January 2012

Are you on track?

At this time of the year we are either still making New Year's plans or assessing whether we are on track with those goals we've only recently set. Often we need a reminder to keep on track - and I certainly got mine just a couple of weeks ago.

As you might remember, in our November 2011 newsletter I talked about something that was extremely important to me: the need to slow down and take notice of the things around me. As I titled the newsletter, I needed to take time to STOP! Some whales and dolphins at Noosa that I would have missed playing in the ocean if I hadn't slowed down on a coastal forest run, showed me that big time.

Earlier this month I was fortunate enough to have a holiday with my wife in Byron Bay, a beautiful beachside town located in the far-northeastern corner of New South Wales, Australia. And when I took what is the famous walk to the lighthouse, I saw down below in the ocean not one or two dolphins, but a massive school of them frolicking in the water.

It was as if those dolphins were holding me accountable to my goals. It's one thing to set goals, another thing to maintain the discipline and focus needed to achieve them.

Many of us verbalise what we are going to do then have a tough time committing to following it through. I printed my goals in a newsletter and then was lucky enough to have those dolphins remind me to stick at it!

So what are your goals for this year? Will you have the courage to stick with the program? Do you have the appropriate support crew around you?

A gentleman I spoke to in a Byron Bay cafe said his goal this year was healthy eating - while he tucked into bacon and eggs and a hot chocolate with extra chocolate! So often you have heard me refer to "Easy to do. Easy not to do. It's your choice!" It's the accumulation of these "small" choices that leads to massive impact on your life. Your ability to have a positive influence on other people starts firstly with you caring about yourself.

I spent considerable time with another gentleman who made it very clear that the number one priority in his life was the quality time he was going to spend with his young family. He recognised that the time he was spending on other pursuits was detrimental to his relationship with his kids. The starting point for him was going to be getting home earlier from work. When the first opportunity presented to deliver on the promise he had made to himself he chose instead to have a beer (or two or ...!) with mates at the pub after work. While time with friends is important too, he had taken his eye off his goal.

We have to renew our commitments daily. Maintain the discipline. We have to stay focused on the benefits of sticking with the program. Sure, there will be struggles and difficult times. That's normal. You know that you can't control the externals, but you can control your choices. Those choices include small steps in the right direction, the one-percenters every day that keep moving us towards those big picture goals.

Where do you stand right now, at the end of the first month of the year? Remember, we're in this together and when you honour those commitments for positive change in your life, it's not only you who reaps the benefits but also the people around you who you say you care about!

I wish the entire blackbelt in excellence community a happy, healthy, exciting and highly successful 2012.

Feedback on Peter's book "be the best you can be"

Hi Peter

I have finished reading your book which I was lucky enough to get at TLC Conference in Sydney.

It has really inspired me.

I just love your "WIN" idea....what's important now......when I get all staff to understand this principle the business will flourish...

I already knew some customers names but focus more now on addressing as many as possible by name...you can see the delight in their eyes that you actually know who they are...one dear customer aged 94 who comes in each day for his newspaper, he is the carer for his wife who is not well, actually makes eye contact with me each day as he heads off to the back of the shop for his paper, so I get to greet him with "Hi Harry, its good to see you today."

I intend to keep your book very handy & when I'm feeling a bit down or being over whelmed with all there is to do in the business I feel confident that by re reading your book answers will come my way!

Many thanks for lots of practical suggestions to improve my business.

Kind regards

Roz Gablikis, The Lucky Charm, Greenwood

Roz, your wonderful feedback is greatly appreciated. Focusing on remembering people's names will truly differentiate you and your business from so many others.

When "you can see the delight in their eyes that you actually know who they are", it not only makes someone else feel special but it makes you feel pretty good too!

Please feel free to email me at newsletter@blackbeltinexcellence.com.au

Thanks for joining me again this month. Keep well. And keep going.

If you'd like to book blackbelt in excellence for your next conference, workshop, seminar or success training, just click here. I'd be happy to talk to you about awe-inspiring ways I can lead you personally and your company forward into the future with confidence, energy and commitment.

And remember, I'm always happy to work one-on-one with you too.

blackbelt in excellence specialises in:

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To your success. be the best you can be.

Best wishes,

Peter Thurin
and the blackbelt in excellence team

61 407 568 416

www.blackbeltinexcellence.com.au

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