Focus on Your Top Priorities — First…

What’s Your Number One “#1″ Today? When you Focus On #1 First, you control the outcome of your day by determining in advance the most important and rewarding thing you will accomplish before the day is done.

Today I remember the anniversary of my victory in the Sydney Harbour 30km International Marathon Swim on 10th November 1991. It was my first race after my overall win in Atlantic City earlier in August when people said it was a fluke beating the Men’s World Champion. And after finishing first overall in Sydney Harbour I did not even realise what I had achieved for women in sport until my fellow competitors reminded me that I had overtaken the Men’s World Champ, Argentinian Diego Degano for the No. 1 World Ranking in the International Marathon Swimming Association World Series.

Dawn Fraser with Shelley, Manly Wharf 10/11/91

My focus was elsewhere that day with the Taylor-Made Team for Success. Dawn Fraser alongside me for the ride of her life in a scoodoo (yes it was a sight!) cheering me, yelling at me to pull my finger out. My husband, Peter Smith, overseeing my race plan knowing deep within himself that this win would change everything for us both personally and professionally. Graeme “Grub” Caroll, a local Manly-ite who assisted Peter with his superb knowledge and surf skills (who became my swim coach when I moved from Perth to Sydney in Jan ‘92). Funny when Peter had to tell Grub after he rocked up with a chair, book, umbrella, fishing rod and esky: “Mate! Not sure what you’re thinkin’ but you won’t be sitting down…believe me. So leave all that stuff behind. Let’s keep the esky…we’ll drink those beers after Shells wins.”

But my No. 1 Focus First on 10th November 1991 was with my New York Mom “Fran Schnarr” who was in her final days suffering with Lung Cancer. Nancy (Fran’s daughter) would normally be on my boat as my coach but her No.1 Focus First was by her Mom bedside.

So I re-directed my focus and all my energy on having fun, pure and simple. Enjoying what I love to do. Racing. Competing. Challenging myself. Pushing myself, Stretching myself out of my comfort zone knowing that today could be “the day” that Shelley Taylor-Smith learns something knew about herself and her character. And yes…Winning. I love to win. No matter where I place, as long as I had given 100%, prepared and planned to the best of my ability, left no stone unturned…then I had won. And that would make my New York Mom proud!

….And I let the Taylor-Made Success Team do what they do best..coach me, feed me, direct me, support me, encourage me and kick me in the pants if need be too. I am still amazed by what “WE” achieved that day. The Taylor-Made Success Team ROCKED!!!!!

Shelley & David O'Brien, Australia 1st and 2nd, 10/11/91

So as I stated in the beginning of this blog; when you Focus On #1 First, you control the outcome of your day by determining in advance the most important and rewarding thing you will accomplish before the day is done. Of course there are times when urgencies will need to be handled first.

However, before you start, identify and then schedule the earliest time possible to complete your #1 priority. My no.1 priority on that fateful day as is now an everyday habit is to be grateful for what I have and my commitment to do what I love passionately, patriotically and purposefully.

“The reality of life is that your perceptions — right or wrong — influence everything else you do. When you get a proper perspective of your perceptions, you may be surprised how many other things fall into place.”~ Roger Birkman

Today’s Champion Action:

1. How far down your priority list are you so far today? _________________________________

2. What one thing will you get done today to advance your most important goal? ___________________________________________________________

3. What priority deserves all of your attention next? _________________________________

Pursue Excellence ~ Reject Mediocrity today and you will produce greater results over time by consistently taking CHAMPION actions. Think Like A Champion today and you’re on your way to achieving your goals sooner.

Cheers Shelley Taylor-Smith

PS: …And 18yrs on I am still the only woman to hold a No.1 World Ranking for both men and women in the history of any sport worldwide (BBC TV 2002). Thanks Taylor-Made Success Team WE DID IT!!!

Imagine waking up in the morning feeling great, refreshed and motivated to start a new day!

Usually this is a moment many dread, getting up and looking in the mirror at tired eyes, wondering how you are going to get through the day. Email bombardment, back to back meetings, long hours, time intense deadlines are increasing the pace of work and life.

Let’s not forget also our daily commitments to our family, partner and children. To thrive in a relentless and accelerating pace is not about becoming motivated to keep going and ‘cope with stress’, but rather being able to increase your capacity, to sustain and enjoy high pressure, without experiencing the consequences of fatigue and burnout.

But instead of worrying about how you are going to force yourself through a day’s work or chores and how you are going to summon the energy to be social when you are done, how much would you give to have a sense of excitement as you take your steps out of bed?

If you are bothered by a lack of energy, no motivation, drowsiness, and a feeling of not caring about what happens, you may be one of countless Australians plagued by fatigue.

Why are so many of us so fatigued?
There’s no easy answer. Fatigue can stem from illness, poor sleep, and stress, lack of exercise, overwork, medications, and depression. It can make us trudge through the day yet hit our beds wide awake.

Research says fatigue comes partly from ignoring our limits in a society where sleep and relaxation are sometimes bad words and all too often neglected.

There are thousands of Australians who have called me over the years since discovering that I suffered with two bouts of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. There’s no magic pill. In fact, some drugs designed to fix causes of fatigue, including sleeping pills, can make matters worse in the long run. But simple lifestyle changes can definitely help.

To many in our society today including the average overworked, overstressed Australian, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) doesn’t sound like a disease. It sounds like reality.

Quick Self Care Remedies for Fatigue:
• Organise your time. Get up a few minutes earlier, so you won’t have to start your day feeling rushed and tired. Learn to delegate and say no when you have enough responsibilities and activities in your life.
• Be physically active. Try to get at least 30 minutes of activity most days of the week. Avoid exercising right before you go to bed, which can disrupt your regular sleeping habits and make you tired in the morning.
• Get the right amount of sleep. Most people need six to eight hours of sleep each night.
• Take a nap during the day. This may be especially helpful for teenagers who have hectic schedules studying for their Yr 12 examinations and older adults who tend to sleep less soundly.
• Quit smoking. Smoking steals some of your body’s oxygen supply, replacing oxygen absorbed by the red blood cells with carbon monoxide. Nicotine is a stimulant, and going through the withdrawal symptoms that follow smoking can cause temporary tiredness.
• Drink less caffeine and alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant and will make you feel tired, not boost your energy. Caffeine will give you a temporary boost of energy, but when the effect wears off, your energy level will drop drastically.
• Find your lunch style. Some people function best after eating a lighter lunch, whereas others need to eat their largest meal of the day at lunch. In either case, avoid high fat and high GI foods.
• Take breaks. Interrupt your workday with occasional breaks. If you haven’t gone on a vacation in a while, take a trip or unplug the phone and refresh yourself at home.
• Watch less television. If you depend on television to relax, you may find yourself relaxed into a state of sluggishness. Try something more stimulating, such as reading or taking a walk.
• Find ways to keep cool, calm & collected. Listen to music or relaxation tapes. Say a word, phrase, or prayer that gives you a sense of peace. Imagine yourself on a beach, at the mountains, or in your favorite spot.
• Embrace and live in the present. Practice “attention strengthening.” That’s the act of paying attention to what needs to be done now. People think that if they slow down and pay attention they’ll become less efficient. But you become more efficient, because you focus more clearly and revise priorities.
• Take a Breather. Take breathing intervals when you stop at a traffic light, wash the dishes or take a walk. When you’re anxious, sad or angry, focus on a few breaths as you feel the emotion. Take these breathing breaks to increase your focus and your energy in the present. Notice how you feel after you breathe.

Four keys to boost your energy levels:
1. Eat a wholesome, hearty carbohydrate-rich breakfast such as a big bowl of cereal and a whole grain bagel. Research suggests people who fuel well at breakfast tend to eat a better (more wholesome) lunch and have a better diet throughout the day than do people who skip or skimp on breakfast.

2. Eat abundant fruits and vegetables. When you are eating on the run both at home and on the road, you can easily fail to consume the recommended seven servings of fruits and vegetables per day. A simple way to boost your fruit intake is to have a tall glass of orange juice at breakfast, along with a big banana or other fruit on cereal, and then eat a double serving of colourful vegetables at lunch or dinner (such as a big salad or a generous portion of cooked vegetables).
Can’t stomach them or your kiddies won’t touch them…check this out

3. Limit your fat intake. Of all the types of foods, fatty foods contribute to the biggest health and low energy levels throughout the day that have you feeling like your tank is running on empty. Your best bet is to eat only small portions of fatty foods, or choose low fat alternatives.

4. Drink plenty of water or other non-alcoholic fluids to prevent dehydration. You should drink enough fluids so you have to urinate every two to four hours. The urine should be clear and copious (versus dark and concentrated). If you do not urinate, let’s say from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., you are dehydrated and need to drink more fluids.

Beat Tiredness & Fatigue Presentation today! Think Like A Champion Club Members click here to download the mp3 recording “Beat Fatigue, Boost Energy: How to Stop Working Yourself to Death” now which teaches you:
** The three mistakes, that almost every one makes, which CREATES stress and burns you out
** The 4 key principles of building mental toughness – your inspiration from within to the stress and pressure in your life
** How to develop a champion attitude
** Is there a right way to achieve a practical work-life balance?
** How to convert unproductive stress into energy & enthusiasm
** How to immune yourself from stressful clients, customers and colleagues
** Why fruits and vegetables are your best ammunition against all of life’s deadly oxidants

Nothing above is rocket science …then why is our society running around like headless chooks in a state of overwhelm crying ‘time poor’.

It really is crunch time at this time of the year! Make a commitment to you to get back your vitality, energy & potential to live life to the full, that Shelley Taylor-Smith says…is your birthright to achieve and enjoy too!

If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired. If you are unhappy about your fatigue, chronic fatigue, glandular fever, low energy and vitality and the impact this has in your life, please attend these life changing presentations with 7-time World Marathon Swimming Champion, Shelley Taylor-Smith. Read the 10 tips for recover from CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome).

Cheers to your good health!
Shelley Taylor-Smith

P. S. If you want to achieve greater energy levels, 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

10 Practical tips to help you feel more positive and stay buoyant as you Spring into September.

1. Raise your game. My coach always said; “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” and that couldn’t be truer than right now. This is the time to put in more effort than you normally do, focusing on the activities that bring in business. Remember: Anyone can succeed when the conditions are easy, it’s the tough time that really define us.

2. Turn off the TV. The media delight in telling us how bad things are at the moment and the more we listen the more we buy into their message. If you want to stay positive then don’t listen to their messages. Turn off the news and watch a Billy Connelly DVD instead!

3. Flush the negative people. Have you ever noticed how, if you let your guard down, the grumps of this world are able to bring you down to their level? Now is not the time to spend time with the negative people that you know, seek out the positive ones, spend your time with them and let their positive vibes rub off.

4. Focus on your successes. The simplest way to get depressed is to focus on all the failures you’ve had in your life. We all have failures, challenges and bad times and the more we focus on them the more we feel negative. When we focus on our successes we feel so much better.

5. Get out of bed on the right side. Most people struggle out of bed and spend their first few moments of their day in a sleepy haze. It is time to wake up from your snooze! Zig Ziglar, one of my first ‘Motivational Teachers’ used to preach the following morning routine: Throw the bed covers off, leap out of bed and shout “IT’S GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY”. If you follow this routine I bet you won’t be able to stop smiling all morning!

6. Read some good stuff. The computer industry used to use the following to describe bad programming: GIGO: Garbage in, Garbage out. If you apply this to your brain you’ll understand why it’s so important to read uplifting articles, books and magazines if you’d like to stay positive.

7. Listen to some good stuff. I hope your car is like mine, full of motivational and inspirational CD’s. When we listen to the radio not only do we get the news every half an hour but we then have no control over what goes into our brains. Turn off the radio and control your input.

8. Attend uplifting presentations. When you hear speakers tell positive, uplifting stories doesn’t it make you feel better? Attend at least one positive, motivational event every week. Join a networking group that contains positive people, attend breakfast presentations and conferences to ensure you stay informed and positive.

9. Smile and walk tall like a Champion. Our physiology dictates our mood and if we slump, walk slowly and look at our feet all the time we’ll find it difficult to feel powerful and motivated. Next time you are taking a walk try this: Imagine that you’ve just won the lottery and you are on your way to pick up the ticket before the deadline expires. Smile and the rest of the world will wonder what you’ve been up to!

10. Take regular exercise. Everyone feels better after they’ve exercised. Go for a swim at the early morning session, park your car away from the office and walk the last few kilometres, don’t take the lift use the stairs and then go to the gym on the way home from work. Exercise is good for you and it’ll make you feel great.

Cheers Shelley Taylor-Smith
1300 78 41 70

PS: If you’re lacking self belief, self confidence and not able to take the right actions…join the Think Like A Champion Club. Take a 21-day test drive for only $1 and qualify for the monthly power call with Shelley coaching you and you can pick her brains for free.
Sign up now http://www.ThinkLikeAChampionClub.com/testdrive

Every day I hear from people asking me to help them out and “motivate” them.

I am a believer that the greatest motivation comes from inside YOU and all I or anyone else can do for you is to reveal to you your own inner desires and resources. The next time you feel stuck, instead of waiting for motivation, follow these 10 steps and start creating Momentum instead. The motivation is sure to follow.

Millions of people started the day today “hoping” for motivation to get them through the week. They woke up waiting for some external force to inspire and light a fire under them so they could make it through the day. Not an exciting way to begin the week, do you agree?

Does it make sense to await motivation from an outside source and “hope” it arrives or does it make more sense to learn a few key strategies for motivating yourself week after week consistently? After all, we are given 52 Mondays each year. What if you could turn them into the springboard for creating a great week guaranteed every time?

Creating a great week is not something that happens by accident; in fact, you have the power to create momentum anytime you desire. This lesson focuses on empowering ways to approach Mondays so you can create unstoppable momentum and create the best week of your life every week.

10 Steps to Creating Monday Momentum:

1. Decide in advance that you are going to have a great week. Start each day with an attitude of gratitude. Your attitude determines your altitude and it starts right here with the decision. Expect success, expect the best, and be prepared to invest the very best of yourself in everything you do.

2. Define Success more clearly. Envision exactly what it means to have a great week. Does success mean productivity? Fun? Speed? Quality? Progress? Completion?What elements do you need to create in order to realise your vision this week?

3. Map out your week on Sunday evening. At first this may seem challenging but after a few tries, you will be in awe of how easy it is to set yourself up for success. Here are some questions to get you started: What are your priorities for the week? What are the essentials you absolutely must accomplish and in what order of importance? What do you need to do this week to meet your Goals for the month, for the year?

4. Schedule your actions and priorities into your calendar so that you know when you will do them.

5. Create measures of accountability. Are you motivated by pain or pleasure? Does it give you a kick in the pants to know there is a fun reward at the finish line for doing what you promised or are you more motivated by the pain of having to pay for NOT doing it?

Determine your own personal rewards you will enjoy for following through on your commitments and what penalties can you impose on yourself if you don’t? Bring in a friend or peers for extra reinforcement. Having someone to hold you accountable will keep you honest and give you an extra edge. There is nothing like succeeding or failing in front of an audience. You can raise the bar on this as high as you need to.

6. Go to bed early Sunday evening. Stretch or meditate prior to bedtime. You will feel more rested when you wake up and you will have energy, vigour and enthusiasm to begin your day. There’s nothing as energising and momentum building as arising with clarity, getting a jump on the day and being ahead of schedule, rather than feeling like you’re behind schedule or playing catch up.

7. On Monday morning rise a little earlier, get in a quick workout, even if it’s just a 15 minute walk or ride on the exercise bike. I love to start the week with my early morning swim workout. It really blows the cobwebs out from the weekend. Wake up your brain and get those endorphins flowing. You will burn more fat, feel GREAT and get it out of the way so you’re free to move on to other things.

8. Eat a healthy breakfast. This will provide you with the fuel to tackle your top priorities. (Planning your week in advance means planning your meals in advance if you want to be super productive, energised and stay away from fast foods, which are a huge energy drain) What you put into your mouth has a direct effect on your productivity, efficiency and mental clarity.

9. Listen to one hour of an empowering audio program while you’re working out and eating breakfast. This will help you with the mental motivation and get you going with the right attitude. For Club members I highly recommend your download Shelley’s 69 favourite Taylor-Made Motivations or review one of any of the Go-for-Gold Blogs at the Think Like A Championclub which available to the general public.

10. At the end of each day and the end of each week, review what you did or didn’t do. Make adjustments where necessary and keep building on your strengths and celebrating your successes. Have fun and remember that small improvements add up over time. Imagine how much more clarity, motivation and achievement you will experience after growing and improving consistently for 52 weeks!

Momentum breeds momentum.

Unleashing these powerful strategies will condition you to seize the day every day. You will condition yourself to know where you are going, get moving and you will have all the motivation and Momentum you need to carry you through the week.

Now get out there…and get on with enjoying your Monday!

Go for Gold…it’s your birthright to succeed.
Cheers Shelley Taylor-Smith