GET REAL about change

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." Maria Robinson

Over the last month I have been working with leaders in the United States and Australia on the direction their businesses are going, and what the best strategies and tools are to get them there.

I am surprised at the amount of leaders who are focused on "getting back to where we were." That is just not going to happen, the world has changed. Well, the world is always changing; however the current economic climate has created radical change.

Change is happening all the time. Normally it happens slowly and progressively and as a result we adapt reasonably easily to it. But when it happens radically we feel like we have been thrown off a cliff and we just want to scramble back to the ledge we were standing on prior to the massive change.

The reality is the ledge is no longer there, the world and business has changed. So rather than panic about a return to the old situation, we need to be proactive in creating new solutions and strategies that will take us into the future and put us at the cutting edge when the upturn comes.

This is a great time to reassess our business models, our teams and our structure.

A great time to refine our processes and procedures.

A great time to redefine our delivery and our products.

A great time to refresh, re-energise and reinvigorate our employees and to reinvent ourselves as a business.

These are the things we never get the time to do and put off because of the need to create, build and grow. These are the things that get left to last because they don’t add to the bottom line.

If you want to get ahead of your competitors, do these things NOW while things are slower and you will be able to create an organisation, team and individuals that are in the best position to take advantage of the opportunities that open up as the economy grows stronger.

WHATS IN YOUR BACKPACK??

As we grow and develop throughout life we collect things, and carry them with us, sort of like in a backpack. Sometimes we know what we are collecting and sometimes we collect things that we are unaware of, we collect things that others can see that we cannot and we collect things that other people slip into our backpacks without us knowing.

So right now you are carrying around a backpack full of beliefs, values, habits and ideas.

When was the last time you cleaned your backpack out?

If life is weighing you down, if you are stressed out, if you just cant seem to get ahead! It may just be time to lighten the load, throw away some of those useless items that having being weighing you down for years, hang on to the ones that are most useful and ,maybe look for some new items to carry in your backpack that make you feel refreshed and reenergized.

Is there stuff in your back pack that is festering and putrid??? Are you carrying someone else's?????? And when you are struggling, do you have someone to share the load with, or someone who will carry yours when you are weak or drained?

On the other side, do you put your hand up to carry someone else's load, to give someone a hand when it seems too tough??? Can you help your colleagues, friends and family sort their backpacks out.

Next time you are walking down the street, check the amount of people huddled over, looking at the ground, struggling with the backpack of life.

Make sure you clean yours out so you can walk into the future with your head held high and with all the tools to enjoy the journey

Possibility

Does the cotton wool society shut you down? Are you too busy trying to conform to the expectations of society to be yourself?

It is hard to be true to yourself when you are busy being true to the expectations of others. You know exactly what I am talking about. Expectations about what to wear, what to drive, where to live, where to go, what to eat, what to watch.

The cotton wool society tries to keep you inside your box, watch this on the box, work in this box, live in that box, drive around in that box. The cotton wool society also tries to make us follow the same patterns, what will you do when you leave school, you should get a job, you should buy a car, then you should find a partner, you should get married, you should buy a house, you should have kids, you should save for your retirement, and on and on it goes.

When you take a step back from all this conformity and think about what you REALLY want, what you REALLY stand for, you open up a complete new range of possibilities, you stop trying to be reactive and become proactive and create the life and success you REALLY want.

GET REAL about your possibilties!!!!

Adventure

Helen Keller said "life is either a daring adventure or nothing"

I believe that statement to be true, the fun in life is not sitting within your comfort zone wrapped up in cotton wool protected from all the possible things that could go wrong or may hurt or harm us or make us uncomfortable. Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone. Exploring opportunities, discovering nature, building a business, mastering the arts or just learning to surf, play the piano or cook seafood, learn to dance, go on a cruise, climb a mountain or race your kids around the block on a bike. Life should be a wonderful adventure and to make it a wonderful adventure we need to push the envelope a bit, test the boundaries and our capabilities. You do this not by setting goals but by kicking goals. Sure write your goals down, but act on them or they will forever remain goals.

You can see a list of my goals on the right of this blog. This morning at 5am I went on the hot air balloon ride I had been keen to do for years, fantastic experience, peaceful and serene with an amazing view. Now on to kicking the next goal.

If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up way too much space

The Power of Humanity

Not only do I believe that we are capable of more than we imagine. I believe in the goodness of people. The ability for us to share and care for each other as a human race.

I am overwhelmed by Australians and the worlds response to the devastating fires that ripped through Victoria and the losses suffered by the those communities.

In the response to this tragedy we find that as a human race we can transcend the common boundaries of society. Gone are the barriers of class, gender, politics, creed and colour. The stories of individuals, families and communities putting the needs of others ahead of their own have been absolutely amazing.

We should be compassionate for those who have lost loved ones and belongings.

We should be enlighted by the ability of us to share and care.

Good time to get off your backside and offer to share and care in your community

cheers

Rowdy

I believe passionately in setting goals.

My experience has also taught me that setting goals is not enough. It is just too easy to set and forget, to extend deadlines or compromise targets.

The best way to ensure you achieve your goals is to write them down, although this still wont ensure you get things done.

You need to share them with someone who will hold you accountable.

I have decided to share my goals for 2009 with you, my blog readers. I invite you to hold me accountable, and I will write about my progress and the actual experiences.

I invite you to share your goals in this blog also and lets see if we cant make some good things happen.

cheers

Rowdy

Never give up

Persistence wins over talent every time. If you persistently work toward your dreams and goals, keep going when the going gets tough, keep putting your best foot forward when you feel like giving up, keep looking for opportunities when others are throwing in the towel, there is a better than average chance that in the end you will get to where you are going.

Take the example of former Geelong AFL team captain Ben Graham, now playing NFL in the United States. Hired by the New York Jets early in the season then sacked, rehired 3 weeks later then sacked again, then 6 weeks in the wilderness, no team no money and no prospects, but he didnt give up. 6 weeks ago he was hired by the Arizona Cardinals and today he played in the what could be the greatest sporting show on earth, the superbowl, every NFL players dream.

Of course you need talent, but plenty of people with talent give up too soon. Persistence is what gets you across the line