Category Archives: Random

Fear of the blank page

The calendar notifications dings and it’s time to write that post I’ve been putting off. I’ve had it on my mind for a few days but now the blank page is staring me in the face.

I’ve got a vague idea for the post but nothing is coming easily. What else can I do instead? Put the kettle on, check my emails (again) perhaps? Fill up my water bottle (again)… Nope, this time, I’ve gotta get it done.

Then the self-sabotage starts.

Why’s anyone going to want to read this?
It’s sooo much work for sooo little reward.
My writing is terrible compared to (add the name of any writer who’s ever put pen to paper in the history of time).
Writing is hard.
Who did I need to call urgently today?
I can’t get the idea out of my head and onto the page.
It’s making me feel so uncomfortable, I’m just going to put the kettle on…

I finally get back to the desk and things start to take shape. The idea for the post works itself out in my head and then onto the page and I crank out about 150 words..

I do a couple of re-reads, make the odd change and I can see there is still a bit more needed to close the thing off. Isn’t there some washing up to do? (I never wash up). I’ve gotta pay that bill today or else…

And then, with precisely 90 more seconds of focussed effort, the job is done and the weight is lifted…

Until the next time.

I’ve managed to get my thoughts onto the page in my own style and taken another step on the path to making writing a more pleasurable habit.

Words are the glue that holds communication together and the way we use words matters. I’m learning this at a late stage in life but I’m glad it’s finally sinking in.

It also gets easier the more often you do it. I’m writing every day now and a habit has formed. I had a day last week when I missed my daily slot and I didn’t like the way it felt.

I’m stockpiling new ideas for topics and beginning to find inspiration in weird places. I take a lot of notes but the number has increased and the fear of the blank page is getting smaller all the time.

And the bottom line? It’s a marathon, not a sprint, but I’m glad to be in the race.

The New Reality

A conversation yesterday gave me a nice frame of reference for our current situation. We move from a crisis (stage 1), to recovery (2) and then a new reality (3).

Crisis has two parts – the twilight zone and then a new dawn. We are definitely in a new dawn phase now as things are changing in so many ways (mass communication, working from home, lockdown, etc) and the whole world is adapting to what we all face in the form of the pandemic.

What’s your new reality going to be? This is something I will be thinking about over the next few days and weeks. What’s the new dawn telling you about how you operate and how this change is affecting your life?

When we hit the recover phase it will be interesting to see what becomes the norm. I think we’ll all react like it’s the end of a war and we are all allowed to come out of hiding again! But working from home is definitely a step in the right direction for modern workforces (all of our team work from home).

But, for now, it’s back to the twilight zone…

Learnings from the last couple of years

A long time has gone by since I last wrote here, and a few things in life have changed, so here we are…

We are living in Australia as permanent residents and we are striving to build a solid foundation for ourselves. My business is growing and there are now three of us in the team, and as I continue to drive this business growth I’ve had a few things in the back of my mind, helping with the steering.

I’ll share them below in no particular order. Some are attributed to a couple the people that I read and follow for guidance and inspiration, but not all:

The more genuine your interest in other people, the more people trust you.
The better you are at listening, the more people want to spend time with you.
Be precise in what you say (Jordan Peterson).
Be very careful what you wish for as it will come to you in time.
Remember people’s names if you can and use them.
Let others save face. Don’t drop them off the cliff unless you have no choice.
Be somebody by doing something.
Become an expert and work harder at this than anything else in your life.
Our minds control everything we do.
Our attitudes will always define our results and outcomes in life.
Do things that are hard, often.
Save money and build a stack before making investments.
Think like the seasons (from Jim Rohn) – be ready for them, plant seeds and work hard to grow them.
Stay cool and shut up.
Struggle teaches us who we really are. Accept the struggle that is life.
Improve what you’re not happy with. Obsess on the things you have to improve.
The easy option = bad results.
Honesty is the way to progress.
Get people on payroll doing things they are great at and that you can’t do.
Negativity will bring you down in the end. It repels all things.
Build self confidence through small daily actions done well to then rise above your circumstances and achieve more.
If you think you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re likely to be the opposite.
Massive action taken towards a goal gets results.
Patience, passivity and caution are killers for anyone entrepreneurial.
Find your why. It will drive you through bad times and keep you focused.
Know the way broadly and achieve in many things (Musashi).

Celebrate your successes in 2016

Before we get stuck into 2017 and all the joys of January and the start of a fresh year, it’s important to take some time to reflect on the year that has just passed and the things that we have achieved.

Celebrating the victories, large and small, is a must. We don’t do this enough in my opinion and it helps to motivate us to deliver on the next big thing in front of us. Don’t dwell for too long but pay attention to what was tough and what challenges you overcame to get the job done.

This year for me has been a big one – a change of work focus, a move to a new country, completion of some really great project work for clients in four countries and a couple more medals for running events that I didn’t think I’d be able to do when I ruined my knee in 2012. I also completed the longest bike tour I’ve ever attempted, up and down some of the hills of South Wales, so it’s been another good one on all fronts.

Just typing this out brings home to me the positivity around getting things done and making things happen, so why don’t you give it a try? And once it’s done, start your 2017 planning with some confidence that you can (and will) deliver again in the New Year.

The importance of building and maintaining strong relationships

We all make connections throughout our lives from a variety of different places. Some will remain strong no matter what is thrown at them, with others being much more professionally focussed, formal and subject to change at very short notice. The one thing that I know from a few years of experience is that developing lasting relationships in any sphere is a valuable asset and the effort that it takes to stay in touch with people and maintain contact is well worth it in the long run.

Work at it – pick up the phone and say hi to someone who has been off your radar for a while. Make a lunch appointment and switch your phone off and do some active listening and you could be surprised at what you find out. Make it a priority in the long and short term.

“What’s in it for me?” can be the thought that crosses your mind. “How can I get a return on this investment of my valuable time?” is another one that is hard to ignore, too. Well, the reality is that it’s just not possible to quantify the immediate tangible benefits of getting to know people better as a line in a spreadsheet, but the payback comes in time. A strong network can always be helpful and supportive friends who feel valued by you can make a huge difference in times of strife. Getting to know your colleagues better can also bear fruit in time and so make an effort when and where you can. It really is worth it.

Where panic finds its roots…

Natural positivity blocked by pessimism x fear = panic

(Source unknown)

Happy Friday from a very sunny and beautiful Sydney!

New sources of info and best practice

I’ve been doing a lot of research while I’m looking at the job market over the last couple of months and have had some good days – lots of new sources of information, leads into other new content, new authors to follow, etc. – and some very poor ones – the same old content from the same old sources, repackaged and refreshed for the latest round of posting.

Yesterday was a very good one. I revisited a few old haunts online and checked out a couple of industry-specific writers who I had overlooked when I was thinking about recruitment in months and years gone by. And there was some real gold in there.

I had shut down the part of my brain that was in research mode for a while, taking time not to go too deep into any area to see what I felt like on a lot of much broader topics that have always interested me but I have not had the time or inclination to follow up on. But I have switched back now to focussing on a small number of topics and getting to know as much about them as I can.

And it does pay off. Getting familiar and bang up-to-date on topics in a narrow sphere does feel more comfortable to me. And there does seem to be a repayment in coming across new ideas, writers, etc. when you narrow your focus that you might not spot if just skimming content. The cutting edge stuff will always be a bit harder to find and that is how it should be, but I am going to sick to this process and see where it leads.

Thought for today

“Whatever we focus on becomes our reality.”

I have no idea where this came from but it was in some of my old notes I came across just now. It makes perfect sense and is crucial to anyone wanting to be positive, move forward in their life and improve. Work hard to focus your mind on good things and they will come.

Preparation and why it matters

I had to take some tests yesterday. Nothing to be concerned about (until I find out how I did, of course) and related to employment but the process I undertook highlighted how easy it is to become very anxious if you are not prepared.

The tests were psychometrics on verbal, numerical and logical reasoning and not something that I have ever had to do before in a formal setting, i.e. going for a job. I have administered tests in the past and provided practice tests to students whilst working at a university a long time back, but doing them for myself was tough.

Thankfully there was an option for practice and also a lot of information on how to approach and take these tests online, so I spent as much time as I had – not a great deal – attempting a few of these practice tests and getting to grips with the question types, the ‘race against time’ that these tests are, plus trying to ensure I was as prepared as possible.

The testing process is very important in hiring decisions and has been used with great success for many years, predominantly as a support to the deeper process of interviewing and assessing competencies of candidates. If I had been presented with these tests yesterday, say, just following an interview and with no time to practice, I would have been in real trouble and it rammed home to me how important it is to be as prepared as you can be for the things that we get thrown at us in our lives.

I did not think at this stage in my career that I would be asked to do a raft of psychometric tests but the fact that I did has shown how crucial it is to never get complacent or think that you have all the bases covered. Be prepared for ANYTHING that can come at you. Take some time to step back and look at the bigger picture. Think about what’s on the table in any particular instance. What am I going to need to do in order to get over the line and make a success of this?

Daily nudge

1 Reply

I have a daily email that has been coming to me for years now and it contains the following few words, adapted from a Tom Peters article on how to stay positive and keep moving forwards when things get tough in times of recession or unemployment:

Choose your attitude – consciously positive and enthusiastic
Take the lead
Listen intently
Learn something new
Help someone
Arrive early/leave late
Eye contact

I use a service called Nudgemail to get the message sent to my inbox every day and it has been a great way to keep this handy list front of mind when things don’t always go to plan. Can highly recommend doing the same thing with your own few words or phrases that keep you on track.

Growth through change

It’s been a few weeks since I have written anything here because it’s been a time of big change. I’m now writing this from Sydney, Australia after moving here one week ago and the lead up to this change has been very hectic. House rented, belongings packed, plane tickets bought and accommodation secured does make it all sound very simple but I can assure you it isn’t!

Anyway, this time of change is also a big opportunity for growth in many ways. A new country – well, I was here 20 years ago and it has changed a lot since then – that is so far from the culture, weather and lifestyle that we had when in the UK will take some getting used to but that is part of its attraction.

I’m looking at getting back into employment so doing lots of research and adapting my mindset to being part of team again, even leading one if the opportunity presents itself. I’ve also got some time to think about doing some fresh learning in a new area and I haven’t drawn any conclusions from this yet.

Basically, every option is still open and this time of change is going to give some amazing opportunities for growth that will be fabulous as time goes by. There’s a lot to be very grateful for.

As a sidenote – current reading:
Chaos Monkeys – inside the Silicon Valley money machine, Antonio Garcia Martinez
The Inner Game of Golf – W. Timothy Gallwey
Homicide, David Simon

Race schedule for running:
Bay Run 7km this Sunday
City2Surf (CBD to Bondi Beach) on 14 August
Western Sydney half marathon on 1 October

Doing the hard things

Some things in life are just really hard.

Sometimes decisions have to be made that do not feel good and can cause a great deal of stress and strain for all those involved. These decisions can also have far-reaching implications and can change the whole course of your life and those you love and care for.

They might be decisions around work and careers. They might be decisions about where you live, who your friends are or how close to your friends you will be. They might also be around money, such as making a decision to make a life-changing purchase or commit to buying a property or a similarly huge spend.

Whatever the predicament that you find yourself in, you just have to do something about moving forwards from it and getting away from the darkness of the place you feel today. However bad today feels for you, whatever it is that you have to decide or deliver upon, you must remember a couple of things:

The sun will come up tomorrow, whatever decision you make today
There are many, many people in the world who have a lot more to deal with every day than you do and some reflection on this will do much more good than harm
The sooner you take some kind of positive action, however difficult it may seem, the sooner you can move on with your new plan and begin to execute it. Execution is what it’s all about.

Be ready for the call

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With a bit of luck in your life, at some point in time you will get the call to the big leagues. And when that call comes, you need to be ready for it.

The work will be hard and it will feel like it is never going to be done but it will be the thing that makes you. When this kind of lucky break appears you have got to do something with it and, if you have discipline and focus, you will be prepared.

Manage yourself the right way through preparation and repetition of lots of things in your life, such as your health and diet, getting enough exercise and sleep, etc. and you will be able to take full advantage of the opportunity.

Repeat the simple things to the point that they become automatic and the call will not be a surprise – you’ll be ready and waiting.

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[If you need any help with your resume/CV, please check out my other site https://realjobsearchinsider.wordpress.com/]

Sunday nights

I usually feel good on a Sunday night. Another week is ahead of us, bringing more of the challenges and opportunities that keep us moving forwards.

For many, Sunday night is not the best time. It can be filled with dread.

Sunday night brings everything that you walked away from on Friday back to the front of your brain.

The effects of this can be harmful – lack of sleep, more arguments with your partner than normal, frustration at the situation you feel you are in, etc.

Some changes to the way you see your situation can help you to see things a little differently. If you’ve got a job, that’s a positive straight out of the gate.

Get to bed and turn that screen off, but before that, make a plan for the week ahead so you know what’s coming, what you’re committed to.

Say a prayer to whoever’s watching over us, guiding the steps we take, whoever you believe it is up (or down) there.

And get some rest. Everything’s better with a good night’s sleep.

Get up, rested, and get to work.

It’s what we all have to do. Why should you be any different?

Friends and thank you’s

I’ve been away for a few days after getting married at the end of June. Katherine and I had a wonderful time and every part of our journey – from the night before, meeting up with our friends and family at the venue to coming back home yesterday from our trip – has been amazing and a great start to married life. The time away also cleared our heads after a very busy few months and reminded us of a couple of things that are really important, especially to me, and worth sharing.

We have a very good group of friends and it was so good to celebrate with them all. We both have very busy jobs and also live quite a distance from a lot of our friends and this can be difficult as we would like to be able to see everyone more often and spend more time with them than we do – Facebook can only keep you connected to a degree, of course. The importance of making an effort with your friends – staying in contact, keeping in touch, reaching out in both good times and bad and generally being a good friend – was made very clear at our wedding. I had some great conversations with mates of mine I don’t see all that often but it was like I had only seen them the day before. Being a good friend means a great deal and it is something that takes a lot of effort but it is all worth it.

Being thankful is also something that can be neglected by those with busy lives. Taking some time to say thank you to anyone who helps you or goes out of their way to make your day go a little bit better for any reason is worth acknowledgement. A wedding is a time when you have everyone important in your life together and we got the chance to say thank you to all of our friends and family for everything they do for us, but even if you’re not getting married any time soon, be sure to show your appreciation of those who help you. It can go a very long way.

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Ian Mountford is a Strategy Coach providing motivation and guidance to entrepreneurs, wannabe or fully-fledged. He draws from his own experience of building businesses from the ground up and spending many years helping clients to consistently achieve their goals and aspirations. Ian works with clients face-to-face and internationally.

21st century capitalism producing 19th century working conditions?

Read an article in the last couple of days by Stanley Bing (Fortune Magazine, US edition – December 2014) where the topic above is discussed. The comparison between the centuries is made to suggest that working conditions we are now being sold as new, cool developments – open plan offices, no job security, super rich bosses, etc – are really a reincarnation of the way things were back in the days of Dickens. It’s quite a topic and one that is hard to argue against. There is a big income disparity in the workforce and it’s growing all the time. Freelancing as a way of life is one thing, but zero hours contracts and the like are quite another. And open plan offices really are a modern day version of the factory floor – gossip flowing free and fast, constant visibility and the daily exodus as the clock strikes 530pm. One definitely to ponder, and one I’m going to be discussing as I talk to the Digital Leaders North West Salon in Manchester in the middle of this month. Looking forward to hearing their thoughts.

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Ian Mountford is a Strategy Coach providing motivation and guidance to entrepreneurs, wannabe or fully-fledged. He draws from his own experience of building businesses from the ground up and spending many years helping clients to consistently achieve their goals and aspirations. Ian works with clients face-to-face and internationally.

Banks are really bad at customer service

I had to change my address at four high street banks yesterday as I’m moving house this week. I used to work in customer service on desks in the banking hall of branches so I know what it’s all about and I can tell you that a lot has changed since I left in the mid 90’s.

The first thing that struck me was that not one of the banks asked me to show any proof of ID. I had to use my PIN from my bankcard in one of the branches but no other ID, such as a passport, was required anywhere. I also had to fill in a form that I realised I had filled in wrong, so I highlighted this to the chap on the desk and he read it quickly and said, “ah, this’ll be ok, don’t worry about it”.

Another branch asked me to redo my signature three times as they said that none of them matched. I do have a signature that can vary a little but it isn’t ever that different and I couldn’t see the need to do it three times – each one was almost identical in this case and I asked to be shown where the differences where. The response? A very blank and troubled look from the lady behind the desk, as if I had asked her to lend me £50 from her purse.

I also had an old, now expired, credit card for a bank that has never been used and I asked the clerk at the bank in question to let me know if this account was still open. I was told that the bank had closed the account as it hadn’t been used. I had not been given any advice of this and asked why this was the case but was told that it was “the standard procedure”. Hmmm.

I think banks have really lost their way when dealing with customers and this experience yesterday reinforced that fact. I do a lot of banking online now and so the point of engagement with a face in a branch is an opportunity for them to impress me and make me want to use more of their services. Sadly, it does the very opposite. We really are just numbers to them and the way they treat us as customers does little to enhance their very poor overall reputation. A little bit of effort from them would go a very, very long way.

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Ian Mountford is a Strategy Coach providing motivation and guidance to entrepreneurs, wannabe or fully-fledged. He draws from his own experience of building businesses from the ground up and spending many years helping clients to consistently achieve their goals and aspirations. Ian works with clients face-to-face and internationally.