Monthly Archive for December, 2008

Dos and Don’ts of Time Planning

Published
by
Warwick
on December 31, 2008
in Health, Skills and Wealth
. 0 Comments

Time block with a clock

At a recent meeting with a group of public speakers, I found out that the people most regarded by others as the most organised people (in terms of what they achieve) actually think of themselves as messy and undisciplined. Maybe those people have very high internal standards, but given the demands on our time and attention, we could all improve our time planning.

Indeed when people plan goals a calendar is not far away. As you are setting your new year goals and plans, how are you planning your time? As Benjamin Franklin once said - and I paraphrase - if you love life, don’t waste time because that is what life is made of.

So how do we find a balance and not “over-program” the first few weeks of the year with good intentions and forget about our goals by February. Especially as surveys have found most goals are forgotten by then. Here are a few suggestions:

Dos:

1. Focus on results (not activities)

Rather than saying you will go to gym three times a week, focus your efforts on setting a target for this activity. For example, “I will run a six minute kilometer by the end of the year”.  You now have a way to track your progress. What result can you focus your activity on?

2. Have a priority list (for today)

What are you doing today to take yourself forward towards your goals. Many small actions will take you quicker towards your target, rather than one large step. Kick procrastination out through small actions.

3. Timeblock

The most common excuse you hear from people who don’t reach their goals is “I don’t have enough time”. Which is not true. We all have 168 hours a week and we decide how to invest this time. What can you cut out or down on to create more time? Stop watching TV and DVDs during weekdays. Can you use your travel time to create time to learn?  Print out a one month calendar and take a few different colored highlighters and block out time at least a week in advance. When I authored my book this summer, I had to block out “creative time” in my calendar to solely focus on writing, researching and creating ideas.  Other time blocks can include family time, health, client work, learning. You can choose other categories that make sense for you. Timeblock at least one hour per activitiy.

Don’ts

1. Overplan

Unless you are a CEO, time blocking down to every 15minutes may not be necessary.  Just because technology makes this easy to do, doesn’t make it a good idea.  Also, add in some buffer time which are unplanned. This will help you keep on track if you run late on a particular activity.

2. Overuse technology

While we are talking about technology, find a balance. Today smartphones and PDAs have allowed us to create and track every single task. But don’t forget that a piece of paper can be more effective. I post up a calendar on my wall and the three dimensional ability to turn around and see my year at a glance is powerful. Technology can be good to create time awareness. Check out a time tracking tool like My Hours.

One of the hardest habits to break is time’s control over us. Any successful person will tell you that the first step to health and wealth mastery is time mastery. Get time to march to your beat.

Every life change requires a change in how your time is being used. With my coaching clients, I show how to take that step to master your time and to invest it rather than spend it. If you are looking to make a change in your health, wealth and contribution, The Change Catalyst can help you accelerate through the obstacles that lie both within you and around you. Contact The Change Catalyst today for a free initial consultation.

It’s a small world, so be nice..!

Published
by
Warwick
on December 29, 2008
in Contribution and Skills
. 0 Comments

A network

I live in a city of 16 million people and I am amazed at what a small world it is. Just yesterday at a gathering for trainers and facilitators in Shanghai I bumped into a friend I had not seen for 8 years and last met in Taipei. Coincidence? Perhaps. But it seems to happen all the time. Let me share a recent example.

Last week, I was asked to evaluate a speech for one of my mentees, Cher, who I had not met for about six months. During a quick conversation as we caught up we found the following connections:

1. I had been a charity auctioneer for the British Chamber Charity Ball from which I was asked to host a similar event for SCAA from which I was asked to host one for Hands On Chengdu.

2. During the Hands On Chengdu event I met one of the organizers, Fang, who was a friend of Cher.

3. Fang’s husband works in the same company as Cher.

4. Another one of Cher’s colleague had just emailed me via the IAF web site on a question about facilitation.

Just for another connection during the event I met a young man who attended a university speech I gave four years ago on “Finding your Passion” - which he still remembered.

It was a good reminder than every little interaction affects so many connection now and in the future. We live in an interconnected world where six degrees of separation often seem to be just one or two degrees. The six degrees of separation started out to link every actor to Kevin Bacon through six or less degrees. One degree of separation are the people you know directly. Two degrees are the people who your friends know but you don’t know and so on.  Business networking sites like LinkedIN are built on this principle.

There are lots of books and sites on networking but here are a couple of my simple networking guidelines:

A. Be nice to people

If you assume that every single person you meet will play some important part in the success (or failure) of your future, how would you treat them?  Even if you only meet a person once, they still can affect your future by referring people to you, making connections and talking you up to their friends. Be nice. Treat everyone you meet like a long-lost buddy.

B. Pay-forward (not payback)

Instead of waiting for someone to help you, so you can then “pay them back”, why not pay-forward. Be proactive. What service and support can you offer your friends? How can you contribute more to the organisations you are a part of? The best way to build up a name for yourself is through step up and offering help to others.

As we move into the new year, we all set goals in health and wealth. How about setting a few goals under “contribution”. Choose areas that you are passionate in and have something to offer. You will be surprised to find that this selfless contribution accelerates yourself in other areas. People remember you more and in a better light. Be nice. Contribute.

Warwick’s publisher of his book The One Minute Presenter have pledged that for every copy sold, a book will be bought for The Library Project who install library in schools for orphans and under-priviledged children across China.

What do you want to be remembered for?

Published
by
Warwick
on December 26, 2008
in Contribution and Health
. 0 Comments

PHDAttending a memorial is always a time for pause and reflection. A biking club buddy passed on last week and the memorial was a diverse mix of cyclists, business associates, pastors with a whole host of nationalities present. As we heard from Paul’s pastors, family, friends and business friends, it was amazing how a clear picture was painted of the man and his life. A total supporter. He left a strong impression on people as caring, personable and humorous. He gave people pet-names. Our hyperactive bike club leader who talks 200 words a minute was known as “hummingbird”. Spot on!

In pre-Facebook times, he was able to maintain a strong international network keeping regular contact (and motivating) his friends through phone calls and emails.  I was impressed by the impact Paul left on the people around him. And it made me think about what my impact is. Have you ever thought about how you would like to be remembered?

Here are a few tips on how to create a life of purpose:

Living a life of purpose

What would you like people to be saying at your memorial service? Take a Tombstone test. What would you like to be written on your “tombstone”? (assuming you would have one!) Would you choose “A” or “B” below?

A -  Here lies a person who built up a fortune

B - Here lies a person who knew what his children’s favorite color was

A- Here lies a person who was feared and respected by all

B - Here lies a person who brought curiosity and creativity into everything they did

A- Here lies a person who left the world with a full inbox

B - Here lies a person who left the world satisfied

Try this out and write down some epitaphs on how you would like to be remembered. By the way, if the above “A”s are more like your life now. Maybe it’s time for a change.

As a “how to” coach I will add a few more practical tips:

Be ready

Prepare a one page sheet which you keep locked away in your safe with a list of how your loved ones can access your assets (bank account, stocks, bonds, property). Once a year update a goodbye letter or make a  videos. Tell your closest friends and relatives how much they mean to you. This can be an emotional experience so give yourself some quiet time.  This message will be your final words and helps your loved ones have a final personal moment with you. Keep the letters and video in your safe.

Pay attention to earning warning signs

I have lost two friends to heart attacks and in both cases there were early warning signs. Loss of breathe was a common sign for my friends. Book a regular health check up annually and be really aware of your health levels.  Take gentle exercise on a regular basis. Swimming is my favorite as - living in a polluted city - it avoids breathing in toxic fumes.  If you live in a city, take a few weekends out in the country every few months to relax and breathe fresh air.
As we approach the new year, what new goals or dreams do you want to acheieve this year. Need help overcoming some of those persistant obstacles? Contact the Change Catalyst for more on how to accelerate your succees in your health, work and family life.

Learning skills by standing on the shoulders of giants

Published
by
Warwick
on December 24, 2008
in Skills
. Closed

British Two Pound Coin

Pick up a British 2 pound coin and you will see written along the edge of the coin the quote “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants” - a quote attributed to Issac Newton. In fact the origins of this phrase go back to Greek mythology to the hunter Orion, who blind, was guided by a dwarf servant standing on his shoulders.  Since then the lesson of this story has been taken by (modest) academics to highlight that they have benefited from the work of their earlier peers. And popular culture have borrowed the phrase with diverse uses from NASA, Oasis, Stephen Hawking, and Umberto Eco.

So as people who want to make change happen, what can we learn from this story that can be a catalyst to our success?

Who is your giant?

In your chosen field of improvement who are the ground-breakers, the superstars, the people that everybody talks about. If you like swimming, why not find out how Michael Phelps goes about his training. If you are an author, learn from Mark Victor Hansen on how to build brands and publishing prolifically.  Find the world’s best and check out their web sites, subscribe to their newsletter and soak up everything you can about their philosophy of success.  Perhaps your giant is someone from the past. Visit the library or bookstore and buy books about them and books they have written.

Closer to home, find the giants of your city, town or area. Get to know them. Find out where they network. Join clubs and surround yourself with like-minded people. If you want to improve your presentation skills, join Toastmasters. Want to get healthier, join a swim club. Get back to the community, visit Rotary or your chamber of commerce.

What do you mean by dwarf?

In Orion’s myth the dwarf was servant. If we think about this in a more symbolic way, we could say that the dwarf was humble, had an open attitude to change and was willing to serve others. Which is an excellent guide. If you use this approach, and you have the courage, it is possible to approach the giants of your field and ask them for advice. Or you might ask them how you can support them.  Read enough biographies of successful people and you will always find a time when they overcome fear, embarrassment and other excuses to approach and seek mentorship.

Success is a process that needs commitment

Put yourself in Orion’s story and imagine yourself as the dwarf.  Think about the challenges faced just to climb up on the giant’s shoulders. Learning takes some effort. Picture the struggle, just to keep focused on the horizon and guide the blind walker.  Success needs you to focus on the future while managing the challenges of the day.

One proven catalyst of change is to find a mentor so you can “stand on their shoulders”.  Fast track your learning by using the ladders they have left behind. Amazing the insights you can find from a two pound coin!

New Year Resolutions: Becoming an “overnight success”

Published
by
Warwick
on December 22, 2008
in Health and Skills
. 0 Comments

Chrissie Wellington winning again!

I have been interested in triathlons since 2006 and have competed in several Olympic distance and one half ironman . I am an “age grouper” - a non professional athlete whose main aim is to finish in one piece. At the professional end of this sport, you find some of the most impressive endurance athletes in the world.  If you have never seen a professional triathlon race go and see one. It’s inspiring to see someone hammer a race for 8 or 9 hours at top speeds.

However, it’s amazing when you see someone come on to the scene and totally smash the professional field. British triathlete Chrissie Wellington did just this in 2007 when she won the “Olympics of Ironman races” - the tough Kona race in Hawaii. This year she retained her title and despite losing 20 minutes with a flat tire, won with ease.  In short, she is a future legend of the sport. More incredible (in a sport of big egos), she is grounded and humble.  But is she an overnight success?

In a recent interview with the Guardian newspaper, Chrissie shared her background which include some great learning points for us all.

What do you dream about?

As a child, Chrissie always wanted to run the London marathon and by pursuing this dream got on the road to endurance training.  Dream first, action next.

What obstacles are you willing to go through?

During her training she was hit by a car,almost drowned in her first triathlon and didn’t finish the swim and even when she joined a team, her professional team mates rejected her because of her inexperience in the sport.  She also rode through sandstorms and snowstorms in Nepal.  What are willing to go through to reach your dream?

What do you do with ease that others struggle with?

During a posting in Nepal she joined a group of mountain biking rides. Chrissie remembered,”I’d be talking away and no one else would be able to. These were high-altitude sherpas, incredibly strong, incredibly determined and genetically predisposed to be quite talented at these kinds of altitudes.”

Are you aware of your strengths? What can you do with ease that others struggle with?

Do you have a coach?

Despite her natural talent, Chrissie progress accelerated once she joined with a top coach. Joining other professionals was the catalyst to her winning races.

Are you building mental strength?

“Ironman is as much a mental game as it is a physical game,” said Chrissie after retaining her Kona crown. Isn’t that true of many things in life especially when we are faced with tough economic conditions. Are you in good mental shape - or like some of Chrissie’s competitors - are you admitting defeat before the race has begun.  Start doing the hard tasks than (you) and your competitors don’t do. Build a tough task into your weekly routine.  After five years of talking about it, I finally bit the bullet and hired a coach to help me author my latest book The One Minute Presenter this year.  The 6 months was extremely tough mentally but the process taught me a lot about myself, being an author and about building a team in the publishing industry.

Learn from Chrissie. Overnight successes in the media, never are. They are the result of a dream, hard work, a coach and a support team. What is your dream for 2009?  If you need someone to help you make your change happen, call The Change Catalyst.


New Year Resolutions: Do you have written plans?

Published
by
Warwick
on December 18, 2008
in Contribution, Health, Skills and Wealth
. 0 Comments

UK Olympic Track StarsHow many British Cyclists can you name? If I asked you 4 months ago, unless you are a bike geek, chances are the answer would be, “Huh.”  Well Chris Hoy was just voted British Sports Personality of the Year. How can you go from obscurity to national fame? Well win an Olympic gold will help. But when the whole of the team excels you will find yourself a “star”.  In the mainstream world’s mind you are an overnight success. But that is rarely the case. What can you learn from British cyclists success? How can you reach even greater levels of performance?

Success is usually born from failure. British cycling’s lowest point was 12 years when the team were so poor, they had to share sports clothing! One simple effective way to turn failure into success is to have a vision. Peter Keen was that man. He stood up and told his peers that he would make British cyclists the world’s best track cyclists.

Success is a system

“The challenge was to convert highly motivated, highly talented individuals into a system” said Keen. Every successful person has a support team of coaches, mentors, technical specialist etc. What support do you need that will improve your performance? I found a graphic designer to take all my design work off my to do list. The result was faster turnaround of higher quality work.  I have built an international team of specialists that each contribute to my success. Who do you need to support you?

Focus consistently on success

Keen said in 2001 that he needed to clear out riders and coaches who weren’t obsessed with winning. Who around you is not contributing to your success? Do you have friends who are constantly negative about life, the economy, the traffic, or complaining and putting other people down? Do yourself a favour and cut them out of your life. Who are the people you regard as successful? How can you spend more time with them? A triathlon friend once told me that my income is an average of the ten people I spend the most time with! I don’t know if that is scientifically true but it really focused my attention on spending time with winners and people who want the best from life.

Written goals

My mentor, John Eggen says that one minute of planning can save up to 10 minutes in action. I spend more time now, not only thinking through my plans, but actually mapping out the plans as though I was going to hand it off to someone else. It makes me more rigorous and uncovers any gaps in the plan. Mark Victor Hansen calls this being strategic about your tactics. Great advice.

But remember the golden rule of planning: “a poor plan well executed is better than a perfect plan poorly executed.” So don’t over analyse your plan. Get it started and test it out.

Plans for 2009

Every year in December, I update a document I have been using for about 5 years. It includes all my long term dreams and shorter one year goals. I choose certain goals to focus on and expand upon them. Having written goals, frequently reviewed and worked on is the only way I know to guaranteeing a success attitude.

Start creating your “overnight success’ today and start living it in 2009. Life is not a race, but you can decide which gold medals you will win. Make your written plans today!

Chris Hoy wins award

If you need any help with making written goals, drop me a line. I help my coaching clients get clarity in their lives and I offer an initial free telephone consultation without obligation.

New Year Resolutions: How to be healthy in 2009

Published
by
Warwick
on December 16, 2008
in Health
. 0 Comments

Warwick finishing Ironman ChinaSince I started participating in triathlons in 2006, I have found that the bigger the challenge, the more motivated I am to achieve it. If you had asked me 10 years ago to compete in a triathlon, I would have laughed and told you to keep walking. At that time I was in a classic “gerbil in a cage” situation. I used to play football a couple of times a week and go jogging at the track two to three times a week. But every Monday as I started my run on the track, I would feel exactly the same as I did the previous week.  My blowout weekend partying which usually started early Friday afternoon and ended in a haze late on Sunday evening did two things to hold me back. First, physically I couldn’t get any better as I was punishing my body with smoke, alcohol and caffeine drinks. Secondly, I was surrounding myself with a group of people who were never going to help me get out of this rat race.

Only once I stopped drinking, shifted my focus and started meeting new peers could I really start to reach my physical potential. Fast forward 7 years and I was taking part in my first triathlon in North East China.  Just to finish was a real buzz and I felt really good despite the aching muscles for weeks afterwards.

Since then I have completed a half Ironman triathlon in Hainan in blistering 35 degree heat and continue to improve my Olympic distance triathlon time (under 3 hours currently). How did I do this?

1.Mentors

I started to look for experience, so that I could fast-track my learning. I subscribed to many different podcasts and stuck with the ones that resonated with me.

2. Support team

I found a buddy who was also interested in triathlons. We train and share tips, stories and prepare for races together. I found a triathlon club, and a cycling club.

3. Desire

Without focused desire, any goal will be forgetton. I pump up my desire by setting targets and in any health related activity, competing is a great motivator. I join races around China and Asia which gives my training some purpose. If you are into martial arts, take grading exams. If you play badminton, organise a friendly tournament a couple of times a year.

The more interaction you have with like-minded people, the more likely you are to stick with your good behaviour.  It’s a myth that it takes 21 days to cememt a good habit. You only keep a good habit as long as you have the desire, role models to continue your growth and people to share the same excitement.
I wish you a 2009 full of health, energy and friendly competition!

How do you learn about publishing?

Published
by
Warwick
on December 13, 2008
in Skills
. 1 Comment

The One Minute Presenter

I have wanted to publish a book for at least five years. I have written plenty of articles, workbooks for my public speaking training workshops and even contributed to an “Investment in Laos” guide while at KPMG many moons ago. But never a book.

When I went to the Global Speakers Summit in 2005 with a diverse group of professional speakers, everyone seemed to have a book. When we invited Dan Poynter, self publishing guru, to speak with the Professional Speakers Association of China in 2007, he extolled the benefits of writing a books and all the spin off information products.

But for all this desire and attempts to put something on paper, it never happened. Until I found a system. And a mentor. And a coach. I found a great program with an experienced publishing mentor who has created teleseminars, expert interview and a forum. Packaged in a 12 month program,  my mentor laid out a 17 step plan to author a book in 90, 180 or 365 days. I dedicated a few months over the summer to attempt the 90 day plan.  I really like the systematic approach and the very detailed, practical breakdown of the whole process.  However, the real catalyst came from the coaches. I choose an experienced coach who had also gone through the program and we held a small group coaching session every 2 weeks. Plus my coach was available for a 10 minute laser call at a time of mutual convenience. It opened my eyes to “system plus support” as a proven roadmap for success.
I took longer than my original 90 day plan, but as the book has just gone off to the printer, I am on track to finish in 180 days! Hurrah!  I have had a really good grounding in working with the wide range of people needed to bring a book to reality. From mentor, coach, experts, designers, editors, proofreaders, printer, it’s been a really interesting experience working with an international team from four countries.

I am inspired now to continue my development of publishing and learning about information products. 2009 should be a great year to test my creativity and international project management skills.