tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43268494516030772002024-02-07T02:37:22.979-08:00Kiaran Finn on Life Matters!Byte sized thoughts to engage, inspire and connect.Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-68391871527244234372017-11-12T00:27:00.001-08:002017-11-12T00:53:10.064-08:00<table class="wsite-not-footer" id="blogTable" style="border: 0; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%;"><tbody>
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<a class="blog-title-link blog-link" href="https://www.elite-performance-academy.com/blog/stress-less">Stress Less....</a>
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11/11/2017
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">On a scale of 1 -10 how #stressed are you? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">I overheard a small business owner respond '8' and my wife is at 9.5!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wow 9.5!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Incidentally
they don't reside in Syria, but do have two healthy kids, a house, car,
retirement portfolio, passive income and a multitude of friends and
family.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">There s a danger that we frame a downturn in our business
in such dramatic terms. Context is a great sanity drug.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">If we make
happiness an impossible Everest to attain then the moderate slings and
arrows of the daily grind really will bring us down.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Embrace the moment and dial down imagined fears.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7);">Con</span><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7);">nect on </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mybusinessgenie/" target="_blank">LINKEDIN</a><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7);"> if you like.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7);"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7);"><br /></span></span></span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mybusinessgenie/"><img alt="View my profile on LinkedIn" border="0" src="https://www.linkedin.com/img/webpromo/btn_linkedin_120x30.gif" /></a><br />
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<a class="blog-title-link blog-link" href="https://www.elite-performance-academy.com/blog/november-08th-2017">You Share The Planet With Almost 10% Of All Humans Who Have Lived Since 50,000 BC!</a>
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11/8/2017
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you are 50 years old or more you've shared the planet with at least 10% of all homeo sapiens who have lived since 50,000 BC.*<br /><br />(* Source </span>http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you were born yesterday the number is closer to 6%. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23population_growth&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED">#population_growth</a><br /><br />The
considerable upside is the cumulative intellectual abundance we're
exposed to. In 18 years we'll be competing for resources, power,
employment, status, significance...or collaborating with the estimated
350,000 new borns who showed up yesterday, will show up again today, and
everyday for the forceable future. <br /><br /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23Collaboration&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED">#Collaboration</a> is a much more sustainable long game.</span></div>
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Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-90506426324342121012017-11-03T23:14:00.001-07:002017-11-03T23:17:32.428-07:0099% Of What We're Worrying About WON'T Happen....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0VqEdOajS6ERWyqqixS6gNF4-3pT4aw537ZcibLh8R1eku4YqEnRI0jzDEtM9h9d0vpL45Jo_4yOJTNmvRdBwg6jn3hecEfZc0Kz0YNFpMTLZXzOyal97YnFjURSL0T_npbTPKB014w9/s1600/vid-ICDvL+%25281%2529.m4v" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0VqEdOajS6ERWyqqixS6gNF4-3pT4aw537ZcibLh8R1eku4YqEnRI0jzDEtM9h9d0vpL45Jo_4yOJTNmvRdBwg6jn3hecEfZc0Kz0YNFpMTLZXzOyal97YnFjURSL0T_npbTPKB014w9/s320/vid-ICDvL+%25281%2529.m4v" width="320" /></a></div>
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99% Of What We're Worrying About WON'T Happen on the scale, scope or mannar we're previewing it. More @ <a href="https://draft.blogger.com/www.elite-performance-academy.com/blog">www.elite-performance-academy.com/blog</a>Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-81954546054555373042017-10-28T00:07:00.000-07:002017-10-28T02:02:54.328-07:00Stop being Annoyed! 7 Day Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsgtbseyoXCd1kU6UkIAEIdP-EXG7VAza7sKWaeX1YjdDCCOGyIx6cjabWeLW8_dz3somtJ-O6tVQvQHjNLvu923H7nngeurzYXVN2UgnjhRtol5VBMs8bwNToiqY8pD_x9WkXsibBaOP/s1600/7-day-challenge_orig.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsgtbseyoXCd1kU6UkIAEIdP-EXG7VAza7sKWaeX1YjdDCCOGyIx6cjabWeLW8_dz3somtJ-O6tVQvQHjNLvu923H7nngeurzYXVN2UgnjhRtol5VBMs8bwNToiqY8pD_x9WkXsibBaOP/s320/7-day-challenge_orig.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Does <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23Social_Media&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED">#Social_Media</a> annoy you? <br />Do you feel like <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23detoxing&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED">#detoxing</a>? <br />Do other people's <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23opinions&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED">#opinions</a> annoy you? <br />What about <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23selfies&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED">#selfies</a>? <br />Perhaps the weather is at fault. <br />Certainly free to air TV must push your buttons. <br /><br />I'm
not sure it's even possible to avoid this state (#ANNOYANCE) for an
hour - perhaps this post, meme already mildly annoys you! <br /><br />Wouldn't it be interesting to delete this emotion for a week and see what happens. I suspect the impact would be profound. <br /><br />So here's my crazy game plan, maybe you'd like to give it a go. <br /><br />A
lifetime of stimulus and automatic response is difficult to rewire, but
perhaps an early awareness warning signal can allow us to catch the
annoyance thought early and reframe it. <br /><br />The reframe: 'being annoyed is WEAK' <br /><br />Not
a difficult belief to buy in to. A new thought response to a typical
annoying trigger, for instance a polarising comment completely at odds
with your world view... 'that's interesting!' <br /><br />It actually is, interesting that is, to note how quickly our annoyance abates when reframed. <br /><br />The
world reflects our petty biases. Observing behaviour without judgement
is an art, that I suspect can be crafted....I guess the next 7 days will
reveal something :)<br /><br /><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7);">Connect on </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mybusinessgenie/" target="_blank">LINKEDIN</a><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7);"> if you like.</span></span>Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-36398567719245547892017-10-27T23:58:00.002-07:002017-10-28T00:04:05.200-07:00TOP TWO THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHcOd2clUKdh-nid9jcmI2c4YH4nT5tIdeMJK8KLClatvhnfJ8uDobZJi-8bL6iBo8vvBEqFBDF2bMYuF9weG2Gl_zt3-VioAK13s2e0-MNWNIujf9Y4kBN7HgsIlX60w1xlczfF-mJxz/s1600/are-you-worrying-about-the-wrong-things_orig.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHcOd2clUKdh-nid9jcmI2c4YH4nT5tIdeMJK8KLClatvhnfJ8uDobZJi-8bL6iBo8vvBEqFBDF2bMYuF9weG2Gl_zt3-VioAK13s2e0-MNWNIujf9Y4kBN7HgsIlX60w1xlczfF-mJxz/s320/are-you-worrying-about-the-wrong-things_orig.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>TOP TWO THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT.</b><br />Perhaps we worry too much about the stuff least likely to show up or impact our lives. Some general <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23mortality_statistics&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED">#mortality_statistics</a> below (UNODC and Wikipedia)<br /><br /><u>WORLDWIDE DEATHS PER WEEK </u></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Sharks less than 1 </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Terrorism 490 </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Drowning 6900 </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Murder 8400 </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Falling 10700 </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Car Accidents 24000 </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The odds are most of us worry about stuff least likely to manifest or impact our lives catastrophically.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7);">Connect on </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mybusinessgenie/" target="_blank">LINKEDIN</a><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7);"> if you like.</span></span>Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-45865709438860824192017-10-12T02:31:00.000-07:002017-10-12T02:34:34.337-07:00My Psychological Heroin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGYxUfKIg15-H9kbkT3KJ0AYALC9WrKLK8oLisodYOBvinQ9m2fC5HYBHN-htJlqCo1cwt4DSNDK88LTnpK9jt_YtyUdz-xkHUiFNcS568mtGcRrpsR2AEjF644Buh9gGElc4dhX3414t/s1600/Focus+On+The+Problem.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGYxUfKIg15-H9kbkT3KJ0AYALC9WrKLK8oLisodYOBvinQ9m2fC5HYBHN-htJlqCo1cwt4DSNDK88LTnpK9jt_YtyUdz-xkHUiFNcS568mtGcRrpsR2AEjF644Buh9gGElc4dhX3414t/s400/Focus+On+The+Problem.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7); font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">When I left the UK an eon ago I cut the source of my psychological heroin addiction and life has never been the same since. </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23TV_Soap_operas&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED" style="background-color: white; color: #359bdc; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: large; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none;">#TV_Soap_operas</a><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7); font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">.<br /><br />Problems are entertainment. Particularly though not exclusively other people's problems. The weather is usually a great and predictable source of complaint that bonds even the most disparate of strangers.<br /><br />Discuss a problem on your social media feed and be guaranteed a frenzy of activity. We love to be outraged, for our sensibilities to be threatened, the bigger the problem the more ravenous we become.<br /><br />Revisiting the UK I was surprised how a 3 or 4 year absence had negligible impact on keeping up with the soap opera's storyline. Same characters, same issues, same outrage, same problems - ZERO solutions. It's cleverly addictive as it plays into our default tendency to be Victim/Problem orientated.<br /><br />When asked how I am, there's only one tone of response: 'terrific,</span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23tree&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED" style="background-color: white; color: #359bdc; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: large; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none;">#tree</a><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7); font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium; text-align: justify;">_bloody_mendous, </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23fan&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED" style="background-color: white; color: #359bdc; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: large; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none;">#fan</a><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7); font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">_bloody_tastic.' <br /><br />Not to be delusional or intentionally annoying but it goes to the state of mind that focuses on attracting positivity (solutions) and I'm baffled when I get limp beige responses from the non clinically depressed - dragging me back to my soap opera era...</span>Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-87736146933560056792017-10-04T02:44:00.001-07:002017-10-04T02:44:13.954-07:00Why Do Obnoxious People WIN?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhin-17E3iisL2ea_3AbLN8YuhaObOOEr5Ji8H5ok4wbJJ1R2rPHABi5JH_oszYWxna3HQ0IscnkD2FW9gr0gGnpILc-pYHcGlc1RyT7IEy3o6vwWT-4yKcE-OtsWICv8GmsX-_QeHPf4hq/s1600/Why+Do+Obnoxious+People+WIN-.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhin-17E3iisL2ea_3AbLN8YuhaObOOEr5Ji8H5ok4wbJJ1R2rPHABi5JH_oszYWxna3HQ0IscnkD2FW9gr0gGnpILc-pYHcGlc1RyT7IEy3o6vwWT-4yKcE-OtsWICv8GmsX-_QeHPf4hq/s400/Why+Do+Obnoxious+People+WIN-.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7);">Why do </span><a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23OBNOXIOUS&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED" href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23OBNOXIOUS&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED">#OBNOXIOUS</a><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7);">
people win so often? We've all probably been hired, fired, abused,
mistreated, the works by this species of owner/manager and wondered how
have they survived...thrived even.<br /><br />My take, pre-framed by my expression of utter disdain for any form of </span><a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23bullying&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED" href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23bullying&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED">#bullying</a><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7);"> behaviour in pursuit of a win. </span><a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23High_Energy&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED" href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23High_Energy&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED">#High_Energy</a><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7);"> gets results.<br /><br />To
split hairs I acknowledge that everything has a vibratory energy
happening - even rocks....but in communication terms and in the presence
of weak energy (ambivalence, disinterest, disengagement) higher energy
dominates.<br /><br />Leaders good and bad exude energy. </span><br /><br /><a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23Provocation&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED" href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23Provocation&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED">#Provocation</a><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7);"> = High Energy<br />SHOUTING!!! = High Energy.<br />Swearing = High Energy.<br /><br />The flip side of course is the energy and power of affirmative positive communication. Enthusiastic engagement = High Energy. </span><br /><a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23Praise&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED" href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23Praise&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED">#Praise</a><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7);"> = High Energy. </span><br /><a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23Passion&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED" href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23Passion&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED">#Passion</a><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7);"> = High Energy.</span></span>Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-40895110030898762622017-10-02T03:09:00.001-07:002017-10-02T03:44:32.313-07:00Fake News - It's All fake!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64aQnBUdtasxEje4JYejAhkk9zi7lRTvKwVGWUwJ5b5FidT_W-H-85_ibg2f1RnP8UW5Iz0WglUpkz-qhKa0GOBdWBRjcZVE23kJ1EBBIYXsFk_aBZLHH7NfeIyXmHgpVAQupSfm-P30f/s1600/It%2527s+All+Fake.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64aQnBUdtasxEje4JYejAhkk9zi7lRTvKwVGWUwJ5b5FidT_W-H-85_ibg2f1RnP8UW5Iz0WglUpkz-qhKa0GOBdWBRjcZVE23kJ1EBBIYXsFk_aBZLHH7NfeIyXmHgpVAQupSfm-P30f/s320/It%2527s+All+Fake.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255 , 255 , 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7); font-family: "source sans pro" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif , "hiragino kaku gothic pro" , "meiryo" , "hiragino sans gb w3" , "noto naskh arabic" , "droid arabic naskh" , "geeza pro" , "simplified arabic" , "noto sans thai" , "thonburi" , "dokchampa" , "droid sans thai" , "droid sans fallback" , , ".sfnsdisplay-regular" , "heiti sc" , "microsoft yahei" , "segoe ui"; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What's The </span><a class="hashtag-link ember-view" data-control-name="update_hashtag" href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23News&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED" id="ember12005" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0084bf; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro", Meiryo, "Hiragino Sans GB W3", "Noto Naskh Arabic", "Droid Arabic Naskh", "Geeza Pro", "Simplified Arabic", "Noto Sans Thai", Thonburi, Dokchampa, "Droid Sans Thai", "Droid Sans Fallback", -apple-system, ".SFNSDisplay-Regular", "Heiti SC", "Microsoft Yahei", "Segoe UI"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#News</a><span style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255 , 255 , 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7); font-family: "source sans pro" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif , "hiragino kaku gothic pro" , "meiryo" , "hiragino sans gb w3" , "noto naskh arabic" , "droid arabic naskh" , "geeza pro" , "simplified arabic" , "noto sans thai" , "thonburi" , "dokchampa" , "droid sans thai" , "droid sans fallback" , , ".sfnsdisplay-regular" , "heiti sc" , "microsoft yahei" , "segoe ui"; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in your world?
Once upon a time (maybe 5 years ago) The News was something our peers ( 20 Million+ Australians) were equally exposed to.
Today The News is something we're drip fed through algorithmic retargeting. We are someone's niche.
My possibly imminent trip to Bali makes volcanoes News to me. My incessant clicking on sporting websites determines The News I'm exposed to. Occasional succumbing to click bait delivers me some celebrity gossip (#FAKE_News?)
Our online connections' utterances deliver what appears to be News - except it's all FAKE.
We are served up a filtered reality based on our behaviours and associations. We can consume an almost infinitely small broadcast of current affairs so I'm cool with choosing that which inspires, energises and empowers my daily life.
Occasionally I try to remind myself that it's still FAKE - a filtered reality of what I've chosen to focus on.</span></div>
Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-74869234063208307152017-10-01T02:40:00.002-07:002017-10-01T02:42:07.390-07:00I'm OK You're OK!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCgdAxjgV9nMzBJmMVEmL_WIMAY2ONqGOcCGhcq5fuAjo8JHy6ffXBN-hjkf9_7h3LK6IK1dF_mv0Y_b8QjSHaaJ6tdYniIQTHl9tJup7nSK9retIjcCIpOjLoPw6QWxLuy9KG2MmVtQI/s1600/OK+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCgdAxjgV9nMzBJmMVEmL_WIMAY2ONqGOcCGhcq5fuAjo8JHy6ffXBN-hjkf9_7h3LK6IK1dF_mv0Y_b8QjSHaaJ6tdYniIQTHl9tJup7nSK9retIjcCIpOjLoPw6QWxLuy9KG2MmVtQI/s320/OK+.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7); font-family: "source sans pro" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif , "hiragino kaku gothic pro" , "meiryo" , "hiragino sans gb w3" , "noto naskh arabic" , "droid arabic naskh" , "geeza pro" , "simplified arabic" , "noto sans thai" , "thonburi" , "dokchampa" , "droid sans thai" , "droid sans fallback" , , ".sfnsdisplay-regular" , "heiti sc" , "microsoft yahei" , "segoe ui"; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There's a fake hierarchy or continuum ranging from </span><a class="hashtag-link ember-view" data-control-name="update_hashtag" href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23WINNERS&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED" id="ember9860" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #827be9; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#WINNERS</a><span style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7); font-family: "source sans pro" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif , "hiragino kaku gothic pro" , "meiryo" , "hiragino sans gb w3" , "noto naskh arabic" , "droid arabic naskh" , "geeza pro" , "simplified arabic" , "noto sans thai" , "thonburi" , "dokchampa" , "droid sans thai" , "droid sans fallback" , , ".sfnsdisplay-regular" , "heiti sc" , "microsoft yahei" , "segoe ui"; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> down to </span><a class="hashtag-link ember-view" data-control-name="update_hashtag" href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23LOSERS&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED" id="ember9863" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #827be9; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#LOSERS</a><span style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7); font-family: "source sans pro" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif , "hiragino kaku gothic pro" , "meiryo" , "hiragino sans gb w3" , "noto naskh arabic" , "droid arabic naskh" , "geeza pro" , "simplified arabic" , "noto sans thai" , "thonburi" , "dokchampa" , "droid sans thai" , "droid sans fallback" , , ".sfnsdisplay-regular" , "heiti sc" , "microsoft yahei" , "segoe ui"; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that we buy into online and by extension in life.
</span><a class="hashtag-link ember-view" data-control-name="update_hashtag" href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23Hustle&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED" id="ember9866" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #827be9; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#Hustle</a><span style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7); font-family: "source sans pro" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif , "hiragino kaku gothic pro" , "meiryo" , "hiragino sans gb w3" , "noto naskh arabic" , "droid arabic naskh" , "geeza pro" , "simplified arabic" , "noto sans thai" , "thonburi" , "dokchampa" , "droid sans thai" , "droid sans fallback" , , ".sfnsdisplay-regular" , "heiti sc" , "microsoft yahei" , "segoe ui"; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and WIN. </span><a class="hashtag-link ember-view" data-control-name="update_hashtag" href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23PERSIST&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED" id="ember9869" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #827be9; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#PERSIST</a><span style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7); font-family: "source sans pro" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif , "hiragino kaku gothic pro" , "meiryo" , "hiragino sans gb w3" , "noto naskh arabic" , "droid arabic naskh" , "geeza pro" , "simplified arabic" , "noto sans thai" , "thonburi" , "dokchampa" , "droid sans thai" , "droid sans fallback" , , ".sfnsdisplay-regular" , "heiti sc" , "microsoft yahei" , "segoe ui"; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and WIN. Get up at dawn and WIN. Closers WIN. Most views Win. Popular WINS..............................And yet it isn't so.
In this game there are winners and losers. This is a competition based on ego preservation.
Competition and collaboration are poor bedfellows and collaboration is a far better game.
Who are the losers when we close the deal, purchase the toy, get to #1? Everyone else - that's the message we're conveying.
The healthiest and happiest of us are identified by how we respond to the success of others not by the results showing up in our own lives.
One of the first books to make an impression on me was "I'm OK, You're OK" (#Thomas_A._Harris 1969) That's the eponymous message regardless of the results we're currently producing.
Chase alternate results, encourage others to identify new horizons but be wary the fallout of buying into populist definitions of success.</span></span></div>
Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-22210434819033014762017-09-26T06:52:00.002-07:002017-09-27T07:38:14.873-07:00What Gets You Out Of Bed In The Morning - Lights Your Fire?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8cxFDHVWGIJIF-UeUy_hrozroEIzZrqyUlKWwrkSnCETEZb_4WpF3mJlpfwOYJYIOWELryKW97Cb4E8OWXc0qBqP-N3JqmdtYl0QizB_xtyiYFRKj0qn_RlvDlz8GOgZUdBPcAEUlm0F/s1600/what-gets-you-out-of-bed_orig.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8cxFDHVWGIJIF-UeUy_hrozroEIzZrqyUlKWwrkSnCETEZb_4WpF3mJlpfwOYJYIOWELryKW97Cb4E8OWXc0qBqP-N3JqmdtYl0QizB_xtyiYFRKj0qn_RlvDlz8GOgZUdBPcAEUlm0F/s400/what-gets-you-out-of-bed_orig.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7);">What gets you out of bed in the morning - lights your fire? </span></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7);">Necessity ? (JOB to pay the bills) </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7);">Purpose? (Feels like it's in your D.N.A to pursue a vocation) </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7);">Competition? (The need to conquer an Everest, Corporate ladder ascension, to WIN) </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7);">The alarm clock? (Just going through the motions) </span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7);">For me I had a belated insight. I was pretty much useless, on any comparative ranking scale, at most things until I was 14. (<a href="http://www.elite-performance-academy.com/blog/how-to-change-your-life-a-personal-story" target="_blank">Origins and Academic Failure</a>)<br /><br />Academically
bottom 5%. Sport bottom 30%. Confidence bottom 10%. My insight is that
I can only operate when inspired. If teachers weren't inspiring, sports
coaches weren't inspiring, parents...then I needed to seek it out
elsewhere.<br /><br />What get's me out of bed? To Inspire and be Inspired.
It's an energy I seek out daily, offline, online, in every interaction.
It's my prozac, my caffeine, my shot, that flavours life.</span><br /><br />Connect on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mybusinessgenie/" target="_blank">LINKEDIN </a>if you like.</span>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://platform.linkedin.com/badges/js/profile.js" async defer></script><div class="LI-profile-badge" data-version="v1" data-size="medium" data-locale="en_US" data-type="vertical" data-theme="dark" data-vanity="mybusinessgenie"><a class="LI-simple-link" href='https://au.linkedin.com/in/mybusinessgenie?trk=profile-badge'>Kiaran Finn</a></div>Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-80043756067649092252017-09-26T03:22:00.003-07:002017-09-27T07:40:35.387-07:00Introverts Can Sell Too!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1x9JXedFO-GxaPjnWpwJrnOpJg85STEy8h28qe8JGFgoIFf-mBoW-DUBbPiT6qcDBslKPRK1n3TXXZIZzFUNxYxpIzKkeqOu3R5oXcTPrcoB7lHN4EtQm2fHzW0y6646SrAqB0f1BfUu/s1600/introverts-can-sell-too.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="735" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1x9JXedFO-GxaPjnWpwJrnOpJg85STEy8h28qe8JGFgoIFf-mBoW-DUBbPiT6qcDBslKPRK1n3TXXZIZzFUNxYxpIzKkeqOu3R5oXcTPrcoB7lHN4EtQm2fHzW0y6646SrAqB0f1BfUu/s400/introverts-can-sell-too.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Master the dark arts of selling and you will never be unemployed!<br /><br />Except of course that it's not a dark art.<br /><br />I
hear so many stories of genuine, authentic well meaning business owners
struggling because of their perceived lack of that killer sales
instinct. "it's just not me" they say to themselves and others.<br /><br />Sales
'tricks' such as tie downs, soft closes, hard closes, negotiated
closes, puppy dog closes....are not the domain of the introverted.</span><br />
<br />
<em>Disclosure:
I'm not fond of selling. I hate cold calling, particularly via the
telephone, and I'm overly sensitive to rejection. On the
introvert/extravert continuum I fall closer to the former. The real
kicker is my overly active empathy gene - I really don't want to disturb
you with my persistence, in fact at even the slightest hint I've over
stayed my welcome I'm liable to beat a hasty retreat. Perhaps some of
you can relate to this state of impotency.<br /><br />That said, you name it
I've sold it. Thousands of one on one face to face conversions,
cumulative tens of millions of dollars. Something incongruous it would
seem must be afoot.</em><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Most of us don't fit the
mould of the hard nosed sales closer. Many of them are natural
performers. They love the thrill of the chase. They can learn scripts,
master the psychology of communication, and never hear no. They are like
magicians, and they are few and far between.<br /><br />There is plenty of room for the rest of us.<br /><br />5
TIPS TO DRAMATICALLY AMPLIFY YOUR SALES CONVERSIONS - even if you're a
knock kneed weakling, whose afraid of your own shadow. And if that's you
I'm not judging....<br /><br /><u>Self talk:</u> 'I'm the best, I feel
terrific....' repeated for 1-2 minutes continually in the lead up to
your presentation. It's a mental self esteem warm up. Even Usain Bolt
probably the most naturally talented sprinter in sporting history needs
to warm up (mentally).<br /><br /><u>Control the Sequence:</u> Many a sales
cycle commences with RELAX, proceeding to DISTURB, followed by
SOLUTION, followed by TRANSACTION. Nothing good turns up in the absence
of rapport. Rapport is all about THEM - your prospect. Small talk
relaxes. Small talk connects. ALWAYS build rapport even if you think you
have limited time.<br /><br /><u>Posture:</u> "My time (sometimes explicit,
sometimes you speaking to yourself) is very valuable as is yours, I
have a few ideas that I think you'll find very valuable BUT if I don't
think we're a fit I'll make a courteous exit." Be prepared to walk away.
Diagnose before you prescribe. If you can't diagnose and be in
agreement then there is no prescription (transaction). If you are
desperate for the sale (prescription) your focus is in the WRONG place.<br /><br /><u>Questions.</u>
The more questions you ask the more problems you'll identify. Spend 90%
of your preparation on finding great questions, and 10% on presentation
techniques.<br /><br /><u>Don't ask for the sale!</u> 'Does that make
sense?' 'Do you see how this works?' 'Which looks best black or white?'
'What's your thought's on what I've shown you so far?'<br /><br />That last
incidental question reveals how well you've communicated your message,
and the answer you receive is the answer to a question you didn't ask.
"Will you buy from me?"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Introverts can be
confident. Confidence is a feeling of competence and practice and
success will build your confidence like a muscle that's continually
exercised. Just keep it simple, it's not a dark art, and empathy really
can be your ally.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-63196949000593795822017-08-14T02:14:00.001-07:002017-08-14T02:14:23.749-07:00Just FAKE It!<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaF_fEQeO36SIi8_E4QkgEhstxbCHcj7TYtMFydURk4ZpMQ-6Esg13cBIla-ZEI18DubVNjW9KHatyvlojm1aNGV8QDdSsloJsSuhi4dUDbq_JbM2hwRulQI4aEcVmeCIaDlVy9AqUGTY/s1600/Just+Fake+It%2521.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaF_fEQeO36SIi8_E4QkgEhstxbCHcj7TYtMFydURk4ZpMQ-6Esg13cBIla-ZEI18DubVNjW9KHatyvlojm1aNGV8QDdSsloJsSuhi4dUDbq_JbM2hwRulQI4aEcVmeCIaDlVy9AqUGTY/s400/Just+Fake+It%2521.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Bored? Fake interest.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
Insecure? Fake confidence.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
feeling dumb? Fake thinking like a genius.</div>
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Beliefs aren't real, they're filtered reality. What's interesting is that when we fake enthusiasm in even the most tedious of endeavours we become....you guessed it, enthusiastic.</div>
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Likewise when we wish to impress but feel nondescript and unworthy, nothing works better than acting impressed.</div>
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It's a myth to believe that anyone has a status superior to yours. It's a belief and can be altered. Fake it, not until you make it, (there is no making it) but until you wake up one day and realise it's no longer fake.</div>
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</style>Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-6116016282797504572017-08-14T01:56:00.002-07:002017-08-14T01:56:15.310-07:00Perfunctory...A 4 Letter Word!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1RPxV0Gr-RCRQZcS67DcTG7BVAXT6kD6UxERdEbDBDYWkQyeA2r1wBc9fhTlKZGxyOJtllOSZxJuSfyges4iE35ejCtA2MAtRB8_0ZUkXzooEAoV7pIqe2RyhVTTGB8jsxfeIfulfCDc/s1600/PERFUNCTORY.3+png.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1RPxV0Gr-RCRQZcS67DcTG7BVAXT6kD6UxERdEbDBDYWkQyeA2r1wBc9fhTlKZGxyOJtllOSZxJuSfyges4iE35ejCtA2MAtRB8_0ZUkXzooEAoV7pIqe2RyhVTTGB8jsxfeIfulfCDc/s400/PERFUNCTORY.3+png.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: justify;">There is probably merit in not getting too invested in what others think of us. Books have been written such as Mark Manson's "The Subtle art of not giving a F***!" that support this philosophy. However when you see this pervade business interactions it boggles the mind.<br /><br />We get harried. We have bad hair days that spill out into our business dealings. We get overwhelmed. We get complacent. The most common poison I see in business is 'perfunctory service' a label I'm assuming is an oxymoron.<br /><br />It's so hard to to earn a prospect, think marketing, branding, merchandising, and a multitude of other investments and we can blow it in a split second. We're tuned into recognising good service but even more acutely tuned in to perfunctory interactions.<br /><br />Usually it's poorly trained or monitored staff but it's always the owner's responsibility to recognise and respond. The reason it's so insidious is because it's just below the threshold of triggering a complaint but just irritating enough to lose a client forever.<br /><br />Consequently it goes unnoticed but the damage is lasting. </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23service&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED" style="background-color: white; color: #359bdc; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none;">#service</a><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: justify;">, </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23small_business&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED" style="background-color: white; color: #359bdc; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none;">#small_business</a><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: justify;">,</span>Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-53107947820740222592017-08-14T01:52:00.001-07:002017-09-25T07:40:19.611-07:00Universal # 1 International Best Seller....Nonsense!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfodhrhJLYhMQfBKPdBQGW6XDMuqW8gg1awC6C-WJiB67jfgGllT6BzWxdZn59dkvRrdpNGdpf3YuEsZOmeo6MhbzmwNrQBO4ojjWy0vrrWpDdyNC8E5HDma4hqb_FjyyfQVlYu4Oz_pZN/s1600/Universal%252C+Global%252C+International+%2523+Best+Seller.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfodhrhJLYhMQfBKPdBQGW6XDMuqW8gg1awC6C-WJiB67jfgGllT6BzWxdZn59dkvRrdpNGdpf3YuEsZOmeo6MhbzmwNrQBO4ojjWy0vrrWpDdyNC8E5HDma4hqb_FjyyfQVlYu4Oz_pZN/s400/Universal%252C+Global%252C+International+%2523+Best+Seller.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255 , 255 , 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">International Best Seller!
Are you impressed?...... Really? ........Why?
Social credibility is a things these days. It's measured via LIKES and SHARES and positive commentary. Sometimes I feel like I'm in the Wizard of Oz!
Every published author it seems has attained best seller status. The invisible small print may indicate a sub text such as 'best seller in a bookstore that sold one book last week'.
Animal Farm was an actual best seller, a feat I imagine 99% of readers under the age of 40 today would find bewildering.
When we scale embellishment too far we risk being unmasked. It's a common marketing tactic to author and then purchase the requisite number of books to hit #1 for at least a week. A brand can then be build around this lie.
Even those who achieve the status of popularity are still only popular within a niche - for instance there is a niche for flat earth adherents, but I'd question the merit of 'crushing' it. Is popularity really an achievement?
Authorship is neat. Content creation is neat. Purveyor of nonsense has an authentic ring to it. Ultimately representing ourselves for who we are warts, quirks and all is a real story worth sharing. </span><a class="hashtag-link ember-view" data-control-name="update_hashtag" href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23fake&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED" id="ember9716" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0084bf; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#fake</a><span style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255 , 255 , 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a class="hashtag-link ember-view" data-control-name="update_hashtag" href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23authenticity&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED" id="ember9719" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0084bf; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#authenticity</a><span style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255 , 255 , 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a class="hashtag-link ember-view" data-control-name="update_hashtag" href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/content/?keywords=%23Social_credibility&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED" id="ember9722" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0084bf; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#Social_credibility</a></span>Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-89644475512622759302013-09-29T23:56:00.001-07:002013-09-29T23:57:53.074-07:00To hell with the circumstances!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;">Fighting words! Our choice of words can define our perceptions of what's possible. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;">A circumstance is merely a label we use to describe an experience that we have already filtered through our senses. Usually </span><span style="text-align: start;">there's a sub text: 'give me break - what with the weather, the kids, the economy, my mother in law - under the circumstances.....' The sub text is: 'I have an excuse to procrastinate, and I can sleep easy by justifying my lack of activity due to those damn circumstances.'</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;">Do you want to drop 10 Kilo's or earn an extra $25k or learn Spanish, attain a black belt in a martial art, learn a musical instrument, write a book, travel to Brazil or any number of goals that at first sight seem daunting?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;">Beware those circumstances that your imagination has conjured up, just to keep you warm in the comfort zone of the ordinary. Dream BIG - and to hell with the circumstances - You live once - live it LARGE!!</span><br />
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connect @ <a href="http://www.facebook.com/5monthplan">FACEBOOK</a></div>
Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-64535717654105834452013-07-09T02:22:00.001-07:002013-07-09T02:22:38.496-07:00Leadership is a Decision<br />
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There's an apt saying: "Lead , follow or get out of the way." Indecision breeds confusion and disaster.<br />Leaders are not necessarily smarter than you or I, or indeed more worthy of following - how many leaders have led their followers towards oblivion?<br /><br />What leaders do however is get things done. They share their vision, attract an audience and dictate the direction of the activity.<br /><br />Opportunities abound but so few grasp the thorns, fearful of the illusion of failure and their perceived vulnerability to criticism and ridicule.<br /><br />The pity is that concepts such as right or wrong are just that. All great achievements are preceded by hitherto perceptions of failure. Whether or not the world agrees with your proposition that the earth is flat or that evolution is a myth, or any number of beliefs you hold, the opinion of the masses need not impact you expressing your own genius.<br /><br />leaders make things happen and get things done. They make mistakes and adjust their course. Followers are also moving in a direction. Ultimately followers may morph into leaders themselves, but the unfortunate unbelievers, those that fail to grasp the notion that self actualisation is a choice, the belief that one can steer their own course and destiny, will always fail to see beyond a set horizon.<br /><br />You can be do and have so much more than you may think possible if you could only truly believe that you are worthy of leadership. Share your passion, ignore the naysayers and be consistent and persistent and people will follow</div>
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<br />Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-33923867318048308572013-07-02T04:33:00.002-07:002013-07-02T04:38:42.278-07:00Don't waste time setting small goals!<span style="font-size: large;">If you actually set specific and measurable goals - then a big congratulations, because this puts you in fairly rarefied space.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Most people have an innate sense of ambition. At its extreme it's manifested in the alpha male and female equivalent, whereby this sub species competes to the death with everyone for attention. Whether it's The Great Gatsby, or the loud mouthed parent attempting to subvert all around them, this is not a healthy form of ambition.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslLxk6AI9oAhEP46QWRFlafsp3ApVyDjDKeX_m8kZX2aqSFbsAKgREO3NlTSSVLR8T25ezdZbg7nPNSJLv2XYgyy2WrPihysCYDRp5Fd0Cn-Bmca1kd9svykYg9eNIOWCG4UA_ygxya_g/s1000/Think+big+pic+shutterstock_136962314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslLxk6AI9oAhEP46QWRFlafsp3ApVyDjDKeX_m8kZX2aqSFbsAKgREO3NlTSSVLR8T25ezdZbg7nPNSJLv2XYgyy2WrPihysCYDRp5Fd0Cn-Bmca1kd9svykYg9eNIOWCG4UA_ygxya_g/s200/Think+big+pic+shutterstock_136962314.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The other end of the spectrum is inhabited by those listless, uninspired, and often sad individuals, who invariably finds themselves marginalised by society at large.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This post relates to what students of the mind might describe as self - actualised. Those who consciously make a decision to design their own destiny. Talent rises to its peak within the right environment, however the most genetically gifted swimmer on the planet may never attain any success in the realm of where their talent lies if fate doesn't put them in the right place at the right time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We all have amazing natural talents that we'll never tap. We may have the potential to be an amazing pianist and yet never have had the opportunity to play a note. You could have the talent of a modern day Shakespeare and yet go to your grave without writing a sonnet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thoughts become things. It's interesting to contemplate where inspiration springs from. Some would suggest that the imagination is the spark of genius that ignites all great achievements, and that your mind only conjours dreams of that which you can achieve.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We're not talking about fantasy Lotto type thoughts. Imagination manifested in focused visualisation of an intended future state creates a state of magnetic attraction that is truly profound. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Back on topic! Why would you set small goals? Small goals send a message to the sub conscious. The message is doubt. Great goals inspire decisive and consistent action. The difference between setting a goal to lose a few Kilos around your midrift hardly sets your heart a flutter! Setting a goal to run the London marathon in 2015 (even if you live in Sydney and have no money!) whilst raising $50000 for a specific charity creates a completely new energy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes you might break a leg and temporarily fail but more than likely you won't. If despite all the focus in the world you fall short, then perhaps you change the time frame of the goal. Perhaps you'll need to go back to the drawing board and reassess your training strategy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Big goals really do have an energy that is indescribable. You find yourself hanging around people who motivate and can help you. You find yourself immersed in the world of of where this energy resides. You start reading blogs, taking photographs, making new friends that are all congruent with your goals.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Never forget that it's not the destination that makes goal setting so powerful but the amazing sense of empowerment you get from 'owning' your own GPS. Anyone can learn a new language, a new skill, and any number of physical pursuits that currently may seem impossible.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Think BIG act BIG and be INSPIRED - we call it living LARGE!!!</span>Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-28023464245874664292013-06-29T22:32:00.000-07:002013-06-29T22:39:34.667-07:00It's OK to be you!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZj774JM5gex_0bSf8vJ0NGuILwXSmrYyW6_97brJg1BIo49FF2_dXwI1JDIGleqdyOr1-JzL6UnYLQa7DuOMk43WKvzfKge8jPF7DG2WcVC8TT976iJUV9UqyWQg-rpPgz8C2-Dg_Onze/s200/66cd4790-gorilla-cloned-2-blur-lpg_lAhKa_16419.jpg" width="184" /></div>
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<br />
Yet another disturbing article, this time in todays Sunday newspaper, regarding youth alienation and feelings of self loathing.<br />
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We live in a culture that reflects a distorted view of 'reality'. Why the parenthesis? Reality is as intangible as a fleeting thought. Everything we percieve is filtered through a context lens. Alas we are mostly unaware that someone else is manipulating our filter.<br />
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Our Facebook 'selfie' illicited no Likes and yet that vacuuous blonde bimbo gets an avalanche of positive and gushing comments with every uploaded pouting pic. This Social Media popularity contest really sucks.<br />
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Of course I'm being facetious, but with positive intent.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_OwQnV0SHqk/Uc_BzTNIgSI/AAAAAAAABAA/YGLTC1EGBCo/s600/stress_icon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_OwQnV0SHqk/Uc_BzTNIgSI/AAAAAAAABAA/YGLTC1EGBCo/s320/stress_icon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cleverly merchanised personal branding is nevertheless just that, merchandised packaging. it really is OK to be you. Seeking the approval of a tribe that is self obsessed is a fools gold. Authenticity takes longer to crystallise but the pay off can last a lifetime.<br />
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Authentic behaviour requires no practise. Authentic people are sticky. They attract other like minded people into their sphere. They are interesting, if for no other reason than that they are interested in us. They are not competing for popularity air time with us. They are generous in their endorsements and go out of their way to offer assistance.<br />
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Non clinical depression is often associated with erroneous interpretation of how we fit into our society. The minute you change gears and appreciate that it really is OK to be you and popularity is a pointless pursuit then your view of reality will change.<br />
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For some positive daily updates pop over to our Fan Page - and engage (if you want!) click Below<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijKbQrjVnsDhRwZEjKQgtk3zn3UheHGIrt-kTY8EkStVHXiVJHniXi465eDW8jxbaDlcEY6BJ5803HTtvn8R6OHR9x4VzvXkNBKEC7YLPcX_kkzfKtLbVq6cGikiBSEANI0nOrmub4kay/s128/Arrow-Down-icon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijKbQrjVnsDhRwZEjKQgtk3zn3UheHGIrt-kTY8EkStVHXiVJHniXi465eDW8jxbaDlcEY6BJ5803HTtvn8R6OHR9x4VzvXkNBKEC7YLPcX_kkzfKtLbVq6cGikiBSEANI0nOrmub4kay/s128/Arrow-Down-icon.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/5monthplan"><span style="font-size: large;">Http://www.facebook.com/5monthplan</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/5monthplan" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"> </a></div>
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<span id="goog_878029923"><br /></span>Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-11623444293753340872013-06-15T08:48:00.000-07:002013-06-16T01:37:49.969-07:00Just ASK - Your life will change forever!<span style="font-size: large;">After an unintended hiatus the Life Matters Blog returns! Of course the author was on hiatus, the absense of any Blogging, the 'bleeding obvious' consequence. Glad that's been cleared up!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The last 12 months of yours truly's life journey has been formative and enlightening. Let me explain.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In the pursuit of life balance I've taken many a detour around potential hindrances to this desired state. Along the way the goal was to avoid stress, conflict, any hint of a 9-5 existence, whilst living a happy, meaningfully fulfilled LIFE.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This might be defined as "Getting a Life!"</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWWis7YtYK8a98sO07FdbvsGXdAhpj9yaKQWny3BLPGBczXDS7NLw_GrZK3PkSISv3zeV9OQw3e9A0diV9lp5fCUXtc48gleWl3Ya5cRAVYDA1ZffIfpimraBjyekbKSmHuqzav6HkYgX/s1600/What-Question-scrabble+piece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWWis7YtYK8a98sO07FdbvsGXdAhpj9yaKQWny3BLPGBczXDS7NLw_GrZK3PkSISv3zeV9OQw3e9A0diV9lp5fCUXtc48gleWl3Ya5cRAVYDA1ZffIfpimraBjyekbKSmHuqzav6HkYgX/s1600/What-Question-scrabble+piece.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It occurred to me however that my strategy of moving away from what I despised was not moving me towards this image I had of Life Balance.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">My definition of Life Balance needs to be elaborated. Ultimately it relates to a sense of daily wellbeing. A heightened awareness and sense that life is awesome.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This requires a balance inclusive of awesome relationships with lover and family and friends; financial security and the confidence of feeling like you're not an emotional slave to economic circumstances; a sense of purpose that you're moving towards something challenging and meaningful. And of course Health and Fitness.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">How many of us actually ever get the balance right?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Me, I had a couple of hindrances. in a moment of clarity I put pen to paper and clearly defined what my ideal Life Balance Life would look like.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I then proceeded to ASK empowering questions, like a mantra, over and over again. "How do I earn xxxx $'s this year (a tenfold crazy increase on where I was at)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"How do I get my fitness levels back to where they were 10 years ago?" ( I used to be seriously FIT!)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"How do I become conversationally fluent in French, German, Italian and Spanish?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"How do I contribute a six figure annual fee to worthy community causes"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"How do I make a positive impact on people's lives?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Plus a few more questions. Phew - is that all?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The results over the last 10 months have been truly extraordinary. One day we may meet and I'll share the details.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinabZ59cjBY2sLMiyUrXLsLFRqf7ZSRI-vx5TbjbCHUk_zE-IkaWe3dOAns2f7acwhb5UgyZNxEYijZ92ZaTNUPlk5G_t39qpV6bBz9OXLctyqFH2WRclsA5lAEVgIYUiwAFpLed0latbi/s1600/make+things+happen+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinabZ59cjBY2sLMiyUrXLsLFRqf7ZSRI-vx5TbjbCHUk_zE-IkaWe3dOAns2f7acwhb5UgyZNxEYijZ92ZaTNUPlk5G_t39qpV6bBz9OXLctyqFH2WRclsA5lAEVgIYUiwAFpLed0latbi/s320/make+things+happen+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's the tip for the day. ASK ASK ASK. Ask yourself better questions. Forget the nonsense you inhale from soap operas or talk back radio. Ask </span><span style="font-size: large;">How</span><span style="font-size: large;"> questions not </span><span style="font-size: large;">Why</span><span style="font-size: large;"> questions. Ask why you're single, broke, sad, obese, angry...... You get the picture. Your mind will scream at you and give you an abundance of reasons: because you're a turkey, a loser, stupid, ugly....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Then try this, and I swear your life will change beyond recognition. Drum roll. Get into the habit of asking for stuff. Ask for directions, ask for a date, ask for a pay rise, ask for a discount, ask for a referral, ask for help with your Curriculum Vitae, ask for some mentoring, ask for advice.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The universe is energy. Energy reacts to other energy. Positive energy manifests in positive outcomes. Questions asked, invariably attract the right answers.</span><br />
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To connect hook up at our new FB page <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/5monthplan">Elite Performance Academy</a></span>Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-48287964781131938312012-02-14T22:56:00.000-08:002012-02-14T22:56:31.677-08:00‘Soft Day Thank God’ and the Biggest Urban Myth of Our Generation<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">To wax lyrical on the relative awesomeness of yesteryear
whilst decrying all that is modern is a popular pastime for the silver haired
folk who hark back to these halcyon times albeit through a clouded lens that
hardly bears up to scrutiny.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Indeed it is unlikely that the word awesome is found in
their vocabulary!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjrr_8rgK1GcY8GsakWxYML5179ZoJzUzdKRkML0XBbYN7KFmkpu-frEYOuK0p4-TeDlbMkg9AGRrxWdeavxvaOlF4zVskCR_m4-hPQbbZ_ZLTSiupJKEfEGSP9Bt10qdHPPY_UAWWSxP/s1600/confusion+traffic+signs" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjrr_8rgK1GcY8GsakWxYML5179ZoJzUzdKRkML0XBbYN7KFmkpu-frEYOuK0p4-TeDlbMkg9AGRrxWdeavxvaOlF4zVskCR_m4-hPQbbZ_ZLTSiupJKEfEGSP9Bt10qdHPPY_UAWWSxP/s1600/confusion+traffic+signs" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It’s an Urban Myth.
The idyllic past inhabited by genial souls behind pristine picket fences
who collectively interact in a pre Facebook form of connectivity is the stuff
of romantic novelists.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Child labour, civil rights abuse, cultural insensitivity,
profound poverty and an expectation that an attack on your tribe should earn
you a conscription to bear arms-axe, bayonet or something equally blood
curling, as you defend your own in face to face mortal combat –all seem less
appetizing in hindsight!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Which brings me to a topic that seems rather trivial in
comparison. Despite the aforementioned Urban Myth – I would suggest that some
of the glue that binds society has been diluted due to the demise of…wait for
it…common courtesy.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTurzpcZixDdGNpQ6YzAZCqL_yU6Mfdy-BlDpDTQ6GzvvMZKr9-_xC7U2nT1NEbi_znYeSflpLQFqJO0bVx8CUCRAc8BnzMWK07ppugWnvL8oQ69NyjFZ5NSKn81ST43ALxN8uN7rkqxsu/s1600/crowd+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTurzpcZixDdGNpQ6YzAZCqL_yU6Mfdy-BlDpDTQ6GzvvMZKr9-_xC7U2nT1NEbi_znYeSflpLQFqJO0bVx8CUCRAc8BnzMWK07ppugWnvL8oQ69NyjFZ5NSKn81ST43ALxN8uN7rkqxsu/s1600/crowd+pic.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Actually rather uncommon courtesy! No I’m not referring to
the stifling impotence of the characters of a Jane Austin novel, but rather
that quaint habit of acknowledgment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Call it a social nicety, or perhaps the act of being polite.
Eye contact in public is discouraged. Should you hold a door open for someone
under the age of 40 it will more often than not be unacknowledged.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjybIy0JZtRtlXgnIgI3ZIyn9oO12O6cSjh9ZMDfQiCNMI6Cc65eS61aQyyqAkgjNGfnedMAfAdFCfaQQt-hjYKQgz8QK7NOcCCWE6eEVLJmG_NyFpat479zbBQqpqd03p6IzvTGyycZy9/s1600/ipod_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjybIy0JZtRtlXgnIgI3ZIyn9oO12O6cSjh9ZMDfQiCNMI6Cc65eS61aQyyqAkgjNGfnedMAfAdFCfaQQt-hjYKQgz8QK7NOcCCWE6eEVLJmG_NyFpat479zbBQqpqd03p6IzvTGyycZy9/s320/ipod_.jpg" width="295" /></span></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Where once
we were acutely aware of the science of moving in crowds, sub consciously
anticipating the speed. Trajectory and width of all within a circumference of
20 metres, and instinctively would subtly adjust our route to accommodate –
this apparently has been lost.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Attachment to an IPod, whilst editing status updates to
Twitter and Facebook and adeptly juggling the ubiquitous cup of coffee
apparently abdicates all responsibility to move in anything other than the
shortest route to ones plotted destination!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">There was once an art to small talk. The inability or
reluctance to nod appropriately to a peer whilst fluently stating something
obvious such as the state of the weather, with an engaging facial expression
was very much frowned upon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">As social courtesies become less of normal societal protocol
a price is paid. Societies become less friendly, interactions more testy, and
anonymity can gradually manifest into the scourge of the 21<sup>st</sup>
century –depression.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The health of societies often seem at their zenith during
rebuilding periods between tragic adversities such as post war rebuilding,
earthquakes, tsunami’s and so forth.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1-Yx8lKgNo1gh2iWkquSpCyVTsa7I7Du8ZajjjVVPP56WyXBQP0rM7fg6GXJK7rmjIHDBoLt_Jiwy-_XMPQFQ92DL7VDaShfrGbuwRRILOy4mAGGxZPyQaJ9_TwWRTAfFtJpgAvs5EuV/s1600/BU004740_2f5a5f50.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1-Yx8lKgNo1gh2iWkquSpCyVTsa7I7Du8ZajjjVVPP56WyXBQP0rM7fg6GXJK7rmjIHDBoLt_Jiwy-_XMPQFQ92DL7VDaShfrGbuwRRILOy4mAGGxZPyQaJ9_TwWRTAfFtJpgAvs5EuV/s1600/BU004740_2f5a5f50.png" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It would be good to wind back just a little to yesteryear
when societies embraced its individual and were bonded by an accumulation of
immeasurable gestures, smiles, and apologies for colliding. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh and of course that inane but strangely effective ritual of
commenting on the weather. As the “Irish would say ‘Soft Day thank God!” which
pretty much summed up any day other than a sunny one!!</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-2502525204946758432012-01-02T01:44:00.000-08:002012-01-02T02:08:51.704-08:00New Years Resolutions: Hopes, Aspirations, Intentions and Delusions!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6zDPpyy8S-kacuYypOhlvDrZu7rqD-jLgTJOjjWJS81-aFjQ9bqvkl2c7gr_jo2UQQJlyx7bgBPhY1NUP8s4bFnGV19JivDl7SIc1xeifGGniy0KiB5rzcKfOUMkNP8qbhN5-vliWzFG/s1600/2012-Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6zDPpyy8S-kacuYypOhlvDrZu7rqD-jLgTJOjjWJS81-aFjQ9bqvkl2c7gr_jo2UQQJlyx7bgBPhY1NUP8s4bFnGV19JivDl7SIc1xeifGGniy0KiB5rzcKfOUMkNP8qbhN5-vliWzFG/s1600/2012-Pic.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Festive excess traditionally induces post hangover guilt and
thoughts of new beginnings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The guilt creeps up slowly. Anticipation of party time
frolicking with the requisite alcoholic gay abandon of youth abounds…. alas the
capacity of youth to recover over a grease laden fry up of black pudding and
anything else in the vicinity within 3 months of the used by date, diminish
alarmingly post 30’s!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hope</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> kicks in first. Hope that the hangover will be gentle.
Hope that the scales will somehow deny the visual evidence around the gut. Hope
that this year things will be better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hope however rarely provides the appetite to actually take
action, beyond perhaps the purchase of a Lotto ticket!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYT32-9H91ayivUJCTocFDO0uunPbOhYiXFTXJjeSbb5Ymb46C8xmldVkW0CNou4cHMaLmN11p54KWTaYKhxHXFWvXZO2VHygOXGsgu2rK8I8il8qS4dc16ATBC1DAlxcafZvLQlTuQgT/s1600/image010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYT32-9H91ayivUJCTocFDO0uunPbOhYiXFTXJjeSbb5Ymb46C8xmldVkW0CNou4cHMaLmN11p54KWTaYKhxHXFWvXZO2VHygOXGsgu2rK8I8il8qS4dc16ATBC1DAlxcafZvLQlTuQgT/s320/image010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Aspiration</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> has a little more depth. It suggests a vague
sense of commitment to a cause if perhaps lacking in a plan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Occasionally the post hangover conviction produces a tsunami
of emotional triggers, ranging from disgust at what the mirror reveals, self
loathing as the memories of dubious behaviour return or perhaps fear that this
is as good as it gets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Intention</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"> is like aspiration on steroids. Remember those
handful of times when you reached that tipping point and made decisions that in
retrospect were fateful. The get in shape decision that resulted in the
completion of a Marathon, Triathlon, or trek through Nepal</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That day you internalised the intention to quit smoking
without moping around feeling sorry for yourself and acting like a whipped puppy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps it was the time you quit your job to follow your
passion, or emigrate, propose to your soul mate or perhaps terminate a
relationship (presumably NOT the one with the soul mate!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Intentions are relatively rare but profound in their impact.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzf2fdxEGK47Z5qa3oiCwGL-vtYYKUdYMsZ5_QVp4WzhGYNFn_qfSqrTdrvB7m0-llkirgChzdTOCjdxXkXItd3NSKyzCj_gZCfiLZkiSlT1pqz9cM4gFdHozurRllXsQAdHmeVGCkh04A/s1600/emotion+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzf2fdxEGK47Z5qa3oiCwGL-vtYYKUdYMsZ5_QVp4WzhGYNFn_qfSqrTdrvB7m0-llkirgChzdTOCjdxXkXItd3NSKyzCj_gZCfiLZkiSlT1pqz9cM4gFdHozurRllXsQAdHmeVGCkh04A/s1600/emotion+2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of course the default for most of us is that comfort zone
labelled mass delusion! Hope is an innocuous low stress state to inhabit. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Hopefully it won’t rain, the trains will be on time, the cute secretary notices
me, petrol prices drop, and my shares in that obscure technology company jump. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Mass delusion</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"> makes the world go around. Without hope depression rears its
hideous head. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So my hopes for you all this year is that your hopes and
dreams germinate into real aspirations and intentions, ultimately manifesting
into your most outrageously successful year ever!</span></div>Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-64588402121574696442011-05-30T03:45:00.000-07:002011-05-30T03:45:31.144-07:00The Most Underrated Key to Success in Every Area of Accomplishment<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Have you ever read a magazine article, blog or even a whole book and had a moment of clarity or insight where you've muttered to yourself '<i>that makes sense</i>' or '<i>isn't that fascinating</i>?'</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A broad spectrum of topics covering weight loss, master chef recipes (yes the irony is intentional), stress relief, domestic budgeting, investment planning, dog training, pop psychology or even the latest and greatest tips on parenting may often be found in the weekend newspaper alone!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLoYSQ7Ul1ahXPz3VawfleG5n8UldagU2eQ9NN6uDsESiw-s364hNwI2MiB5t09PoVxudG8PNUj1NESCrQlA9qyiSuhzsrxJitOFAv-HyyMEkh_arl3l6qQB5V3kSZReygTRdG1UeYsLY/s1600/+success-goldguykey-150x150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLoYSQ7Ul1ahXPz3VawfleG5n8UldagU2eQ9NN6uDsESiw-s364hNwI2MiB5t09PoVxudG8PNUj1NESCrQlA9qyiSuhzsrxJitOFAv-HyyMEkh_arl3l6qQB5V3kSZReygTRdG1UeYsLY/s1600/+success-goldguykey-150x150.jpg" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We are bombarded daily with what's referred to as conventional wisdom and yet we continue to live our lives blindly ignoring and disregarding most of it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sure, it would be cool to learn French, master a piano concerto, cook a meal of mouthwatering brilliance, regain our ideal weight, fund our financial independence by the age of 40, whilst living a life of self confident balance and sanity if only...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMh7Ua-QBPTJb7KbyV4Kj9fV4QGHUGkE5M1o1pHZgfQmA6vKoQ-LhG4Wt4lQdVAa5PA4TVxrDkPq6tqznjtZT0Fz01is5nxEbz8tJ0xPiYHPp6sNpZ8YwCeCBA1E_JR_q95bZMjPsU-hdD/s1600/random+kindness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMh7Ua-QBPTJb7KbyV4Kj9fV4QGHUGkE5M1o1pHZgfQmA6vKoQ-LhG4Wt4lQdVAa5PA4TVxrDkPq6tqznjtZT0Fz01is5nxEbz8tJ0xPiYHPp6sNpZ8YwCeCBA1E_JR_q95bZMjPsU-hdD/s200/random+kindness.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Unless you have a peculiar learning disability, it's all within the scope of your ability, so what's impeding so many poor souls in manifesting 'Success' into their lives?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The parentheses are there to highlight the idea that Success is very much in the eye of the beholder. there is no arbitrary concept of what constitutes success. If success is the achievement of a goal, then how do you measure ambivalence?</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: large;">So what's the mysterious quality that separates the achievers from the rest?</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzFqG9gMHb8rJtIakU92sgdwFEkjlIiuYEERabzKp5NSRdnrQw7aDyew8PByvGPfOhJFs5idk-rgiXM4zkWKBSr3AaP2MPcQnoZISvNwTS_gBwS3zFpY91aj73dww0FTmAWj21rxNWHJQ/s1600/What-Question-scrabble+piece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzFqG9gMHb8rJtIakU92sgdwFEkjlIiuYEERabzKp5NSRdnrQw7aDyew8PByvGPfOhJFs5idk-rgiXM4zkWKBSr3AaP2MPcQnoZISvNwTS_gBwS3zFpY91aj73dww0FTmAWj21rxNWHJQ/s200/What-Question-scrabble+piece.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red; color: #f3f3f3; font-size: x-large;">Implementation!</span></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Imagine the impact on your life if you followed through on even a fraction of the 'interesting' and 'facinating' ideas you are confronted with daily.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Green Tea Reduces Wrinkles? Wow - time to put that on my shopping list NOW!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cutting meal size by 20% results in an average 1kg loss of weight per week for 12 weeks - Wow - let's start with the next meal</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(incidentally I have no idea if the above is true!)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Of course not every piece of headline wisdom has been through the rigors of scientific analysis, however more often than not, our intuition will guide us well.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Read 100 personal development books and then continue doing the same things, with the same lack of self awareness, and it's merely served the purpose of killing time. Read 1 book and take some recommended actions immediately and marvel at the difference!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MIxFOs_2gDquMWckOD-Sgz-Da_LD0gPTS5UEAv8CODtQ-_fpWi48tgzcl5BjCNOO_65Grr1tPzmWZej-ms7A-9TmpccPOFVKDKxELfXHdvdYSk86XzT7TvwtRCA3X7czRJIKsX-nbcKJ/s1600/acai-berry-weight-loss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MIxFOs_2gDquMWckOD-Sgz-Da_LD0gPTS5UEAv8CODtQ-_fpWi48tgzcl5BjCNOO_65Grr1tPzmWZej-ms7A-9TmpccPOFVKDKxELfXHdvdYSk86XzT7TvwtRCA3X7czRJIKsX-nbcKJ/s320/acai-berry-weight-loss.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Your weight is your own choice - but why bother reading articles on the topic of wight loss if you don't intend to take action. Why bother reading inspiring stories and biographies of triumph over adversity if you aren't willing to take action...?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We are peculiar creatures in the sense that we are uniquely intelligent and yet despite the most compelling evidence will merrily act in consistently illogical ways. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here's the challenge! Grab the next logical idea that falls into your lap and take immediate action. Worst case scenario? It's a crap idea and nothing changes....</span><br />
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As always these Blogs are written with tongue firmly in cheek and not too suggest that you should change one iota of your current life direction if that is your desire!<br />
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To connect socially click through on the icons on the side<br />
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Hope this finds your life unfolding magnificently<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_XCcjoUVG8r7XVXjGm24V4iVun1BPogjGJh38GPMI46jMJt0RBM7oDp_Yhs8MP9tLAv6KWL70yKmnGv3ptRTRHY2og_vLC-LhOhhRhWkDz_GtfxJkmEY5qBRRfZoPDAqJvnzMwjzuFUm/s1600/Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_XCcjoUVG8r7XVXjGm24V4iVun1BPogjGJh38GPMI46jMJt0RBM7oDp_Yhs8MP9tLAv6KWL70yKmnGv3ptRTRHY2og_vLC-LhOhhRhWkDz_GtfxJkmEY5qBRRfZoPDAqJvnzMwjzuFUm/s1600/Signature.png" /></a></div>CheersKiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-74820170971748058202010-12-13T20:27:00.000-08:002010-12-13T20:27:35.609-08:0048 Online Authorities Reveal Their Most “Unrealistic” Accomplishments<span style="font-size: large;">This is a link to a neat post that is guaranteed to inspire -on the topic of setting AND achieving 'unrealistic' goals</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ow.ly/3oH3n">48 Unrealistic Accomplishments</a></span></div>Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-80851825293472365062010-09-21T08:58:00.000-07:002010-09-21T21:55:52.979-07:00Ordinary May Be Overrated!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyzI5Uor2eUU0j3jZ6doyoZYJjO5Za4lKuHU_W89c2RhChaq_4QqQ9aZGhSC0hPHgFa1ViueGkRrPA_-wX5HeY1vopzDihOHrIr0LBqNZKeAyiJXp4IP1cZQhNDOojUh3SI3R9es4_DFD/s1600/ipod_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyzI5Uor2eUU0j3jZ6doyoZYJjO5Za4lKuHU_W89c2RhChaq_4QqQ9aZGhSC0hPHgFa1ViueGkRrPA_-wX5HeY1vopzDihOHrIr0LBqNZKeAyiJXp4IP1cZQhNDOojUh3SI3R9es4_DFD/s320/ipod_.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;">We live in a culture that increasingly embraces connectivity. The melding of outward disconnection with a simultaneous 24/7 digital conversation is both ironic and mildly disconcerting to those of us not permanently attached to this digital umbilical chord.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Social niceties and courtesies are becoming severely diluted. I recently navigated the labyrinth that is Victoria Station and found myself marveling at the mass commuter hive of activity and yet clinically barren of human interaction.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQXV5gLId8q_cklmwseBAYN-wgp1BP-647BFoSS3Vhy8yuW_f5Kwk-sK75gd1JxC6357BjRU4oLli9YrWw3QH_N6ff9Qm0IVTu4612X7i0s1V4QXhI3Z-b-SMKBer8KdsvY-8ScoxqMNr/s1600/crowd+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQXV5gLId8q_cklmwseBAYN-wgp1BP-647BFoSS3Vhy8yuW_f5Kwk-sK75gd1JxC6357BjRU4oLli9YrWw3QH_N6ff9Qm0IVTu4612X7i0s1V4QXhI3Z-b-SMKBer8KdsvY-8ScoxqMNr/s1600/crowd+pic.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Each earnest participant on this treadmill journey seemed to be lost almost trance-like in some parallel universe, having engaged some sort of automatic homing device to skilfully navigate the human traffic. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ipods at full volume, newspaper in one hand, steaming coffee in the other and midst this madding crowd a complete absence of eye contact. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In this new world it would seem arcane and redundant to distract the herd by smiling, excusing yourself or being so bold as to offer some poor lost soul assistance.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The pause for thought prompted me to ponder the irony of this mass disconnect in a square mile comprising of innumerable heartbeats. I wonder if this immersing in our digital universe comes at a price.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A belated message? We are fed a diet of tabloid sound bytes that morphs into pop culture. We celebrate the superstars of the quarter minute and behold their ascension to the pedestal of the extraordinary. Meanwhile the masses despite more capacity for creative genius at their fingertips become ever more ordinary.</span><br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;">Be extraordinary. Try it for a moment. Find a voice, not one that is part of a chorus, just a unique sound. Herds provide comfort and security, but equally they are easy to shepherd and lead to some one else’s tune.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The problem with aspiring to the extraordinary of course is that peer pressure can be hard to ignore. Fitting in is the name of the game and being bold requires a little bravery.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtz6QYOWOLuQlx1X4ETdO7OppPkspBFKqQbQifwcOvppjvLwryFJDw1kj9_xIDkLh9w15Xg2ctXV0Z79_QV_0r_S298oyoKsvgwOhq43c5aZv5isIUstyRfhtD7IoX1lY7Otz_FhSv6_wY/s1600/random+kindness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtz6QYOWOLuQlx1X4ETdO7OppPkspBFKqQbQifwcOvppjvLwryFJDw1kj9_xIDkLh9w15Xg2ctXV0Z79_QV_0r_S298oyoKsvgwOhq43c5aZv5isIUstyRfhtD7IoX1lY7Otz_FhSv6_wY/s320/random+kindness.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="font-size: large;">A random act of kindness</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> stopping to offer assistance even though you’re late for an engagement with a cappuccino</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> responding to others tweets despite an overwhelming urge to share your fascinating thoughts to the world</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> checking out your loose facebook connections and making a comment even though they’ve never bothered to acknowledge your birthday</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> sending the secretary a bunch of flowers anonymously just to say thanks…..</span></li>
</ul><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Being extraordinary is not earth shattering, but can be profound in so many ways. I defy you to take a step away from the societal norm even briefly and be extraordinary and not feel a sense of enervating connectedness that lingers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It may not be extraordinary but if you’d like to shake your urge to completely disregard this scribble and leave a comment that’d be great!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here’s hoping ordinary or extraordinary life’s unfolding well for you!</span><br />
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</script>Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-49526461813643844062010-09-01T09:04:00.001-07:002010-09-21T21:41:14.307-07:00The Road Less Traveled - Conformity May Be Your Achilles Heel<meta content="" name="Title"></meta> <meta content="" name="Keywords"></meta> <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Generator"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Originator"></meta> <link href="file://localhost/Users/debragraham/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The tone of this post is wry and gently provocative and not a rallying to call to quit your job, divorce, burn your friendships, or change one iota of your current status quo - not that there's necessarily anything wrong with that!</i></span></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">“<i>We are the champions</i>"– so sang Freddie Mercury an eternity ago and the song echoes throughout the great sporting stadiums of the world. It’s rousing and evocative. Evocative of shared triumph – and epitomizing a truly tribal sense of belonging.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzUEDjzQTE9XOZauiq6pG-G1eAQYpRlBzMDQOvsnb4jBHVjyPqlC4oZAWWs2qxIq_Brf_FXbJrIn9xESIpEv_PXoNKJHtFqnZUs-9yXMVDTiB8xpFTGkIC-JxUUVLxwtQmqvqW1hCKC2O/s1600/wearethechampionss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzUEDjzQTE9XOZauiq6pG-G1eAQYpRlBzMDQOvsnb4jBHVjyPqlC4oZAWWs2qxIq_Brf_FXbJrIn9xESIpEv_PXoNKJHtFqnZUs-9yXMVDTiB8xpFTGkIC-JxUUVLxwtQmqvqW1hCKC2O/s320/wearethechampionss.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">There’s a primeval urge that is felt by all reasonably socialized individuals to fit. As rebellious youth we are defiant in our rejection of stereotype. It’s all about the individual, and expressing that unique albeit pompous voice that contradicts the old fashioned social mores and yet…..</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">With an uncanny predictability, each generation ever so subtly morphs into a diluted version of their parents.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">100 years ago The Who proclaimed, “<i>I hope I die before I grow old</i> ” and with an irony that is breathtaking, sold the rights to the biggest television syndication of the millennium (CSI)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzigEPIL6Ux2zM4iKFD7XeQhmTrQMfbbrCibWrvhObrtkHNlnFgAYzzv0u2e-NaUUECJtFNM1NpUJmwY3Nr0hxD6dk7ahgXIWBLhwfQ4HtcXEbsyFVYlLh_EaFzUIvHTlY96Dxxl4JN8FZ/s1600/the+who+album+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzigEPIL6Ux2zM4iKFD7XeQhmTrQMfbbrCibWrvhObrtkHNlnFgAYzzv0u2e-NaUUECJtFNM1NpUJmwY3Nr0hxD6dk7ahgXIWBLhwfQ4HtcXEbsyFVYlLh_EaFzUIvHTlY96Dxxl4JN8FZ/s1600/the+who+album+cover.jpg" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In the spirit of my Life Matters Blog I’d like to provoke a pause for thought for your consideration!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Social Networks are an extension of the school playground. There are leaders who dictate what’s cool. There are the followers – those that fit in and comprise the masses. And then alas there are those poor misfortunates that don’t quite fit, and are derided, teased, bullied or ignored. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Follow their path for a few years and you’ll often find they are more often than not the interesting members of society. Misfits build multi billion dollar empires out of digital thin air. They evolve into Authors, actors, king makers and sociopaths. Interesting doesn’t always equate to wholesome!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I doubt there are too many sociopaths reading this post and if so, no offense! But here’s a thought. Imagine completely disregarding convention in your business and social networking endeavors. </span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sell when others are buying. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Un-follow those that annoy you. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Quit your business that you’ve invested all that emotional energy into and start over</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Try a new less fancy blogging forum. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jump on Facebook and imagine all those connections you’ve spent months cultivating are potential friends rather than list fodder, then follow some threads and see what they’re about and engage without any thought of developing a business relationship. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Empty your pockets next time you see a homeless person instead of searching for the smallest coin you can find. Say no when someone asks you to go to a function/family gathering that you have no interest in attending. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Find your own voice and tempt ridicule by expressing the real you.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Be authentic and imagine that it’s ok to be you.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59QCi91NZ5rbRGCrKH082RUDglBwpEgRnmhdD4nYqvrFTbBkEaORE-D3lYoGb1OhGiXuYFuEcHmmTbAXxJpado6cEnuCTrvFKcV46a0-1bJbC-zZTS9VyWeAreh8clD__56g88QfYAv2n/s1600/death-road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59QCi91NZ5rbRGCrKH082RUDglBwpEgRnmhdD4nYqvrFTbBkEaORE-D3lYoGb1OhGiXuYFuEcHmmTbAXxJpado6cEnuCTrvFKcV46a0-1bJbC-zZTS9VyWeAreh8clD__56g88QfYAv2n/s320/death-road.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course this is not the pulpit of any brand of insightful wisdom. The intended message is as follows. Bland is boring. Effective is uninspiring. Efficient is mechanical. Copy and paste is expedient but rarely leads to long-term success. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Warts are interesting. I don’t want them but I’m intrigued when fallibility is shared. Tribes are safe places, and safety is an important cog on the hierarchy of needs, but it is also a potential creativity suppressor. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">So try it for a day, a week or a month. Go against the tide, follow the road less traveled, and you may end up lost confused or enlightened.</span><br />
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Kiaran Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393947463141704218noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326849451603077200.post-54536558561714938292010-08-09T08:38:00.000-07:002010-08-09T08:56:47.294-07:00Why Isn't The Law of Attraction Working for You?<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">This is a confronting and provocative question. It presumes there’s a gap in your life and that you are in some way failing, falling short of your own expectations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">If The Law of Attraction does indeed work, how then do we explain how bad things happen to good people? How can we explain how the worst of criminals can win the Lottery? Indeed we can question whether this much-quoted Law is in fact a myth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The point of this article is not to ponder the riddle of this apparent phenomenon or get bogged down in the mire of attempting to define the intangible. Rather I would like to posit the following commentary.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Let’s twist the above question. <span style="color: blue;">Imagine that despite your initial reaction to the topic, that you are indeed living the dream, but have failed to realize this fact.</span> Perhaps your appreciation lens is clouded. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps you are with your ideal life partner but are blinded to this fact by virtue of your incessant fantasizing of some parallel universe where some Goddess or God is attentive to your every need.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Imagine a world in which some serious health defect was to consume your life. Would you spend your waking hours longing for a dream life that was manifested simply by good health?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The dream car that you drool about and crave, how important to you is it really in comparison to the love and respect of friends?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I prefer the less sexy ‘Law’ that I’ll call <b><span style="color: blue;">The Law of Tendencies.</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps it’s pedantic, and probably ludicrous to call a label such as tendency a law. However bear with me for a moment longer. Imagine a belief system where all meaning was contextual. Imagine that happiness, sadness, joy, wealth and indeed any emotion was a manifestation based on nothing more than a sequence of neurons following a scripted pattern.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">People have a tendency to think in a certain way, which then creates their beliefs and certainties. Our tendencies lead us toward repetitive patterns of behavior. We tend to hang around certain people. We tend to gravitate towards certain situations. We tend to surf certain web sites. We tend to communicate with a certain style. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Not surprisingly I would suggest;</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: blue;">our tendencies set us on a path of intersection and collision with others of similar tendencies. </span></span></div><div style="color: blue; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: large;">It’s not so much that mere meditation and visualization guarantees the object of our longing will manifest itself, but rather that in the midst of an infinite universe our patterns of thought and action more often than not propel us on to the same route as other like minded individuals.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhB2hplngS-jgfeUBH6Jt_azp4qBAc_wVD79_21V_nPLR7z8oKISI9YBEXG5v3L9f3ES8QY8ZPj_Tx0xYpVEqym3E85jg6-50IhfimzNqLbs2YWthF8EsjFBsW8wThR_lTXplONixdcm7/s1600/attraction+magnet+icon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhB2hplngS-jgfeUBH6Jt_azp4qBAc_wVD79_21V_nPLR7z8oKISI9YBEXG5v3L9f3ES8QY8ZPj_Tx0xYpVEqym3E85jg6-50IhfimzNqLbs2YWthF8EsjFBsW8wThR_lTXplONixdcm7/s320/attraction+magnet+icon.png" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Is there a message here? I hope so!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">To achieve landmark goals, try hanging around those with similar aspirations.</span> Spend time with those that you admire and whose apparent life experiences you would like to mirror. Network with those you aspire to be like and persist until your new tendencies become ingrained.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">You may still walk under a truck, but there’s a more than reasonable chance that one day you’ll wake up and marvel at how your tendencies to all intent and purposes have become a facsimile of that elusive phenomenon called the Law of Attraction!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In the words of Desiderata-perhaps the universe really is unfolding as it should.</span><br />
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