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As you know (or if you didn't, you do now), I ride a big motorbike. It is a great deal of fun but I am the first to admit that it is not without its dangers! Yesterday, on the way to record a radio play (that's a whole other story) I was nearly run off the road!
To be honest, it happens quite a bit. But there is a secret to surviving it unscathed, maintain your awareness.
I was on three lane freeway, behind a big Ford doing 100km/h (60m/h) and I knew there was a large white car next to me and a car behind each of us but much further back. All of a sudden, the car next to me indicated and started to change lanes. Nothing gets the adrenaline pumping like a car merging into you! Knowing I had the space, I could brake solidly and drop back letting the driver occupy the space I was previously in without there being any accident. It was then that the driver noticed me and gave me a wave!!
Has something like that happened to you? Maybe not on the road, maybe it was at work or with a personal relationship. Something happened that you knew COULD happen but weren't sure if it would.
Again, the secret to minimising the negative impact is to maintain our awareness. If we are too focussed on the details, we miss opportunities or can get blindsided by crisis. Make sure that you keep an awareness of the bigger picture at all times.
What do you need to be aware of today?
What Motivates you?
Technically the short answer is "Pleasure" and "pain".
The truth is we are motivated about the idea of an event or thing or what we think will happen if we do or dont have/do a thing.
The issue is 80% of people are motivated by pain and only 20% by pleasure - yet pleasure is more sustainable!
Everyone is different. The key is to tap in to what motivates us as an individual and use that. So what keeps us going when we want to stop? what drives us when we can't help but move forward? What is the "Idea" or "Vision" we can't live without?
Mine is the idea of a business operating how I want it to, a family life that supports me and I can contribute to and to be the man I can be.
So again, what motivates you?
It's a SCORCHER here in Melbourne today. Forecast of 43C (110F) and at 10 am it is already 33C (91F).
Don't you hate it when things out of your control have a significant impact on your plans for the day? Whether it is the air-conditioner breaking down, staff not arriving on time because of train delays or people being affected by the weather, there are some things you just can't control!
Personally, I love the approach of "Expect the Best, but plan for the Worst." As soon as I knew it was going to be that hot, I planned to do detailed work in the morning and easy work in the afternoon. I get I will be impacted by the heat so I will plan for it. If for some reason my air-conditioner is strong enough and my energy levels remain high, I will do more detailed work but the plan supports a "worse" outcome.
What about your business and your life? Do you have contingency plans for when things go wrong? Do you know what to do when the unexpected happens?
Life and work become far less stressful when you "Expect the Best, but plan for the Worst!"
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Have you got your Plans for the year? Check out next weeks Get More from 2010 session the make your year the best ever!
For many of us this is the first working day of the new year, of the new decade, of the rest of our life.
Why not set up some great habits today that we can continue with each day?
Many will start this day with great vigour, others with fond memories of the holidays and others will be overwhelmed just by looking at their inbox!
How will you start this working day? More importantly, how will you end it?
If you can do nothing else, hold a positive attitude that will continue to serve you each day as you work through the new year and beyond.
Happy New Year, I hope it is an absolute cracker for you!
Enjoy!
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Want to ensure 2010 is a cracker for you?
Does your team need help to make sure they all make 2010 fantastic?
Need some resources to make sure your energy and focus continue through the year?
Check out Get More from 2010. (http://www.warwickmerry.com/gm2010) A three hour workshop full of tools, techniques and methods to help you and your team Get More from 2010.
Set yourself up for success and make 2010 happen for you!
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ATTENTION MELBOURNE RESIDENTS!
If you are after a bit of a laugh and in particular want to laugh at me, come down to Raw Comedy competition at the Evelyn Hotel, 351 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. Starts around 1pm.
I am in the first heat and trying to get to the next round. Should be fun and I would love to see you there!
It's my time of year. I mean, just look at my surname, Merry! How cool is that. I must confess, getting the Merry underlined on all of my Christmas cards was funny for the first couple of years, it has worn thin over the last 25 years or so! But I do love Christmas time - people are friendlier, everyone wishes everyone else the best and there is loads of gratitude around.
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah (Chanukah), Chinese New Year, Festivus (the festival for the rest of us), Chrisnukkah (sort of a Christmas, Hannukah combo meal deal) or just use Christmas as an excuse to get together with family and friends to spread joy and love, it is a time of year for reflection. Now I don't just mean reflecting your face in the wrapping paper of the gifts!!! I mean reflection of the year that has passed and the year ahead. Reflecting on what is truly important in your life. Reflecting on how you will grow for the coming year.
But wouldn't be the festive season without present though!! So here is my present to you. Click this link to access it. The Regular Results Review is a simple two page sheet that will give you the opportunity to celebrate your achievements for 2009 and look forward to 2010. Enjoy with my best wishes.
BUT
If you want more.
If a Regular Review is not enough and you truly want to make 2010 one of your best years, then you need the Get More from 2010 package. Visit www.warwickmerry.com/get-more-from-2010.html to find out all of the details. Simply put it is a 3 hour session with additional resources to ensure you Get More from 2010. Only a limited number of people will be accepted to make sure it is a focussed session. I would love for you to be there.
Regardless of whether you are there or not, have a fantastic festive season and a magic 2010. I look forward to being part of your team in the New Year!
Merry Christmas!
Warwick Merry
Wifey and I had a delightful extravagant meal of fish and chips on the beach during the week. I am sure you don't care but I saw something that made me think.
A young woman took her dog to the beach for a walk and a play. As she got to the beach I noticed she was on the mobile.
The dog was running back and forth, sooooo excited to be at the beach, but she was on the mobile.
Running into the waves, the dog splashed and then ran back to its owner to share the excitement, but she was on the mobile.
She gave a token toss of a ball and the dog was off like a rocket, chasing and enjoying the evening to bring the ball (it's own little gift of love) back to the woman, but she was on the mobile.
Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever been like the dog? Maybe you were speaking to your manager or boss and they were on the phone or simply distracted and not listening. Maybe you were recounting your day to your loved one and they were not listening but simply waiting to tell you about theirs.
It doesn't feel good does it?
Have you ever been like the woman, that is been physically there but not actually present? Maybe your kids were playing but you were just instructing rather than down on the floor on your hands and knees playing FULL ON! Maybe your team were telling you about some of their issues and you listened in a token manner but didn't hear what was truly happening for them. Maybe your partner wanted to engage with you on a fun activity and you were just playing on the surface.
How do you think your kids, your team and your partner felt?
How much better would the dog have felt if the young woman left the phone at home and played FULL ON with the dog? Was really present for the dog? Also, how much better would the woman have felt if she truly connected with the dog and played FULL ON?
If you are going to do something (whether you want to do it or not), I believe you should do it FULL ON. Not just because it is better for others but also because you will enjoy it more and Get More out of it.
Next time, play with the Dog!
Enjoy!
I was speaking to a group last week about Spiderman. Yes, I know - it is not very "businessy" but it is very relevant.
Spiderman's uncle told him that "With great power comes great responsibility".
I believe that the opposite also holds true. That is, "With great responsibility comes great power".
Too often I see people dodging responsibility in an organisation. These same people are also complaining that "they can't change anything". I implore you to take responsibility, it really isn't that bad. Once you take responsibility for a change you wish to see or a situation you wish to change, you will find that you have power over that situation. You also have power over your own attitude about that situation.
Where do you need to take responsibility?
