I believe passionately that talent will always find a way – in a world “made small” by the Internet; we can showcase this talent to the world at minimal cost, and open the doors to a magical adventure.

Make this choice today!

Six questions to ponder when you dare to dream:

1. Are they specific? My first big goal was to write a Best Selling book. The first step towards achieving this was to write on an A4 Page – “I am a Best Selling Author.” Note – this is written in the brain’s language – Positive, Present tense and Personal.

2. Have you set a deadline? Every dream must have a deadline, or you could end up in the “gonna-doer” category. In the context of writing a Best Seller; I wrote “Manuscript finished by May 25th” on another A4 Sheet.

3. Have you enough reasons to achieve your dream? Remember the more reasons, the more motivated.

4. Are those reasons a reflection of your values and interests? Goals must be a reflection of values and interests if you really want to be motivated. Ask yourself the following question to cross check – “If you had 48 hours to live;  would you take timeout for your goals?” This is the ultimate test of the passion underpinning your dream.

5. Are your goals a reflection of your dreams or motivated by the “Jones!” Try this challenge – I am going to offer you two deals (i) a new job that carries a €50,000 salary – all of your colleagues are earning €25,000 or (ii) a new job that carries a €100,000 salary – all of your colleagues are earning €250,000. Which deal would you accept – you can assume all other factors are equal?

Note – would it surprise you to hear that most people consider their response to question five – and a healthy minority select the first option?

6. Are you willing to cross the longest bridge in the world – the one from inaction to action; and take your first step?
Remember Action precedes excellence – take the first step NOW!

May your year be filled with magic and adventure.

These headlines and the past few years of non stop doom and gloom coming from our papers, radio and tv have brainwashed our people to believe we are in dire straits.

Many of us know people who are very well off and have now decided to “close up shop” curtail all spending because armageddon is on the way…apparently!

Business colleagues of mine tell me that people have stopped spending due to their concern over a potential death “by a thousand cuts.”

A few interesting statistics:

There are aproximately two and a half million in the tax net.
Lets put the bank bailout at 50bn euro – that works out at approx 20,000 euro per taxpayer.
As this debt tends to be rolled on, the important figure to focus on is the interest on servicing this debt say approx 5%.
This amounts to 1000 per taxpayer or 20 a week.

Is this the media’s version of end game?

If this figure was put on the front page of all the papers would this elicit the current response?

In an era where there is a vacuum in political and spiritual leadership, we need the media to fill this vacuum with balanced views – maybe even a slant towards positivity – not being misguided agents of doom and gloom.

Note: I am not or don’t ever want to be an economist!

1. Attitude shift amongst some of the unemployed. Unfortunately, I believe that there are too many people out there waiting for the apple to fall off the tree. The reality is that the paradigm has shifted from “instant gratification” to “ongoing graft;” if a person wants to find their dream job. Note “dream job/industry” – at this moment it is equally as difficult to find any job, as it is to find a post in your chosen discipline. The unemployed need to work smarter in addition to harder. Target your industry of choice and build a compelling case that this is your area of bliss embracing Web 2.0, to prove beyond all reason doubt that you really want that job.
2. The media needs to up it’s game in the context of providing it’s audience with balanced coverage of the days events. Currently the proliferation of doom and gloom is strangling creativity, enthusiasm and vision and making the dark hole even deeper. Many journalists told me off the record that “positivity and how to” weren’t exactly the most compelling news pieces. This was reflected in the absence of coverage with the exception of one show on the National Airwaves and papers. To reiterate, the media need to realise that people’s minds work similar to computers – Garbage in, Garbage out.

How can you expect an enthusiastic, visionary, creative population if all they are being feed with is doom and gloom, which unfortunately is then being recycled within their daily conversations. You dont have to be a motivational speaker to have worked that one out.
3. Greater cohesion amongst all the agencies and social entrepreneurs who are trying to make a difference.

The experience was very rewarding on a personal level. Considering that the average course rating was 9/10 from course attendees, it obviously gave real value to our target audience.
One piece of feedback will always stay with me: “It was the first time since I became unemployed that I didn’t feel invisible.”
As a motivational speaker, it is that type of feedback on its own that makes the journey worthwhile.