The date of my workshop (see three items earlier than this one) in Sydney has been put back one day to Thursday 4 March. For people in Sydney this is a wonderful opportunity to do what some of my clients call a "lifestyle reality check". In other words it's a great opportunity to simply drop out for half a day and enjoy doing a self-check lifestyle audit under enjoyably relaxing structured conditions.
For more details go to http://www.workleisure.com/Workshop.html
I am also researching the idea of offering the workshop online. If this interests you, let me know at peter@workleisure.com (no obligation).
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Enjoy Doing Nothing
We all look forward to doing nothing over the coming holidays. Lazing around and taking it easy will soon be all the go. It’s the time of year when we respect, value and enjoy doing nothing, to refresh and refuel our mental energy.
Why then does ‘doing nothing’ get such bad press for the rest of the year? – “time-wasting, irresponsible, slacking off, non-achieving and counter-productive”? If a car was refueled once a year, it would be
useless for most of the year. People’s mental energy needs are far more complex.
For most of us ‘doing nothing’ actually means doing something we love, simply because we enjoy it. You will have in mind all sorts of enjoyable interests to pursue during your holidays. Such interests are vital throughout the year if we want to sustain our mental energy.
Make sure you enjoy ‘doing nothing’ in the coming weeks. But remember, over the rest of the year you will always do something better if sometimes you do nothing.
Wishing you a mentally-relaxing holiday season and the sustained energy to thrive in 2010,
This message may be freely distributed through your network
Why then does ‘doing nothing’ get such bad press for the rest of the year? – “time-wasting, irresponsible, slacking off, non-achieving and counter-productive”? If a car was refueled once a year, it would be
useless for most of the year. People’s mental energy needs are far more complex.
For most of us ‘doing nothing’ actually means doing something we love, simply because we enjoy it. You will have in mind all sorts of enjoyable interests to pursue during your holidays. Such interests are vital throughout the year if we want to sustain our mental energy.
Make sure you enjoy ‘doing nothing’ in the coming weeks. But remember, over the rest of the year you will always do something better if sometimes you do nothing.
Wishing you a mentally-relaxing holiday season and the sustained energy to thrive in 2010,
This message may be freely distributed through your network
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Stress Statistics Occupational Health
I recently came across this article. If it interests you, go to my website page at http://www.workleisure.com/corporate/stressManagement.html to consider my approach to helping companies resolve this sort of issue.
The 2009/2010 Staying@Work report found that despite the recession, while many companies have not slashed employee health and productivity programs, they have not dealt specifically with those aforementioned stress factors. Here's a snapshot of employers who were surveyed.
The 2009/2010 Staying@Work report found that despite the recession, while many companies have not slashed employee health and productivity programs, they have not dealt specifically with those aforementioned stress factors. Here's a snapshot of employers who were surveyed.
- 78% of employers said excessive work hours was a leading stress monger, but just 21% say they are addressing it.
- 68% of employers cited lack of work/life bal
- 67% of employers said employees' fear of job loss lead to an uptick in stress, but only 41% of employers say they are taking steps to deal with that concern.
“Not only are stressed workers less productive, they are also likely to incur higher health costs for themselves and their employer,” said Helen Darling, president of the National Business Group on Health. “Companies most effective at mitigating the impact of stress are moving in the right direction — helping employees become more efficient while working to lower benefit costs and strengthen bal
A Closer Psychological Look
The American Psychological Association's newest 2009 Stress in America Survey found that while 7 in 10 Americans were suffering with stress due to money, 69% of respondents reported stress resulting from work. Riding into the holidays, that stress takes on a new high. "According to our survey three quarters of adults in this country already report moderate to high levels of stress," says psychologist Katherine Nordal, PhD, APA's executive director for professional practice. "The holiday season can bring with it additional emotional and fin
The Long Term Global Perspective
The same workplace stress story is echoed throughout the world. Nearly six in 10 workers in key global economies experienced a rise in workplace stress over the last two years, according to a global survey by Australian workplace consultant firm, The Regus Group. It's Regus Business Tracker survey 11,000 people in 13 countries about their workplace experience during the recession.
The most significant stress hike was reported in
Friday, December 4, 2009
Wrong Way! Go Forward
For many of us, our stress stems from having made work and life choices that now don’t suit
our constantly changing lives. You might see a sign along your life's road saying:
a different focus, one that allows the real you to follow your passions.
at my next -
9.00 am – 1.00 pm Wedneday 3 March 2010
North Sydney Leagues Club, 12 Abbott Street Cammeray NSW
Further information is available at http://www.workleisure.com/Workshop.html
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Enjoyment Is No Laughing Matter!
Enjoyment is no laughing matter!
I've been fighting the cause of leisure and enjoyment for over 30 years. We love to laugh and have fun but society sees it as a luxury that we don't have time to enjoy. The work ethic has a lot to answer for. Not because it dignifies work but because it puts leisure down. Four centuries ago, the 'protestant work ethic' decreed that idle hands were the work of the devil and that work was the honourable way to heaven. And today bosses still believe it! We might want work life balance but only if we keep work at the centre of life and fit fun in when and where we can.
So why is enjoyment important? Here's just a tip of the iceberg of the answers (and I will just deal with work-related reasons here):
I've been fighting the cause of leisure and enjoyment for over 30 years. We love to laugh and have fun but society sees it as a luxury that we don't have time to enjoy. The work ethic has a lot to answer for. Not because it dignifies work but because it puts leisure down. Four centuries ago, the 'protestant work ethic' decreed that idle hands were the work of the devil and that work was the honourable way to heaven. And today bosses still believe it! We might want work life balance but only if we keep work at the centre of life and fit fun in when and where we can.
So why is enjoyment important? Here's just a tip of the iceberg of the answers (and I will just deal with work-related reasons here):
- its the most natural form of stress management. When you lose yourself in an interest you love, your mind is transported away from problems and stress. Then add the following:
- it boosts self esteem, self confidence, self belief and our sense of self worth (which are often beaten down by work)
- it generates new emotional and mental energy to replace the energy we burn up at work. Without new energy we burn out.
- it energises the brain's capacity to process information
- it sparks commitment, enthusiasm, creativity, innovative thinking, lateral-thinking
- all this infects others around you
- it improves relationships, communication, and is a great form of conflict management.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Leisure and Diversional Therapy
I had a ball yesterday (Saturday 31 October 2009). I did a one hour presentation to the Horticultural Therapy Symposium here in Adelaide on the topic of "Linking Leisure and Wellbeing". It was one of the most satisfying speaking sessions I have done. The audience was so responsive that I soon threw away my notes and 'winged it'. Lots of enthusiastic thank you's afterwards and a goodly number of copies of my book, "Enjoy Being You" were eagerly snapped up.
While the symposium was run by the Hort Therapists, the audience (about 50) was a mix of professionals from a range of diversional therapies, occupational therapists and some physiotherapists.
My approach to leisure as a powerful means of personal growth and development is a key part of diversional therapy so they were very much in sympathy with my presentation. I simply added a new, deep and life-expanding approach to leisure. I like to think I put a lot of passion and pizzazz into my presentation too!
Anyone in those areas who want a speaker? I would love to oblige!
While the symposium was run by the Hort Therapists, the audience (about 50) was a mix of professionals from a range of diversional therapies, occupational therapists and some physiotherapists.
My approach to leisure as a powerful means of personal growth and development is a key part of diversional therapy so they were very much in sympathy with my presentation. I simply added a new, deep and life-expanding approach to leisure. I like to think I put a lot of passion and pizzazz into my presentation too!
Anyone in those areas who want a speaker? I would love to oblige!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Stress
It's probably trite to suggest that stress today is an outcome of the inability to withstand sustained excessive pressure and an accelerating rate of change. The ability to bounce back - after a day, a week, or longer diminishes. The focus on overcoming stress is being put into trying to eliminate the causes of stress - a pretty much impossible task. You no sooner get rid of one problem than another arises.
I believe the answer lies in accepting the fact that stress is likely to be always there, in one form or another. We need to find ways not just of coping with stress but being able to thrive and be proactive while under stress.
I further believe that we have a constant unlimited natural resource which we can tap into at any time to refresh, rejuvenate, revitalise and re-energise us at will. When you lose yourself in an interest you love, you find yourself - the real self. Each time you express your true self in an interest that you passionately enjoy (in an environment that is not otherwise stress-generating ie not during work), you generate new energy to replace the burnt energy. After all the term burnout means you have constantly burnt energy without replacing it. You cannot deficit budget time but you can deficit budget energy. A few minutes expressing a passionate interest for no other reason than the enjoyment it gives you can energise you for a much longer time than the time taken to enjoy your passion.
Just simply stopping doing whatever is stressing you isnt enough. It might give you a break but it doesn't create new energy. You need to get involved in something that is going to joyfully take your mind right away from your sources of stress for a while. Singing in a choir does it for me. I say that to demonstrate the point that it doesnt have to be a physical interest. It's a matter of the mind, body and spirit coming together in a state of flow.
If this line of argument appeals to you, go to my website at www.workleisure.com and check out the articles under the "My Views" section.
I believe the answer lies in accepting the fact that stress is likely to be always there, in one form or another. We need to find ways not just of coping with stress but being able to thrive and be proactive while under stress.
I further believe that we have a constant unlimited natural resource which we can tap into at any time to refresh, rejuvenate, revitalise and re-energise us at will. When you lose yourself in an interest you love, you find yourself - the real self. Each time you express your true self in an interest that you passionately enjoy (in an environment that is not otherwise stress-generating ie not during work), you generate new energy to replace the burnt energy. After all the term burnout means you have constantly burnt energy without replacing it. You cannot deficit budget time but you can deficit budget energy. A few minutes expressing a passionate interest for no other reason than the enjoyment it gives you can energise you for a much longer time than the time taken to enjoy your passion.
Just simply stopping doing whatever is stressing you isnt enough. It might give you a break but it doesn't create new energy. You need to get involved in something that is going to joyfully take your mind right away from your sources of stress for a while. Singing in a choir does it for me. I say that to demonstrate the point that it doesnt have to be a physical interest. It's a matter of the mind, body and spirit coming together in a state of flow.
If this line of argument appeals to you, go to my website at www.workleisure.com and check out the articles under the "My Views" section.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Top Management Articles
As of today three of my articles at www.bestmanagementarticles.com have passed the 1000 readers mark. The latest is "How to Manage Long-Term Workplace Stress". My most read article, How to Enjoy Work Life Harmony Rather than Work Life Balance, has so far attracted over 1221 readers and is close to reaching that site's list of Most Read Ever articles!. "How to Stop Losing Your Best People" has attracted 1069 readers. Overall my articles on the Best Management Articles site have attracted over 12000 readers - to date! To see for yourself, go to http://www.bestmanagementarticles.com/DisplayAuthor.aspx?Peter_Nicholls=&id=554
While it is stating the bleeding obvious to say management is all about people, it's a curious fact of business life that it's taken more than 400 years of living under the cloud of the work ethic that managers are at last taking an interest in articles that talk about people's lifestyles and the benefits that has on business productivity. The work ethic taught us productivity is only about what you do and who you are while at work. Anything else was not only a waste of time but even competed with work.
Welcome the new era that shows people are people 24/7. They dont suddenly turn into superman or wonder woman when they walk in the office door.
While it is stating the bleeding obvious to say management is all about people, it's a curious fact of business life that it's taken more than 400 years of living under the cloud of the work ethic that managers are at last taking an interest in articles that talk about people's lifestyles and the benefits that has on business productivity. The work ethic taught us productivity is only about what you do and who you are while at work. Anything else was not only a waste of time but even competed with work.
Welcome the new era that shows people are people 24/7. They dont suddenly turn into superman or wonder woman when they walk in the office door.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Compassion Pays - At Last!
I read the following comments by Susan Heron of AIM in the Weekend Australian of 22/23 August(Weekend Professional section)
- The downturn is having an effect on salaries…non-salary benefits have become the key battleground for employee recruitment and retention…
- The non-salary component of a person’s package or employment conditions becomes critical in the bid to attract and retain the best employees.
- We are finally getting closer to the day when employers see employees as more than ‘workplace resources’.
- Money always has been only one (albeit important) part of the employee’s quality of life deal.
- Ever since the industrial age, business has employed the whole person, not simply their role as ‘a workplace resource’.
- Work is only one part of our 24/7 day and of our stress.
- Personal life and personal goals have everything to do with job choices, work productivity and commitment to corporate goals.
- We carry all of our emotional baggage 24/7 affecting everything we do at work, home and even at play.
- Just like any other purchase, people ‘buy’ jobs to meet their own needs, and only secondarily to meet the corporate aims of the employer. The sales package has to serve a person’s 24/7 needs and lifetime goals.
I would suggest it’s time to change the expression ‘human resource management’ to one of ‘people investment management’.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
How to Keep a Healthy Bottom Line
I wrote another article the other day, "How to Keep a Healthy Bottom Line" and had it published on the Best Management Articles website. Overnight (literally) it got on to the Most Read Articles for the month of August. Last time I looked the number of readers was continuing to steadily grow. Go to http://www.bestmanagementarticles.com/MostRead.aspx to find it on the list. Check the "month of August" option.
To date, my various articles on that site have attracted well over 10 000 readers, not to mention a few thousand more on other Article Directory sites. Another article of mine, "How to Enjoy Work Life Harmony Rather than Work Life Balance" is now close to getting on the "All Time most read articles" listing on that site.
I get a tremendous feeling of personal satisfaction from knowing that my contribution to world thinking is getting to so many people across all countries of the world. There are times like this when you feel you know what you were put on this earth to do :) .
To date, my various articles on that site have attracted well over 10 000 readers, not to mention a few thousand more on other Article Directory sites. Another article of mine, "How to Enjoy Work Life Harmony Rather than Work Life Balance" is now close to getting on the "All Time most read articles" listing on that site.
I get a tremendous feeling of personal satisfaction from knowing that my contribution to world thinking is getting to so many people across all countries of the world. There are times like this when you feel you know what you were put on this earth to do :) .
Liberated!
Today I had a therapeutic massage. It did more than make me feel relaxed. The word that came into my mind was "liberated". To me that means much more than just feeling free, lucky though I am to enjoy feeling free. It brings in elements of allowing my creative self to fly, opening doors to greater self belief, self confidence and self-assurance. I am proud to be the person I am and I believe in my power to help others. Not a sense of arrogance or self importance but a sense of peace that I am doing what I was put on this earth to do.
Try a massage sometime. It offers a wonderful opportunity to meditate.
Try a massage sometime. It offers a wonderful opportunity to meditate.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Leisure actively benefits work productivity
My efforts to promote the benefits of leisure to sustained high quality work productivity, including stress management, have to be fought against the generations-old work ethic. I don't have any problem with the importance of work - it takes up a fair bit of my own life too.
Where I do have a problem is the age-old belief that leisure is a waste of time - particularly 'good working time'. Ok that's starting to break down in various ways. The latest interesting stats are that Australian workers voted work life balance ahead of salary increases. What they are really saying is they want to enjoy life.
But when it comes to discussing hard dollars, ensuring a healthy profit, shareholders pressures, etc, the term leisure is still a non-word. It's not until I have a client well and truly interested in using me that I even introduce the word leisure (other than in my business name).
They do start listening however when I start talking about job satisfaction, reducing unauthorised use of sick leave, reducing the number of hours spent by staff and management alike in unproductive effort (staff conflicts etc). The facts are that absorbing, interesting, passionate interests pursued away from work and unconnected with work interests have a massive impact on work productivity, staff communication, commitment, workforce stability...the list goes on.
Yep, there is indeed a big link between work and leisure...its just that it's going to take a long time before the work ethic image of leisure is erased and replaced by what I call a Life Ethic.
Where I do have a problem is the age-old belief that leisure is a waste of time - particularly 'good working time'. Ok that's starting to break down in various ways. The latest interesting stats are that Australian workers voted work life balance ahead of salary increases. What they are really saying is they want to enjoy life.
But when it comes to discussing hard dollars, ensuring a healthy profit, shareholders pressures, etc, the term leisure is still a non-word. It's not until I have a client well and truly interested in using me that I even introduce the word leisure (other than in my business name).
They do start listening however when I start talking about job satisfaction, reducing unauthorised use of sick leave, reducing the number of hours spent by staff and management alike in unproductive effort (staff conflicts etc). The facts are that absorbing, interesting, passionate interests pursued away from work and unconnected with work interests have a massive impact on work productivity, staff communication, commitment, workforce stability...the list goes on.
Yep, there is indeed a big link between work and leisure...its just that it's going to take a long time before the work ethic image of leisure is erased and replaced by what I call a Life Ethic.
Workplace Stress Statistics
This a "blow my own trumpet" blog, borne out of my frustration about the inability of organisations to even accept they have a responsibility for minimizing the risk of staff stress claims, let alone take any stress risk management action.
Graham Yemm, a UK consultant, has come up with some alarming stats which are in line with other stats I have seen over the last couple of years regarding stress in the workplace. His information is that :
I see my energy management program (go to www.workleisure.com) as not only having real stress management benefits, but also they offer value for risk management programs designed to show workcover bodies that the organisation is actively doing something to minimize the risk of stress claims.
I could go on for pages on this but it won't mean much until managers start to believe:
Graham Yemm, a UK consultant, has come up with some alarming stats which are in line with other stats I have seen over the last couple of years regarding stress in the workplace. His information is that :
- 65% of workers believe their stress is due to work-related issues
- only 29% of people believe their bosses are doing anything about stress...49% believed their stress levels were worse because they had lack of confidence in management
- 45% of managers do not believe there is any issue or problem with staff mental health, but
- 97% of them recognize there is a link between people's health and productivity and
- 86% say they want their workforce to be more productive
- 62% of employers feel that investing in people's health is a luxury they cannot afford
- it's estimated fewer than 10% of organisations have a mental health policy and only 14% of them believe it is any good.
I see my energy management program (go to www.workleisure.com) as not only having real stress management benefits, but also they offer value for risk management programs designed to show workcover bodies that the organisation is actively doing something to minimize the risk of stress claims.
I could go on for pages on this but it won't mean much until managers start to believe:
- there is a stress management problem in their organisation specifically
- they have an OHS responsibility to actively do something to minimise the risk of stress claims
- there are good options around - like the energy management program that I offer - that can demonstrate to workcover bodies they are actively doing something to minimize stress, enough to help keep OHS levy contributions down.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
The People Gardener
Because I have 30 years planning experience in the field of parks and recreation, I have come to see the links between the growth of nature and the growth of people. Why not! After all we are part of nature (not separate to or above nature). We start from a seed that contains everything the mature plant requires, provided it is planted in fertile soil and nurtured with water and nutritious food. And my business is one of cultivating strong new growth.
People are starting to liken me to a People Gardener. And I thought to myself - that's not a bad image to have. The typical gardener is a gentle soul who is warm, caring, nurturing and sincere and they say that just about sums me up as a personal growth mentor.
A gardener doesn't tell nature how to grow, he/she simply helps it by ensuring it has the nourishment it needs to naturally blossom to its full maturity (or potential). That fits very well with my approach to helping people blossom to their full potential. Talking nicely to a plant also helps it grow!
Yeah I like the image of a People Gardener. I hope you do too.
People are starting to liken me to a People Gardener. And I thought to myself - that's not a bad image to have. The typical gardener is a gentle soul who is warm, caring, nurturing and sincere and they say that just about sums me up as a personal growth mentor.
A gardener doesn't tell nature how to grow, he/she simply helps it by ensuring it has the nourishment it needs to naturally blossom to its full maturity (or potential). That fits very well with my approach to helping people blossom to their full potential. Talking nicely to a plant also helps it grow!
Yeah I like the image of a People Gardener. I hope you do too.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Easing My Own Pressure
We are told that most pressure is self-imposed. I have moved from Adelaide (less than 1 m) to Sydney (more than 5m) and saw this as the opportunity to expand my business. What I forgot was that I am still only a one person business and that Sydney was going to require a whole new marketing exercise. I increased the pressure on myself. My natural passion palled. I got down on myself. In short, I went against all my own principles of enjoying being me.
Soon after I arrived in Sydney, I was told 'the bigger the market, the tighter your focus needs to be'. The wider I spread myself, the greater the competition I face for work. Sure I help with work life harmony and retirement planning and stress in the workplace...but what in all of these my core skill is in helping people (re)identify their passions, what they really enjoy doing, what brings the best out of them. They not only grow, they achieve greater work life harmony, and do a better job of planning their future.
So I made a big decision: to focus on what I loved doing - helping people use the power of enjoyable interests as the means to increased personal growth and development. I took the pressure off myself. And you know what? its getting amazing results. My passion is back, my energy restored and my focus significantly tightened.
I am now officially a Personal Growth and Development Mentor who helps people re-discover the interests that increase their self esteem, self confidence, self belief and sense of self worth. I am the best there is at it and I am enjoying being me.
Roll on Sydney! and watch this space :)
Soon after I arrived in Sydney, I was told 'the bigger the market, the tighter your focus needs to be'. The wider I spread myself, the greater the competition I face for work. Sure I help with work life harmony and retirement planning and stress in the workplace...but what in all of these my core skill is in helping people (re)identify their passions, what they really enjoy doing, what brings the best out of them. They not only grow, they achieve greater work life harmony, and do a better job of planning their future.
So I made a big decision: to focus on what I loved doing - helping people use the power of enjoyable interests as the means to increased personal growth and development. I took the pressure off myself. And you know what? its getting amazing results. My passion is back, my energy restored and my focus significantly tightened.
I am now officially a Personal Growth and Development Mentor who helps people re-discover the interests that increase their self esteem, self confidence, self belief and sense of self worth. I am the best there is at it and I am enjoying being me.
Roll on Sydney! and watch this space :)
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
I'm tired of the gloom and doom feeding that's feeding the economic downturn
Like most positive thinking people, I am getting tired of constantly hearing and reading about the gloom and doom that is feeding the current global economic downturn. It's like a virus that preys on the minds of fearful people - people fearing the loss of their money, job, security, quality of life and so on. Dont get me wrong, there are plenty of real problems out there. It's just that this pandemic of fear is making things worse. What is an 'economy' anyway that can do so much damage to our daily lives? Have you ever seen or touched one? It's a mental thing and it requires positive mental action to turn it around.
From this I came up with the idea of a Butterfly Wings campaign aimed at starting a new virus that might become so infectious that - like the butterfly wings that we are told can start a breeze that can lead to a tornado somewhere - it might just start a tornado of economic recovery.
I think my idea is so hair-brained that it just might work. And like butterfly wings, the exercise I ask people to do - and pass on to everyone they know - is a simple two minute enjoyable Enjoyment Boost questionnaire that doesn't require you to tell anyone your answers. If someone hasn't sent you one, go to www.workleisure.com and download a copy. Then email it to everyone you know.
If you want to know more, go to http://www.workleisure.com/ButterflyWings.htm
Let's go change the world! :)
From this I came up with the idea of a Butterfly Wings campaign aimed at starting a new virus that might become so infectious that - like the butterfly wings that we are told can start a breeze that can lead to a tornado somewhere - it might just start a tornado of economic recovery.
I think my idea is so hair-brained that it just might work. And like butterfly wings, the exercise I ask people to do - and pass on to everyone they know - is a simple two minute enjoyable Enjoyment Boost questionnaire that doesn't require you to tell anyone your answers. If someone hasn't sent you one, go to www.workleisure.com and download a copy. Then email it to everyone you know.
If you want to know more, go to http://www.workleisure.com/ButterflyWings.htm
Let's go change the world! :)
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Walking My Talk
One of the great things about providing a lifestyle management service is that I can give myself free advice and assistance at any time with my own life. I am taking advantage of this offer right now as Carol and I go through what many people regard as one of the most stressful lifestyle change experiences of all - moving interstate, especially from a city of under 1 million to one of over 5 million. Sydney is one of the great cities of the world. We have been here for three weeks as I write. At times it seems like three months.
I will be totally honest with you, it hasn't been easy. Even at this early stage, we have nearly spat the dummy more than once and thought it was all too hard. The pace and the in-your-face constancy of life can be daunting. Sydney was never planned - it just exploded in all directions. There is no logic to the massive road system and any excursion is a major exercise in planning, navigating and finding your way back from being lost.
So hectic was life at first that I had little or no time for my business. Then I realized I was forgetting some of my own professional advice on how best to handle this major life transition project. So, you might say, I sat down and gave myself a free consultation.
Very quickly I realized I was letting the new situation run me rather than me take charge of my response. I took a good hard look at who I really am, what excites me, the opportunities that Sydney was presenting - and they are vast and incredibly diverse - and the need to start giving those positive factors some priority.
There was still plenty that Carol and I needed to do together to make the transition work for both of us. A key factor in ensuring the success of our move was that we support and encourage each other all the time. That meant spending a lot of time together in our explorations and in constantly discussing how we are going, how we each are feeling and what we want to do each day.
Quickly we both began to realize that the move is proving incredibly valuable for both of us. Not necessarily that we want or don't to stay in Sydney at the end of the six months trial, but in growing together as a couple and sharing a strange, often tough, but never dull adventure. This move is bringing a fabulous new sense of sharing and support to our relationship.
The other great positive is that we are each exploring new ways we can express our individuality - sometimes apart, sometimes together. We are meeting new people and learning new things at a blindingly fast pace. We are well and truly out of our comfort zones but after three weeks we are now seeing the many positives in being 'uncomfortable'.
As for Work Leisure International, the key words that have loomed large in my mind since arriving in Sydney have been "radical thinking". I can't begin to tell you here how excited I am now about the changes already in my thinking and attitudes towards my business. I am meeting totally different people with very different ideas and U am doing a lot of listening. The different environment means I am describing my business to them in radically different ways and finding that they love what I have to tell them. There is a new pep in my business step. You will see those thoughts rapidly emerge over the coming weeks. starting with what I have called my "Butterfly Wings project".
My self consultation has proved extremely valuable and worthwhile. I am off and running again, embracing and no longer fighting my big lifestyle change. I am learning many things that will help me to help you too whenever we get to work together.
More soon.
I will be totally honest with you, it hasn't been easy. Even at this early stage, we have nearly spat the dummy more than once and thought it was all too hard. The pace and the in-your-face constancy of life can be daunting. Sydney was never planned - it just exploded in all directions. There is no logic to the massive road system and any excursion is a major exercise in planning, navigating and finding your way back from being lost.
So hectic was life at first that I had little or no time for my business. Then I realized I was forgetting some of my own professional advice on how best to handle this major life transition project. So, you might say, I sat down and gave myself a free consultation.
Very quickly I realized I was letting the new situation run me rather than me take charge of my response. I took a good hard look at who I really am, what excites me, the opportunities that Sydney was presenting - and they are vast and incredibly diverse - and the need to start giving those positive factors some priority.
There was still plenty that Carol and I needed to do together to make the transition work for both of us. A key factor in ensuring the success of our move was that we support and encourage each other all the time. That meant spending a lot of time together in our explorations and in constantly discussing how we are going, how we each are feeling and what we want to do each day.
Quickly we both began to realize that the move is proving incredibly valuable for both of us. Not necessarily that we want or don't to stay in Sydney at the end of the six months trial, but in growing together as a couple and sharing a strange, often tough, but never dull adventure. This move is bringing a fabulous new sense of sharing and support to our relationship.
The other great positive is that we are each exploring new ways we can express our individuality - sometimes apart, sometimes together. We are meeting new people and learning new things at a blindingly fast pace. We are well and truly out of our comfort zones but after three weeks we are now seeing the many positives in being 'uncomfortable'.
As for Work Leisure International, the key words that have loomed large in my mind since arriving in Sydney have been "radical thinking". I can't begin to tell you here how excited I am now about the changes already in my thinking and attitudes towards my business. I am meeting totally different people with very different ideas and U am doing a lot of listening. The different environment means I am describing my business to them in radically different ways and finding that they love what I have to tell them. There is a new pep in my business step. You will see those thoughts rapidly emerge over the coming weeks. starting with what I have called my "Butterfly Wings project".
My self consultation has proved extremely valuable and worthwhile. I am off and running again, embracing and no longer fighting my big lifestyle change. I am learning many things that will help me to help you too whenever we get to work together.
More soon.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Creating Positive Human Behaviour
You are privy to getting some inside information on a different slant I am taking with my lifestyle mentoring business: Work Leisure International - go to http://www.workleisure.com. My theme of growth and maximizing potential through enjoying being your authentic self is perhaps better understood when considered in terms of the way we achieve positive human behaviour - at work, at home, or at play:
My trigger for building positive (rather than negative) human behaviour is through injecting what I call "The Enjoyment Factor". Compare the productivity levels of a project you enjoyed and one you didn't enjoy. When you lose yourself in an interest you love, you find yourself - the authentic you comes alive. Focusing on any interest you passionately enjoy - even for a few minutes - creates a positive ripple effect through the whole of the four stages listed above.
Do you relate to the process?
If you are going through a bad time you might perhaps see the process in reverse - your growth slowing, productivity dropping, mental energy down and experiencing sluggish processing of information.
Your comments on the above would be greatly welcomed and read with interest.
- The Brain processes information gained from selected available data
- Energy - physical and mental - drives this process
- Products of this energy include heightened self esteem, creativity, enthusiasm, commitment, skill development, innovation and, last but not least, increased productivity
- The outcome of this is growth - personal and corporate
My trigger for building positive (rather than negative) human behaviour is through injecting what I call "The Enjoyment Factor". Compare the productivity levels of a project you enjoyed and one you didn't enjoy. When you lose yourself in an interest you love, you find yourself - the authentic you comes alive. Focusing on any interest you passionately enjoy - even for a few minutes - creates a positive ripple effect through the whole of the four stages listed above.
Do you relate to the process?
If you are going through a bad time you might perhaps see the process in reverse - your growth slowing, productivity dropping, mental energy down and experiencing sluggish processing of information.
Your comments on the above would be greatly welcomed and read with interest.
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