you’ve made any, get into it straight away and don’t mess around with them. Try the above two principles anyway.

When you listen to your spirit, you start acting in ways that deliver different, desirable realities. You tap into the creative force that is you. Acting out those simple things that you’re pleased with when reflecting on them afterwards. A practical application of this is physically doing something after you have those moments of energy and inspiration that make you feel on top of the world. In that moment it all seems clear and uncomplicated, and that’s the time to act. Don’t wonder what will come from it, just follow it, step back and see what happens. Chances are you’ll be amazed. Things start to go from bad to good, good to better, adding from better to best implies limitation, as there is always better than any best

When you do everything better, well, things just, erm, get better. These apply to the simplest most mundane matters. Make a better sandwich, put some love into it. Write neater, learn new words, treat people nicer. Two very familiar phrases come to mind: “do the small things well and the big things will sort itself out” and “you get what you give”

So don’t mess about with resolutions. You made them because you want to achieve something specific, so get going already. And if you haven’t made any, give these two goodies a go. Oh wait, there’s one more Change the name of that thing from “to do list” to “goals to score list.” it sounds so much better and it feels better when you tick something off it, or when you score, so to speak.

I stumbled upon these thoughts when December 2011 turned out to be one that reaped results I never expected after only doing real work on my 2011 resolutions on “the Friday of the months”. Have a great 2012.

Life is the best sport

What is it about sport that evokes such emotion and reaction? Do we just love it for the entertainment it provides? Chances are there’s much more to it. Well there is for me. The great thing is I learned to love it first before “connecting the dots” as Mr Jobs would say. And some of my thoughts on the matter have been developed over time, to rest on the conclusions that follow below. And I’m sure over time there’ll be more conclusions. Having said that, mostly the thrills, spills, energy and passion suffices to sustain the intense affection that comes with idolising our sportsmen and women.

Apparently, sports professionals have learnt to use some of the technology that top companies use to analyse and subsequently enhance performance. Which is why I find it strange that the opposite hasn’t been done more, considering that it’s much cheaper to replicate the behaviour of top sport professionals, than it is for sports teams to replicate business behaviour?

Allow for some context, which I’ll refer to from one recent example.

Consider the extreme popularity of a particular sports team, known world wide, with a reputation that is soaked with winning, excellence, resilience, come backs, self renewal, courage, and integrity, even extreme pain, associated with the pain of death. They are not the only one of its kind, but their example is fresh and borders on my being biased a little as well.

A few days ago they’ve unexpectedly exited a competition which they are well accustomed to performing very well in. Now consider the consequences of such an exit, better known as an “upset”. They have millions of passionate supporters worldwide, some of whom have shed tears following this partially self inflicted exit. Millions in money terms will be lost due to this exit. Pride’s been pulverised, explanations were expressed. And who enjoys those infamous,” please explain” moments We all know about them. These are high stakes we’re talking about and saying the chips were down would be an understatement. Many will argue that this is but a game, but when contextualising it to this extent, you realise there is much more to consider. In the huge corporate kings out there, terms like, “return on investment” is used, where people are often reminded of the contributions required of them and that the business expects a return on any kind of investment made in their individual skill and talent. So when we say that “it’s just a game”, maybe it’s a little more than that, or allot more actually. These professionals are subject to the same pressure as the individual who nonchalantly declares him or herself as someone who “performs well under pressure” on the tools they use to sell themselves to the world.

So what do these guys do under the intense pressure described above, or how do they cope with the potentially waxing weight of expectation that “comes with the territory” of being a sports hero?

The sporting unit alluded to above follow a simple process. They diagnose the problem, apologise, commit to a response, and respond. First emotionally and mentally, by declaring that the catastrophe has to be put behind them and that they will move on to the next goal, which is simply the next game and not the next 20 or the past 300. Just the next ONE.

Secondly, on the training ground, where their activity has to be geared once more towards the next game only, I presume, which I am sure they apply for every game. I mean who trains to lose?

Thirdly, they have to take it from the training ground into performance, where, depending on their execution of what was practiced is put to the test to deliver a desired result.

As usual, I sometimes get lost in context and provide too much, but what can we practically learn from those who battle, sometimes perceivably on our behalves on a field or in a court, at the track or on a dart board? Let’s consider this for a moment.

We can:

Avoid getting caught up in the setbacks, the losses, the defeats
Focus on what we will do to create a better outcome in the next moment.
Free ourselves from the emotional obstacles that can come in the face of perceived failure.
Accept that we may get it wrong again in the future, even when the stakes are high and the odds are against us.
Diagnose the reasons for the attempt that perceivably went wayward
Prepare, practice and proactively approach the enhanced and revived plan, with activity geared towards a different, winning, excellent outcome
Achieve the desired results
Go about this, One.Moment.At.A.Time

And what are your possible next moments. Well, there could be hundreds, focusing on the present one and giving it your full attention would always take you to your next, which could be:

Your next project
Your next exam
Your next job
Your next bonus
Your next musical performance
Your next blogpost
Your next appointment
Your next carwash
Your next home
Your next (Fill in your next thing)
It could be anything. Literally

Check how the sports guys do it. Their jobs are fun on the surface, but it’s not for the fainthearted. For some reason people think it’s different when a highly paid sportsperson has sleepless nights

Life is for everyone, fainthearted or not. Why do we make it appear more complex?

What is your next moment? How are you going to nail it? Success awaits you. Go for it!

Follow me on twitter: @Fergs24

Own Your Space

In some way I always knew that this would be the content of my first blog post. It’s taken a while but the story still provokes the same thoughts that it did when the moment occurred.

It was 23 December 2010 and I’d just stepped out of a grueling all day meeting in the CBD. The pleasure of heading homeward outweighed the tiresome time that preceded my journey. I still had quite a distance to stroll uphill to my car though as the privilege of a parking bay wasn’t present yet at that time in my career. The sun was blazing and the walk was daunting, as you could expect at 6pm+ on a summers day. Nonetheless, the encounter ahead of me was well worth it.

As I approached my car, which in material value is minimal, a lady fairly advanced in her age jumped off her seat just opposite where I was parking. There were no other cars in sight, presumably given that this time of day in the CBD at Christmas time usually sparks the advent of a cocktail or two. The seat she jumped off was an old brick. She looked scruffy, inebriated, tired, generally not really pleasant. Call me judgmental I guess. The reason she jumped off the seat was probably because she was equally happy to call it a day, just like I was. Although you wouldn’t think she was coming from work.

I was relieved that my car was in the same shape that I left it in. Here is why it was unharmed.

The lady spontaneously gave me some insight into her job, call it a start up maybe? She said the following. “Are you new here as I have not seen you here yet?” I said I haven’t had a car for a long time and generally I prefer using public transport to work so I’m not quite new in the area, I just don’t park here. She followed, “Well, you can always park here if you want, I’ll take good care of your car. I sit here until the last car leaves. This section over here (she showed me her imaginary demarcated zone of guardianship) is mine, when everyone has left I make my way to the shelter that isn’t too far away. You should be careful and avoid leaving your coins and any other items that are visible through your window, as that attracts the wrong people” Essentially she gave me an extensive run down of how intensely and passionately she performs this role of hers, which she doesn’t get much for except the odd tip. Anything that steps into “her area” she questions and deals with. Until. The last. Car! In summer, when she could be begging somewhere or even having a beverage. The cynical voice in my head said she was just after some pennies. But authenticity shows in people and she was a genuine one.

Why is this significant you may wonder?

Well, coming from a meeting where you hear the usual jargon of accountability and ownership and you get paid a decent salary to demonstrate those perceived qualities, this moment was really thought provoking. Anyone who owns their space like this lady did is probably destined for bigger things. The only reason she might still be there doing that is probably because she loves it so much or she is not quite aware of how rare her attitude is.

So her space is a few meters of tar and pavement, accompanied by some weeds maybe. What is mine, what’s yours. It could be your team, it could be your hobby, your fishing rod, It could be your relationship, your garden, your community. Own it, guard it as if it is all you have, and you’ll probably multiply it and get more. Make the occupants of your space feel as privileged as this old lady made me feel. I felt as though I could park there with my windows down. Ok not really, but you know what I mean

I discovered that her name is Roslyn and when I consider this principle of ownership, I think of it as the Roslyn effect. Will let you know if she still plies her voluntary trade over there and you can see for yourself.

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