Success Factors

Calling Gurus to Account

Submitted by The Belief Doctor on Thu, 11/02/2010 - 4:13pm

There appears to be a large and significant blind-spot in the awareness of many people. This blind-spot can’t usually be seen or recognised directly. Like a galactic black-hole, we usually only learn of its presence by how it sucks the life and light out of surrounding bodies – in this case, ourselves and others in our communities, cities and world.

We can learn of its presence by the high and growing incidence of depression which is now recognised by the World Health Organization as “the leading cause of disability.”1

To some extent this black-hole, or blind-spot can be ignored by being busy, taking drugs, acquiring wealth or enjoying ourselves … but it remains in the background, sucking the energy and light from all. And no more importantly is its effect felt, than in the area of health and wellbeing .. the main focus for my contributions to this column.

It’s about time

I recently learned of this ‘blind-spot’ after reading about a self-development teacher who had achieved success; met and positively influenced world-leaders, and done or achieved many other wonderful things.

Why then did I feel deflated after reading about this person? Was it that, by way of comparison, I was left feeling inadequate, or a failure? Was it because I felt I hadn’t achieved great things?

No, I realised it went deeper and after sitting quietly and reflecting on the cause, recognised it … the blind-spot that many of us, if not most, don’t seem to notice. Part of the reason it is not recognised is that it is so simple to feel – it’s too obvious and taken for granted. So we ignore it.

1. “Depression is the leading cause of disability as measured by YLDs and the 4th leading contributor to the global burden of disease (DALYs) in 2000.” URL ref:
http://www.who.int/mental_health/management/depression/definition/en/

Begin with the end in play - Health and Wellbeing

It's easy and quite common to believe that illness and early death is due to factors such as disease, poor diet, lack of exercise, obesity, smoking and genetic disorders.

But according to the results gained from nearly 30 years of research by Sir Professor Michael Marmot, those factors account for around one quarter of the causes of illness and early death.

The primary, majority cause of illness is "psycho-social" – our personal beliefs and expectations, and the social environment (community, nation and culture) in which we live.

Begin with the end in play® - Sales

Begin with the End in Play - Sales is a short, intensive (2 hr) workshop for project / sales / management professionals, focused on the 'machinery' that underpins, enables and powers our ability to create desired results (e.g. sales targets and project outcomes).

The workshop introduces advanced quantum principles that enable stronger, more resilient focusing on, and realisation of, one's desired future circumstances and goals.

Key insights into how possibilities are 'realised' into lived actuality are covered.

Creative, intuitive abilities are couched within an expanded philosophical framework that recognises the need to 'let go' mechanical (past-based) thinking and behaviour.

Belief-System Tune-Ups

Many people easily forget how muich they rely on mental-maps (belief-systems) to navigate through life.

What we believe defines, shapes and creates us. What we believe possible will reveal itself by what we attempt to achieve.

Belief-system tuneups are designed to reveal the deeper, more congruent frameworks of life -- those that you can rely on, irrespective of time and circumstance.

Belief-System Tune-Ups can be tailored for the industry, circumstances and needs of clients.

The Power and Importance of Blindspots

Submitted by The Belief Doctor on Tue, 23/02/2010 - 10:00am

Blindspots in our awareness can have devastating effects upon our lives.

Blindspots can be bad for business, health and personal wellbeing.

The business value of purpose and meaning

As many business entrepreneurs appreciate, the really important things in starting and running a business are primarily 'mental' -- it's our vision to make a difference, to do things better and to test ourselves that fuels and motivates.

But what about the people that we employ?

It should be no great surprise that for "businesses that pay most regard to the deeper needs of their employees are the ones that perform best."1

The challenge faced when creating a strong, vibrant culture in a business is the intangible 'mental' dimensions - what we think, feel and believe about our work, fellow employees, customers, the work environment etc.

1. Michael Trail, Money is important, but so is purpose and meaning, The Weekend Australian Financial Review, Dec. 23-28, Fairfax Media Publications, Sydney, p. 63

Moving beyond a 2,450-year-old era

The Art and Science of Blinking

Around 2,450 years ago the ancient Greek philosopher Zeno of Elea was perhaps the first to methodically question a simple fact of life - how do we physically move, such as when blinking an eye, running, or simply falling down?

Culturally we are about to fall off a philosophical cliff. Fortunately, a safe landing in a far more compassionate, sane and exciting world awaits those who come to the edge with the understanding of how to fly.

His questions and arguments, which have become widely known as Zeno's Paradoxes, pointed to the seemingly logical impossibility of the everyday experience of physical movement.

His considerations have perplexed and troubled philosophers and scientists even since. Various assumptions that underpin our modern technologies and sciences were taken for granted. We take for granted that there is always a physical cause for every physical effect - as exemplified by scientists researching to find physical cures for disease, cancer and viruses; and to find the physical genes or brain cells responsible for thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and the experience of love, creativity and joy.

Now, with the advances in the field of quantum physics, we know that a 2,450 year era is nearing its end .. an era in which it has been assumed that our physical brains, bodies and the entire physical universe is continuously existent. An era in which each part (atom, virus, cell, organ, person, planet) was assumed to be continuously existent and functional, with every part contributing to the running of, or dysfunction of, the machinery of life.

We stand at the edge of a grand new understanding of our universe, and ourselves. As Visa International founder Dee Hock foretells, a new era

is struggling to be born -- a shifting of culture, science, society, and institutions enormously greater than the world has ever experienced. Ahead, the possibility of the regeneration of individuality, liberty, community, and ethics such as the world has never known, and a harmony with nature, with one another, and with the divine intelligence such as the world has never dreamed."

Begin with the end in play®

Begin with the end in play^® is a 1/2 day workshop intensive that provides the understanding and tools for engaging the key creative, productive processes of life.

As entrepreneurs only too well know and appreciate, analysis, logic, research and facts are important but secondary considerations when making the big decisions. First and foremost is gut-feeling and a can-do attitude, both of which are essential factors for positive outcomes. The means or logic of 'how' comes later, not initially.

Creative people—artists, musicians, scientists and inventors—know the value of a 'poised balance' between a focus on results, and on 'letting go' via daydreaming, imagination and play.

The key creative-productive process of life is applicable to all aspects of life, including health, relationships, scientific discovery, business innovation and art.

Sir Ken Robinson on Creativity and Innovation

Submitted by Steaphen Pirie on Fri, 19/06/2009 - 12:07pm

An interesting and worthwhile interview with Sir Ken Robinson on the ABC's 7.30 Report with Kerry O'Brien.

Two parts to the interview.

Part 1 (transcript, mp4, wmv)

Sir Ken Robinson:

"...people achieve their best when they firstly tune into their natural aptitudes - and lots of people I have interviewed aren't musicians, they're mathematicians, they're business leaders, they're teachers, they're broadcasters, you know, they've found this thing that they completely get. But the second thing is that they love it. And if you can find that - a talented and a passion - well that's to say you never work again. And it is true, I think, that our current education systems are simply not designed to help people do that. In fact an awful lot of people go through education and never discover anything they're good at at all."

Profitable Sustainability

Submitted by Admin on Mon, 15/06/2009 - 12:30pm

"Sustainability" is one of those loaded terms that is usually taken to mean "living smaller" - of having to ride bicycles to work, reducing our lifestyle, and cutting back on overseas travel ... which all means less choice, freedom and fun!

The expectation that sustainable business practices will reduce profitability is likewise often assumed. Not much fun in that.

Keys to Beliefs, Business and Betterment