Friday, November 13, 2009

Fri 13th Nov - A Magnificent Woman In Her Flying Machine?

Hi,
I hope everything is ok where you are.

Today I'm writing about Kirsty Moore.
Who?

Well, Kirsty has joined the Red Arrows, the display team of the RAF.
Famous around the world for their acrobatics in the sky for 45 years, Kirsty is the first woman to be one of the pilots.

I was amazed when I saw it on the news, but even more amazed to hear that their was no woman pilot in the RAF until 1991, and no woman jet pilot until 1994!

That seems staggering to me, and the reason behind it?
Well, let's not beat around the bush, it's prejudice.
To suggest that women did not have the skill or brains to do it is obviously ludicrous, so it comes down to basic prejudice, still around I'm afraid, but it's people like Kirsty who are breaking down those remaining barriers.

So, some obvious goal achievement theories with her story...

She is only 32, and says she decided to be in the RAF when she saw the Red Arrows when she was 13.
That shows what dedication and commitment can achieve, 19 years worth!

She also says her father told her to aim high and go for her dreams, which is a classic goal achievement technique, to believe you can do what you want, but follow it up with persistent action.

The publicity says she got the job due to her flying skills, and that's backed up by her many years as an instructor - in fact one of the other Red Arrow new recruits was one of her pupils.

Well done to Kirsty I say!
Google her to read more, and when you see the Red Arrows next, think of Kirsty Moore in Red Three, and remember the goal achievement story there.

You may want to break barriers yourself, in which case good luck, and go for it! However, it's more likely that someone else will have already done what your dream is, making it easier for you - all you have to do is follow what they did!

Kirsty has broken down one more barrier, so if you happen to be a 13 yr old girl who wants to be in the Red Arrows, there's your plan!

It's the kind of thing I write about in my book, 'Transform your Life in 21 Days!'
You can grab it for the special price of $5 by clicking my picture at the bottom of this page:
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com/

Ok, that's it for this time, I'm off to fire up my jets to get me to the chocolate cupboard a bit quicker.

'Til Next Time.
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
P.S. Grab my motivational book 'Transform Your Life in 21 Days!' here, it may take you all the way to Red Arrows! Click my picture at the bottom of that page for the special price:
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com/

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

4th Nov 2009 - Kelly Groucutt Died - Who?

Hi,
I hope today finds you well.

Kelly Groucutt was the bassist with the band ELO, and he died in February this year.
I was a massive fan of the band, got to see them a few times, and felt like listening to a few songs the other day.

I searched on youtube and found a few to listen to, and saw some comments that were saying RIP Kelly. So I searched some more and found that he had died in February of a heart attack at 63.

His story has classic success techniques, so it's worth sharing.
He taught himself to play the bass, and worked in various bands around Birmingham. ELO band leader Jeff Lynne and drummer Bev Bevan were from Birmingham and had seen Groucutt a few times.
In 1974 after watching a gig, they went backstage and asked if he wanted to join ELO!

At that time the band had some success in the UK, but were more successful in the US.
Groucutt had to make a decision there and then, so rang his wife who said 'yes'. He didn't even have a passport, so that had to be rushed through, and within a few days he was learning ELO songs on a plane to the USA.

He said he had never played to more than a few hundred people, but his first ELO gig was in Detroit to many thousands!

He was with the band when they went into stellar success, with Out Of The Blue and Discovery, albums which went multi platinum in countries around the world. As well as bassing you can hear his voice as an integral part of the sound.

In 1983 he demanded that he should be getting more of the royalties the success had brought, but Jeff Lynne told him that he had been taken on as a salaried employer. Groucutt sued, and got an out of court settlement, but was out of the band. Coincidentally or not, the band never had the same level of success, and Groucutt formed various bands with other ex ELO members to play the songs live.

He had another tour booked this year.
You can spot the key success elements -

- He taught himself the skills to follow his chosen path.
- You may call it luck that he was offered a place in the band, but it only happened because he was in a gigging band.
- He could have said no, but grabbed the opportunity.
- After the dizzy heights the band got to, he still enjoyed the lower levels, talking to fans, signing autgraphs, having a thoroughly good time.

ELO really were one of the biggest bands in the 1970s, overlooked often by pop history, but they got me into music, and the late Kelly Groucutt's route to success leaves many great lessons.

It's the kind of thing I write about in my motivation book 'Transform Your Life in 21 Days!'
You can grab it for $5 by clicking my picture at the bottom of this page:
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com

Ok, I'm off to have a session on my 2 string bass.

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

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

Monday, September 21, 2009

21st Sep - Use The Riveting Tale of The Rivet For Your Goal Achievement!

Hi,
I hope Monday finds you well.

Ok, the rivet! here we go...

Riveting was, and still is, a great way to hold two pieces of steel or iron together.
It's like a nut and bolt, but without the nut.
The 'bolt' is heated til it is red hot, then shoved through matching holes in either piece you want to fit together.
Then it's bashed at the end to seal it, and the 2 pieces, together. Contracting when it cools, it makes the hold even tighter.

Ok, so why I am I telling you about the rivet?
Well it was featured in the BBC show 'Coast', which visited the North East England city of Sunderland.

A former massvie industrial heartland, one of the major works there was the shipyard, building massive ships all riveted together.
Then in the 2nd World War, the Germans were sinking ships faster than we could build them, so when Churchill put in the order for more ships, he went to the US rather than Britain.

Why?
Because the US had massive shipyards that were able to make parts of the ship in whole units, then weld them together instead of rivet.
There was no space in Sunderland to expand the yards to go to this welding technique, so the area faded away along with the tradition of riveting.

You can use this story in relation to your goal achieving...
Techniques change with time, and what worked in the past may not be the way to achieve your goal today.

However, it's unlikely that *you* will have to make that discovery, someone else will have done it for you.
You just need to be aware of current trends, and be ready to accept change if it comes your way.

Ok, that's it for this issue, I'm off to see if I can find something else as riveting as the rivet.

'Til Next Time.
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
P.S. Grab my motivational book 'Transform Your Life in 21 Days!' here, it'll cover this exact theory of readiness for change! Click my picture at the bottom of that page for the special price:
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

16th Sep 2009 - This Year's 9/11 Issue

Hi,
I hope everything is ok where you are.

There were lots of 9/11 stories last week, and I saw 2 new documentaries myself.
In decided to leave my comments about the anniversary until this week, so here we go...

In 2005 I wrote an issue called Remembering Rick Rescorla, and I think his story is a life affirming one worth remembering.
You can read that issue via this link:
http://www.gordonbryan.com/120905.html

However, the story I want to cover today is something that came from a documentary about phone calls made from people trapped in the towers.
It was pretty painful to watch to be honest, but the relatives wanted these people's stories told, so I watched on.

One name stuck in my mind, that of Orio Palmer.
Palmer was a fireman, and like hundreds of others, he died when the towers collapsed.
A super fit man who ran many marathons, he had managed to get up to the 78th floor of the South Tower, carrying his full kit with him.

Audios were released of his messages to the ground as he made his way up.
The 78th floor was the bridge of the impact zone, and many people had been killed outright. Those that were left were facing a terrible outcome with little hope of escape, when unexpectedly a fireman appeared.

Like most others, Palmer probably didn't expect the building to collapse, but can you imagine the hope, reassurance and relief he must have given to the people there in their last moments?

Rick Rescorla was already in the buildings, and stayed there instead of getting out in order to help others, and he never made it himself.
Palmer was doing his job by going *into* the building after it had been hit.
The audios show him giving short bursts of information, saving his energy as he climbed, but they also show someone who was doing what he did every day, putting his life on the line to save others.

There are many stories from that day which deserve retelling, and I think I'll add Orio Palmer's to Rick Rescorla's.
They're worth telling because they are life affirming, and also because they help in key factor for contentment - perspective.

When you think things are bad for you, remember people like these 2, whose lives ended when they saved others instead of themselves, raise a smile to your face and thing again!

Ok, that's it for this time.

'Til Next Time.
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
P.S. Grab my motivational book 'Transform Your Life in 21 Days!' here, it'll get your attitudes in check! Click my picture at the bottom of that page for the special price:
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Sep 2nd - Does Britain Have Ideas Above Its (Gas) Station?

Hi,
I hope Wednesday finds you well.
Before I start today's issue, Yelena Isinbayeva, new world record in Zurich last Friday!

Right then, onwards, and I was watching the ever fascinating 'Coast' on TV, where they tell stories around the coast of Britian.
I was a bit disappopinted to find them going to Norway, the implication being that there weren't any interesting stories left around Britain's coast!

Putting that aside though, it was intriguing nonetheless, and led me to wonder about certain attitudes.

Did you know that at its' thinnest, Norway is only 3 miles wide?
To the north of the country is a massive gas plant, which supplies a 5th of the UK's gas needs. That's a huge amount, and it runs to us via the longest subsea pipe in the world, over 700 miles long - impressive engineering to say the least!

What's amazing though is that the plant uses no gas itself, it's run by hydro electricity, and a scheme being developed in Norway could be used here.
If you have a river meeting the sea, you get a mixture of salt and fresh water. If you seperate the 2 via a membrane, the salt water will draw in the fresh water.
That will increase the volume in any area containing the salt water, which creates pressure, and that pressure can be converted into energy.

Britian has coast all around it, so this natural renewable source of energy could be right for us, but here's where the attitude comes into play...

Great Britain.
The name says it all, doesn't it?
You don't have to go too far back in history to find an era when the British Empire covered a 3rd of the planet.
I was brought up to expect foreigners to speak English, it was obvious.

Things have changed, and despite politicians in particular thinking that Britain is a power player on the global stage, in fact most of that ability comes from ties with the US.

Countries like Norway accept that they are small nations that can do very well by looking at local solutions. I have a nagging feeling that Britain still feels it is above the need to act like that. The problem is that this attitude leaves us ever more dependent on other countried to supply our energy needs, when looking on a smaller scale closer to home may be better.

It's a lesson which can be applied to our personal lives just the same - are we willing to take the necessary steps to achieve the bigger goal, even though we may consider the steps 'beneath us'?

Ok, that's it for this time, I'm off to read the gas meter...

'Til Next Time.
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
P.S. Grab my motivational book 'Transform Your Life in 21 Days!' here, it'll get your attitudes in check! Click my picture at the bottom of that page for the special price:
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Aug 25th - Like Drawing A Sword From A Stone?

Hi,
I hope everything is ok where you are.

I did have another athletics story to write about today, but since I know that many readers hate sport as much as I love it, I'll leave it for now.
It's still a british angle this week though, centering on the legend of drawing a sword from a stone...

The BBC has a new series of its' excellent series, Coast, which travels around Britain's coast, telling the kind of little stories I love.

It was recently in Cornwall, which is a big tourist destination, in fact the 1st ex Mrs. Bryan and I had many holidays there, including our honeymoon, which was *20* years ago this year!
Hmm, plenty of stories to be told there, but one of the big tourist pushes in Cornwall is the legend of King Arthur, and drawing the sword from the stone - well that bit may be more true than you first think.

Thousands of years ago, Cornwall was the pace to go to get a valuable resource - tin.
Add tin to copper, and you get bronze, which made great tools for homework, gardening, and battles.

In the programme, presenter Neil Oliver took the advice of a local bronze maker, and helped to forge a bronze sword. Copper and tin heated to 1200c, then poured into a stone hold would make a bronze sword.
Pull the sword out too soon and it snaps, but if you pull it pull it out too late, it sticks to the stone. So it's possible that you get the timing wrong and pull it half out before it sticks, and the legend of pulling the sword takes hold.

It's a great story, of a time when Cornwall was the centre of an arms trade thanks to the rich supplies of tin to be mined there.

The story goes to show that even thousands of years ago, people were developing ideas and methods, that skills were learnt through trial and error.
In 2009, think of your goals - how much of the path between you and your goal is known?
The answer in all likelihood is *all* of it!

Most goals will have seen others tread the path, do the trial and error for you, maybe show 2 or 3 ways to get there.
All you have to do is research those journeys, make the decision to follow, and take the first step!
It's a plan which can take to amazing places in your life!

Ok, that's it for this time, I'm off to seek out some old holiday snaps...

'Til Next Time.
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
P.S. Grab my motivational book 'Transform Your Life in 21 Days!' here, and click my picture at the bottom of that page for the special price:
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Tue 18th Aug - Setting A Goal Sets You For A Fall?

Hi,
I hope today finds you well.

The World Championships Athletics are going on this week in Berlin. Lots to think about, including Usain Bolt's amazing 9.58 world record in the 100m. Plus long time readers will know I focus on Yelena Isinbayeva in the pole vault, who came last after not clearing any height!

Today though I'm going the British angle, and talking about Jessica Ennis who took gold in the heptathlon.

Last year at 22 she was a rising star showing lots of promise, but on the eve of the Olympics she found out she had broken her right foot in 3 places. Not only did she have to watch the Olympics at home on crutches, but it was unclear whether she would ever compete another heptathlon.

It looked like all her hard work over many years, even at her young age, had ended up in failure - that's what you get for setting a goal, a big fall, right?

Then she found out that she could compete again, but to protect the foot she would have to change take off leg in the long jump. If I asked you to write your name, which hand would you use? Now imagine using the other hand, and that's what Ennis faced with changing her take off leg, it's such an integral part of the long jump.

She found it extremely hard, not surprising really, but persevered, and entered the championships this weekend with the world leading mark this year, going on to lead from start to finish throughout the 7 events.

She's already being talked of as the face of the London 2012 Olympics, but that's a full 3 years away, anything can happen to an athlete in that time.

It's a great story though, showing that yes, setting a goal can indeed set you up for a fall, you may end up with failure after all your efforts, no achievement to note.
However, you'll *certainly* end up without achievement if you don't set goals and work at them, and Jessica Ennis showed that seemingly insurmountable setbacks can be overcome, leading to the success you first set out towards.
Good for her I say!

Sport gives clear stark examples of goal achievement theory, that's why I love to use them so much, and it's why I enjoy watching sport, but a key point to draw from them is that in a non-sporting life, you don't have to be so extreme.

You maybe won't have to go through such extreme levels of stress and work to get to your goals, but the steps are the same - set your goal, work out the steps needed, take the first step and keep working.
I doubt your setbacks will include a broken foot, your goal may not be to become World Champion, but the example of people like Ennis shows what you *can* achieve for yourself.

Ok, that's it for today, I'm off to do my own heptathlon - 7 types of chocolate...!

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

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

Monday, August 10, 2009

Aug 10th - Can A World Trade Center Memory Make Us Smile?

Hi,
I hope all is well with you.

I saw a documentary last week.
I have seen many fine documentaries about the Twin Towers since 9/11, all of them focusing on that event, and there are some inspiring stories.
Since it was such a horrific thing, is it possible that a WTC documentary can make us smile, and are we allowed to?

This one is called 'Man On Wire', and it tells of the 1974 tightrope walk between the towers. It won the Oscar for best documentary this year, and I found it enthralling, especially since you know I like all that performing stuff.

Phillipe Petit found out about the towers in 1968, and when he saw a drawing of them, he decided he would wirewalk between them. He had taught himself everything about that art within a year, and found himself seeking new challenges. He walked high above Notre Dame in France and the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia.

He made several trips to the Twin Towers, and made a mock up back in France to work out how to do it.
One problem was how to get the wire, weighing over 400 pounds, between two towers 40 metres apart, and quarter of a mile in the air!
The solution was to fire a bow attached to fishing line between the towers, then pass thicker pieces of string, then rope, then the wire.

So, early in the morning on Aug 7th 1974, having said it was impossible to get away with several times, Petit and his team found themselves on top of the towers with the wire ready.
He stepped out.

It didnt take long to get noticed, helped by having team members point him out to passers by, and there was a huge crowd watch as he walked back and forward, kneeling and lying on the wire.

He was arrested of course, but the huge worldwide publicity saw all charges being dropped, and in fact he had helped to popularise the towers which at that point had still not found a place of affection with the public.

So, as we approach 8 years since 9/11, the 35th anniversary of Petit's walk tells me that yes, we can still smile when remembering the Twin Towers.
Apart from the sheer enginerring feat of getting them built at all, Petit's adventure illustrates the wonder of human achievement and possibility.
He said afterwards that he was amazed to be constantly asked why he did it, his answer being that there was no why, it was an artistic endeavour.

Let's not forget, it was illegal and life threatening, not just to himself but to others too. The question could indeeed be asked if he had gone too far in his personal quest, but if nothing else, in a newsletter aimed at goal achievement and self improvement, it's a story that deserves a place! Go and google the pictures.

Ok, that's it for this time, I'm off to hang some washing on my own high wire, yes that's right, the washing line. I guess I could attempt to walk along it, but suspect a tale of turned ankles would follow, so I'll settle for the adrenaline rish of hanging my socks instead.

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

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

Thursday, August 06, 2009

6th Aug - How Far Can You Get By Being Nice?

Hi,
I hope today finds you well.

2 recent deaths to talk about.
The first is Harry Patch.
He was the last surviving veteran of the first World War. With his death, that time in our history passes from living memory.
He had only wanted a small ceremony, but it was still a big turnout in his home town, and young people there commented that it was the last chance for our generation to show respect for what that generation did.
We must be careful that the events of 90 years ago do not fade from memory.

The 2nd recent passing was Sir Bobby Robson.
Football is probably the true global game, and Robson was known throughout the world of football sure enough.

He played for England, but it was as a manager that he was most known. He guided a small provincial club to European success, and then took the England team to within a whisker of winning the World Cup in 1990. To be honest it was the closest we have come since winning way back in 1966!

After leaving the England job, Robson led successful teams in Holland, Portugal and Spain, before returning to his home town of Newcastle.
People had a fond memory of him - he could be as hard as nails, no-one in top flight football can be without that trait, but it was his overall sense of niceness that marks the memory of Robson.

He beat cancer 5 times, and raised a lot of money in the process, and since his death, his favourite charity has seen donations approach 2 million.

Being nice in itself will not bring you success, that comes from hard work, but as the feeling for Bobby Robson shows, it surely helps make a better person.

Ok, that's it for this time - as the last WW1 veteran passes away, let's not forget what freedoms we take for granted today, hard fought for by others, and thinking of Bobby Robson, try and be 'nice'. It may be a twee word in today's society, but it's a trait that shines like a beacon.

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

Monday, August 03, 2009

1st Aug 2009 - Tom Watson - An Open Perspective?

Hi,
I hope everything is ok where you are.
I had a few days offline thanks to connection issues, but am now back up and running.

Today I'm going to talk about perspective.
A couple of weeks ago, Tom Watson came within 1 putt of winning The Open, the biggest tournament in golf. He's won it 5 times previously, so it may not sound much of a surprise, but the key fact is that his wins came many many years ago, and he is now just shy of 60.

In the end he lost in a playoff, and the atmosphere around the course was of a real anti climax, the papers next day had close up shots of his face with a drooping expression, talking about what would have been 'the greatest achievement in sport'.
I'm really not sure about that, but in the press conference afterwards, Watson said 'it's not a funeral', and that showed the early signs of his perspective.

Later in the week he told of how he had got messages of bad luck from US soldiers on active duty - soldiers who had maybe lost a hand trying to defuse a bomb, but still took the time to get in touch. Watson said it was *that* kind of action which was worthy of focus, not a 60 year old millionaire losing a golf tournament.

Perspective.

It's everything when it comes to recognising the abundance we have. We take it all so much for granted that our brains focus on the smaller things, and grow them out of proportion, precisely because we have lost perspective.
Well done Tom Watson for giving such a great reminder.

Since I'm talking golf, I will mention Catriona Matthew, who won the British Women's Open yesterday. She's a 40 year old mother of 2, in fact only had her 2nd child 11 weeks ago, and a rare British winner in a women's game increasingly dominated by players from the Far East.

Matthew is a proud Scot, who juggles her work and domestic life, but recognises that she is fortunate to work with her husband, who is her caddy, and gets to do something she loves.

I like to write about self improvement, goal achievement and wealth creation, and perspective can take you leaps and bounds forward in all 3 areas. I write about it in my book 'Transform Your Life in 21 Days!' which I was thrilled to have reviewers describe as a 'real gem' and 'motivational magic'.
You can grab your copy at this link: http://www.transformyourlifenow.com
Don't forget to click the picture of me at the bottom of that page for the special price.

Ok, that's it for now, I'm off to check my perspective is in vision, or should that be vision in perspective...

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

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

Monday, July 20, 2009

Jul 20th - A Man On The Moon? Don't Be Bloody Ridiculous!

Hi,
I hope Monday finds you well.

Regular readers of my wafflings over the years will know that I have often talked about shuttle missions since started again after the Columbia accident, so it comes as no surprise for me to mention the first lundar landing, 40 years ago today. It was either that or the Open golf, so it's the 1969 lundar landing this time...

I remember it well, being a mighty handsome 3 year old. Er, actually not true, I don't remember it at all - come on I was only 3!

In 1961 Alan Shephard became the first American in space, incidentally he became one of the 12 men who walked on the moon, in fact it was he that hit the golf shot off the surface.

So shortly after that 1961 success, President Kennedy announced that the US would send a man to the moon by the end of that decade. He may have been high on pills at the time, and the scientists involved were shocked as they not the faintest idea how to get to the moon!

That started a fierce push of invention, constantly racing against time, and safety barriers, in fact 3 astronauts were burnt alive in the Apollo 1 capsule as it sat on the launch pad.

In 1969, the whole operation could have done with another 5 years to get ready, but Apollo 10 was sent up and did everything except actually land. When Apollo 11 went up, it was seen around the world, and as Neil Armstrong said, it really was a giant leap for mankind, an accomplishment of endeavour and goal achievement.

As it happened, we already knew the moon was grey and lifeless without having to set foot on it, so after 3 years of further missions which revealed little else, the Apollo missions were stopped.
It's only really as the 40th anniversary loomed on the horizon that the idea was mooted of going back, but this time as a stepping stone to sending manned flights to Mars.
Hmm, I'll believe it when I see it.

The space programme really is a marvel when you think of goal achievement. So many things that we take for granted came from space orientated inventions. Mind you, when the Americans expended huge effort to invent a pen that worked upside down so it could be used in zero gravity, the Russians just used a pencil...sometimes the simplest option is the best!

It's always been dangerous, the 2 shuttle explosions showed that, and even today as the shuttle Endeavour is in orbit, that launch was delayed 5 times, mainly due to weather safety restrictions.

On the International Space Station there are currently 12 men and 1 woman, from 5 different countries. Some on their first mission, some on return visits, but each of them with their own story of how they go there.

Can you use the lunar landing and space exploration as a spur for yourself? Of course!
Just think about how hard the scientists and engineers had to work 40 years ago, in such a short time frame.

I'm sure that you could set a 10 year goal, and it would be easier than landing on the moon.

I'm sure someone somewhere will have already achieved your goal, meaning that the route to it is already there.

You just need to decide to follow it, take the first step, and keep at it!

Ok, that's it for this time, I'm off to reminisce about Space Dust, the powder that popped and crackled when you put it on your tongue - remember it?


'Til Next Time,
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
P.S. If you know anyone else who you think would enjoy the Great Gordino Newsletter, please pass it on to them!
My book - Transform Your Life In 21 Days (it may show you how to get to the moon!)
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

14th July 2009 - Twenty Years Since Tiananmen Square!

Hi,
I hope everything is ok where you are.

2009 sees the 20th anniversary of events in Tainenmen Square, in China's Beijing, Peking as it was called then. A much publicised event, the start of the whole incident is not known by many, so let's take a closer look, and remind ourselves of the freedoms we take for granted...

15th April saw the death of Hu Yaobang, and it was this which triggered the chain of events. Hu was a pro-reform member of the government, and students wanted to mourn him.
They started to gather and the numbers grew, and it wasn't long before various slogans started appearing, calling for the type of reforms that Hu had championed.

As the student numbers increased in Tiananmen Square, as sense of possible change grew - the Glasnost of Gorbachev's Soviet Union led people to believe something similar was possible in China.
Although no-one was demanding the fall of the communist government, the students started to gather support from general workers, who had seen their jobs lost as part of China's opening up to Western style markekt economy.

The government began to get concerned about the protests when the hunger strikes started, and with a state visit by Gorbachev looming, they did not want to appear as if they had lost control. An earlier declaration of martial law had failed to stabilise the situation, so with hundreds of thousands in the Square, the troops were sent in in early June 1989.

A famous picture shows a man standing in front of a line of tanks, holding a carrier bag and climbing on top of the tanks.
It's assumed he was executed after being taken away, because the government was never able to produce him after international requests.

The government says that no-one was killed in the square, in fact at first they stated that no-one died at all. Eventually they admitted deaths, with a figure of a couple of hundred.
Estimates vary, but a consensus seems to be that thousands died, with the army firing indiscriminately into the crowd.
International media on the ground described the back streets as being full of bodies.

There is nothing in the Square to mark the event, the government says only that a few soldiers died after troublemakers caused a riot. The iron fist of the state government clamped down on those identified as part of the protest, and the events of 20 years ago can still be seen today. China as a powerful international force, with massive growth of capitalist markets, but controlled by a die-hard one party communist state.

In 2008 the Olympic marathons ran through Tiananmen past the ever present portrait of Mao Zedong.
If you think you can run through Tiananmen today with a protest flag, think again. Even the Olympic athletes were warned to show no dissent in any form.

If wherever you read this you can shout in public that you disagree with the governement, be thankful - not everyone has that opportunity.

If you can stand for government office, be thankful - not everyone has that opportunity.

If you can work where you want, doing what you want, with free access to the internet, be thankful - not everyone has that opportunity.

You see where I'm going with this - people in Britain where I live may moan and groan, and it's the same in many countries around the world, but the next time you fancy a moan, think back twenty years to Tiananmen, and make sure you fully appreciate what you have.
Even a message like this could get me into trouble if I were in China.

Ok, that's it for today, I might just go and shout some protest out of the window, although the little old man doing the gardening may wonder what's going on!

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

My book - Transform Your Life In 21 Days:
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com
(click the picture of me at the bottom of the page for the special price!)

Friday, July 10, 2009

10th July 2009 - Michael Jackson Died!

Hi,
I hope this issue finds you well.

I guess it's possible you didn't know who Michael Jackson was, and you may not have heard that he died, so in case you were in outer space, Michael Jackson died 2 weeks ago.
It certainly was, and still is, a big news story, mainly due to the sudden turn of events, similar to when Elvis died.

I was 11 when Elvis pegged it, and can still remember the wall to wall coverage, the Jackon coverage just used different media, with the intermet at the forefront.

The Jackson story has lots of contradicitons on the goal achievement front, some quotes say that he had told 'close sources' he would never die like Elvis, and yet other quotes have 'close sources' saying he had told them he would die just like Elvis. As good an example as any to show that you couldn't believe everything you read.

Some things seem clear.
He started at a very young age, being pushed by his father to the point of abuse.
He develop any talent he had with pure hard work, and hour after hour of it, day after day, week after...you get the idea.

This action and hard work led to success, meteoric success in fact, and from that point on it could be argued that Jackon never touched based with reality again.
The Jackson 5 had great success, and then Michael teamed up with Quincy Jones to create Off The Wall and then Thriller.
Thriller is still the best selling album, and at that point he was on top of his game, with a string of massvie hits to his name, and the iconic moonwalk and image to hang onto.

A long break saw him return, and I remember my wife and I seeing him in London in the late 80s on the Bad Tour. To be honest I could have done without the crotch grabbing, yelps and hiccups, and the fake tears (that was just from my wife!).
It was a great spectacle of a show though, and then just as the 2009 London shows, he had a young rocking blonde on geetar,which always helps.

The press over here had got their teeth into him as a nutcase, and the allegations of impropriety with children changed his image permanently.
The plastic surgery and skin whitening had left him looking not normal to say the least, and it seems clear that his mental state was not normal either.

When his London comeback shows were announced, it was immediately gossiped that he could never cope with 50 gruelling shows.
2 weeks on from his death it seems that the drug cocktail in his body is still unkown, but there was almost certainly a lot of substances that he was taking.

So although the Michael Jackson story shows what can be acheived with lots of very hard work, it's also a salutory tale of caution, showing what can happen if you let things get out of hand.

The outpouring of grief has been a bit strange, people blubbing in the street. If you asked them to name one track from his last album they might be struggling, and I suspect the media is using his story as much in death as in his life to make sales.

I'd be hard pushed to name my fave Jackon track, he sure recorded some corkers - you can go from I Want You Back, to One Day In Your Life, through Beat It, on to Black Or White and Earth Song.

Ok, that's it for this week, I'm off to dig out some Jackons tracks that haven't been played ad nauseum for the last fortnight.

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

Monday, July 06, 2009

6th July 2009 - Time To Set Your New Year Resolutions!

Hi,
I hope everything is ok where you are.

When we hit June 22, we got to that time of year where the days start getting shorter.
If that's not something to think about, when we hit July 1st, we got into the 2nd half of the year, less time left than has already gone.

It's a great point to use as a staging post, to assess what you have done so far compared to what you said you would do at the beginning of the year.

You *did* set plans for the year, right?

And I'm not talking about the 'stop smoking' or 'be less of a fatso' ridiculous New Year Resolutions. Everyone laughs about those, joking that they will fail within 2 weeks, which of course, they then go on to fail within 2 weeks.

No, I'm talking about proper goals, clearly defined, written down, that you can recite at any moment. Goals with a plan of action to get there, actions that you can tick off once taken.

If you didn't do that at the beginning of the year, why not do it now! July is a perfect time to set New Year Resolutions - obviously not for the New Year as we are into the 2nd half of it, but you can make plans for the next 12 months for sure, or if you prefer, set them for the next 6 months, up to the end of the year.

I can assure you, if you make properly laid out goals, set actions to take, and set about those actions, you will look back on the 2nd half of 2009 as way more productive than the 1st half!

Let me know what you think, I love the feedback!

This is the kind of thing I talk about in my book 'Transform Your Life in 21 Days!'
I was thrilled to have it described as 'motivational magic' and a 'true gem in the field'.
Grab your copy right now, even if it's 2am in the morning!
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com
(if you click my picture at the bottom of that page, you get a special price deal!)

Ok, that's it for this time, I'm off to check my own plans for the 2nd half of the year!
'Til Next Time,
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
P.S. If you know anyone else who you think would enjoy the Great Gordino Newsletter, please pass it on to them!

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

Saturday, July 04, 2009

July 4th 2009 - Independence Day...YAWN!

Hi,
I hope this issue finds you well, and a Happy Independence Day to all my US readers.

The yawn I refer to in the title was today's all USA Womens Final at Wimbledon.
Serena Williams was playing Venus Williams - again. It was the fourth time they had met in the final, and the second successive year.
In fact there has only been 1 final since 2000 that hasn't featured one of them at least.

It's not their fault that no-one else seems good enough to get there, but boy does it make for a boring watch.
I don't think for a minute that the games are fixed, but there is no way that they play with the same menace when they face each other.

Let's not take away from their story though, and it's a classic of goal achievement.
Born in a very rough area of LA, their father Richard just decided he would get his girls to the top of the tennis world, so learnt the game himself from books and tapes.

He then set about training the sisters, and because he didnt enter them into the junior circuit, there was already something of an enigmatic feel around them when they did eventually burst on the scene.

They brought an unseen level of strength to the game, with ferocious hitting, and sure enough, as he had predicted, both of them went on the be at the top of the game and Wimbledon champions.

It's not all been plain sailing - they've had much criticism, and I myself have written about the ugly histrionics that Serena in particular is prone to.
Guess what though, they couldn't care less, in fact when people tell them what they should or should not do, they reply with action not words, and do what they themselves think they should do.

It's unorthodox, and in the tennis world that can be frowned upon, but the results speak for themselves.

It's also important to remember that they got where they are, and stay there, only after years and years (and years) of hard hard work.
There are many stories which perfectly illustrate the formula for success and goal achievement, but that of the Williams sisters is a doozy!

Ok, that's it for this time, I would like to say I'm off to open an Independence Day bag of sweets, but in truth there's no way sweets should be reserved for just one day, so I'm off to open an 'anyday' bag of sweets!

'Til Next Time,
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
P.S. If you know anyone else who you think would enjoy the Great Gordino Newsletter, please pass it on to them!
My book - Transform Your Life In 21 Days:
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com
(Click on my picture at the bottom of that page for the special price!)

Monday, June 22, 2009

Mon 22nd June - Sultry Sunset & Self Belief!

Hi,
I hope everything is well with you.
Here's a picture I took the other day, I hopped in the car, and 30 minutes later was watching the sun go down over the sea.

It was lovely warm evening, and as the sun dipped below the horizon, it was nice and quiet except for the waves lapping.
Aah, just like the opening sequence of 'Jaws'.

Only without the massive young-naked-woman-eating shark.
Or more importantly, without the naked young woman...

Anyway the reason I posted it, was because it was an evening that took a deal of stress away from me, and the picture is a reminder of that feeling. That technique of using pictures is dismissed and underused.
The thought of a nice image works well to get rid of moments of stress, but seeing the actual picture itself works even better - any pics you could do with rooting out for a feelgood burst?

Wimbledon started today, with the usual raft of self improvement stories - here's a quick summary...

Andy Murray, the great British hope, having his chances boosted by Rafael Nadal withdrawing. Outside Murray's control, but he's ready to pounce on the opportunity.

Speaking of Nadal, unlucky for him to attain his goal last year, and not be able to defend.

On the womens side, 15 yr old Brit Laura Robson. Having won the girls title last year, she shows a self belief I never had at that age.
At that age it is either natural, and/or as a result of her upbringing. She may well have to come back from knocks in the future, but at present does not have to force herself to believe in her ability.

Many people are not like that, and have to work hard to believe they can achieve. It's well worth the mental effort though, because once you get there it can unleash wonderous things.

There's a load of Russian women at the top that are not household names. Some people say it's boring - what rubbish! There is nothing to stop anyone else putting in the work, and I mean years of work! So good luck to those that have done.

Ok, that's it for now - if I promised not to write about Wimbledon again this year, I would be lying - let's wait and see...!

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

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

Monday, June 08, 2009

June 8th 2009 - Did Dinara Do It?

Hi,
I hope today finds you well.

The title of this issue is 'Did Dinara Do It?' and no doubt many of you will be asking 'who, where and what now?'
Fair enough, so here goes...

Sat 6th June 2009 saw the final of the French Open tennis in Paris.
Not since 2001 has a womens final even gone to 3 sets, so the hope was that Dinara Safina and fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova could serve up a treat.

Er, no they couldn't, and in fact it was the serve that caused the problem, as Safina's serve was just appaling - it led to a fairly easy victory for Kuznetsova.

So here's the thing - Dinara Safina is the current world number 1 ranked player, but she has yet to win a Grand Slam title, and in tennis unless you pick up one of those babies, you're never considered to be the top.

Saturday was her 3rd Grand Slam final and she has played badly in all of them, so it may look like she never will win one, although it should be remembered that Chris Evert lost her first 3 finals.

So what has all this got to do with goal achievement and self improvement?
Well in Dinara's case I want to go to her chidhood.
Her mother was a top tennis coach, and she vowed that both Dinara and her older brother Marat Safin would be number 1 ranked Grand Slam winners.

That sounds familiar to when Richard Williams decided both his daughters Venus and Serena would get to the top.

Marat retires this year, as a former world number 1, and with 2 Slam titles under his belt, so the pressure is starting to pile up on Dinara.

Not easy, eh? And it shows just how hard some people will work towards their goal, and *keep* working.

Right from childhood, her life has been tennis. Hour after hour hitting balls, physical training, diet regimes, for year after year.
Defeats along the way, and back to the drawing board.

Now, even as world number 1 she has problems. She has had to work so hard at the mechanics of her swing that it now such a mental pressure, it makes it her worst shot, and this in turn is stopping her getting that title.

So, she has lot more work to do, but here's another clue she gave as to what it can sometimes take to get to the top - when she lost there were tears, and no doubt she wanted to rush off court.
However, she was contractually obliged to stand and give a speech to the crowd of 15,000!

Wow.

With all that must have been in her head, she remembered to thank the sponsors by name.
That's impressive, and shows someone who has the necessary steel to gether through the downs, in the belief that she is powering towards the ups!

Not every goal is as tough as the one she is going for, but by jiminy there is much to be learnt by watching Dinara *not* get her goal!

Ok, that's it for now, I'm off to get my seat comfy for Wimbledon..!

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

My book - Transform Your Life In 21 Days:
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com
(remember to click the picture of me at the bottom for the giveaway price!)

Monday, June 01, 2009

Mon 1st June 2009 - Will The Media Do A 'Jade Goody' on Susan Boyle?

Hi,
I hope everything is ok with you.

So, Britain's Got Talent finished this week with a whopping 18 million people watching the live final.
With today's media choices, it's going some to get 18 million viewers in the UK!

The favourite was Susan Boyle who had been made famous around the world by the show, but some elements of the media had decided to turn on her in the week leading up to Saturday.

I'm not sure how well the name of Jade Goody is known outside the UK, but Goody was a contestant in Big Brother who was, basically, a bit thick, but went on to be a big celebrity just by being a celebrity. The papers used her to sell issues, and right up to her death from cancer it was a roller coaster of cash for stories.

Let's hope they don't do the same to Boyle, it may sound cynical, but as she was rushed to a clinic on Sunday, I'm sure some newspaper editors would love it if she went downhill on the mental health front - think how much they'd sell!
In fact one of the Britain's Got Talent judges Piers Morgan was an editor at The Sun tabloid paper, and since he had his own family he says he now knows what kind of distress and anguish he caused when he was editor.

Other points to ponder about BGT? Well on Friday's semifinal, one of the contestants was a 10 yr old girl, who was overwhelmed during her performance, and burst into tears.
Very uncomfortable to watch and it akes you wonder if a minimum age needs to be introduced.

Also a dubious side of the show is that acts were put through to the semis who should never have been - they were never going to get any further, and let's be honest, they were being out and out used by the show as cannon fodder.

That's not good.

I can just about see the logic of having bad acts in there deliberately but on the integrity front it does nothing for me, and there were much more talented acts that were left on the sidelines.
No-one said showbiz was easy!

The winners were a dance act called Diversity. I don't normally like dance acts, but this lot impressed me.
Obviously talented, the choreography was entertaining and genuinely creative.

They didn't play any 'hard done by' cards either, they simply expressed pleasure that a lot of hard work had got them reward - now *that's* the kind of story to take from Britain's Got Talent!
Have some belief, take action, work at it, and you could go places you'd never have thought possible!

I'll close with a showbiz story of my own.
I was talking to someone recently about a woman I was seeing a few years ago. I was doing a panto tour, playing Wishee Washee, and it so happened that one of the shows was local. I suggested that the girl bring her kids along to see the show.

It seems her kids had a really good time, but apparently, when I was onstage, her young daughter yelled out to anyone that was listening "I KNOW HIM, HE COMES ROUND AND SLEEPS IN MUMMY'S BED!"

That story makes me chortle - I'm not sure it made her mummy chortle though, she dumped me by text shortly thereafter, saying amongst other things that I had 'looked a bit gay'.

Ok, that's it for this time, I'm off to download a Britain's Got Talent application form...(not) (or maybe yes..?)

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

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

Monday, May 25, 2009

Some Good Lessons And Some Bad Singing!

Hi,
I hope all is well with you.
This issue may be shorter than originally intended, as I have just lost he previous full length version, so am having to write it all again! D'OH!!!

So, on Friday I went to a networking lunch in London hosted by Martin Avis.
I was reminded of some good lessons about goal achievement.

One is about taking action. I had gone after emailing Martin about an idea of mine, and he suggested we chat at the event, which we did.

The second lesson is about surrounding yourself with people of the same mindset - it really helps to make your goals seem real and not far fetched, which is what some people close to you may think, which leads me to the next point...

Talk about your goals! If you get negative reaction, don't try and defend yourself, just don't talk to that person about it again. However, the more you talk to people, you'll be amazed how much good advice and opportunity comes your way.

The 3rd lesson is about focusing on your skills. The idea I am putting together with Martin is around my ability to write. I take it for granted, but there were people at the lunch who freely admitted they hated writing. Others there were programme writers, which I have no clue about, so instead of my trying to go into their field, I need to stick to my own skills.

The last lesson concerns the train jourmey home.
I was sitting there with my ipod on, and on came my own song!
You can hear versions of it here: http://www.myspace.com/rocknrolltown
The chorus needs harmony backing vocals and normally when the song comes on in the car I launch into the vocals.

Unfortunately it's been a long time since I was on a train, and it was only when I noticed people looking at me that I realised I had been singing out loud.
I sheepishly turned the ipod off and asked if I had been singing out loud which was confirmed.
I thought I'd try my luck and asked if it was good enough for 'Britian's Got Talent' - let's just say I got a lot of shaking heads!
Ooh, people can be cruel.

So all in all a good day apart from the train incident, and some good lesson reminders about goal achievement, the kind of thing I talk about in my book 'Transform Your Life in 21 Days!' which you can see more about here:
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com

Ok, that's it for this time, I'm off to practise my harmonies...

'Til Next Time,
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com
p.s. Remember to click the picture of me at the bottom of the page!

Friday, May 15, 2009

New Star Trek Movie - Did You Spot Randy Pausch?

May 2009 sees the new Star Trek movie getting rave reviews - I happen to think the most notable performance is a little cameo by Randy Pausch, read on to find out why...

I first came across the name of Randy Pausch via someone who knew I liked the area of goal achievement. Pausch was a professor at the Carnegie Mellon University in the US, who knew he was going to die pretty soon from pancreatic cancer. He gave a lecture called The Last Lecture in 2007, which became and still is a huge success on YouTube.

When you watch it, (and I suggest you go to YouTube and search it out) you'll see why it's so popular.
Pausch gives a humorous account of his dreams and how he went about achieving them. He covers some mental attitude techniques, about how you can defeat yourself, or help yourself via your attitudes, and finishes by saying the lecture is for his children.

He died in 2008, but after the success of his lecture, in which he had joked about wanting to be Captain Kirk as a kid, director JJ Abrams had asked him to film a short cameo to be included in the next film.

Pausch did so, and that cameo is featured in the film - at the beginning Pausch appears as a crewman and says the line 'Captain we have a visual'.
Normally the kind of appearance not worthy of note, but in the context of his lecture and theories of what can happen when you take certain actions, it's dynamite to watch!

If you watch the film, try and spot it, and as I said before go to YouTube or Google and search fro Randy Pausch, and you'll see why I think his is the most notable performance!

Gordon Bryan is the author of 'Transform Your Life in 21 Days!' which has been described as 'motivational magic.' Read about it and grab his free 8 Step Goal Achievement Plan at: http://www.transformyourlifenow.com

Monday, May 11, 2009

Why The Britain's Got Talent Deniers Annoy Me!

May 2009, and the Britain's Got Talent machine rolls onwards, with it being one of the most watched shows on British TV, and online around the world. So why do so many people deny they watch it, and why does it annoy me..?

I call them the Britain's Got Talent Deniers, and you hear them all the time. If you ask them whether they saw Susan Boyle, or any of the other acts, their first comment is 'oh I don't usually watch it, but I did see her.'

Hmm...

This kind of thing drives me round the bend for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, as someone who has used only medium quality entertainment skills to earn a living from it, I know full well what it takes to put a genuinely entertaining act together.

Most of the acts that grab the headlines are unassuming people with seemingly 'normal' lives, that get on stage and unveil a performance with real entertainment skills.
It may be singing or dancing, but it makes an immediate impact on the live audience.

That's why I love live performance, the emotional awakening of an audience is something that can be felt, but is hard to describe, and if you can do it it's a natural high that drug dealers wish they could bottle up!

The Britain's Got Talent set up slightly skews the reality, because the good acts are thrown in with the bad ones, and that makes them seem better than they are sometimes.
Also, despite the fact that their act wows an audience live, they then have to either repeat it or come up with something new, not always easy with the variety acts!
The other reason the Britain's Got Talent Deniers annoy me is that it's a succumbing to peer pressure - the thought is 'I'd better not admit to watching it unless people think I'm too common'

Come on folks! Be prepared to stand up for what you enjoy, if you like watching it, say so!
There is no need to defend what you watch on TV, and certainly not when it's to do with achievement of goals combined with passion, hard work, and something that's vital to all societies, the value of entertainment.

So, next time you watch it, tell me about it, tell me what you thought about the work ethics involved, but don't say you don't watch it if you do, don't be a Britain's Got Talent Denier!

Friday, May 01, 2009

Why Has The World Gone Susan Boyle Crazy?

April 2009, and the world has gone crazy over Susan Boyle. 'Who is Susan Boyle?' you might ask, so read on and see what 100 million YouTube hits in 2 weeks is all about...

Susan Boyle appeared on Britain's Got Talent on TV in the UK. A 47 year old from Scotland, she walked on stage with a look that has since been described by consensus as 'dowdy'.

She did a wiggle for the judges and announced in her broad Scottish accent that she wanted to be famous singer like Elaine Paige. The judges rolled their eyes and told her to start. The opening strains of 'I Dreamed a Dream' from Les Miserables rang out, and then Susan opened her mouth to sing...

The judges dropped their jaws to the floor, and the audience rose to their feet as a musical theatre voice came out that just did not sit with the image and expectation. Judge Amanda Holden summed it up when she said that everyone had been cynical about what they had expected.

I love that kind of moment, (I also love the show having had women hold my hand and cry next to me in their seat).

The clip has now had 100 million hits on YouTube, and Susan has seen her fame spread over the water to the US, where she's found herself on TV with Patti Lupone who made the song famous originally. Elaine Paige has suggested a duet.

So why is it such a feelgood factor? Popular media opinion seems to be that it combined a heap of emotions in a small time span - from dismissal, to joy, to guilt, to pleasure. Some say, similar to judge Holden that it shows a different way to go than cynicism.

While they may be true, I like to think of it as simple goal achievement, seemingly unlikely. 'Seemingly' is the key word, because although the audience on the night and on tv were expecting Susan to fail, Susan wasn't - in fact a key moment is where the judges told her that everyone was against her. You can just see Susan's quizzical look, because she could see no reason for people to have been laughing at her.

She had a voice coach, and lots of training, putting in the hours of work needed to go for a goal. She was using the encouragement of her late mother as inspiration to enter, so although she may have been overwhelmed by the strength of reaction, she knew she could sing.

So yes, there is the principle of not judging a book by its' cover, and of not being so quick with the cynical sneers, but I think the reason the world has gone crazy for Susan Boyle is that it shows what we know deep down to be true - that hard work and taking action can lead to amazing results.

Gordon Bryan is the author of 'Transform Your Life in 21 Days!' which has been described as 'motivational magic.' Read about it and grab his free 8 Step Goal Achievement Plan at:http://www.transformyourlifenow.com

Monday, April 27, 2009

Monday Morning Marathon Massage

Monday 27th April 2009 sees the curtain just about come down on the 2009 London Marathon - I say 'just about' come down, because every marathon sees various people doing extreme versions of the event which may take up to a week to finish, but for the majority the race is over. It's the 1st time in 3 years that I haven't done the marathon, but my views about it are the same...

I've watched the race since the 1st one back in 1981, and always wondered what it would be like to run it. Never having been a fan of the actual running, I spent year after year watching on tv.
Then when I hit the age of 40 I wanted to do something to mark the occasion, and being a long time writer of goal acheivement theory, the marathon seemed a great challenge.

I applied for the 2007 race, but didn't get a place, but instead of giving up I simply ran 9 laps of my 3 mile training circuit starting at the exact same time as the London race - I even got a little medal made to give myself.

I applied again for the 2008 race, and had mixed feelings when I got accepted - mixed because although it would see my challenge completed, I already knew full well what 26 miles feels like on the body!

I trained myself up again, and finished in a sloth-like 5.48, but at least I had my finishing medal.
I was surprisingly tempted to apply again for this year's race, but fought the urge, and was able to watch on tv again with a nice cup of tea as nearly 36,000 people trotted around the capital's streets.

That's a key figure for my point - 36,000 people, and over the 28 years nearly 750,000 people have finished the race.
Everyone has their curiosity aroused when you mention running the marathon, because it's an established 'challenge' to do and people want to hear how you got on.

'Slowly', is my standard response, but I love the fact that I did it, the fact that I had to set the goal, research the steps needed to achieve the goal, and then start at step 1, literally!
I knew at any time that doing the training was a choice, but that if I chose not to do it, I was increasing the chance of failure.

Basic goal achievement theory you might say, and you'd be right, but the effect of applying that same theory to other aspects of your life has a power which so few people actually use.
I've used the theory for 25 years, and it's taken down some strange adventures in my life.
I intend to carry on using them, and all I can say is that the feeling I got from the Monday Morning Marathon Massage is one of crosing a finish line that can apply to any walk of life you may choose.

If 750,000 have applied the theory, why shouldn't you?

Grab my motivational book here:
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com

Monday, February 02, 2009

Issue 500 - Thank You And Goodnight Vienna?

Hi,
I hope today finds you well.

We had the heaviest snow here overnight in Britain for 18 years, so everything has ground to a halt.
I had a day off anyway, so was able to tuck myself in and enjoy a late night watching the SuperBowl.

Work has meant it was the only NFL game I got to see this season, and it made up for it by being a cracker!

It's fairly easy to use the SuperBowl to make money online, my guide tells you how, and this is one subject I have written about many times over the 500 Issues of this newsletter.

Wow 500 Issues! I started in February 2003, so that's 6 years of waffle.
I always intended to write with a focus on goal achievement and wealth creation, not just financial wealth but the welath of abundance.

I've had some good laughs along the way, and I feel that after 500 Issues and 6 years I am repeating the same ideas just a touch too often.

I put out 3 issues a week for a long time, then went to 1 a week, but I find more and more that although I am happy to repeat the same theories that have worked for me, it may not make such good reading.

So I think I'll stop the regular weekly issue, and move to posting to the blog when I have something I feel is really moving me to post.

You may have been a new reader, or you may have been along for the journey for a long time.
Either way, there is no point in me writing without there being anyone reading, so I genuinely thank you.

Thanks also for the emails and comments - they may have made me laugh, they may have stirred debate, but they showed that people were reading, so thanks again.

I was wondering how to best sum up the ideas I have tried to put across over the 500 Issues, and came up with this -

Don't tell me what you can't do, tell me what you can.
Better yet, don't tell me what you can do, tell me what you will do.
Better yet, don't tell me what you will do, tell me that you did it.

That seems to sum it up, as does this - pick a goal, find out what steps to take, then take the first step.
It's a simple theory, but can bring changes to your life in a short space of time that you would never have believed possible.

Ok, that's it!
Keep reading the blog, and I wish you as always,
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
gordon@gordonbryan.com

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

Make Money From the SuperBowl (or any sport):
http://www.gordonbryan.com/sport

Monday, January 26, 2009

Issue 499 - The Desiderata?

Hi,
I hope all is well with you.

Regular readers will know very well that for certain issues of the newsletter I like to publish The Desiderata.

It's a piece written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s and it was first shown to me around 6 years ago.

I love it - I think each phrase or sentence can provide huge inspiration for your day, and the piece as a whole is a great attitude to have in life.

I've published it many times over the years I've written The Great Gordino newsletter, and Issue 500 is as good a time as any.

So why am I using it for Issue 499?

Well quite simply I have something else I want to write for Issue 500, but I wanted to keep up with the idea of using The Desiderata as I think it's so good, so here it is:

The Desiderata, by Max Ehrmann 1920s
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
********************************************************************
Ok, that's it for this week,

'Til Next Time,
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
gordon@gordonbryan.com

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

Monday, January 19, 2009

Issue 498 - 3 Black Men To Go Down In History

Hi,
I hope Monday finds you well.

So, what would you call your newly started record company if you were in a city dominated by the motor industry, nicknamed Motor City?
How about taking the city's other nickname - Motown?

Hmm, not bad, and that's what an ex-boxer did with $800 he borrowed.
The man was Berry Gordy, the record company was, er, Motown, and it celebrates 50 years.

One of the most popular and influential record labels of all, it was started by a black man.
Is that relevant?
Well yes, because at the time the US was still heavily segregated, and for him to create something that would cross into mainstream culture was something which contributed to a movement of change in the US.

50 years ago also saw the time of Martin Luther King, who's birthday is celebrated in the US today. He gave his 'I have a dream' speech by the monument in Washington and a day after MLK Day, across the way from the Monument at the Capitol Building, Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th President, the first black President.

'America needs to be more humble', 'I want to be a uniter, not a divider' words of a President-elect which sound good, and uttered by George W Bush.

There is a feeling that Obama has a chance to make change, and he will have his work cut out.
The U.S. has maybe 20% of population under the poverty line, and without health cover.
Let's hope Russia doesn't choose inauguration day to invade Ukraine.

Let's hope Obama gets the chance to settle into the job - his life will change tomorrow.
Will yours?
Mine will be busy at the curling rink.

The names of Martin Luther King, Berry Gordy and Barack Obama show what can be achieved on massive scales - just think what you could do on a smallers scale in your own life?

Ok, that's it for this week.

'Til Next Time,
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
gordon@gordonbryan.com

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

Monday, January 12, 2009

Issue 497 - Remembering David Vine

Hi,
I hope everything is ok where you are.
I heard today that David Vine has died

David Vine is a sports commentator that was a familiar voice and face to me for many years.
He commentated on many sports, from snooker to skiing, and was lucky enough in a fiercely competitive business to have a hugely successful career.

Way back when I can remember watching Ski Sunday on the BBC, every Sunday during the winter months as David Vine described the donwhillers hurtling themselves down the slopes which look nothing like as steep on TV as they actually are.

It makes me think that had the internet been around back then, it would have been possible to make money from downhill skiing, just as it is today, just as it will be next winter.

That's one of the beauties of sport - the ongoing, never ending story.
It means you simply will never run out of source material that you can turn into profit.
I write about in my 'Make Money From Sport' book:
http://www.gordonbryan.com/sport

All you need to know is the techniques to use, and then apply them. After that it's up to you, but as more and more people wonder what the future holds as the economic woes worsen further, look to sport for a reassuringly consistent base to tap into for profit.

If you're wondering how to make money from downhill skiing, just ask me, and I'll tell you.
There'll be no secrets, just a formula to follow. I only charge $7 for the guide, which is about the price of a coffee and doughnut, so why not sit me down, pay for my coffee and doughnut and just ask me!

You can get the guide here:
http://www.gordonbryan.com/sport

Ok, that's it for this week, I'm actually having a day off from the curling rink today, so I'm making the most of relaxing while I can!

'Til Next Time,
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com
http://www.gordonbryan.com/sport
gordon@gordonbryan.com

Monday, January 05, 2009

Issue 496 - Leaping Too Soon Into 2009?

Hi,
I hope Monday finds you well.

Did you know that there was a leap second in 2008?
I didn't, until right at the end of the year, when apparently the countdown should have been 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, er 1 again, Happy New Year!

It's all to do with the speed that the Earth travels around the sun, yada yada geeky science, but the extra second needed to be added to keep everything in synch.

I was reminded of it today as I walked around Tesco's and saw the hot cross buns on sale foe Easter.
Crikey, we're still in the 12 days of Christmas!
Nowhere is there any sign in the commercial world of it still being Christmas. I've been saying for many years that this is a missed opportunity, but like most things I say, I appear to be on my own.

The extra second we had in 2008 begs the question of how you used it.
We all get the same amount of seconds, we just choose to spend them in different ways.

So as we leap into 2009 (geddit?) I don't suggest you work out how you will spend every second, because you will be spending all the seconds working out how to spend the next ones.
No, that would just be silly...

What I *do* suggest though, is that you work out how you will spend the year, the months.
What will you do, and why?
What is the end goal?

Will you spend 2009 reacting to circumstance, or dictating your own future?

And to think fairly important idea came from a stroll around Tesco's. I nearly told the girl at the checkout, but let's just say at 8pm in the evening she didn't look in the mood!

Ok, that's it for today, I'm off to check my watches.

'Til next time,
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com
gordon@gordonbryan.com