THE BREATH OF POSSIBILITY

“I had asthma from a very young age. I was often caught for breath and had to stay in bed because I did not have enough air to physically move. By the time I was in my early twenties I was on high doses of medication to control the asthma.
In 1997, I graduated from Trinity College Dublin and started work.
I stumbled across an article about a Russian doctor, Konstantin Buteyko, who claimed to know and reverse the cause of asthma. Upon further enquiry, I contacted people in Australia and learned more about the technique. Logically it made sound sense – breathe through your nose and keep your breathing quiet. Simple as it seems, Buteyko discovered that the cause of asthma is over breathing. By using his methods, my asthma improved dramatically!
When I was a full two years symptom and medication free and still in the same job, I realised that I wasn’t happy. Something was missing from my life and an emptiness or hollowness prevailed. Driving to my hometown, the thought struck me that asthmatics should be made aware of correct breathing and other lifestyle factors. There was no doubt that it worked. I was living proof!
That weekend was a momentous one for me. It felt as though a weight had been lifted from me and even though I had not thought about the intricacies of starting a business, I had an overwhelming comfort that everything was going to be all right. I contacted the Buteyko clinic of Moscow and by 2002 had completed my training.
As I think back, I can see that if I had given starting a business much thought AsthmaCare would not exist! I was entering an area that was traditionally the domain of doctors and the pharmaceutical industry. I was also aware that some people around me thought I was mad. However, the overwhelming feeling that I experienced that weekend – that I was not going to fail – became the driving force behind my work.
I am now one of a few people who can say that they love their job. I apply myself to it effortlessly. In the past six years, I have written several books including the best seller Asthma Free Naturally. Thousands of asthma patients have attended my clinics and AsthmaCare is now taught in seven countries. There is no stress in this, nor is there much effort.”
(Excerpt Basics before Buzz.)
Patrick McKeown has just launched a new book:
Anxiety Free: stop worrying and quieten your mind
(includes free relaxation CD)
Priced 14 Euro approx
Author Patrick McKeown
ISBN-10: 0954599640
240 pages

Available Easons and www.amazon.co.uk

www.asthmacare.ie

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A day in the life…

Without doubt stories have the ability to weave a certain magic on audiences – recently I was in the presence of an eighty year old gentleman who reminded me that years ago you had to pay to participate in sports events!
Tom was a high jumper in fifties and sixties and he spoke of the need for some “strategic thinking” on when to enter the event.
“I used to wait until everyone had jumped to their limit and then I would pay my entrance fee and jump to victory!”
Imagine if for a day the clock was turned back, and all professional athletes from all codes had to pay to perform?

Later that day I went for my usual coffee break in the local village. That day the very talented Daniel Day Lewis was in town and enjoying the breathtaking beauty of the West of Ireland. One of the staff reminded him of his last order when he visited three years previously. I couldn’t but think of how impressive it would be if every customer’s order was remembered with such accuracy – you would definately be in exceptional service territory. The moral of the story – treat every customer like a superstar and see what happens!
And finally watched the post match interviews of some of the defeated managers and players in the World Cup – unfortunately a significant theme running through most – “it wasnt my fault!” ( Couldn’t but think of some famous politicians and others that shared this pattern.)
Has the era of personal responsibility passed …or did it ever truly begin?

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Five ways to kickstart economy

1. Within the political system, a Minister should not hold the position unless they have a proven track record in this field. In the absence of a suitable candidate from within, the focus should be on recruiting the industry’s best for the position. Unfortunately to be re-elected current Ministers have to have a penchant for “pothole politics” so their focus isnt on driving Ireland Inc forward.

2. Business people should man enterprise agencies – the mindset of a civil servant tends to be very different from the mindset of an entrepreneur – this mismatch can cause tension and missed opportunities.

3. There need to be a radical refocus in the School and University system towards instilling the two most highly paid intelligences in the world; interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence. We are not looking for grades machines, we need people with passion and purpose.

4. Everyone needs to understand that they have a role to play in the countries future. We need to move away from the blame culture and focus on what we can do today to improve our lot. If we all embraced that mentality – hope, not gloom would become currency and hope is the catalyst for growth.

5. The media need to realise what an incredibly powerful role they have in today’s world. In the absence of political and spiritual leadership, the media need to become prophets of possibility, not doom and gloom.

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Unemployment Action

Unemployment figures in the West Cork town of Macroom have risen by a dramatic 140-180 per cent in the last eighteen months. This fact spurred West Cork Development Partnership into holding a series of motivational workshops for job seekers and would-be entrepreneurs, inviting internationally-renowned motivational speaker Kevin Kelly to address the workshop in Macroom and advise participants on how best to secure employment during a recession.

“Ninety per cent of people who do interviews don’t do them very well because they can’t prove beyond a reasonable doubt they that really want the job. To build your case you have to take a modern approach: Realise that we live in a time where everyone googles everyone else. When potential employers put your name into a web search make sure they find information which will ’sell’ you as the exact type of person they’re looking for, as opposed to being directed to your facebook page to find pictures of you a little worse for wear. It’s all about building your personal brand through using current technologies – this includes blogs and professional social net-working sites such as LinkedIn. It won’t cost you a penny and having a strong and positive on-line presence will make you memorable and set you apart from other interviewees,” he said.

“All interviewers are looking for the same thing, someone who is similar to themselves – we’re attracted to people who we’re like, it’s just human nature,” Kevin explains. Do your own research about those interviewing you. Ask the human resource person for a list of the names of those who’ll be on the interview panel and then Google them, look up their Facebook pages and LinkedIn profiles to find out their interests, their passions, their professional backgrounds and use this information to see what common ground you might share.

The opening question Kevin posed at his workshop was:

‘How long do you think it takes an interviewer to form an opinion of you?’

No one was surprised that the answer was in fact seconds, yet few were sure what they could do within that tight time-frame to endear themselves to their interviewers.

He explained that even on an unconscious level people will observe and form opinions based on your demeanour, mannerisms and body language. “Your thinking is manifested through your body language, people get a print-out within seconds and instantly form an opinion on you,” he said. “In order to change your body language you have to change your thinking.” The seminar looked at various approaches on how best to put forward a positive self-image that would make one attractive to potential employers.

“One of the first things an interviewer wants to establish is why do you want this job,” Kevin said, “Master this answer and you’ll instantly be in the top ten per cent of candidates because the majority of people really struggle with this one. All too often candidates answer in generic terms with over-used phrases such as ‘I’m a good fit and could add value’”. Instead, Kevin recommends personalising your answer with examples or stories. If you say you’re passionate about this industry, then show them proof – either by citing recent research in your area of work or directing them to your blog where you’ve written on the subject. Talk about specific instances when you’ve found your work particularly fulfilling. Similarly, when asked, ‘tell me a little about yourself?’, have your answer prepared and speak fluently with self-belief, energy and enthusiasm.

“Fear is the number one blocker to career advancement, it’s important to understand the source of that fear. I’ve found the best way to overcome it is to face it head on,” he said. “By identifying and disempowering this ‘fear factor’ you will jump-start your potential in all aspects of your life.”

He also demonstrated how you could achieve your goals more successfully if you visualise them first, adding that he himself had the goal of being a number one best-selling author. He wrote down his goal, including a deadline, and placed this piece of paper over his desk to ensure he was constantly focused on his objective and visualising the outcome. A year later his book was published and it went on to become a Sunday Times bestseller. Since this visualisation method worked for Kevin he duplicated it other areas of his life and became a firm believer in the power of visualisation.

“To know how to succeed we simply have to look at our past instances of success, break down what we did to achieve this, then use this as a blueprint for future victories,” he said, asking everyone to think of a time when they achieved success and to also to identify what obstacles currently stand in their way. Then reminding people that “the greatest obstacles in our path to achieving success are ones we’ve placed there ourselves”.

At the end of the workshop the participants were asked to write down their goals. Some had been recently made redundant, others were hoping to re-enter the workforce as their children were starting school and some were recent graduates.

Catherine Dineen is a nurse who was made redundant and hopes to use this time to re-train in the area of pastor care. As the carer of her son with autism she is no stranger to the importance of being able to access the correct services.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to know where to turn for help, to be aware of what facilities and support exist and how best to access what you’re entitled to,” she said. “In Dublin there are voluntary organisations whose job it is to link you up with the correct services and support, however in rural Ireland it’s more difficult to find support, there’s still an attitude that you should be able to cope yourself.”

“In the area I live in there have been a lot of suicides and people don’t know where to turn for support,” she said. “I would like to set up a rurally based organisation which can identify needs and provide the appropriate help when people face a sudden and major shift in their life,” she added. “Doing this course has given me further motivation to take action. I plan to talk to my local LEADER company, West Cork Development Partnership, to see how we can possibly work together on this. I don’t see being made redundant as the end, it’s simply a new beginning, this workshop has shown me that.”
(National Rural Network)

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People and Patterns!

It has been a rather intriguing few days!
Just spoke to a politician who bemoaned the fact that a colleague of his couldn’t talk about anything except himself. I have been in his company many times in the past – he spoke exclusively about ….himself!
Seeing, not solving the problem is the challenge as always.

I heard a very disturbing story about a building company who threatened to “kill” a friend of a friend. Why? My colleague had complained to him that weeds was coming through the newly laid tarmacadam after two weeks – a very legitimate complaint obviously. True story.
“Extreme customer service” should put this guy out of business.

I have lost count this week of how many times I have received poor customer service. Alot of companies still don’t appear to realise that you need to work harder to retain clients.

And finally, I was saddened by the passing of Gerry Ryan the Irish braodcaster. Over the years I have the honour of been interviewed by him a number of times. I can say unreservedly he was the best interviewer I have ever had – his understanding and interest in the area of motivation/personal excellence was immense. What was even more remarkable for me was on one slot my twenty five min interview was preceded by a discussion about submarine rolls! Gerry Ryan RIP

One final question to ponder – are we better at honouring the dead than we are at celebrating the living?

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