“It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can do only a little. Do what you can. ” ~ Sydney Smith

Search Beyond Acceptable — Find the BEST Alternatives…

Are You Beating Your Head Against An Immovable Wall?

You can’t know everything yourself. And if you are in business for yourself and/or work from home you pretend that you can do it all yourself.

If you want to grow your business and also have free time, you need help. When you first start out in business, you will no doubt do most things yourself. Yet continue trying to keep control of every task that needs doing by handling everything yourself, you’ll never be able to grow your business successfully. You’ll run out of time, burn yourself out and put a lid on your profits. You cannot be an expert in all areas.

There are many ways you can get help but first you need to be clear as to what you need done otherwise you can waste more time and money.

If you can’t make a decision about which way to go, call an expert. Use specialists to help discover and determine the best options for your plan this week.

“The man who gets the most satisfactory results is not always the man with the most brilliant single mind, but rather the man who can best coordinate the brains and talents of his associates.”
~ W. Alton Jones

Your Champion Action Today:

1. When do you need to admit your own limits?
_________________________________________

2. Which problems do you have on your agenda that could be better handled outsourced?
__________________________________________________

3. What else could you accomplish, if you delegated or outsourced one of your current decisions?

________________________________________________________

4. Take stock of where you are now and see which areas outlined below you can outsource so that you can spend your time on what you are good at, allowing you to free up your time to focus on the growth of your business:

1. Bookkeeping
2. Website maintenance
3. Design
4. Marketing
5. Childcare
6. Printing
7. Cleaning
8. Secretarial
9. Telemarketing

Want to Immediately Produce Better Results Today? When you INSTANTLY see what’s holding you back from greater success then you will achieve your peak performance and the SUCCESS you desire… a great deal sooner.

Cheers Shelley Taylor-Smith

P. S. If you want to achieve greater success, you might want to read what I have to say. It may help you with issues you are now facing. Review past blog posts and read the articles at http://www.thinklikeachampionclub.com/articles

PPS: Want to Pick Shelley’s Brain? Email Shelley directly at champion@championmindset.com.au with subject header: “I want to Pick Shelley’s Brain” and send your enquiry/questions.

Do It Now — Get It Gone…
A Filling Now Or Root Canal Later?

When you put off doing a job because it’s painful, you’re only buying a bigger pain down the road.

A courageous person dies only one death; a fearful person dies many times over.

“The biggest difference between time and space is that you can’t reuse time.”~ Merrick Furst

Your Champion Action Today

1. What painful job is raising its ugly head in your future?
____________________________________________________

2. What are the odds? Will something really get better if you put if off? ____________________________________________________________

3. If it has to be done anyway, why add to the pain by living with it longer? _______________________________________________________________

4. How many times over the course of the last year, did you think WIN — WIN: What’s Important NOW… What’s Important NEXT? Do you see the CONNECTION between where you are… and where you want to be?
______________________________________________________________________

There is still time to achieve all your gals sooner today! Consistency is the key by taking SMARTER actions. Focus on effectiveness rather than efficiency and you will achieve the SUCCESS you desire… a great deal sooner.

Go for gold….it’s your birthright to succeed!

Cheers Shelley Taylor-Smith

P. S. If you want to achieve greater success, you might want to read what I have to say. It may help you with issues you are now facing. Review past blog posts and read the articles at http://www.thinklikeachampionclub.com/articles

PPS: Want to Pick Shelley’s Brain? Email Shelley directly at champion@championmindset.com.au with subject header: “I want to Pick Shelley’s Brain” and send your enquiry/questions.

On January 17, 1995, I hit the wall 8hrs into my solo swim from Sydney to Wollongong (I know what you’re thinking…what were you thinking Shelley?) Little did I know that I had 4hrs 30mins of swimming remaining!

The water had dropped from 21C to 12C. Imagine if you can swimming at the front of the cage with the ocean water dumping on top of my head every 5 seconds much like a bucket of cold water dumped on you in the shower. I had this humungus (Aussie lingo for huge) throbbing headache. Sharks had been circling. My fingers and toes were bruised and fractured from being picked by the velocity of the waves hitting the front and back of the cage.

I wanted out….normal behaviour I thought. I was stamping my feet like a child ’spitting the dummy’ as I repeated to my coach “I want a hot chocolate” “I want a hot shower!” “I want…I want” “I want out!”

Then came the most honest of all statements…“I have nothing to prove!”

My coach ‘Grub’ turned to me noticing my lips had turned blue and my back was shades of purple from the wind exposure; put two fingers up and said “How many fingers?”

I flashed back to Lac St Jean in Roberval, Quebec, Canada at the 1992 Pan Pacs 25km event when Grub asked that same question and I cannot remember my answer as I passed out unconscious from hypothermia and Grub saved me.

My moment of truth had come …way out there at sea thinking …hmmm if I say three…I can get out of this quick smart! I took the longest time contemplating should I or shouldn’t I. I replied “two” and Grub told me abruptly “put your head down and get going NOW!” I said “no!” to which Grub replied “Give me 20mins.”

I put my head down and said to myself
“If you don’t quit…you will make it!”
“If you don’t quit…you will make it!”
“If you don’t quit…you will make it!”

These 8 words are all I said over and over and over to myself in the 90km solo swim to Wollongong. 20 minutes turn to 40 minutes then 60 minutes and a pod of dolphins appeared out of no where which cheered me up. All of a sudden my stroke returned to normal and the water appeared to warm up.

Your attitude determines how well you will succeed when faced with a challenge. We did succeed that day when we made it to Wollongong Harbour in 12mins 28 mins and 30 secs.

Would you like to be able to instantly acquire a winner’s attitude?

Now is your time to discover how to control the one thing that means more to your accomplishments and happiness than anything else … Your Attitude!

Here is a simple positive Champion habit that will change your attitude in seconds!

Your Champion Action Today:

1. Choose or create a positive mental attitude trigger phrase and repeat it aloud many times each day. A habit trigger is an event, action, or thought that helps to reinforce your positive habits.

Your trigger phrases will help you to maintain a positive mental attitude. Choose or make up a positive phrase, such as..

” I know I can do it.”
” I can overcome any obstacle.”
” I am reaching my success goals every day.”
” I am getting stronger and stronger every day.”
” Every day I am getting closer and closer to my goals in life.”
” If I believe it.. I can achieve it.”
” Every day, my mental attitude is becoming more positive.”
” I am achieving my goal weight every day.”
” I am getting closer and closer to my goal of a trim and fit body.”

2. Write down your trigger phrase on Post-it notes; place them on the mirror of your car, on your bathroom mirror, carry the note in your pocket. Or as I did, place on the sun visor of the car, so when I needed an attitude check up, I’d flick the sun visor down and instantly know where I was going and how to get there!

3. Repeat the phrase many times every day, remember to say it with emotion, believe it with all your heart. Make it a habit to repeat this phrase at least 30 times a day. Start your day with it.

4. The more you repeat your trigger phrases, the greater their effect will be on your attitude. Whenever a negative thought enters your mind, replace it with your positive-attitude trigger phrase.

You will now be building success-oriented positive thought patterns. This Champion habit will help you achieve a positive mental winner’s attitude automatically.

Remember,attitude is everything!
and… if you don’t quit…you will make it!

Cheers Shelley Taylor-Smith

P. S. If you want to achieve greater success, you might want to read what I have to say. It may help you with issues you are now facing. Review past blog posts and read the articles at http://www.thinklikeachampionclub.com/articles

PPS: Want to Pick Shelley’s Brain? Email Shelley directly at champion@championmindset.com.au with subject header: “I want to Pick Shelley’s Brain” and send your enquiry/questions.

Remain Constantly Connected to Your Mission…

Actions Speak Louder Than Words.

Always define each of your most important values in life as an action such as: “I will always act with integrity” OR “I will always speak positively.”

It’s time to let what matters most to you shine in all that you do.

“A test of what is real is that it is hard and rough. Joys are found in it, not pleasure. What is pleasant belongs to dreams.”~ Simone Weil

Your Champion Action:

1. Have you defined your values as actions yet?

2. Can the people around you tell what you value in life, simply by observing your actions?

3. What action statement could you promise about one of your values in life?

Final Word from Coach Shelley:
Achieve ALL Your Goals Sooner Today. Dead stop the FEAR of success… the FEAR of failure… the FEAR of the future. Take SMARTER actions more consistently.

Go for gold Champ….it is your birthright to achieve!
and remember: if you don’t quit…you will make it!

Cheers Shelley Taylor-Smith

P. S. If you want to achieve greater success, you might want to read what I have to say. It may help you with issues you are now facing. Review past blog posts and read the articles at http://www.thinklikeachampionclub.com/articles

PPS: Want to Pick Shelley’s Brain? Email Shelley directly at champion@championmindset.com.au with subject header: “I want to Pick Shelley’s Brain” and send your enquiry/questions.

Here is one of my favourite positive habits that will instantly motivate you and make you feel happy, inspired, invigorated, energised or calm, cool and collected…..you will love it!

Make a list of the songs that you love the most; songs that make you feel happy, joyous, excited, full of energy, or focused, driven, motivated …at heart.

Make a CD of these songs or create a playlist for your ipod.

Play these songs at a designated time, such as on your way to or from work, during a workout, or just when you want to be motivated. If you have an ipod the easiest way is just create a play list with your favourite “feel good” songs.

Try and get into the habit of “Zoning out” and “Zoning in” with these songs.

What does that mean?

Whether I was preparing my mind for the English Channel Solo Crossing in 1990 or training for the 6th FINA World Swimming Championships in my hometown of Perth, Australia in January 1991, I would visualise myself strong and powerful in each stroke and as I do this; I get into the music so much that I sometimes would forget where I am….I have completely zoned out of my surroundings.

Yeah, I know what you are thinking…a great way to forget the pain I was in around the 20km, 40km, 60km or 80km mark!

As I woke on the morning of competition whether for a local meet, State or National Championship, FINA Marathon Swimming World Cup or World Championship; I would begin the day with a short visualisation exercise. I had already practiced this hundreds of times in training, on my way to training, as I did my warm up stretching exercises, in the gym and at night before I would go to sleep.

Each time I practiced the visualisation exercise I would have a greater clarity and focus of the task ahead. Why because my vision of what I wanted to feel and what I wanted to achieve became more believable day by day combined with my discipline and commitment to the goal!

The habit of “zoning in” became a habit with each daily visualisation. With the countdown to competition day getting closer I could tap into this emotion and feeling easily. I became this emotion and feeling walking-the-talk with every breath I took.

Here is another example:

When I go for my daily 5km power walk I play my songs I love on my ipod and I “Zone out” of everything around me. I concentrate more and more on the music…I am zoning out of my surroundings, and zoning into the music and the feelings I get from the music.

This is also a great stress reliever.

As you listen to songs that you love, your mood will be elevated.
Picture yourself as succeeding in what is most important to you right now.

Do this over and over again. You will find that music triggers will automatically motivate you and give you a feeling of power and well-being.

I have been able to instantly place myself in a better mood on cue by playing songs that make me feel good. I have been able to eradicate my lack of motivation as I climb out of bed at 4am preparing for a 15km pool workout. I have been able to calm myself down as I fight the waves in sheer frustration knowing I will never win against Mother Nature. I have been able to just “zone out” and “go with the flow” reserving those vital energy stores for the end of the race…when I will need them most.

As I am just heading to the Dubai airport I will now start “zoning out” preparing for the 15 hour long haul flight home to Australia.

And the good news…is you can too!

****

Action Steps to Thinking Like A Champion!

1. Compile a list of songs that put you in the mood that you want to be feeling. Excited! Enthused! Passionate! Powerful! Energetic! Committed! Disciplined! Focused! Driven! Motivated! Purposeful! Relaxed! Calm! Grounded! Blessed! Grateful! Joy!

2. Transfer these songs onto your i-pod. Make different playlists of the different songs. Playlist is the title of the mood you want to be feeling as compiled in your list above.

3. As you wake in the morning getting ready for the day ahead listen to the play list according to how you want to feel. If you are in the gym, powerwalking, swimming or participating in your daily exercise regime play your ipod and get into the habit “zoning in” or “zoning out”.

4. Focus on your breathing with this emotion and feeling of the song.

5. Visualise the energy changing within your body as you focus on your breathing.

Go for gold…it is your birthight to achieve your goals!

Cheers Shelley Taylor-Smith

P. S. If you want to achieve greater success, you might want to read what I have to say. It may help you with issues you are now facing. Review past blog posts and read the articles at http://www.thinklikeachampionclub.com/articles

PPS: Want to Pick Shelley’s Brain? Email Shelley directly at champion@championmindset.com.au with subject header: “I want to Pick Shelley’s Brain” and send your enquiry/questions.

…..THEN “STOP IT”

With all the positive news in the media, and spring begun, it feels like it’s time to turn a corner and think a little differently.

Easier said than done.

Your Work: The in tray is still full, the email comes in floods, and the phone just won’t leave you alone.

Your Health & Fitness: You had good intentions. You joined a bootcamp. You signed up at the local gym. Daylight Savings is here and no more excuses…but you keep hitting the snooze button.

Your Finances: ??? Your Family: ???
Your Self: You’re kidding yourself Shelley, time to focus on me…what the?

How will you CHOOSE to make a NEW START?

Bob Newhart has the answer. Click on the video and learn the answer to quitting a bad habit…the answer is only 2 words!

What are your 10 words?

Simply CHOOSE to take action and STOP IT. Taking ACTION requires you to :

1. CHOOSE>>: Accept responsibility
2. CHOOSE>>: Get in touch with your passion daily
3. CHOOSE>>: Value what you are truly worth
4. CHOOSE>>: Daily practice your new habit
5. CHOOSE>>: Celebrate your Champion self, pat yourself on the back
6. CHOOSE>>: To keep going all the way to the finish line
7. and remember….if you don’t quit, you will make it!

Learn to identify poor patterns of thoughts/actions and STOP IT!! then replace it with an appropriate substitute. Make the changes you need to make, both at the level of your consciousness and in action so you become Unconsciously Competent.

Act on your 10 words today…and stop it!

Go for gold…it is your birthright!
Cheers Shelley Taylor-Smith

I received a lovely compliment from a gorgeous GenY yesterday after presenting “The Winners Mindset” at the Lunchbox List Career Boosters Breakfast. “Shelley I am a morning person too!!!”

Are You A Morning Person?

It is important that you schedule tasks around your most productive time periods in your day.

Observe the times of day when you tend to be the most creative, social or adapt at problem solving.

Do your best to match your scheduled tasks to the time when you’re at your best for that type of task. Learn to work with your natural, daily rhythms instead of against them.

“A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug.”~ Patricia Neal

Your Champion Action:

1. What time of the day are you the most creative?

_______________________________________________________________

2. Are your interpersonal skills better in the morning, afternoon, or evening?

________________________________________________________________

3. Which part of the day are you best at problem solving?

________________________________________________________________

Final word from Coach Shelley: “Pursue effectiveness and reject mediocrity today!”

Beware what’s holding you back from greater success. Keep a watch out for the thieves including frustration, fear and self doubt.

Remember it is your birthright to achieve the SUCCESS you desire… a great deal sooner.

Go for your gold!
Cheers Shelley Taylor-Smith

Who is the most important person in your life?

As you ask yourself that question, consider that it’s not your parents, nor your children or any family members..

and it’s not your best friend either.

The answer is… YOU!

You are the most important person in your life.

And if you’re like most people I hear from, what’s going on out in the world right now is creating anxiety in your life.

In fact, many people report being overwhelmed and downright scared about being able to provide a safe, secure and happy life for themselves and their families.

That’s why now, more than ever, it’s critical to take care of yourself and that starts with KNOWING how to take care of yourself.

So what can you do… where do you start?

Consider today that your performance is what matters most in each of your roles. Make sure you are giving each of your roles the time and the performance level it deserves.

Make sure you have a mission, a goal, a plan, a priority and a time to act for all of your roles.

Today’s Quest… Answer Honestly:

What can you plan, right now, that will enrich one other area of your life? ______________________________________________________________

What’s keeping you from achieving the balance you want for your life? ___________________________________________________________

Does tomorrow’s schedule include a balance of work, family and self? ___________________________________________________________

Live the Life You Love Today.

Cheers Shelley Taylor-Smith
Australia’s No.1 Mental Toughness Coach

PS: need help toughening up…call Shelley on 0414 594 245 or email champion@championmindset.com.au and it would be my pleasure to teach you how to achieve your goals…and know you’re the most important person in your life!

Give Proper Time to Each Role…

All Work And No Play?

To keep a healthy balance and to prevent burnout, switch between your roles as needed to stay current with your interests, hobbies, family, friends and fun.

Focusing on only one area of your life, to the exclusion of the others, is fine for a while; but, know when too much on one means too little on others.

“There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.”~ Douglas Everett

Today’s Quest…

1. What things have you scheduled for today or for this week that are interesting and fun? ___________________________________________________________________________

2. When you’re not working, how do you spend most of your waking hours? ______________________________________________________________

3. What are you willing to do today to improve the balance in your life? ___________________________________________________________

Achieve Greater Success Today. Choose Success over Failure. Eliminate the NEGATIVES driving your performance… accentuate your POSITIVES.

Go for Gold…it is your birthright to achieve your goals!

Cheers Shelley Taylor-Smith