Category: Motivation | Leadership

Posts related to motivation and leadership.

Facing the Giants…

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I finally watched the whole movie of facing the giants as described in my earlier post. It is a very motivational movie. However, I was surprised that is based around god and the love of god to make it a success. With having lived in the US for a year a few years ago, I know how important Christianity is in the US and that it helps people to motivate. However, it does not matter which faith you are as long as you believe in something, and someone – yourself. I am not a great believer in contemporary church but find my spiritual guidance through Buddhism. Latter helps me to stay focus, help others and be motivated in personal life as well as in corporate life. What wonders me sometimes is that there seems to be this “YES WE CAN” attitude in the USA, the American Dream that just this week was supported by the first ethnic minority president to be in the world. A country that has this approach will always be more confident and be more successful. In Germany where I grew up and I believe it is similar in most European countries, this attitude is not on

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books to read this autumn (or not to read) – and NLP ;-)

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You remember I was writing about this NLP book I got at the train station. I now finished it. The author is: Lindsey Agness, Change your LIfe with NLP. Why am I happy to reveal the book now? Because I want to warn anyone to read it. Sorry, Lindsey, I don’t wanna say you did not have good intentions to write this book. But, this book talks about how NLP helped you through relationships and how it helped your kids to anchor nice situations and being less afraid. My personal opinion is that you should have written a book about “how NLP helped me” and then recommended some really good books on NLP. Anyone who asks me about a nice introduction to NLP I recommend this NLP book by O’Connor and Seymour. Of course, maybe I am not the target audience having a Master Practitioner in NLP for over 5 years. And yes, Lindsey’s book was a nice recap of some techniques, but sorry, it was not a good introduction to NLP. Maybe it was not intended to be one and just a marketing tool to attract people to your courses? What really annoys me about books like this and

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Seminar GTD (Getting Things Done) by David Allen

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Hello, good morning. Early for a Saturday, but my head is spinning full of ideas. Why? I went to David Allen’s seminar “Getting Things Done”. Wow! I wrote about it before. David is an inspirational speaker and trainer. After reading his book I noticed that I have put 80% into practise and that I need another 20% to achieve excellence. I now know how – I just need to do it. How does it stick, how do you motivate yourself, and, how do you not lose that motivation. Latter will be key, but is key to anything. Stopping smoking or starting to play Golf. What is so good about GTD? David developed his system over 25 years. Looking at it, it is simple. Baby Steps. All he does is breaking down purpose in live (50,000 feet), vision (40,000 feet), goals (30,000 feet), Area of Focus (20,000 feet), Projects (10,000 feet) into direct ACTIONS that then need tasking. And, he developed a great way of tasking in various categories, e.g. home, office, plane, calls etc. The powerful way of combining control with perspective. Motivation with Coaching. Without trying to simplify, but there is the coaching aspect of setting goals and visions

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Be more Assertive

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In “personal success”, a magazine I get from the Coaching Academy, I found an article from Rebekah Fensome about Assertiveness. I summarize her 10 points I found very valuable: Clear communication Take responsibility Don’t apologise when you don’t need to Use strong verbal and body language Are you being listened to? Get out your comfort zone Stick to the facts Keep it objective Observe assertive role models Reward yourself Found that picture here. I think Rebekah put a nice little list together here with the basics of assertiveness. Lots of Success Volker

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NLP revisited – going back to basics?!

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Good day, I have written a lot about NLP before. And, as most people know, I did my Master Practitioner in NLP in 2003, which is now unbelievable 5 years ago. Often, I wonder how much I have incorporated NLP in my daily life, my daily thinking and how much it has affected my work and life. I come to the conclusion that it probably has but I that I have not had this “wow effect” which changed my life and made me that “super hero”. I don’t even think NLP does that. My changes and my help from NLP were suttle. They came slowly and they last. Now, a few weeks ago, I was waiting for a train and didn’t have a magazine or book with me. So I went into WHSmith to see what was available. I bought a book about NLP, “change your life with NLP”. To be honest, I am very very curious of reading this book. Deliberately I am not naming the author because it seems to be one of those books that have been written on the back of really good NLP books. This one made it to the shelf for the masses and

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Opus Movie

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I read on MItch’s blog about the Opus Movie. It is made by Joe Vitale, who is also behind the Secret Movie which is based on the Law of Attraction. I am not sure if that is all I have to believe. E.g. I believe in 2,000,000 pounds in my bank account and they arrive. I do believe that but I would not “put money on it”, literally. However, what about health, partnerships, friendships. Can we just wish what we wish for and it comes true, because we set our mind to it. If so, the theory of putting your mind to it and you gain what you are aiming for is not overly new, is it? Anything you work hard for, your goal, your personal opinion of what you can achieve – I believe you will be able to achieve it, setting your mind to it and taking the baby steps towards it. Action it! We write a lot about fulfilment and purpose of life at this Buddhist blog. Here is my first poll:

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Dan Millman Seminar London

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I went to see Dan Millman in London yesterday. I admit I was VERY tired and not really receptive. But, on a whole, I was expecting much more. Dan is a very motivational speaker, mainly addressing, at least from my point of view, very basic “human issues”. Things like how to motivate myself or how to get into a routine are just very basic principles. Honestly, a nice talk with lots of quotes about life and nice little advise on how to improve your living on earth and make a difference. To be compassionate and a good human being. Sorry, Dan, you did not convince me. The peaceful warrior is a great book to read and I took a lot out of it. But the seminar did not convince me. Maybe, I have passed that stage that I need initial motivation. My Buddhist way of life and the combination of powerful tools from NLP and personal development will do the trick as much as your spiritual wisdom. Thanks anyway, for an inspiring night. Yours Volker

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work life balance

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I think the last time I wrote about work life balance was regarding the entrepreneur and intrepreneur. A thought I had was when I have been working from home, which happens occasionally, whether I have a better or worse work-life-balance. And, the answer is difficult. I remember that studying for my MBA we discussed that if you work from home, you should get your own room/desk and area in the house. This way you could “go home” after work and relax, e.g. getting your life. However, for me as an occasional “working from home” person, it is not that easy. A small house with only one proper desk, it is like you are in your living room all day. Often, when I discuss that with clients, I get the answer of “I would get too distracted at home” – I agree, some people can. For me it is usually the other way around: I get up my usual time and sit on the laptop about one hour earlier than I usually do. Then, from a lunch point of view, I eat whatever is around and never really feel hungry, ergo do not have a proper break until the late afternoon.

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Circumstances – getting things done!

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People always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them. – George Bernard Shaw This morning I finished GETTING THINGS DONE by David Allen. The above is a quote from his book. I must say, this book should be compulsory for everyone working. Full stop. Not only Managers, MDs – no everyone. Buy it directly at Amazon! It shows the right way and attitude on how to be organised, efficient and effective. No more time wasting unless you have too much spare time on you hands 🙂 And, you will – compared to your current status. You will love this book and the techniques shown. Also, there are Seminars in London: Two different seminars are being presented. The first, GTD Mastering Work Flow, presented on October 23, offers greater focus on actual implementation of the GTD methodology. This seminar is very tactically oriented – how to get quick control using the fundamental thinking process and the five phases of work flow mastery.  Led by senior David Allen

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Intrapreneurs and Entrepreneurs – work life balance

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Some Friday reading I picked up: MT article on Intrapreneurs, very interesting! And, same publication, one about entrepreneurs and work life balance. Very interesting stuff. Does that  mean I am better off and healthier if I work as an intrapreneur? Have a good weekend Volker

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