Ultra Running Debate

I recently took part in Women's Running Magazine debate regarding running Ultra's (anything over the marathon distance of 26.2 miles - mainly off road and involving cake!), this was for their April edition - it was great fun and I'm enjoying getting back into the Ultras again this year after a year off - if you want to know more how I can help you, your club or your business go further than you thought possible then contact me.

Interview for Coach in Focus

I was asked to be interviewed for a Coach in Focus series by Team Beds&Luton - if you're interested in any sport in the Bedfordshire area then please do get in contact with them as they support and encourage clubs, coaches and individuals in all Sports and here's a link to the interview!

Coach in Focus - Annie Page

How to have a fit and healthy business

I have recently been talking with clients about looking after their overall health and fitness in order to decrease stress at work and therefore feel good and be more creative and make better decisions.

We don't live in different pockets, however much we think we categorise different areas of our life, work, home, fitness, friends, etc - it is about how we balance all these areas and create the life we want.

Making sure we have the right mindset to do this is fundamental and when we are feeling fit and healthy, we automatically look after ourselves better, eat well and enjoy being in the moment rather than worrying about decisions we made in the past or ones we are going to make in the future.

Being able to understand our thinking and how we can development our mindset to help us create more opportunities to do the things we want to do and have the business we want to have are the building blocks we need to put in place.

Working with a new client, we started thinking about how I can support them to achieve their health and fitness goals they have, this includes weekly talks over Skype to record progress and look at what might get in the way for the next week and what we have learnt from the week before.  What started to happen was that we also discussed the business and what was going on with that as well - this seemed a natural progression using all aspects of my core skills with great results for the client.

One of the main points is that making your health and fitness a part of your business means that you are not trying to fit everything in to 'spare time' or feeling guilty for taking time out during the day - as it all becomes part of your goal to create a growing and sustainable business alongside a healthy mind and healthy body.

In a report commissioned by Business in the Community they said

‘The health and wellbeing of employees makes an essential contribution to business success.  I believe that employees are at their most productive and creative when they are in an environment that supports their health and wellbeing.  Even a small on-going investment in the wellbeing of your staff can pay big dividends for your business.  It can help improve your bottom line.  It can reduce absenteeism and improve staff retention.  And you will reap the rewards that come from having a motivated staff and a vibrant workplace…..

Remember you are an employee as well as the owner or director within your business!

They also created the following model to highlight the benefits.

If you are interested in finding out how you can enjoy these benefits for yourself and grow and develop your business through your own health and fitness then contact me to talk through how I can support you to create the business you want.

annie@essentii.co.uk  or 01525 633874

Business and Personal Development Courses for 2015!!

Delighted to announce that we will be running our successful courses again in 2015!!

Clearly Essential

NLP Business Foundation and Full Practitioner Programme

This course is your essential toolkit for work and life.  You can do the 9 day Business Foundation or the full 18 day NLP Practitioner Programme.

Neuro Linguistic Programming is a proven method for enhancing communication and people skills.  It helps us to better understand ourselves and others; finding our own pathways to success.  This course covers the essential NLP Practitioner content, accredited by the Professional Guild of NLP, ensuring that you would be fully qualified to take your studying further if you desired.

Part 1 - NLP Business Foundation

9 days

The first 9 days of this programme covers all the essential information and techniques for you to understand how you work and be able to take back your learning to your workplace and use it effectively to produce greater results for you, your team and your business.

21 - 23 April 2015

19 - 21 May 2015

9 - 11 June 2015

Part 2 - NLP Practitioner

9 days

The next 9 days will continue on from the Business Foundation with more techniques and learning for you to build your knowledge and expertise and understanding of your reality and understanding others  This gives you a full NLP Practitioner certificate accredited by the Professional Guild of NLP.

7 - 9 July 2015

4  6 August 2015

8 - 10 September 2015

Costs

Full NLP Practitioner Part 1 & 2 - £2900 + VAT (before 15 May 2015)

Business Foundation Part 1 only - £1900 + VAT

NLP Practitioner Part 2 £1400 + VAT (if booked after 15 May 2015)

Venue

The course will be at Wyboston Lakes Conference Centre, Wyboston, Bedfordshire with easy access to major road connections

For more information and to book contact:

Annie Page : 01525 633874 or annie@essentii.co.uk

Lucy Hampton : 07931 902826 or lucy.hampton@clearpossibilities.com

Mindset development - what stops you?

It never ceases to amaze me how many people agree that understanding how they think and how they can influence themselves to have greater choice in action and options and how well they understand others to be able to be effective in their communication is a great thing to have and yet very few actually do anything about it.

There is a lot of 'shelf-help' out there where people think that by reading about how they can do or be better, faster, more creative, etc, etc means they don't actually have to put in any time actually 'doing' it will 'just happen'.

Being in the lucky position to work with both people in sport and business I see many similarities in the mindset of those I work with.

It can take a while for some to believe that I use the same tools and techniques in both areas to create achievements and growth and it's all about adapting them to your own specific circumstances.

So what stops people taking the next step and developing their own mindset to build and grow their business or achieve in their sporting arena.

Here are three reasons why I think people stop themselves working on mindset development...

Isn't that the weird stuff... who knows what you're going to ask me to do... and what if I'm doing something no-one else is... won't that look weird...

Mindset development is about practical, useful, techniques that you learn with your coach and adapt for yourself, nothing weird in that.  Also whether you are in business or sport, being different from your rivals is actually a good thing and gives you the mindset edge.

Don't need to do it - my thinking has got me this far... there's nothing wrong with me... it's all 'shelf-help' and no use to anyone...

Mindset development is not there just for those who have got stuck (although it's a great thing to do if that's the case) but it also helps you understand yourself and your thinking and identify in others how they think so that you can develop further and out think your sports opponents or business rivals

I can't be bothered... I don't have the time...

Mindset development will deliver results if you apply yourself.  It's fine if you don't want to; just don't expect to be the leaders in your industry or the driving force in your sport.  We can always make time for the things we believe to be important and mindset development is important and a few minutes a day is all that you need.  If you can't be bothered to be motivated about what you want to achieve, why should anyone else around you be interested...

If you'd like to know more about mindset development to give you an edge over your competitors and how you can have practical, useful techniques tailored to you in order to build, grow and achieve in all aspects of your sport, business and life then contact me on annie@essentii.co.uk

Murphy's Plough

Over the last couple of weeks I've spoken to quite a few people who have managed to stop themselves planning and achieving their goals (and we're only half way through January!)

How..?

By deciding that the person they want to include, need help from or want to ask an opinion of will not want to be included, want to help or be bothered to give their opinion.  The conversation has already been held in the 'askers' head and the outcome decided!

This is mind reading and to be honest as human beings, we're not really that good at it, especially when it comes to asking for help or needing to have a difficult conversation.  When I've spoken to clients and asked them to see the situation as if they were being asked for help just about everyone says 'well yes of course I would help, why wouldn't I?'

It reminded me of a story I was sent a few years ago... I don't know the author and so cannot accurately credit it...

Murphys Plough

McGinty, a farmer, needed to plough his field before the dry spell set in, but his own plough had broken.

"I know, I'll ask my neighbour, farmer Murphy, to borrow his plough.  He's a good man; I'm sure he'll have done his ploughing by now and he'll be glad to lend me his machine."

So McGinty began to walk the three or four fields to Murphy's farm.

After a field of walking, McGinty says to himself, "I hope that Murphy has finished all his own poughing or he'll not be able to lend me his machine..."

Then after a few more minutes of worrying and walking, McGinty says to himself, "and what if Murphy's plough is old and on it's last legs - he'll never be wanting to lend it to me will he?"

And after another field, McGinty says, "Murphy was never a very helpful fellow, I reckon maybe he won't be too keen to lend me his plough even if it's in perfect working order and he's finished all his own ploughing weeks ago..."

As McGinty arrives at Murphy's farm, McGinty is thinking, "That old Murphy can be a mean old fellow.  I reckon even if he's got all his ploughing done and his own machine is siting there doing nothing, he'll not lend it to me just to watch me go to ruin..."

McGinty walks up Murphy's front path, knocks on the door and Murphy answers.

"Well good morning Mr McGinty, what can I do for you?" says Murphy.

And McGinty says with eyes bulging, "You can take your bloody plough and you can stick it up your bloody arse!"

So if you're having conversations in your head that aren't helping you achieve, stop!! and go and have them in person (before you've decided they won't help).  The results are normally greater than you ever expected!

If you want to know more about how you can have difficult conversations and communicate effectively with the people around you, including those you find more difficult to be with and you want to build yourself, your team and your business then have a look and book onto the Business Foundation course and NLP Practitioner course I am running with my friend and colleague Lucy Hampton - Essentii Courses

The picture above is of Suffolk Punch horses which are endangered - if you want to know more about these amazing horses then visit - Suffolk Punch Trust

We always do it like that...

A consultant was asked into a manufacturing company to help and advise them on the efficiency of their procedures and to look at ways of improving them.  As he was reviewing all the paperwork he came across a daily report which was used as a record of absentee rates, machine failure, down time, etc.  The form that was used was manually filled iin on a copy of a copy of a copy which was a long way from the original!

The photocopied forms were particularly fuzzy at the top right corner, where a small box had a heading that was not clear at all.  The consultant was interested to note that the figure '0' had been written in every daily report for the past year.  On questioning the members of staff who completed the report they told him that they always put a zero in that box, and when he asked them why they looked at each other blankly.  "Hmm.., not sure really." they said "We always do it like that."

Intrigued, the consultant visited the archives to see if he could find a clearer version of the form, to be able to see what was originally being reported on and whether it actually held any significance now!  He went back through the decades of records and found that the zero return had continued uninterrupted for as far back as the records extended - at least thirty years!  None of the forms were any clearer than those currently being used.

A little frustrated, he packed the boxes back up and turned to leave when another folder caught his eye.  It was titled 'master forms'.  Sure enough inside it he found the original daily report master copy in pristine condition.  In the top right corner was the mysterious box, with the heading clearly shown... 'Number of Air Raids today'

If you are finding yourself saying 'we always do it like that' more often than not then it is time to step back and look at what you are doing and to see if it is still what is needed.  If not then you need to take ACTION to change old processes! 

You will need to change your 'thinking' processes as well as the 'practical' processes.  If you are looking to grow and evolve your business make sure you look at the whole and that includes you.  If you want understand how this will work for you then get in touch.

The Gardener's Badge...

I was reminded today of a story that I hadn't thought about for a long time.  It's short and sweet  (although I don't know the original author)

The Gardener's Badge

A landscape gardener ran a business that had been in the family for two or three generations.  The staff were happy and customers loved to visit the store, or to have the staff work on their gardens or make deliveries - anything from bedding plants to ride-on mowers.

For as long as anyone could remember, the current owner and previous generations of owners were extremely positive happy people.

Most folk assumed it was because they ran a successful business.

In fact it was the other way around...

A tradition in the business was that the owner always wore a big lapel badge saying 'Business is Great!'

The business was indeed generally great, although it went through tough times like any other.  What never changed however was the owners attitude and the badge saying 'Business is Great!'.

Everyone who saw the badge for the first time invariably asked "What's so great about business?"  Sometimes people would also comment that their own business was miserable or even that they personally were miserable or stressed.

Anyhow, the 'Business is Great!' badge always tended to start a conversation, which typically involved the owner talking about lots of positive aspects of business and work, for example

• the pleasure of meeting and talking with different people every day

• the reward that comes from helping staff take on new challenges and experiences

• the fun and laughter in a relaxed and healthy work environment

• the fascination in the work itself, and in the other people's work and business

• the great feeling when you finish a job and o it to the best of your capabilities

• the new things you learn every day - even without looking to do so

• and the thought that everyone in business is blessed - because there are many millions of people who would swap their own situation to have the same opportunities of doing a productive meaningful job, in a civilized well-fed country, where we have no real worries.

And so the list went on.  And no matter how miserable a person was, they'd usually end up feeling a lot happier after just a couple of minutes listening to all this infectious enthusiasm and positivity.

It is impossible to quantify or measure attitude like this, but to one extent or another it's probably a self-fulfilling prophecy, on which point, if asked about the badge in a quiet moment the business owner would confide.

"The badge came first.  The great business followed."

So my question to you is... If you had a badge what would it say right now?  Is this what you want it to say?  If not, change it - it's your badge and you decide what you want on it.

Some of you will be looking at your business and thinking about how you can expand it in the future, take on more people, perhaps even think about how you can franchise it.  Others will be looking to keep their niche, staying small and successful - whichever one is right for you it will need planning, creative thinking and energy.

Focus your business on what you do best, let the others worry about the rest!

Just like the Gardener - what you think will drive how you do things and sometimes we need help with that.  Even when things are not looking so good and, let's be honest, in those moments it can be tough to stay flexible and creative.

Be your badge!

"Success is not the key to happiness, happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing you will be successful" Albert Schweitzer

If you want to know more about understanding what your badge is currently saying and what you want it to say then contact me.

Annie Page - annie@essentii.co.uk, 01525 633874

The world of work is changing...

The world of work is changing rapidly and how we adapt to that as employers and employees will be the difference between a successful business and one that sinks. I think this is a great graphic from Jacob Morgan, taken from his new book and article on Forbes ( Jacob Morgan Forbes article) If you want your business to build sustainable success and growth then Thrive through Transition is for you - Annie Page - Enjoy the Impossible

Change Orientated Leadership for today and tomorrow

"... outdated are the leadership development programmes which are based on success models for a world that was, not a world that is or is coming"   Roselinde Torres

If you want Coaching and Training for the world of tomorrow then you need  Thrive through Transition

Decisions to Actions

Q. Five frogs sat on a lily pad. One decided to jump off. How many were left?

A. Five - all of them are still sitting there.  The one frog only decided to jump.

Make a decision then ACT on it!!

If you want to know more about how you can turn your Decisions into Actions for you and your business then this coaching offer is for you!  3 sessions - 1 face to face session with 2 on line follow up's to keep you on track.  Only £400 + VAT

Understanding Change - the pdf!

The overall findings of my winter research 'Understanding Change' is now available as a pdf - if you would like a copy of this please email me on annie@anniepage.co.uk.  The full findings became the unique change model 'Thrive through Transition' more details can be found at Enjoy the Impossible

Life Lessons I have learnt from Ultra Running

1. Deal with the small stuff!

That voice niggling away in your ear - stop and listen to it - what might seem small and inconsequential now could end up driving you to distraction and using up valuable mental energy.

2. Know where you are

Navigating to where you want to be means understanding and knowing where you currently are.  Write out your plan and mentally bookmark where you are on it continuously.  If you lose your place you can go back to the last place you knew for definite and then go from there.

3. Enjoy the dark

Get comfortable with not having all the answers.  Things do not always go our way.  The ways you have of navigating where you are may not work so well in the dark.  Relax, let your senses guide you, know that it is always darkest before the dawn.  Enjoy the knowledge and different view of the world you get in the dark.

4. Know You

You are the only person with you every second of every day - get happy with that.  Greater self awareness and self management means greater flexibility in our thinking, feeling and actions in a constantly changing environment.  Make decisions that work towards your goal.

5. Its ok to slow down

Slowing down can make a big difference.  You can see clearly what is happening around you and gives you some time to recover your energy.  This isn't about ambling - stay purposeful and meaningful in your actions.  You are in charge of how you are in the world.

6. Its ok to stop!

Relentless pursuit of your goal can be draining emotionally, mentally and physically on you and others around you.  You will recover if you give yourself the chance.  Acknowledge the signs that you need to stop, eat, sleep... stop chasing others - you'll catch them up.  Tell yourself the positives of what you have done so far - ask for help from others if you need it.  Have patience and be gentle on yourself.  Start up slowly as you feel ready to move on.

7. Be in the moment

Rather than focusing on the end goal - break it down into chunks.  Focus on what's in your immediate control, enjoy the moment you are in knowing it is unique and taking you where you want to go.

8. Either / Or, or somewhere in between

It's easy to get caught up with the end goal and see it as either we are on our way to achieving it or not.  Take a step back - you're in this for the long journey.  Targets set at the beginning need to be reviewed as we go - be flexible about changes as they happen - give yourself the space to make changes and not letting yourself stress when the targets move - move with them, let them go, create new ones with the knowledge you have gained so far.

9. Be a part of where you are

Take stock and fully immerse yourself in the landscape around you.  Experience it fully through all your senses.  This is not about looking at it from afar but being part of it.

10. Be organised

Thinking back to 'Know You' - you know what might stop you so do something about it at the beginning - have a plan B, C, D... keep to hand the strategies that work for you .  If you've already thought about what might a problem further down the line then you can come up with ways round it - if it happens then you're ready to deal with it.  This is your life and it's going to be a long one - which means more moments to deal with, more choices to make.

11. What goes up must come down

Prepare for the hard work of going uphill and remember to enjoy the downhills.  Be mindful of the fact you can get a little out of control the faster you go downhill and are more likely to trip and fall here than on the up!  Be purposeful!

12. Whose rules?

This is your journey, your strategy, your goal.  You set the rules for you.  If it works for you it's right for you.  What works for others is right for them.  Experiment and learn from each thing you do and develop your strategy from there.  Be curious.

13. Just one of you

You are the only you that's in this world - your journey is unique to you - remember that.

14. Finish first

This means you have to get to the finish line - not that you have to be the first to the finish line!  Achieve your goal; get to the end of this particular journey.  When you've done that then you can look back at how you achieved it and take new knowledge forward into the next one!

Understanding Change - Part 7

Anything else?

Initial Response - YOU DEAL WITH CHANGE BETTER THE MORE EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE OVER TIME.

 

Final thoughts...

Conclusions

Change is welcomed as a challenge and exciting when that person in is control.  It is scary and uncomfortable when it is happening to them.

Be clear about what you want to achieve with your change and your goals and take control of delivering them.

Have a good support network - find the people you need to help you.

Embrace change by knowing it is going to happen.

Having time to reflect on it and make decisions based on the choices available.

Know and understand that a professional career will end at some point and there are other choices available.

Change is neither Good or Bad, it just IS.  How we decide to react to change and the choices we make around it are the difference that makes the difference.  We have responsibility for our actions and the choices in our thinking. 

"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes.  Don't resist them, that only creates sorrow.  Let reality be reality.  Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like."

Laozi 

Understanding Change - Part 6

What would be useful to know of / have when dealing with change?

Main thought - CRYSTAL BALL

This question gave me some great insight into why the people I spoke to had dealt so well with transition and change.  What they wanted to know was what the outcome of change would be and then decide how they would control their destiny and choices.

One point that came through was not to go blindly in to any change.  Also there was a lot of thinking about the people who made up their team that they had around them.

There were some neutral aspects around knowing and understanding the change in terms of timescale, financial implications, researching the pro's and con's in order to understand the medium and long term progress and have as much information in order to make a decision and be able to manage it.

Everyone has a team of people around them and having a mentor, someone who will share their experience with them and help guide them through is invaluable.  Knowing the people who can help and picking the right people to be involved. Know who is doing what and when and that they are confident and competent in their role.

As individuals it is about knowing where they are starting from and what the goal is at the end.  Believing in the change and having understanding in where you are going to get to.  People expected the unexpected and thought about the speed of change while they learnt, adapted and grew.  They all made a change by knowing why they wanted the change. It is understanding how they provoke thinking in others for them to take forward.  It's about having a good attitude to change.

Ask Yourself?

What do you already know that helps you deal with change?

Your can now take part in this research at Survey Monkey - Understanding Change Research

The Thrive through Transition business model was created as a result of the findings from this research.  Find out more at www.anniepage.co.uk or email annie@anniepage.co.uk

Special summer offer!!

Thrive through Transition Half Day Workshop
For dynamic companies that really want to understand change and transition and what it means for them.  To be the leaders within their industry of how to pioneer and build business for the future with integrity.  This is a practical hands on workshop.  Normally £795 + VAT but the 1st 5 companies to book through this offer - only £299 + VAT 

Understanding Change - Part 5

What is your current strategy for dealing with change?

Initial Response - FACE IT

Peoples strategies were about dealing with the change, There was a small amount of burying their head in the sand and a feeling that they could not effect change from the bottom.  This was quickly replaced with a strategy of  breaking down the change into small chucks and learning how to manage upwards.

On the whole the strategies started with the fact you had to face up the them, the fact that change happens and you need to respond to it and learn to roll with the punches.

As an individual having a goal meant that there was then room for planning and creating what the next steps needed to be and also helped people then initiate the change and become the change agent.  This allowed them to build their networks and learn new skills.

Some would want to keep ahead of change in order to have opportunity and challenge and would therefore actively seek out new goals to challenge themselves with.

Running through all the strategies there was also a little bit of 'just get on with it' and being clear that the change was not for change sake - but because it matters.

Within any change there is good and bad and those interviewed would look for the good and embrace it and would find out what the benefits would be and be able to show others in order to bring them on board with the changes and help change hearts and minds of those not yet convinced.

Ask Yourself?

What's your current strategy for dealing with change?

Your can now take part in this research at Survey Monkey - Understanding Change Research

The Thrive through Transition business model was created as a result of the findings from this research.  Find out more at www.anniepage.co.uk or email annie@anniepage.co.uk

Special summer offer!!

Thrive through Transition Half Day Workshop
For dynamic companies that really want to understand change and transition and what it means for them.  To be the leaders within their industry of how to pioneer and build business for the future with integrity.  This is a practical hands on workshop.  Normally £795 + VAT but the 1st 5 companies to book through this offer - only £299 + VAT 

Understanding Change Part 4

How does change challenge You?

Initial Response - Frustrating

When thinking about this question there was some flip flopping between the positive and negative and some interesting neutral statements and questions people asked themselves to find a balance.

Change can challenge when it seems scary, uncomfortable, it is the unknown. It can often be hard to concentrate on the day to day and keeps some people awake at night. It can leave people bitter and resistant when it has a negative outcome.

Despite all this the challenge of change is accepted. It allows people to shake off the shackles of convention and conventional wisdom, break assumptions, consider things not considered before. It helps people think differently and reflect on their choices so that they can decide on how and what they wanted to do next, in order to raise their game. When there is a positive outcome they start to look at how the skills they have gained can be used elsewhere.

When looking at change within self a great phrase used was 'open the gate - don't jump it'.  Make is easy on yourself.

There is also the challenge of reflection and addressing issues arising from the change and bringing people through it. Understanding that the change will happen and how you can adjust and accommodate it. If creating the change then believe it is for the right reason.

Ask Yourself?
How can you make the challenge of change easy on yourself?

Your can now take part in this research at Survey Monkey - Understanding Change Research

The Thrive through Transition business model was created as a result of the findings from this research.  Find out more at www.anniepage.co.uk or email annie@anniepage.co.uk

Special summer offer!!

Thrive through Transition Half Day Workshop
For dynamic companies that really want to understand change and transition and what it means for them.  To be the leaders within their industry of how to pioneer and build business for the future with integrity.  This is a practical hands on workshop.  Normally £795 + VAT but the 1st 5 companies to book through this offer - only £299 + VAT 

Understanding Change - Part 3

How do you feel about Change?

Initial Response - EXCITING

Let's start this looking at the negative feelings around change.  It creates a feeling of uncertainty and apprehension.  People are nervous and thought change could be scary and depending on the scale of the change - daunting.  Change is unpredictable and there was fear in how they would deal with it and it can make you feel uncomfortable.

The other side of the coin is that the feeling that change is refreshing, it helps get rid of old procedures, it's enjoyable and creative. If you welcome it and embrace it then it is an opportunity to do something different.

The opposite reactions were strongly linked to when change was created and caused by the individual (Started thinking) or if changed happened directly to them or around them (Stopped thinking).

More neutral feelings where linked to whether the change effected others and also about reflecting on change in order to adapt and make choices about how you wanted to feel about it.  Change was welcomed in itself but not always the results that occurred because of it.

Ask Yourself?

If you were to take control of your part in a change - how would this change your thinking?

Your can now take part in this research at Survey Monkey - Understanding Change Research

The Thrive through Transition business model was created as a result of the findings from this research.  Find out more at www.anniepage.co.uk or email annie@anniepage.co.uk

Special summer offer!!

Thrive through Transition Half Day Workshop
For dynamic companies that really want to understand change and transition and what it means for them.  To be the leaders within their industry of how to pioneer and build business for the future with integrity.  This is a practical hands on workshop.  Normally £795 + VAT but the 1st 5 companies to book through this offer - only £299 + VAT