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!!!

“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.