IT STARTS WITH WHY

The ‘real why’ leads to the best results.

Perhaps you started running, or a particular diet. Maybe your involved in a certain career or occupation. But whatever you do you can’t seem to stay motivated and are achieving far less than you should be.

It could be time to ask yourself why: why did you take this particular path, because without a real and deep reason why you probably won’t be able to persevere and will fall away long before you have achieved any great success. It’s one of the common problems we have, that we often look at the what and the how without asking ourselves that important question why am I doing this.

An example from my own life was when I began running. I got into it on a daily basis and had friends who would put all their effort into training and running the Comrades Ultra Marathon. I was asked many times why I was training but avoided the Comrades. When I asked myself the question, it all came down to the why. I was not excited by the thought of the Comrades, or in fact racing in general. I discovered that my real reason why I ran was to train and stay fit, I enjoyed the daily training, not the competitive event. That discovery changed my approach to, and my enjoyment of running.

As human beings we need a purpose for the things we do or we end up finding it difficult to persevere. That purpose does not have to be any great altruistic dream. It can be as simple as I need to do my job well in order to put food on the table. That acknowledgement alone can change our approach to what we do. Or perhaps I want to go to gym regularly and eat properly in order to be around to see my kids graduate college. It applies to all aspects of life, career, health, wealth, where we stay and so on.

Once we have identified the real reason why we want to do something it is much easier to put the what and the how into place and to look forward with enthusiasm to what we are doing. That enthusiasm leads to greater success and fulfilment.

So the next time you feel stuck in a rut ask yourself why am I doing this, or want to do this. It could turn the whole game around.

Terri Codd MCF Corporate Training & Life Coach: 076 751 3556: coddterri@gmail.com: terri@m-c-f.co.za: terricodd.blogspot.com 

THE AUTHENTIC YOU

Here’s a question for you – I believe that God created each of us to be unique, a ‘one of a kind’ person, so why is it that so many spend so much time trying to be somebody else?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that we cannot learn from each other, that is something different, but to copy, imitate, look like, sound like somebody else is way beyond learning.

The word authentic means true or genuine and that is what we expect from the things around us. Ask a Ferrari enthusiast if he wants a genuine one or a look-alike, or is a genuine rose from a lover better than a plastic one? So why do so many not apply the same principle to themselves?

It is so much better to be a first rate you than a second-rate copy of someone else, no matter how good that copy may be.

You have your own value, you have your own worth, so value it, value you. It will change how people see you and interact with you- for the better. You are not an actor playing a character in someone else’s drama, this is your life, be in it authentically.

I once heard someone say that the word beautiful means ‘be-you-to-the-full.’

So, embrace your ‘youness’ and see how you become full and fulfilled.

Terri Codd MCF Corporate Training & Life Coach: 076 751 3556: coddterri@gmail.com: terri@m-c-f.co.za: terricodd.blogspot.com 

BUILD A ‘SPECIAL FORCES BUSINESS TEAM’

In the military they give medals to those who are willing to sacrifice themselves, so others may gain. In business we give often bonuses to those who are willing to sacrifice others so that we may gain.

We have it backwards, but we complain about how we don’t love our jobs, budgets are being cut, too much is expected, we are not appreciated or valued etc. And the first thing we do is blame each other, become more selfish and worry about my pay, my promotion, my future and benefits.

When we are unfulfilled we look at the metrics and say they are not good enough. When we are fulfilled we don’t care about the metrics. When we love our jobs, are cared for and care for others, when we feel fulfilled, we can be offered more money to move, but will stay.

In order to achieve this, we need to change our way of thinking about building businesses and business teams and look to methods and processes used by elite military units. They understand how to take a group of strangers and in the shortest space of time mould them into a team, each member of which is willing to sacrifice his life for the others.

This is achieved by operating at two levels. The first, the obstacle course, is aimed at the individual and is designed to build individual excellence. The second, called the confidence course, is different in that it cannot be completed without the help of other team members. It forces team members to interact, ask for, and offer help. Anyone who does not participate, or is lazy, is ostracised by the other members until they learn to cooperate. Remember, it is a fallacy that troops go into battle for king and country, they do it for their brothers, their team mates. Why would you risk your life for them? Because they would do it for me.

It can, and should be, the same in business. The same process, to build individual skills and confidence and then to create interdependent teams. Employees cannot care for clients if they are not cared for themselves. It’s about building trust and the only machine capable of measuring trust is the human being, and generosity without wanting anything in return is what builds trust. Strangers who learn to trust each other, would give their lives for each other, as shown by the military.   Start with the small things, do for others, with no thought of reward, and others will start helping you.

This then is the role of managers and leaders, to create the environment where this transformation can take place and continue to grow on an ongoing basis.

Not everybody will be willing to participate, but they will eventually either join the team or move on. But those who sign in to the process will feel more fulfilled, employees and clients will receive better service and staff will be much less likely to leave for offers of more money.

The end result, a more solid and sustainable business.

Contact us today, let us show you how and get started in building your own ‘special forces business team’.

Terri Codd MCF Corporate Training & Life Coach: 076 751 3556: coddterri@gmail.com: terri@m-c-f.co.za: terricodd.blogspot.com 

THE LAW OF THE CHAIN

You may have heard the saying that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. What we don’t realise is that no matter how strong the other links are, the weakest link actually has the ultimate power in the strength of the chain and can cause it to break at any time.

Whether it be in a physical chain, an individual, in life, in sport, in business, this law will apply, often with disastrous effects.

In order to protect against the potential damage we should be in a constant cycle of identifying and eradicating the weakest link, as there will always, and can ever be, only one weakest link, although there may be other weak links in the chain. So, we get rid of one and move on to the next.

In business it may be a person or people, a lack of certain skills, an inadequate or incorrect process or strategy: likewise in a sports team.

A good example of an individual would be a salesperson. There are four basic processes in selling; finding new prospects; persuading prospects; closing the sale; retaining clients. It’s easy to see that if a salesperson is great at finding new prospects but poor at closing, that weak link then breaks the chain and sales are low. Similarly, if the salesperson is a poor persuader or finder.

Improvement across the board is not necessarily the answer, but rather identify and solving the problem area.

The law of the chain may well be the area of focus needed in your journey to success, so why not contact us and let us help you to grow, stronger and more successful.

Terri Codd MCF Corporate Training & Life Coach: 076 751 3556: coddterri@gmail.com: terri@m-c-f.co.za: terricodd.blogspot.com 

RESILIENCE

Bouncing back when your bounce has gone.

We all have those days when we are hit by a curve ball from out of nowhere, news or events that take the wind out of us completely, leaving us totally deflated. At that moment we cannot see our way ahead, or how we will possibly overcome the situation.

But only at that moment, for like most things, this too will pass, or a solution will be found. What we need to do is actively step into resilience mode, taking ourselves as much as possible out of our emotions and moving into an active process to get ourselves up and going again.

The first step is to allow ourselves some time to indulge, understand and accept the emotions that we are feeling, to become mindful of our true emotional state.

We next need to look at our circumstances with eyes of gratitude: in this bad situation, what can we be thankful for? This can be a really strong weapon in the fight to regroup and get up again.

After this we are better able to look at the situation more optimistically, we are better able to see positive steps that we can start to take, no matter how small.

During this process we must not be too hard on ourselves, we need self compassion to move us forward. Being too hard on ourselves will only drive us down even further.

Finally, we need to grit our teeth and make the decision to keep moving forward and up, no matter how small the steps may be, or how hard it may become. Little by little we will rise, and the further we go the easier it will become.

Try to avoid making any major decisions until you are feeling more solid , and even then stay mindful of those emotions that may cause strong influence in one direction or another.

It may not be easy, but it is possible to recover from any situation, with understanding, time, effort and determination.

And never underestimate the power of prayer in bringing you peace.

Terri Codd MCF Corporate Training & Life Coach: 076 751 3556: coddterri@gmail.com: terri@m-c-f.co.za: terricodd.blogspot.com 

HOW TO REJECT REJECTION

Many years ago, when I was an actor, I really used to get depressed going for auditions, knowing that I auditioned well, but still not getting the part. It seemed that my days were a constant round of being rejected.

But then my agent gave me some advice regarding rejection that has stood me in good stead over the years.

She asked me what I thought my job was as an actor. Well, my initial response was ‘what a dumb question’, but I answered, ‘to act?’

Her answer told me I was wrong. Because she said my job was to audition, that was where I should put in my effort on a day to day basis, to do my job the best I could. Nothing more can be asked of anyone than they do their best. I could then hold my head high whether offered the role or not. In fact, getting the role should be seen as a bonus, not the object of the exercise.

In truth, what she was telling me was that rejection is not something that emanates from somebody else, it is something that comes from within ourselves. We may not be aware of it, but we  choose to feel rejected, therefore we can also choose not to.

What she had given me was a thought change, a mechanism whereby I could more easily make that choice not to feel rejected.

The more you make that choice, the easier it becomes. Truth is, you can refuse to accept rejection and it is your choice alone.

My question to you is: in what area are you most likely to suffer the feeling of rejection and what mechanism can you use to change your thought pattern, to enable you to reject the feeling of rejection?

It can be done, and it will change the way you live your life. So, give it a go.

Terri Codd MCF Corporate Training & Life Coach: 076 751 3556: coddterri@gmail.com: terri@m-c-f.co.za: terricodd.blogspot.com 

INCREMENTALISM - ACCUMULATING SUCCESS

Success is an accumulation event, it’s not about intensity it’s about consistency.

Let’s take an example: you want to get in shape so you start at the gym. After your first workout you take a look in the mirror, or weigh yourself. Do you see a difference? I doubt it. But, if you keep going to the gym regularly, you will get  in shape and, over time you not only will see, and experience, a difference, but you will continue to improve. 

Consistency is twenty minutes a day, on a daily basis. Intensity is a nine hour session at the gym once a month. Consistency definitely wins, even if you do cheat now and then.

This law of incremental gains applies, no matter what we want to achieve. When we consistently apply ourselves to doing what needs to be done, we will continue to improve, and our best will surely get better. 

This is what excellence really is, that consistent journey of betterment.

No matter what you desire to succeed at, be it business, sales, leadership, being a better husband or wife, health, fitness, sporting achievements, the list goes on and on, this rule of consistency and incremental gains applies.

So, no matter how little , start today and, even though you may not see it straight away, keep at it and your success is guaranteed.

For more information contact us:  Terri Codd MCF Corporate Training & Life Coach: 076 751 3556: coddterri@gmail.com: terri@m-c-f.co.za: terricodd.blogspot.com