Did you know that a study by Yale University on goal setting was carried out in the 1950’s. The researchers surveyed those who graduated in 1953 to determine how many of them had specific, written goals for their future, only 3% of them had. Twenty years later, the researchers surveyed the surviving members of the original group and found that the 3% who’d set goals had accumulated more personal financial wealth than the other 97% of the class combined! Whilst goal setting and happiness are not all about money, this anecdote shows how powerful we can be when we set our mind to something.
However many of us do not focus on positive outcomes, we prefer to obsess about what we don’t want, or centre on what is missing in their life. For such people, it’s easy to forget what’s great, what’s working in their lives and what resources they have to create even more happiness and success. Because we tend to get what we focus on, when we focus on what’s not working or spend time wondering why bad things always seem to happen, then we merely get more of what we don’t want. What’s the point of that?
It’s also important to remember that few of us have a 100% hit rate so there may be times when you set a goal and make a mistake or find that your goal doesn’t work. This is not the end of the world! At this point you have a choice: you can get all flustered, beat yourself up and go back to wandering about without direction – or you can learn from the experience and move on.
When setting your goals is to clarify why you want this outcome. If your goals are about things that you need in your life and will benefit you and others, you’ll feel happy when you achieve. But if you set goals just because you think you should, or to please other people, you may not feel that special even when you do achieve what you set out to do. It’s important to ask yourself ‘What’s in it for me?’
Hi everyone
I have a great pod-cast for you to listen to. Here I am interviewing World Number One Snooker player, Ronnie O'Sullivan.
I spent two years working with Ronnie and it was some of the most rewarding work I have done to date. Ronnie is nicknamed "The Rocket" due to his rapid playing style. He has been world champion on three occasions and is considered by many fans, critics and fellow professionals as the most naturally talented player in the history of the game.
In this interview we discuss Ronnie's approach to health fitness and weight loss and also discuss the components it takes to be successful and a winner in what ever you do.
Please let us know what you think of this pod-cast and if you find it useful. I will personally pass on any comment to Ronnie
PLEASE SEND THIS ON TO A FRIEND:
http://www.weightlossguru.com/index.cfm/2009/5/12/Interview-with-Snooker-Champion-Ronnie-OSullivan/
Take care,
Pete
Here's some truely amazing feedback from Diane Stephenson - what a success story! Thanks Diane for sending this through and becoming an instant inspiration!...
DIANE WRITES: In August 2002 I finally started to get to grips with my weight issue. I’d either been overweight, or perceived myself to be, for all of my life and at that point weighed almost 24 stone.
My first step on the journey was to give up my major vice – chocolate. By having to think about what I wanted to snack on, as I couldn’t just grab for my automatic panecea to all ills. This meant I started to lose a little bit of weight and I joined a gym and started going 3 or 4 times a week.
In April 2003 my job was made redundant and I knew I would have more time available for a while, until I found another job, so I started working out with a personal trainer to make sure I was working in a way that would help me achieve my goals. I also had time on my hands and found a book that had been recommended to me called Slimming with Pete by Pete Cohen.
I found this book amazingly helpful – it was light, entertaining reading but also drove home some powerful points including:
There were many more helpful points but 5 years on these are what have stuck in my mind. I was always determined not to go on a diet – I knew I needed to eat in a more balanced and healthy way and stop obsessing about food, whether it was good or bad or, in eating it whether I was good or bad. I needed to learn that food is just that – it’s how we think about it that gives it so much power. There are very few foods that are “bad”, mostly it’s just about balance.
Pete’s book Life DIY is also really helpful from a goal setting point of view and helping to think about where you want to be.
Five years down the line I’m 12 stone lighter and far fitter than I ever thought I could be. I’ve run two half-marathons and run regularly, often for relaxation as I find it to be a great stress-buster. My average week includes running, spinning classes, Body Attack and Body Pump classes, Pilates, Tai Chi, horse-riding as well as working out in the gym.
The whole process has led to a passionate interest in health through food and I am currently studying for a diploma in Nutritional Therapy with the Institute of Optimum Nutrition with a view to helping others.
Diane Stephenson
P.S. Sorry i haven't been around much this mad month of May - so busy...
More blogging in June i promise!! :)
I've already helped thousands of people to create the life they want, through television work (GMTV's resident Life Coach and motivator for the past 6 years), working with sport stars (Ronnie O’Sullivan, Sally Gunnell, Ellen Macarthur, Arsenal Football Club) and corporate seminars (IBM, Royal Bank of Scotland, BAA, Thomas Cook). Now I'm teaching these same techniques and principles in Central London on 21st June – at a price that only just covers my expenses!
Admission is normally £99 +VAT for the day, but if you register before 12th May you can snap up one of our specially reserved half-price tickets …. Just £49 +VAT! At this price, I'm only looking to cover my venue costs. This has to be the most valuable seminar that anyone could attend if they really want to make 2008 a year to remember.
Does it make the world go round?
Is it the root of all evil?
Can it not buy you love?
Commercialism and consumerism have become the alters that we all kneel to and increasing personal debt is price we now pay. It is estimated that our personal debt is increasing by £1 million every four minutes!
Such is our urge to spend on the latest gadgets, exotic holidays, ideal homes and those ‘must have’ shoes, thousands of us are looking at a debt sentence of 77 years before we’re back in the black. According to research giants Mintel, UK consumer spending has hit the £1 trillion mark for the first time. From this evidence it would appear that we are happy living in debt, whilst toiling hard to pay off our mortgages, loans and credit cards. Yet the dramatic increase in personal bankruptcies and the high rise in those seeking counseling for debt suggests the contrary.
I'm not setting out to give you tips on how to reduce your debt or increase your income as there are numerous books and television programs dedicated to such issues. Instead I will focus on your attitudes towards money, wealth, debt and abundance. My aim is to facilitate a change in the way you think and feel about money. This shift in consciousness can help manifest a change in your actions, which in return will provide a change in your rewards.
M is for MONEY
I can’t take HIS money
I can’t print MY OWN money
I have to work for money, why don’t I just lay down and die?
Homer Simpson
Some people see money only as energy, it’s neither good nor bad, it is neutral. The economic world attributes a value to it and as a society we place a value upon it. As an energy it follows a path that we lay down for it, if we allow a flow it will create more, if we let the flow stagnate, then so does our financial health.
Without money the western world would not survive and so it follows that the more money you have the more choices you will have in life. Below I have listed some statements relating to money, read through them and note how many resonate with you.
• A penny saved is a penny earned
• Money only comes from hard work
• Money doesn’t grow on trees
• Save some for a rainy day
• Money is the root of all evil
• My parents were poor, and I will be poor
• Money goes out faster than it comes in
• Rich people are crooks
• I will never get a good job
• I will never make any money
If any rang true for you, they may well be getting the way of you reaching prosperity. REMEMBER: you only manifest in your life what you consciously think about and focus on.
Well it’s Friday and Inch Loss Island has come to an end. Our recruits have done so well, not only losing weight but also loads of inches!
Gail
Lost 8 pounds
Lost a total of 15½ inches
On her hips she was 53 inches - now 49 inches
She’s gone down three dress sizes
Kaz
Lost 9 pounds
Lost a total of 14½ inches
On her waist she was 54 and is now 49 inches
She's gone down nearly 3 dress sizes
Karen
Lost 10 pounds
Lost 13½ inches
She lost 4 inches off her chest
She has gone down 2 dress sizes
It has been such a pleasure to work with them as they where really up for it. The real challenge starts now as they return to the real world. We will keep in touch with them and support them as best as we can. GMTV plan for us to go back and see them in May so watch this space.
It has also been fab working with personal trainer Mark Anthony and Nutritionist, Amanda Hamilton. We have formed a great team and plan to work together to inspire people to lose weight, get fit, increase their energy and live the dream. We are planning to do a workshop together in London in May. I will keep you all informed.
Thanks for all your support this week
