The clock is ticking… are you committing to wind up or down?

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing… Helen Keller

Said it before and will say it again!…  People are intriguing in how they approach new experiences and the chance of doing something different. There’s a definite link to confidence levels and attitudes to risk taking, and then there’s another connection with energy, drive and determination.

A long established coaching question, ‘When you are 95 years old, what will you want to say about your life?’, is a consistent leveller whether considering professional or personal situations.

Irrespective of temperament or breadth and depth of comfort zones, most people indicate their desire to live a full life, make the most of opportunities open to them, and make a difference to the people who matter. A different line of questioning establishes how far somebody is willing to go to create opportunities instead of waiting for them to happen.

In spite of the broadly shared desire – as basic as it may be – to make the most of our time and get the best from it, it’s our readiness to get proactive that shows up big differences.

Pace of life and an over-abundance of demands can feel restrictive. There can be a tendency to stick within comfort zones when we are working or living routinely, virtually by rote. Routines may help us get everything done that needs to be done within available hours AND can also constrain and consume all our efforts and energy in the process.

We don’t always notice when we are stuck until events or circumstances ricochet us straight into PANIC! Our norms are suddenly distorted and routines disrupted, temporarily inducing panic associated with loss of control.

In coaching terms it’s much healthier for somebody to be ready and prepared to stretch in order to bypass or minimise panic. A coaching agreement requires willingness and commitment to step back from routines, busyness, unconscious patterns of behaviour, to observe and self-appraise with increasing awareness. It requires us to pay attention to what’s happening, how well we’re doing, where we want to get to and what we intend to do about getting there.

If, by the age of 95 (or older), you want to be in the happy position of having lived your life fully and richly, what are your plans now for venturing out of your comfort zone, to experience new activities, learn new things, try out new ideas to see how they fit, to acquire new knowledge, meet new people, discover new possibilities, opportunities and talents?

I am not promoting pink and fluffy self-indulgence. I am advocating greater consciousness about how we spend our time and get the most out of it.

If you have lost sight of ambitions and motivators amidst all those everyday pressures and routine living, reconnect with them.

Review your knowledge, skills and talents. If you were to estimate the extent to which you are using them today, what percentage would you say? 80% plus or much less? If much less, negotiate ways to use them more fully and take steps to do just that.

Set yourself a target of trying something new or doing something different at a frequency that stretches you.

Break free of mundane routines and climb out of that rut that you may have accidently fallen into.

If you discover that you are just moving through each day/week/month, take steps right now to change what you’re doing and enjoy doing it!

Coaching… A Choice Point, A Launchpad or Both?

An essential feature of coaching is the dedicated time and space to think, analyse, review, debrief, without any risk of being judged or criticised. The objectivity of the coach is an important feature of coaching.

Sessions provide a ‘quiet’ place and an opportunity to filter thoughts and ideas, to step back from pressures, strains, all of that surrounding noise and busyness, to gain clarity and fresh perspectives.

Coaching is not a 2-way street; there is no need for reciprocation. A session focuses 100% on the client, their goals, their choices, their achievements.

Quite often there is a breakthrough moment when everything suddenly becomes clear and straightforward, when decisions or actions that previously had felt overwhelming now present as much more straightforward and attainable. Choices can be made from a position of strength and actions implemented within a results-oriented framework.

Success Snapshot

• Alan is a middle manager who was encountering a big dip in confidence and motivation at work following a prolonged rough patch and a fair bit of criticism from his managers and colleagues
• His personal relationships with his partner and family were suffering and he was struggling to see a way forward
• Because Alan was entering the coaching programme on a low ebb, we needed to increase his energy and motivation before we could begin to explore ways forward
• We concentrated on his strengths, what he enjoyed doing, what he was good at, what he used to do but had given up, new pursuits that interested him, ideas that inspired, professional and personal achievements that illustrated his multiple skill-sets and competence
• Enabled by a fresh and more positive frame of mind, Alan used our early sessions to debrief and review the events and circumstances of the 9 month period that had (a) consumed his energy and motivation, and (b) eroded his confidence and abilities as a manager
• We sifted facts from assumptions and separated contributing factors (that could be evidenced) from the more subjective, emotional interpretations
• We determined what could have been done differently or better and what – now being viewed from a more balanced and objective perspective – had been handled satisfactorily or well
• Over the course of the programme, we worked to progress Alan’s career goals, ideas for introducing more creativity into his work role (lateral thinking and idea generation were amongst Alan’s then untapped talents), and leisure and fun activities with his partner and son for greater life balance
• Journey goals included building a professional portfolio of projects, achievements and ideas, applying techniques for managing the challenges presented by a strong-minded and sometimes undermining team, creating opportunities for using those challenges to define acceptable/unacceptable team behaviours, promoting a stronger team identity and a partnership agreement
• Over the period of 2-3 months Alan regained his confidence and progressed his creative ideas at work
• During the second half of the programme – months 3-4 – he determined to commit to his employing organisation (he had been looking to leave) and pursue ideas with his line manager.  He received great feedback from peers and managers who commented on his transformation
• In parallel, he invested more time in the leisure interest that inspired him, with the longer term ambition of growing it into a business at an appropriate point in the future
• Reflecting on his coaching journey, he described himself as feeling pretty lost, aimless and downhearted before coaching and, though cautious because he didn’t know what to expect, he was clear that the programme had enabled him to dust himself off, take stock and see the wood from the trees. This – in his eyes – had motivated him to regain his foothold in a demanding, professional environment and take control.

A typical coaching programme is time-limited and relatively short-term. 1:1 sessions can be delivered face-to-face or by telephone or Skype. In Alan’s case, we used the telephone which actually helped with focus and concentration.

There needs to be sufficient time between sessions for the client to take the steps or complete actions that they commit to. Frequency of sessions can, therefore, vary. Whilst some clients favour weekly sessions to establish and maintain momentum, fortnightly or 3-weekly tends to be the norm, often extending to monthly or longer as the programme moves into its final phase.

All good coaches will sign-up to coaching programmes themselves. To promoters of Continuing Professional Development and performance improvement, it makes absolute sense, as does goal-setting. Meet a highly motivated, successful person and, more times than not, there will be time-framed goals involved.

Coaching delivers gains on multiple fronts.

In Alan’s case, it delivered measurable benefits for his employer, his managers, his colleagues, his team and, importantly, for his family.

Gains – because they involve the adoption of a new proactive mindset and changes to attitude, perspective and behaviours – are long-term.

Comparing direct teaching/training to coaching [I am qualified to comment on both], coaching – particularly when reinforced with mentoring – delivers longer lasting, positive results that are wide ranging and extensive in their impact.

To answer the headline question: Yes, I definitely see coaching delivering both a choice point and a launchpad…

So… is recycling always the best option?!

There could be no chance of missing the fact that it is JANUARY – the start of a new year here in the UK, 6 weeks ahead of the Chinese New Year beginning 10th February.

For the past 2 weeks my doormat has been strewn with flyers for weight loss and get fit programmes, fresh starts and a new me! TV ads are publicising celebrity endorsed fitness DVDs, calorie counted ready meal home delivery services AND even healthy snack trays for people who want to adopt a healthy approach to grazing in-between the calorie counted meals… Does that mean, then, that I can hand over full responsibility for my eating habits as I commit to leading a healthier lifestyle? Now there’s some food for thought involving zero calories.

There are also the familiar cruise promotions and exclusive designer/holiday opportunities. Can an exclusive club be openly promoted? Maybe it’s the selection that is exclusive? Budget availability will – I feel sure – be a key determinant for whether access is denied or not. Interesting indeed…

Before Christmas I asked, If you were penning a stand-up routine for yourself, headlining ‘2012 Gains’, what would you include? What would you leave out and for what reason? What are the stand-out moments? How have you changed? What are your priorities? What are your plans?

If you are somebody who is keen on New Year resolutions, you may choose to review how you got on with what you resolved to do through 2012.

If you find that you are carrying forward the same resolutions at the strike of midnight on the 31st of every December, just check whether those resolutions sit more comfortably in a category of ‘ongoing journey’.

If resolutions are about good intentions that are meaningful and motivational, I’m up for them, although I would definitely recommend limiting their number.

If you are seriously committed to making changes or improvements – personal, professional, or both – then resolutions need to be worked up in more detail. We’re talking now about goal setting and action planning.

Our goals may relate to longer term ambitions (eg, what/where/how we want to be in a year’s time, 18 months from now, in 5 years’ time) or medium-term (looking at the next 6-9 months, say).  It’s for each of us to determine our timeframes and timeline allowances.

For the person who is spontaneous, immediate and very present, talking 6 months from now could well feel so remote that it becomes meaningless or painful!

As a general rule, IF our commitment and intention to see goal(s) through to achievement are both strong, we should expect to be taking action and making progress within the next 4 months.

What’s key is being able and motivated to commit to those steps we are ready to take between now and our target completion dates. Beyond the next 3-4 months and actions tend to become less clear and definite.

If we have a long-term end goal (eg, to have relocated to Scotland by June 2014), journey goals need to be defined and timeframed. Relocation to Scotland could remain an ambition or aspiration unless we get proactive about making it happen. Making it happen requires mapping, prioritising and taking control of those aspects of a relocation that are controllable AND being prepared to grab or create opportunities for ourselves.

Project planning principles come into play big style. Being clear about milestones  – where we need to be or what we need to be doing by when – can contribute significantly to the timely achievement of end goals.

Even shorter term and more straightforward goals benefit from milestone mapping.

Milestones enable us to track our progress and incentivise our onward journey. If our goals change en route, that’s okay provided we make a conscious decision to adjust or redefine them.

Aha… we’re now pinpointing the source of those repetitive, vague, frustrating resolutions that we keep talking about, recycle almost as a matter of routine, but don’t quite manage to see through to completion.

Goal setting and achievement involves a structured change process that calls for proactivity, commitment and incentives!

A balanced perspective comes into play too, taking into account what works well for us, our strengths, skills, talents and motivators.

What’s the real driving force for achieving that goal?!  Plug into it and draw energy from it.  It’s a resource that needs to be kept charged if it is to be harnessed to sustain momentum…

Here’s WISHING YOU A GREAT 2013, full of proactivity and exciting journeys!

Top Tips for becoming more positive

You know that old adage, ‘Smile and the whole world smiles with you‘? There’s also that glass measurement, ‘Half full or half empty‘.

If you are running on half empty, sayings like these can be [bleep, bleep – please feel free to insert your own vocabulary here!] annoying.  That said, there is definitely something in them.

Notice people around you – without being too obvious or harassing anybody – and consider their personas, how they approach challenges, how they manage change, the quality of their interactions. Who do you admire? Who do you warm to? And… who would you choose to work with?

Who would you reeeally like on your team at work or play?

I’m not presuming anything fantastic here because there are lots of factors and variables that will affect us. One assumption I am making is that most of us do not automatically gravitate towards the person who constantly looks for flaws and faults, who continually raises more arguments against than for, who frowns more than they smile, and who can – at their absolute peak – suck the life force out of everybody around them. [By the way, I am talking norms here – this attitude and behaviour are the norm for this particular person. It’s not a case of somebody temporarily going through a rough patch.]

We know full well that we can all change IF (a) we decide to and (b) we really really want to. We’re talking about reprogramming our thinking and our automatic reactions to situations. Speaking personally, I am not wanting to smile and whistle all the time, but I do want to adopt a more Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) that serves me well in what I do and how I interact with people. Here are some tips which you might like for starters…

1. Be self-aware (more than usual): Set yourself a timeframe (eg, 3 days, a week) to notice your attitude, your language, how you respond and react to different people and situations. Do you bring out the best in people? Do you contribute to things as positively and proactively as you can? What do you contribute? What do you ‘bring to the table’?
2. Notice your language: As a basic starter, notice your use of negative stock phrases like ‘Not too bad’ (in response to ‘How’s it going?’), ‘I don’t see why not’ (in response to ‘Can we do X…?’). Practise switching to more definite and positive vocabulary and phrasing, if you need to. It’s the increasing self-awareness and consciousness that are important here.
3. Take small steps to test out a new approach: This is about setting yourself some goals to break subconscious negative habits/patterns and consciously replace them with better habits/patterns. Eg, when you automatically think ‘This won’t work because…’, stop yourself and come up with 2 reasons why it could (or will) work. You could even adopt this as a team approach.
4. Have realistic expectations: If you are a perfection seeker, when do you feel satisfied? Whilst a continuous improvement philosophy can be a necessity, take time to recognise and enjoy what’s working well right now. Similarly, good enough can be good enough. Invest greatest effort and energy in what is most important.
5. Balance perspectives: Avoid letting worry, or fear of success or failure, become big stumbling blocks. Failure is actually an outcome that can be changed. Facing up to fear inducing tasks or situations, and then devising a strategy for working on them, can grow PMA. It’s the action of taking control that provides uplift and momentum for change.
6. Adopt a solution focus: Instead of analysing a problem (which can actually escalate it by placing emphasis on blame, causal factors, negative impacts and consequences), adopt an alternative perspective. By defining how you want something to be can open up the mind to options and unlock solutions. The more detailed you can be, the clearer you will be about your starting position. What’s working well right now? What should you do more of? What isn’t working for you so needs to stop? What experience and skills can you use? What resources can you call upon? What steps can you take right now to make things happen?

Let me know what you think! If you need to check anything, get in touch.  Ditto, if you have any experiences to share.

Pin-board magic!

No matter how upbeat or positive we may be as people, there are going to be rough patches and tough times when energy levels dip, everything feels like an effort and motivation flatlines. 

For a lot of us, dips can be seasonal; Winter Blues are very real for many people.  Then there are those times when it seems as though life is all about work and very little play, when work patterns and routines become difficult to break.

If you feel that you’ve forgotten what fun is, you might like to adopt the simple and relatively low cost idea based on the designer’s theme or mood board.  You can label it whatever you like – fun, inspiration, uplift, va va voom, new things to try – whatever works best you.  If you like the sound of it, here’s how you can develop it:

1.   Purchase a pin-board or a magnetic whiteboard, whatever your budget allows. It needs to be a size that can be displayed on a permanent basis in your home (or office, if using it for work) and needs to be accessible and visible without climbing over furniture.  I would suggest a size that’s large enough to accommodate a collection of 20-30 ideas and pictures. Choose a display position where you can stand in front of it, cup of tea or coffee in hand, to peruse at your leisure (much as you would a public notice-board, minus the coffee!).  You might want to opt for a shared ideas board for the family, for you and your partner, or you might opt to set up more than more board.  If the latter, try the idea out first to see if it works.

2.   Start collecting ideas that excite you – leaflets, articles, media features, postcards, imagery, flyers, photos, places to visit, people to meet, forthcoming events and activities, shows, productions, classes, gardens, walks… (the list is endless).  You know the types of thing I mean – it’s that something that you notice in passing that causes you to react, ‘Oooh I like that idea’, ‘I really fancy trying that’, ‘I’ve always wanted to have a go at that….’ – before your everyday life pushes it to the back of your mind and extinguishes the little spark of magic that fizzed up when you first read, saw or heard it.

3.   Pin up whatever you collect, but only IF the idea still appeals to you by the time you do so.  Keep every item visible.  The more colour and pictures, the better for those of us who are motivated visually.  If you like to be methodical and well organised in your approach, you might want to apply headings or themes such as ‘places to go’, ‘people to meet’, ‘new things to try’, ‘recommended eateries’, ‘theatre productions’, ‘local walks’, ‘holiday ideas for the kids’, ‘stress relief for me’…  The more attractive the display is to you, the better it will work in giving you a bit of uplift when you need it.

4.   The pin-board is effectively a living ‘list’ for you to manage.  At regular intervals (I suggest a minimum of once a month), you need to sift through your assortment of ideas.  If the ideas still appeal and are still relevant to you, keep them.  If they’ve faded or you think there’s no way that you’ll follow them through, scrap them.  Be quite firm about this.

5.   Make a commitment to make at least 1 of the ideas happen every 3 months, but more/more often if it’s possible and affordable. 

6.   Finally, but very importantly, when you are feeling at a low ebb and in need of a bit of revitalisation, make a cup of your favourite beverage, put on some good music (preferably with an upbeat) and peruse your ideas’ board.

This concept works well for specific goals too, such as adopting a healthier eating plan, increasing your fitness, refurbishing a room or house, upgrading the garden, learning a new skill, taking up a new sport.  In this case, you would collect items for display that are relevant to your goal, preferably that make you smile or feel excited, or that are good motivators for achieving your goal.  Pictures and photos really can work a lot of magic!

Let me know if you like the idea or if you already use something similar that works well for you when you need that bit of uplift…

It would be great to hear from you.

What’s the problem? Announcing a platform change!

Have you ever noticed how problem-solving can actually emphasise all of the negative aspects – What’s not working?, What or who is to blame?, The causal factors?, The impacts and the consequences? 

The whole process often leads to a prolonged look backwards and in-depth analysis of the component parts and contributing factors.

A detailed re-run of events – Who did or said what?, What happened exactly?, Why did they do that?, What on earth were people thinking of? – brings to the surface raw emotions, accusatory posturing and reactionary defensiveness, whipping up puffy gusts of disharmony, dissatisfaction and out-and-out disgruntlement.

Even the simple and seemingly open question, ‘What’s wrong?’ can lead the person being asked to frame their reply from a negative perspective. 

Speaking personally, once I’ve plugged into a problem I can find myself sucked into it to such an extent that my energy and, quite often, my clarity of focus get zapped.  By the end of the exploration of my problem I’m left pretty much drained of any enthusiasm or gusto that could, if applied differently from the outset, propel me towards a resolution. 

There’s also that fascinating human tendency either to talk a problem up or play it down depending on the circumstance of the problem airing and the company in which we are orchestrating the problem sharing!  Either way, the factual accuracy and objectivity surrounding the problem become fuzzy at best or radically distorted at worst! 

Maybe, then, it’s more than just a good idea to change platforms for viewing destinations and solutions?  From my perspective, as a coach working with people to achieve positive changes and improvements in their professional and personal lives, it’s pretty much essential!

A solution focus – a cornerstone of an effective coaching process – will lead you to look forward to how you want things to be when the problem is resolved.  It means you have to look at things differently, from a completely different perspective.

By defining how you want something to be opens up your mind to options and unlocks solutions. 

The more detailed you are about how you want something to work or look or feel, the clearer you can be about your starting position… 

• What’s working well for you right now? 
• What should you do more of? 
• What isn’t working for you so needs to stop? 
• What experience and skills can you use? 
• What resources can you call upon (meaning people, knowledge, skills, and experience, rather than purely financial)? 
• What steps can you take right now to make things happen?

Adopting a solution focus reroutes your mindset from deficits and shortcomings to a much more constructive and, therefore, liberating consideration of possibilities, ways ahead, and, importantly, those actions that you feel ready and motivated to take.

Appraising strengths, what’s going well, what’s being worked towards, and those resources already in place to get there, generates momentum and motivation.  Whilst talking about a problem can actually escalate it (or, at least, not alleviate the feelings of negativity that surround it) because of the tendency to make assumptions and subjective analyses, a solution focus offers a much more comfortable and positive platform for embarkation.

Next time you get stuck in a problem – whether it be your own or another person’s – invest in this alternative approach.  It can be mighty powerful and deliver great results! 

If you need to check anything about the process, please do get in touch.  Ditto, if you have experiences or comments to share. 

I will be delighted to hear from you!

Feeling a little bit of discomfort means you’re alive!

Working with so many different and interesting people, I continue to be intrigued by the differences in the width and depth of our comfort zones. 

For the adventurers, stretching (and then stretching their stretch) is non-negotiable.  It’s essential sustenance for their life force.  The very thought of sticking within comfort zones causes panic and palpitations.  It’s the equivalent of a ball & chain padlocked around both ankles, not just one. 

For security seekers, knowing boundaries is of paramount importance for a continuing sense of wellbeing.  Contentment comes from familiarity, stability, and a desire to maintain the status quo (if it’s okay).  Routines and solid foundations can be clung to like buoys when waters turn choppy.  Trusted and long-time relationships are held close, sometimes at the expense of new acquaintances who have to prove that they are trustworthy, dependable and reliable. 

Am I exaggerating my descriptions?  For sure I am…  AND, yes, I’m simplifying like mad.  You could come up with a great long list of people types when it comes to the challenge of change…  The question is, though, can you identify with either of my 2 descriptions, even if you don’t agree with them in their entirety?  What we’re talking about are big differences in the boundaries we place around ourselves AND in how we each react when other people or circumstances push at those boundaries.

Please understand that a desire for security isn’t unusual.  Coaching goals relating to increased stability and security in life are very, very valid.  As a coach and mentor, I support and encourage a wide range of people in the achievement of such goals.  There is an exception to this, though.  If somebody is playing it so safe that it’s costing them their potential, if they are setting themselves boundaries so tight that they are becoming restrictive, if somebody is feeling increasingly trapped or stuck, that’s when adopting different perspectives through coaching takes on the value of gold.  What are the reasons for tight boundary setting?  Are there pros to balance the cons?  What are the restrictions costing?  What are the motivators for nudging those boundaries (maybe just a little bit at first)?  I’m simplifying again, I know!  What really matters to me is that each person gets the opportunity to be their best, to realise potential, to be confident to try new things, to enjoy what they do, to minimise regrets or feelings of resentment.

Adventurers and security seekers position themselves at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to comfort and stretch zones.  Both will move into panic zones on occasions, but for opposite reasons.

Is either position right or wrong?  If it works for the person, then it must be okay, right?  If they’re happy and motivated, then all’s got to be well, don’t you think?  But therein lies the dilemma…  If we don’t stretch ourselves, surely we’re missing out on new experiences, exciting opportunities and the potential to broaden our horizons? 

Is it the size of the stretch or the amount of control we have over that stretch that is the deal maker or breaker?  For sure, stress levels can shoot up for any one of us when choice is removed.  Somebody pushed to move out of their comfort zone before they’re ready, when they’re feeling unsure, vulnerable or reluctant, could well react with forceful emotion and resistant manoeuvring.  Heels may firmly be dug into the ground with a steadfast refusal to budge, the threats to their boundaries may be scrutinised and appraised with suspicion, a battle of wills fought with whoever or whatever is doing the pushing…  If you are the person trying to get the other person to stretch, you’re going to have to support the stretch and empower the person to be able to make some shifts.  Your skills will come to the fore in facilitating the stretch in appropriately sized increments, drawing out the person’s potential, revealing their motivators as resources to sustain it, and highlighting their progress and achievements.

Talk to an Olympian about stretch; it’s what’s got them to the Games.  They’ll tell you success comes from pushing their boundaries to the limit, driving themselves to exceed their best, looking forward, not backwards.  Motivation comes from achievement, so they keep setting new goals to push themselves further, exceed previous limits, and increase their physical and mental fitness.  Their spirit is fierce and the passion for their sport unquashable.  Their enthusiasm is infectious and their commitment inspiring. Here are people truly focused on going for gold.

Is it important to participate at the peak of your fitness, to perform to the best of your abilities, to be able to look back at an event in your life and know you gave it your all, you had one of the greatest experiences of your life?  I say ‘YES’!  I’m going to be cheesy here, so have your indigestion tablets at the ready…

If, with hand on heart, you feel confident that you are living to your fullest, enjoying the ride, collecting experiences, achieving ambitions, growing your knowledge, honing your skills, sharing your wisdoms, expanding your comfort zone, then I reckon you’re well on your way to becoming a gold medal winner.

A good friend of mine had her life cut short by breast cancer.  She didn’t know how long she had left to live, but she knew she was coming close to handing over her legacy.  When we met up for a lazy lunch, she looked fabulous.  Wearing her killer stilettos – in defiance of her consultant’s assessment of her skeleton’s performance (the cancer had spread to her bones) – she dwarfed me!  Her self-appraisal concluded that her appearance mattered to her, so why would she stop being vain (her word, not mine) now?  And yes, she still wanted to shop for latest trends and footwear that enabled her to walk tall and proud.

She was generous with her wisdom-sharing that day, though I don’t think she actually recognised it.  Already, she was stretching the boundaries of her medical assessment, not in terms of the cancer treatment, but her body’s capabilities.  As long as she could walk in mega heels, she would do so, which included clicking along the hospital corridors to her chemo sessions.  One key thing she would do differently, looking back from her new (and imposed) perspective?  She wouldn’t waste so much time cleaning her house (part of her Friday evening routine, after a full working week).  She would spend that time doing things she enjoyed (including eating butter instead of low fat spread!) and trying new things that she’d never tried.  All of the everyday/work issues that she used to niggle about had shrunk dramatically in their significance.  She had bigger and better things to do, so that’s what she made her priority for her remaining 6 months.  She made a conscious shift from security seeker to adventurer.

I learnt a lot from this friend and I think her legacy should be shared.  It may sound like a cliché, but life really does move at a fast pace (and with great stealth if you let it); none of us can afford to let it pass us by.  Are you paying enough attention to how you live your life and the improvements you can make to get the most out of whatever you do?

How brave are you when it comes to trying new things?

Let me know what you think.  It would good to hear from you…