Archive for the ‘Change’ Category
“No, it has to be three weeks” I compromised with my husband as he expressed his wishes to drive across Europe to Germany, then down to southern France and back to Ireland, covering 4500km in 2 weeks. To my horror, he was actually calling this a holiday!
So we settled on 3 weeks and one day, including the ferry trips. The Germany part was attending a birthday party, but the Southern France part was for more obvious reasons – sun, sights and food (ok, maybe the wine too).
I was so looking forward to warming up my bones after a disastrous winter here in Ireland. Our garden was still reeling from the adverse weather conditions earlier in the year. We packed our bathing suits, sunscreen, blankets for sunbathing, and summer clothes. Getting off the Oscar Wilde in Roscoff and feeling the warm sunshine on our faces, we were just about ready for a good break, a good rest, great food, and plenty of sight-seeing.
Our first week involved a lot of driving. In fact, the majority of the overall journey was done in the first 2 days. Arriving into the Alsace area of France from Germany, we were ready for the famous “Massif Central”, an area well known for Read the rest of this entry »
Friday, April 30th 2010. I was in the mid-sentence with a client during a coaching session when a waiter came up to us to collect our empty glasses. He informed us that Gerry Ryan, the much-loved Irish radio broadcaster, had died. He then continued with his hypothesis, when I had to say “Thank you for telling us”. He promptly left us alone again. It brought back memories of Michael Jackson’s death, Lady Diana and Rory Gallagher.
Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing. Do you remember where you were and what you were doing when the Omagh bomb blew the street apart on 23 June 1985? Or Lockerbie on 21 December 1988? What about when the Air India flight blew up over Ireland on 23 June 1985?
Gerry Ryan will be buried today after 11.30 Mass as the country continues to mourn. This day will be etched in many people’s memory and some will struggle to remember.
I was just admiring my garden yesterday morning while having an espresso. I was noticing the devastation that challenged me for the “Big clean up” after the adverse weather conditions we had experienced over the past 6 weeks. A blackbird caught my eye – he was busily upturning leaves, looking for breakfast.
“Ah”, I thought, “things are back to normal.” The air is calm, the garden is green, and the temperature reads a satisfying 9o. Read the rest of this entry »
So we have had a tough 2009 all round. Some more than others, and those of you who have been concentrating on your health will know how difficult it can be to keep the momentum going.
Someone said to me recently: “I saw a new car the other day and it had “Zero Ten” on the registration plate” She then realised her mistake (one zero) and claimed it was difficult to pinpoint a name for the year.
So what do we need to consider when we embark on the New Year ahead? Firstly, we need to decide what we are going to call the year:- Two thousand and Ten? Or Twenty Ten? It’s important to have this clear in your mind, so you can plan ahead and the name of the year remains consistent. The problem with not deciding on a definitive name for yourself, is it conjures up uncertainty, and that is the last thing we need coming into a new year with a new routine and new ideas. Consistency!
The first thing we can do to get us on the right track is Read the rest of this entry »
The former Vice Chairman of Coca-Cola Brian G. Dyson wrote this. It was used as Georgia Tech’s Commencement Address in 2008. I share it with you today because it is perfectly appropriate for us heading into 2010 (Twenty ten or Two thousand and ten?)
“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them Work – Family – Health – Friends – Spirit, and you’re keeping all of these in the air.
You will soon understand that WORK is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – FAMILY, HEALTH, FRIENDS and SPIRIT are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life. How?
- Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.
- Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know Read the rest of this entry »
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my clients, readers and supporters a very happy Christmas and the very best of wishes for the next decade, but especially for the year 2010 ahead.
It has been a year of change and diversity for me, and like all good things, we can embrace the tough times and use them to either work on our business, or take some time out to spend with the things that were put on the back burner for the past few years.
Some of my personal and professional positive experiences this year were: Read the rest of this entry »
Top Tips for Fitness Success
The road to fitness success holds many rewards, and as many roadblocks. So when we begin a fitness program, we are full of energy, drive, motivation and dreams of our “fitter self”. We have a vision of how much more toned/muscular and slim we will look. We go out and buy the proper gear and accessories, to look the part but more important BE the part. We are full of enthusiasm as we write the cheque and sign up for a year memebership to our local gym.
We steam ahead day after day, week after week, and suddenly after a certain time, realise we don’t really look any better; don’t really feel any fitter. We are plagued with self-doubt. We question our motives and reprimand ourselves for even thinking it was possible.
Now STOP!
This is the beginning of the road to failure. Read the rest of this entry »
Imagine never having an argument. Imagine never having to defend yourself. Imagine never hearing gossip about another person. Imagine a world where everyone speaks the truth. Imagine everyone did the best they could. Do we live in that kind of world? Have you ever wondered why? So let’s play a game to find out where you come in on all this.
Answer the following questions quickly and honestly and write down your answers – no-one else is looking at you now so be completely honest with yourself:
I was sending a text to a friend the other day and I used the words above. What did I mean about them? Simply, that you are the most important person in the world to YOU!
Your work is important. Your business is important. What you do in the future is important.
Our economy has been struggling for a while. Jobs have been lost. Our country is suffering from the effects of bad spending, plundering of resources and rash decisions. SMEs have been left aside and are being targeted and ignored at the same time. Targeted for any shred of tax or levies they may owe, and ignored as the future of Ireland’s economy. The big Corporates are baling out month on month. The States and semi-States are under huge strain. The way out is clearly through small business. They will lead the way for future growth and job creation. They will rebuild this economy. One business at a time. Read the rest of this entry »
“If you believe you can or cannot do something, you are probably right” – Henry Ford
All change is stressful: whether positive change such as moving house, getting married, starting a new job or having a baby, or negative such as experiencing a bereavement, being made redundant or getting divorced. This is because change, whether positive or negative, involves uncertainty and altering your routine.
Where there is life, there is change. We change through action, learning, and commitment. Transitions are periods of risk and possibility. They are a period of danger and opportunity. The danger is that we will be unable to cope with the transition and will be scarred by the experience. The opportunity is Read the rest of this entry »