Made a trip to Sozopol in a local taxi on the third day but very much underwhelmed by the town because it seemed very run down – possibly because a lot of the country’s money is used to build resorts like the one we stayed in and the rest of the economy suffers as a result.

However, the weather was really kind to us and we all developed a good tan.  Now set up for a good old English winter.

Time to refocus on personal performance coaching  and all that jazz!

The UK is facing very lean times as the coalition government squeezes the economy – Make the right decisions NOW and avoid a bleak future!

As the govenment-lead pruning shears cut ever deeper into the public sector and the possible recovery in the private sector is still very shaky, what is prudent for those worried about their career/income prospects?

As Edward de Bono, a man who pioneered lateral thinking, would say – now is the time to look seriously at the way you earn a crust – it may not last much longer and there may be a better way for you to put food on the table and a roof over your head.

Take a hard look at what you like doing and what you do best – it doesn’t have to be what you’ve always done.  Climb out of that rut and throw off your comfort zone blanket.  This could be the most positive time in your entire life - starting with some really life improving decisions.  Career change is exciting and rewarding – if you plan it well.

I can help you to reach your goal more quickly and easily than you, or a colleague, could do it, by working on your own – so contact me now and set up our first FREE coaching session.

john@jplifecoach.co.uk

www.jplifecoach.co.uk

Initial research revealed that almost four in 10 drivers involved in the 222,100 accidents on British roads every year say they were frightened or angered by other drivers in the moments before the incident.

Motoring psychologist Peter Marsh says that disrespectful, aggressive driving can cause an accident, while the negative emotions created by this type of driving can cause other drivers to become irrational and make mistakes.

The behaviours categorised by motorists as “disrespectful” range from speeding, driving erratically and ignoring road signs to beeping a horn in anger, making offensive hand gestures, yelling, swearing and flashing headlights.

Research carried out earlier in the year by AXA found that 79 per cent of drivers believe that British motorists are generally disrespectful to fellow road users, with 52 per cent having been subjected to a “significant” act of road rage such as shouting and aggression.

Road rage is a limiting belief which revolves around a driver’s inability to accept normal driving etiquette as the best and safest way to complete each and every road journey.

It can be dealt with quite effectively by a series of coaching sessions, which change negative beliefs into much more positive ones.

When I was quite young, in the 1950′s, most of my entertainment and that of my contemporaries was self developed and a lot of mine involved roaming over an approximate half mile radius of my home.

My mother always asked me where I was going and who I was going with but I cannot remember her ever refusing to let me go.  We used to ride our bikes over some undulating waste ground or go to the marine lake to catch crabs (with a worm hooked on a bent pin, tied to a reel of cotton) or go to the large park nearby, for several hours at a time.

We had a really good time, we had some good exercise and we built on our relationships and it cost nothing! – BUT the main point I’m getting to is that we always felt safe, our mothers felt safe and I can’t remember anything bad ever happening in those early years.  

So where have all the generally unsavoury characters come from since then?

Were they always out there, lurking in the shadows but too afraid of what a much more coherent society might do if they made the wrong move or are they a phenomenon which has grown from virtually nothing over the last half century?

Is our society now so fractured that it increasingly produces the sort of people who seem capable and willing to perform any sort of objectionable act in order to satisfy some deeply held belief which was impressed on them from an early age by parents, carers and contemporaries – The research confirms that everyone’s values and beliefs are set in concrete by adolescence!

Did this behaviour evolve from recessive genetic coding, a loveless upbringing or the lack of a friendly ear, at an early stage in life, which could have listened and coached some of the fear, anger and anxiety out of a young person’s life, allowing them to grow up as a relatively normal human being?

We shouldn’t need to commit ever burgeoning resources to apprehending criminals and putting them away in prison – We should be concentrating on developing positive values and beliefs in our youth from an early age, not waiting until they commit an offence so we can punish them!

I’m a life coach, which suggests the above means a great deal to me and I do have the experience and great satisfaction of coaching  at least one young person to success, by any definition – IT ISN’T DIFFICULT!

And the results are amazing.

I wanted the boys to win as much as the average Brit. but it was no surprise to me – and to many others, I suspect – that the much vaunted squad returned home in quiet humiliation. 

Sorry Bobby – things ain’t what they used to be!

What a complete contrast to the Mahout/Isner match at Wimbledon in which two gladiators slugged it out, toe to toe, for the longest match in tennis history.  A fantastic monument to two competitors who would not give in, even when it looked as if Isner was dead on his feet – and he went on to win the longest set ever played!

Perhaps that’s the difference: 

• The England team was content to appear in the world cup, take the money without doing much and come home complaining about the manager, the fans, the pitch and anything  else that removed the onus from their flawed performance.
• Mahout and Isner went to Wimbledon to WIN and just about nothing was going to stop them – not even 11 hours 5 minutes played out on a baking court over 3 consecutive days!

Maybe it’s just down to positive mental attitude = 1         plays negative mental attitude = 0

Anyone for coaching ?

• What is the defined point of both and the magnet that generates the move to success in both cases – GOALS! (Where we want to be?)
• What needs to be examined and analysed in both, once the goals have been defined – REALITY! (Where we are now?)
• What do both need to move from reality to the goals – OPTIONS  (How could we get there?)
• Which option in both will bring the quickest and best result – WHAT NEXT! (The best first step!)

But personal performance coaching doesn’t only apply to football or even, just to sport in general.  It applies to just about any situation in which:-

• Realistic, positive, focussed, measurable (SMART) goals can be defined.
• There is a strong desire to achieve these goals.
• Any obstacles and limiting beliefs can be identified and dealt with.
• An alternative solution (therapy, mentoring, counselling) is not more appropriate.

Most ages, most situations, most professions and both genders can benefit from personal performance coaching, assuming the above four conditions are met.

So as the world cup and vuvuzela fever rolls on – spare a thought and some time for coaching!

“Years before the burly actor would become famous for the kind of short-tempered fuse that launched airborne telephones in the direction of hotel receptionists, his diva antics were already at a remarkably impressive level: upset that his assistants’ pay wasn’t high enough, he placed an angry call to Gladiator producer Branko Lustig at 3am.

Lustig, in turn, called Spielberg in Los Angeles: ‘Steven, I’m leaving. Russell wants to kill me”.

I like Russel Crowe’s acting immensely, even if he can’t put on a ‘real’ English accent for Robin of Loxley – but if the price of fame is being in a virtually permanent state of volcanic mental turmoil what does it do for him or say to the rest of us mere mortals about inner peace and tranquility?  

Perhaps Russ just needs a more pacific role model himself. 

A counsellor, a mentor or even a  personal performance coach to calm down his inner dynamics!

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey – to be aired on Tuesday – the Duchess said she had been unable to watch the video of herself.

A survey for Mind suggests that one in 11 British workers has been to the GP for stress and anxiety from the financial squeeze.

And 7% said they were prescribed medicines to help them cope.

The Confederation of British Industry said employers were improving at caring for workers’ mental health, but it was important to increase understanding.

The last couple of years have been an anxious time, even for those who have not found themselves out of work.

Many have had overtime cut, worked longer hours, or worried about job security.

These are the OFFICIAL facts but the GOOD NEWS is that anyone unfortunate enough to suffer from stress  can work their way through the situation by TAKING ACTION  NOW:

The WAY FORWARD consists of identifying where the stress is coming from, so get to work and write down all the areas which seem to cause you stress, the time of day this occurs and the level of stress on a scale of 1 to 10 – (1 is no stress and 10 is unbearable stress) – and be honest!

Once you’ve done this for a day continue each day for a week and you will probably see a PATTERN OF STRESS forming, at a certain time of the day and certain days of the week.

 Once you identify the PEAK STRESS areas the next step is to plan how to reduce the causes of the stress:

• Commuting in to work at rush hour – leave early and plan your day over a latte at Starbucks.
• Working through lunch – eat your lunch SLOWLY somewhere you can relax.
• Nobody appreciates you – you have huge potential so do something to reward yourself.
• Drowning under your workload – get some help NOW.
• Taking your work home – similar to the above BUT you need a WORK/LIFE BALANCE.

These are 5 ways of at least 200 ways to manage and reduce stress and avoid the stress developing into depression – caused by not being able to cope.

Turning negative thoughts into positive ones is a practical process and one which can be achieved more quickly and easily with a qualified coach.

 Statements producing positive thoughts:

• “I never have enough time”, become – “I’ll manage myself better to ensure I complete actions on time”.
• “Why don’t people listen to what I say?”, becomes – “I will give good advice at the right time”.
• “This type of thing always happens to me”, becomes – “I plan to ensure I get a good result each time”.

Reducing the causes of stress and developing a positive outlook on life will produce the required result – so don’t suffer any more – DO IT NOW!

John Preston