Tag Archives: howto

Chop wood, carry water.

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Nice quote from Phil Jackson’s book, ‘Eleven Rings’ (beginning of chapter 19):

“Forget mistakes, forget failures, forget everything, except what you’re going to do now and do it.

Today is your lucky day.”

The mess our brains can make of getting through each day is real.

Competing interests, pressure from all sides, the desire to be perfect, all that nonsense.

If you can get into the ‘chop wood, carry water’ mindset, the noise in our brains quietens.

Find the focus in the next task you want to do and go do it. Then the next, over and over.

Sports books and metaphors from sport, or Buddhist philosophies for quieting a noisy mind, don’t sit well with everyone, but they can help you put the pieces together that work for you.

It’s about what you need to get through the day.

Fight back: learning simple skills to defend yourself

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Fighting. Throwing hands, not the mouthing off at people version. There’s a lot to be said for knowing some basic skills.

Last week, a 78 year old guy stopped me and Scott as we were training for a knife attack in the basement of our apartment block. He told us he knew his onions, and within a couple of minutes he was demonstrating his favourite side kick.

He knew what he was doing. He had an aura, some kind of inner confidence that made it clear he was ok defending himself. He was ready.

He’s got a blank stare, the kind guys in jail have, and that was all I had ever noticed before. But now I can see what’s happening behind those dead eyes. He’s staying calm, assessing the situation. He’s looking out for what’s coming next – maybe a fist, maybe not.

These skills are things you carry with you in the hope that you’ll never have to use them. I hope I never have to front up to someone, ready to go, in defence of myself, my wife, or anyone else under attack.

Things happen fast when tempers flare. Words are said. Things can escalate quickly. People right now are under a lot of stress, even here in a chilled out place like Sydney.

If someone attacked you, what would you do? How would you get away from an attacker, for example? If all hell breaks loose around you, what’s your first move?

A basic plan, even something as simple as a rapid knee to the groin and run away as fast as you can, can go a long way.

Take that up a notch and think about classes in all forms of self defence. Krav Maga, Jiu Jitsu, whatever. When that moment happens, you’ll be glad you made the choice to start learning. It’s never wasted effort.

Are you better today than yesterday?

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Jacaranda trees in blossom.

Use a simple metric such as the one in the title above to review your day.

Think in terms of what you did and give it a ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

No need for fancy spreadsheets or other tools for this. Not even a notebook. Do it in your head if that’s all you’ve got to work with.

But don’t avoid it. Making notes and tracking your progress every day will be useful.

Over time, you can add categories. Maybe you did a run which boosts your health but you didn’t read that chapter you committed to.

Taking action is what this is all about. It’s a simple and effective process when it’s done over time.

Yes or no, every day, over and over.

You’ll get a feel for what’s working, what’s a success or what might need to change.

Track things that mean the most to you and you won’t go too far wrong.

Your habits define you.

This is a strong one to build.

Be interesting

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You’re sat next to someone on a flight.

They ask good questions, listen to your answers carefully, and you build a great conversation together.

You find that you’ve got some shared interests. You get a good feeling while talking to them.

Has this ever happened to you?

They’re interested in other people. They allow them to talk, rather than feeling the need to share their own life story at the earliest opportunity.

They make you feel heard, understood.

When it’s their turn to speak, they’re open about their own experiences. They have stories to tell and they’re happy to tell them but they don’t drone on and on.

They keep the ball moving. The balance between listening and speaking is just right.

They’re the interesting ones.

It takes patience and practice to develop this skill, but it’s a valuable one.

Make an effort to be interesting and the investment will pay off over time.

The trick to laying those solid foundations for a big future

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Centennial Park, Sydney

The groundwork for a future focussed on achievement of any kind is built on one thing.

Discipline.

It’s about creating daily habits that develop into strengths over time.

The task is usually something that doesn’t come easy. That you have to work hard at.

Mine’s writing. No doubt about that at all.

For others it’s maybe reading. Or lifting weights. It can be anything.

What’s yours?

Make the most of your weekend

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Weekends are precious. They are the time to relax, recharge and have some fun. But they can also be the time to get things done and learn some new skills.

How can you have a productive weekend without feeling overwhelmed or stressed?

Here are some tips:

  • Plan ahead. Decide what you want to accomplish and prioritise your tasks. Write them down. Schedule them in your calendar.
  • Set boundaries. Limit your work-related activities and avoid distractions. Turn off your notifications, email and social media (ever tried the Freedom app?). Say no to anything that isn’t aligned with your goals.
  • Balance work and play. Don’t forget to enjoy yourself and do something that makes you happy. Reward yourself for completing your tasks. Even do some celebrating when you knock over a big task.
  • Reflect and review. At the end of the weekend, take some time to reflect on what you did, what you learned and what you can improve. Review your progress. Would you change anything to make it better?

Give these tips a try. New skills take some effort but the payoff is real.

Move the ball

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Each day, we all show up for work. The job is the constant, whether we like it or not.

Move the ball forwards. Even a small amount, just move the ball.

There are two balls here – mine and the one belonging to my employer. Whoever pays my cheques.

Each one needs that daily movement.

This is how you stay employed and employable. Both balls moving means you are learning. You are doing your job and devloping your skills.

Move each ball. Apply effort and time to it. It doesn’t fail as a long term strategy.

Break out of the pack

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Here are six ways you can increase your personal impact, no matter what you do.

They’re taken from a 2014 Tom Peters slide deck I printed and bound because it was so useful. I pick it up and walk through it periodically. Even time I open the pages, the words pop off the page. They never get old.

  • Outwork ’em
  • Outread ’em
  • Outlast ’em
  • Show up
  • Listen
  • Keep an open mind

I’ll also add another one – master politics. If you can understand how politics works and the role it plays in all aspects of our lives, you’ll have an advantage over the majority of people you work and play with.

Which one are you going to start working on first?

Tackle your problems head-on

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It takes guts to stand up to bad people. The same applies to problems of any kind.

The insecurity we feel when we realise what’s going on, the nerves about what will happen, begin to build. We go through every “what if…?” scenario at 100 mph.

Some people in this spot decide to hide away, playing in the shadows. It gives them a chance to cover their tracks, hoping this is enough to kill the scent.

But it never is.

You’ve gotta own up and face the problem head on. Your weaknesses are obvious to all at this point. Vulnerability here is the path to strength.

Be humble. Admit you’ve made a mistake if that’s the case. Admit you don’t know what to do. Ask for help and listen when the feedback arrives, no matter how tough that might be under the circumstances.

Get the job done. Then go find another one. Use the improvements from this episode to reach new levels.

Onwards, always to better things, with a chunk of learning about yourself in your pocket.

From tired to inspired: revive your energy levels

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I just checked out the caffeine in a pack of Berocca Boost. Wow, it’s wild. That 75mg shot will jack you up for a few hours, no doubt. But how can you imporve your energy levels and not have to resort to the artificial approach?

Sleep

Making sure you get enough is massive. Your body can go for days on end with no food and little water but take away sleep and you’ll stop functioning.

Get to bed at a smart hour, say 10pm, for a week. Keep your devices out of the bedroom so there’s no temptation to check them. Set a challenge to wake up at the same time every day for a week, aiming to make it stick. That’s a great start to forming good sleep habits.

Diet

Caffeine stays in your system for as much as eight hours. That cappuccino after dinner, or the piccolo to get you through the afternoon, makes it impossible for your sleep schedule to work.

Processed foods are a big negative factor, too. The hidden fats and sugars they contain make it harder for your body to digest them, using up additional energy. Hit the fruit and veg hard for a week. Maybe start the day with a smoothie. Your brain and body will feel the benefits instantly.

Screen time

Staring at screens increases stress levels and stops you from interacting with the world. It kills your efficiency stone dead. Can you cut it down?

Less focus on screens improves your sleep for starters, giving your better quality rest. If you can shut screens down for an hour before you get into bed, you’ll also decrease stimulation sources and naturally relax before you hit the sack.

I’m no doctor and this is generic advice. Please consult the pros if this is something you have big problems with. Your energy supplies are limited so do what you can to support yourself each day. A small change or two can go a long way.

Be ready for the call: get the skills you need to go places

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When the call to the big leagues arrives, you want to be at your best. Your skills in whatever you do for a living will get you to the top eventually. They can, however, also work against you if you’ve not got them primed and ready at all times.

Do you want to be more efficient than your colleagues? Are you struggling to stand out in your team and get ahead? By learning skills we all use every day to a proficiency level beyond the basic, it won’t be hard.

If you open Excel every three months, you’ll be rusty at best for the first few minutes. If you need a pivot table or some conditional formatting, you’ll be browsing YouTube for tips. The clock will be ticking. Stress will build.

Instead, do a bit of research. What are the top ten things you do everyday that you can improve at? Do you open PowerPoint occasionally but often need a deck in a hurry? Is simple business writing a big part of your job, proof reading and rewriting reports, or sending emails about emails?

Think about what you can work on that will increase your output speed or improve your overall skill level. (Business writing excellence, by the way, is a lost art, so if you make this your goal, you’ll be in high demand.)

We build muscles by training. The same rules apply here, too. Make a plan to practice often by using mini-projects (writing blog posts, maybe?) and having the apps you need open, or the tools close to hand, all the time. Sharpen that sword with regular effort. The benefits will compound over time.

When a project kicks off and the call goes out for a skillset that the team is lacking or doesn’t have in depth, you’ll be ready. Put your hand up and you’ll get the chance to shine. Your contribution will stand out. You’ll deliver at speed with little stress because you’re in control.

And next time the need arises, who’s name will be top of the list? You’ll be remembered for volunteering, for doing an excellent job, and for being efficient – a most-wanted skill when the pressure is on.

Take a few courses. Watch a few YouTube videos. The notes you make and that handful of shortcuts and practice presentations hiding on your hard drive could get you more than you bargained for.

Negativity spreads quickly and will take us all down

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I was chatting to someone at the office the other day. We got deep quickly on the topic of a mutual coworker – someone with a few issues in their life.

They are bleeding all over the rest of us with their sighs and “it’s all too hard…” comments about the job, leading to some poor performance. The slack created has to be picked up, of course, so no-one’s happy about it.

The chat goes downhill fast. It becomes a pile-on. Within minutes, we’ve gone way beyond anything uplifting or light and down into the murky waters.

By the end of it, we’re all stirred up. Our own productivity levels drop through the floor. The blame for this is clear, too – definitely nothing to do with us… we’re perfect!

But we are to blame.

The chat is gossip that takes us downhill faster than a black run. The decision to avoid the idle banter and stay focussed on the job sets those who get stuff done apart.

Step away. Do something else. Don’t take the bait. Stay in a positive frame of mind rather than taking the easy path and teeing off on someone who could be in real trouble.

It never ends well for those who love this kind of behaviour. The gossip kings and queens are not the ones to hang out with. Build a relationship with them, as with everyone at work, but don’t join them when the sourness takes over.

Rise above it. Be the one who leads the team in the right direction.

Don’t add fuel to the fire. Let it burn out.

Where change begins: a starter kit for real life transformation

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How do you build a life from a place where you think nothing will work?

There’s a starting point from which you can measure progress. An attitude shift and some changes to the way we use time are also required. If you stick with it, it’ll change your life. It revolves around the things we do in these three main areas and the time we spend on them:

  • Health and fitness
  • Money and income
  • Participation in society

We all sink time into things that take away from our lives rather than add to them. One of them is the time we spend on our phones or online. Using some of this time to build skills or habits in these areas is how you guarantee that your future will be better than your past.

Confidence grows. You’ll meet people. A way forwards will become clear. Goals will be set. Milestones achieved.

Gains are possible from a standing start. The first step is on you. It’s easy to avoid action, or add plans to a list. They’ll keep staring back at you but there won’t be any change. Action makes change happen. It’s gotta come from you.

It all begins with a simple plan. Small commitments lead to bigger commitments. Before you know it, you’ll have formed habits. People will notice your positivity. The dark clouds that were following you around will disappear.

But you’ve got to take that first step. Can you do it? 

If you need a hand, let me know.

Get things done using these steps

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1 – Hold your hand up and own whatever it is that you want to work on, fix or change.

2 – Make a simple plan with a start, a middle and an ending.

3 – Find people who can help you and form a team.

4 – Do the things you need to do and none of the things you don’t. Distractions will kill progress.

5 – Don’t stop until you’re finished.

Stop making noise

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I spend a lot of time every day looking at online content produced by businesses and professionals – it’s my job – and the majority of it is awful. 

Depending on what I’m researching or working on during any particular day, I’m lucky if I see more than a couple of posts that make me stop scrolling and click through for more. The majority is meaningless, purely promotional and lacks any true insight or depth. 

Stop making noise

You have to have a purpose when you post online. The content that cuts through drives us through emotion into action or solves a problem that we could do with fixing.

If you’ve won an award, I and many others don’t care. Awards are not an accurate reflection of the best businesses or individuals out there – the net has to be cast a lot wider than those who bothered to apply.

If you post a shot of you standing on a stage, tell me what you were saying that will change my life and then I’ll take notice. A photo of you speaking to a crowd adds credibility but tell us your ‘why’ – your reason for being on that stage. That’s more relevant to me and it might make me want to learn more about you.

Above all else, make the content about me, the reader. Show me what you do best. Show me the best of you. Open up. Be raw and honest. Tell me what I need to do and how that’s going to improve my work or life every day. 

Make it worth my while to stop scrolling or I’m gone. 

Realistic expectations are crucial

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The excitement that builds at the start of any new project can be infectious. The idea sparks something in our minds that opens up new possibilities and lines of research. We get into action.

As time goes by and we get down to work, the size of the task can become clearer than it did at the start of the process. And, at this point, it can pay to take a step back.

Are expectations and reality lined up?

Bite off more than you can chew and the outcome can end up being destructive for all involved. You miss deadlines, targets get further away, your mood changes as things get real and you start to beat yourself up for falling behind.

Is your ego taking you on this new journey? I wanted to run a marathon for my 48th birthday with three weeks training (dumb idea for anyone at any age) and, on reflection, I wanted to prove to my ego that I’ve still got it – and I clearly haven’t as one training run has left me on the sidelines for two weeks and counting. 

The reasons why you’re not getting things done to take you towards this new goal can be resistance. This is something we all face and it shows up when there is something real at stake, so, in some cases, this is a sign that we have to dig deeper. 

But once we weigh all this stuff up and set realistic expectations, the energy keeps flowing through us as we work towards the goal and the chances of success increase.

How to kickstart the process of generating great content ideas

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toddler-crying

“I just can’t do this. I haven’t got anything to say”.

I’ve heard this come out of many mouths when I’ve talked to them about social media. It can seem a very daunting task to put your thoughts out there, into the public sphere, and all of your fears about making mistakes and ‘looking bad’ do tend to rise to the surface. It’s a very common excuse, though – one of quite a few on this list but you’ll be pleased to know that it’s also very easy to overcome.

The value in using social tools as a business comes from demonstrating to readers/viewers that you know your stuff as the starting point. There is information in your head that you might think of as mundane and not of much interest to others, but this is the stuff that people will learn from and connect with. You’ve got to think about what kind of information will be useful to the reader, however dull it might seem to you. Whatever your trade or profession, there is information that you have in your head that might be hugely useful to others so think about how you can make this knowledge start to work for you.

Another angle that always reads well is your own personal experience. If you were to think back through the experiences that have defined your career and then document the path your career has taken through the years, you could come up with some interesting details. Think of the people who have had the biggest impression on your career and also the biggest changes in your sector through the years, plus how you and those around you have adapted. Try commenting on where you feel your industry is heading in line with the overall macroeconomic picture and the turbulent times we live in today – there is a lot of data available at places like this and this so think about how best you can turn this into useful information for your followers.

Once you’re delivering some good work and getting more comfortable with putting your thoughts online, it could then be interesting to start to ask for input from your readers and approach a few more controversial topics with an eye on encouraging some debate. Ask readers for their opinions and encourage comments to build some engagement, being sure to reply to all comments to let readers know you are listening. You don’t need to start any fires – they can be damaging and very, very tricky to put out when they get going – but think about hot topics in the press/media that have relevance to your subject area and decide on an angle to take that will polarise opinion and get the reactions you’re looking for.

If you’re still struggling after reading this far, give me a shout and i’ll see what I can do to help you.

 

 

Pushing through Mondays

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For a lot of people, Mondays can be tough. Back to jobs you don’t like, working on things you don’t care about after weekends spent having fun and spending time with friends or watching all of your favourite shows on tv.

This is all great and I’m fine with this if you are happy with your lot, but so many people simply are not happy. Their complaints about Monday and how bad life is for them show they are just not seeing what is going on around them.

Most people reading this are based in the western world and live in a modern economy where jobs and opportunity are plentiful. If you are not happy with your life on a Monday and live for Friday night when you can finish work for the weekend, something is very wrong. Make some changes and get yourself back on track – in the world we live in today, you can do ANYTHING and it’s simply all down to you.

Why are you not happy? Do you want more ‘things’ in your life? Fancy cars and clothes and a new, more impressive phone maybe? Do you know what happiness means to you in your life, even? Have you taken stock and sat down to actually work out what it means to you? I suggest you do, and fast.

If you do this, you will make sure that your life is a happy one and empty of regrets. You will be honest with yourself and spend as much time as you can doing the things that make you happy and make them the real focus of your life. You will work out what your strengths are and put the maximum effort you can on these things. Every day will be the same because you are happy with where your life is going and what you do on any day of the week will be driving you towards the biggest goals in your life. How happy will you be when you achieve these goals? Massively, of course!

Turn off your tv and get to work on the definition of your future happiness and then make a plan to deliver it through hard work and laser-like focus. Be honest with yourself and good things will happen. Back yourself and let other people complain about their weaknesses (and yours, too) as you focus entirely on your greatest assets, your strengths. Do this and Mondays will become another day where the opportunities you have in front of you become clearer and clearer. Same as every other day.

Picking the right tools and platforms for you and your business

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The pressure to start using social media to promote yourself and your goods and services is coming from all angles. If you aren’t posting pictures on Instagram, are you going to miss out? If you don’t have 10,000 Twitter followers, are you going to be less successful than other competitors who do? How do you decide which platforms and tools are best for you and which ones will give you the best results for your time and effort?

tools

The first thing to assess is where you live online for your personal profiles. If you are a happy Facebook user who is comfortable with the way that it works and you post a solid stream of updates there on a fairly regular basis, it might make sense for you to add a business page to Facebook and use it to build your business profile. If you have never used Twitter, don’t really understand how it works and find it hard to write short posts, jumping into Twitter for your business may not really make sense. Best to stay where you are comfortable while you are starting out and then try more things later when you are more confident.

Next, consider what kind of content you are going to be producing as this will have a big effect on the tools you use to deliver great results. If you’re an accountant, it’s unlikely that you will produce a lot of photos of your work and it is much more likely that you will be writing a lot of ‘how to’-type posts. In this case, jumping straight onto Instagram and creating a profile there may not be the wisest move to make and a WordPress blog supported by a Twitter account to enable sharing with your followers may make much more sense.

It would also pay huge dividends to look at your competitors and other key players in your sector and identify what is working really well for them. Using infographics to share highly factual and statistic-heavy chunks of information could mean that Instagram is worth a try but it might also be relevant to look at using infographics with lots of colour and images as one-off posts to give some variety to your written posts and draw in some new followers on a Facebook page. The competitor review is a key step in working out what is the best approach to take with the kind of people you are looking to engage with and will help you come up with a great plan. Results tend to be much stronger when you go to places where people are already engaged and then use similar tactics yourself than try to convert people to something new.

The key here is to avoid opening accounts on every platform in a rush to cover all bases and then use one account over all of the others and leave the rest to die a very slow and painful death. The other accounts will look very sad and empty when your customers or clients look you up online before deciding to do business with you and the impression you want to create is quite the opposite – regular, recent posts showcasing your products, knowledge, skills and services that encourage followers to learn more and start to engage with you and your brand.