Monday, August 27, 2007

Issue 430 - One Missing Element?

Hi,
I hope Monday finds you well.

I haven't talked about sport in the newsletter for a couple of weeks at least, but since it's a niche I enjoy and profit from, and also provides great self improvement lessons, I'm going to indulge myself today..!

The world athletics championships are taking place in Japan.
Britain is not a world force in athletics, we have the occasional individual who succeeds but no real system in place to indentify and nuture talent.

As a result, our target for the championships is 3 medals.
Not 3 golds, but 3 medals full stop.
We already have one on the board, as Kelly Sotherton won bronze in the heptathlon.

She won bronze in the Olympics 2004, despite a shocking javelin technique, and in the years since, despite several coaches, her javelin is still pretty hopeless.

It's weird, because the 7 events of the heptathlon require lots of technical prowess to go along with strength and natural talent.
The high jump, long jump, shot putt, none of those can be done properly without starting with the basic technique, and while Sotherton has it sorted for those events, she cannot seem to grasp the javelin.

Now obviously I'm not one to talk, if I had a javelin in my hand there would probably be a stabbing incident, more than likely my own ear or foot, but nevertheless it's very strange to me that she has so much problem.

Obviously it's a mental thing, and it just goes to show that even for someone who has obviously got what it takes to master very technical sporting events, a mental block can be a huge thing to overcome (if you let it!).

That's 2 bronze medals she's won at major championships by basically only scoring 6 events while everyone else scores 7, so imagine what she could do if she broke through with the javelin!

Back to the lives of us non athletes, and the lesson is obvious - to succeed in something, we need all the parts to be in place.
You may be great at some of them, but it often only needs one element to be missing, and the whole thing falls apart.

The good news is, that unlike a heptathlon, getting all the pieces in place can often be as simple as finding out what they are and making some easy changes, basic formula following.

It's the kind of thing I talk about in my 4 year old book 'Transform Your Life in 21 Days!'
It's currently priced at $7, but I am considering raising that back up the previous price of $27.
I haven't made a final decision on that yet, but if you haven't though about getting it before, the current $7 is not going to break anyone's bank for a book described as 'motivational magic' and a 'true gem'.
Pop along and see at: http://www.transformyourlifenow.com/

Ok, that's it for today, and I'll leave you with this thought - is there one element you are leaving out that stops you achieving your goals?

'Til Next Time,
Health and Happiness,
Gordon
P.S. If you know anyone else who you think would enjoy the
Great Gordino Newsletter, please pass it on to them!
Transform Your Life In 21 Days:
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com/

How to make money from sport:
http://www.gordonbryan.com/sport

Grab my free 8 Step Goal Achievement Plan by sending a blank
email to:
mailto:transform@getresponse.com

Monday, August 20, 2007

Issue 429 - Get Ready To Run, Kill Or Be Killed

Hi,
I hope everything is ok where you are.

Last week I briefly mentioned the 60 year anniversaty of the partition of India and Pakistan.
I say briefy, because I gave it 3 sentences.

Having watched a documentary about it during the week, I now know a bit more about it than I ever did, and the point I made last week seems worth making again in light of the details.
The British press is often quick to rubbish other countries' foreign policy, most noticeably the US, but the way the British acted in the 1940s is quite staggering when studied.

India was the crown in the British Empire - 350 million people, a mixture of Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims all living together under the peaceful British rule.
Hmm...

Let's not forget that the British Empire was gained by force, and it was maintained by force.
It's true that the communities did live together, but that was mainly due to the fact that if they didn't the British would come and sort it out, with force again.

After the 2nd World War, the movement for Independence in India gathered pace, with some people wanting a united India, and some wanting a seperate nation for the musim population.
It's quite possible that the British would have just kept control, but the war had left us all but bankrupt, and it was clear that we just didn't have the money to maintain control - Britain was war ravaged, and in no position to start hiking up taxes to pay for it either.

That's probably why independence was accepted.
Once it became clear that Britain would be leaving, the question rose of how it would be handled, and the religious tensions started to surface, as people living in communities with a majority from an opposing religion started to consider life without the protection of the British army.

As the violence started, it became clear that it wasn't going to stop, and the decision was made to split India up to create Pakistan, a new state for the muslim population.
Instead of quelling the violence it had the opposite effect, as majority communities started to slaughter the minorities before the split.
The British couldn't keep control, and didn't seem to have the desire to, bringing troops home so as not to get involved.

This partition of a country of 350 million woud be a lengthy process you'd think, but in fact it was done in a few months!
A barrister was brought over from England who had never been to India before, and given a few weeks to draw the new border line.
A date was announced for the partition, which again fuelled more violence, and as Pakistan celebrated its' creation, the border hadn't been revealed!

There was no plan to deal with the refugee crisis, with millions being forced to flee for their ives, and simply start walking to other country.
Again because of the lack of British firepower left, these refugee trails themselves became targets for the sectarian violence.
Many hundreds of thousands of innocent people died.

So, wherever you are today, imagine that the community you live in is being divided in 2 months.
There will be a line drawn somewhere down the middle, but you're not told where.
If you're on the wrong side of this unknown line, you'd better be prepared to run, kill or be killed, because those who protect the peace now won't be around.

Your house may well burn, you may find yourself with nothing except the clothes you stand in - nothing left, and no-one to tell you where to go or what to do.

That seemingly unrealistic scenario was all too real for millions of people 60 years ago today - it's seemingly realistic for many of innocents in many parts of the world today too, so if this isn't the case for you, thank your lucky stars.

If you can do what you want, say what you want, go where you want, if you have food and water, make sure you appreciate the abundance, and when you feel like having a moan about things, ask yourself exactly how much more abundance do you need?

It's a point I feel quite strongly about, and I cover it in my book 'Transform Your Life in 21 Days!'
It's one of the simple but powerful changes of mindset which bring huge contentment and empowerment, and I'm proud of it.
Why not get a copy for yourself? It's only $7!
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com/

Ok, that's it for this week, and I'll leave you to consider the huge devastations some people go through.

'Til Next Time,
Health and Happiness,
Gordon
P.S. If you know anyone else who you think would enjoy the Great Gordino Newsletter, please pass it on to them!

Transform Your Life In 21 Days:
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com/

How to make money from movies:
http://www.gordonbryan.com/movies

Grab my free 8 Step Goal Achievement Plan by sending a blank email to:
mailto:transform@getresponse.com

Monday, August 13, 2007

Issue 428 - Elvis Spotted On Space Station?

Hi,
I hope Monday finds you well.

Last week I mentioned that Barbara Morgan would be going into space on the shuttle, more than 20 years after she commited to that goal.

As I type she's up there now, working away on the Space Station, and just to add to the story, one of her crewmates is Tracey Caldwell, and she cites Morgan and Christa McAuliffe as her inspiration to be an astronaut!
A great lesson that if you feel inspired by someone, you *can* choose to do the same, and get the same results!

A couple of anniversaries this month the partition of India and Pakistan, and the death of Elvis.

Well I say the death of Elvis, because it's said he died 30 years ago, Aug 16th 1977.
I was 11 at the time and can remember the hoopla about it.
One of my favourite song titles is 'There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis.'
I say one of, because how can that compare to another favourite, 'She Got The Goldmine, I Got The Shaft'?

Elvis changed the music industry and made a huge cultural impact.
He didn't do it deliberately either, he just followed his feelings.
He used to get into a lot of trouble before he ever made a record, with his long hair, and eyeliner!

He just went with what felt right for him - it just happened to lead to worldwide superstardom and an eternal place in history.
It also led to a drug-addled premature death at 42, so following your passions always needs to be done like anything else, with the ability to keep a rational view about things!

Go back a further 30 years to August 1947, and 200 years of British rule came to an end in India, with the partition of the country to form the new state of Pakistan.
The partition was made along, you guessed it, religious lines, and led to huge rioting and chaos, over 500,000 people died.

60 years later, and the relationship between India and Pakistan is tense at best, with nuclear ingredients making it a cause to concern all of us.
I live in a peaceful country, I have done all my life.
I've never known war or oppression.

I hope you haven't either, and as you read this, give thanks for that - appreciate the abundance you enjoy by accident of birth.

Next time you think you can't do things, or that you are 'trapped', that you don't have opportunity, think of people who *are* oppressed or live their life in war conditions.

Remember Elvis, and be brave to follow your passions like he did.
Be inspired by astronaut Tracey Caldwell, who was herself inspired by her crew mate Barbara Morgan.

Ok, thats it for today - where does your personal inspiration come from?
'Til Next Time,
Health and Happiness,
Gordon
P.S. If you know anyone else who you think would enjoy the Great Gordino Newsletter, please pass it on to them!

Transform Your Life In 21 Days:
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com/

How to make money from movies:
http://www.gordonbryan.com/movies

Grab my free 8 Step Goal Achievement Plan by sending a blank email to:
mailto:transform@getresponse.com

Monday, August 06, 2007

Issue 427 - How Many Years Would You Give To A Goal?

Hi,
I hope everything is ok where you are.

I had already decided what this issue would be about, when something popped through my letterbox which tied in nicely, so here goes...

You'll remember, (and my legs certainly do!) that to mark hitting 40 I set the goal of training and running my first marathon, aiming at the London race.
The places are decided by ballot, and I missed out, so decided to just do a marathon on the same time and date by myself around my local streets.
I finished with a time of 5 hour 45, which is no firework worthy time, but a good achievement I am proud of.

This weekend I got the entry form in the post for the 2008 race!
I've decided to send it off - who knows, I might get in this year.
To be honest I'm not fussed if I never run another marathon, it's a sodding long way, but the opportunity to apply is there, and maybe my original goal will transpire a year later than I thought.

By the way I also found out that 2008 is the centenary of the modern marathon.
I knew that at the London Olympics in 1908 the distance of 26 miles was extended so the finish was in front of the Royal Box, but I also found out the start was extended so the Royal children could watch it it Windsor Castle!

Of course in those days the British Empire covered probably 25% of the planet.
Not any more...

This week also sees the delayed achievement of a goal, but this time the dealy is over 20 years!

The Space Shuttle Endeavour is set for launch on Wednesday, and one of the crew is Barbara Morgan.
I've mentoned Eileen Collins in space, I've mentioned Suni Williams in space, and this time it's Barbara.

She was the standby for the teacher-in-space program, which saw Christa McAuliffe and the rest of the Challenger crew perish a few seconds after launch.
Obviously that set the shuttle program back years, as did the Columbia accident, and Morgan has been waiting for her space flight for 20 years.
Certainly if you're going to give 20 years to a goal, it has to be a way of life, and Morgan's been a NASA employee for that time, with the associated life changes that brought.

Sometimes goals do take longer than planned, in fact they *often* do.
It's how you react when the timescale changes which dictates whether your goal will happen or not, patience and acceptance are essential parts of the formula.

Ok, that's it for today, watch out for Endeavour's launch, see Barbara Morgan achieve a goal after 20 years, and consider if you're really giving your goals enough time before you give up?

'Til Next Time,
Health and Happiness,
Gordon
P.S. If you know anyone else who you think would enjoy the Great Gordino Newsletter, please pass it on to them!

Transform Your Life In 21 Days:
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com/

How to make money from movies:
http://www.gordonbryan.com/movies

Grab my free 8 Step Goal Achievement Plan by sending a blank email to:
mailto:transform@getresponse.com