The Grief Cycle & How it Relates To Accepting Change

In sharing the devastating news of an old friend's loss of his youngest son to cancer at the weekend, I was reminded of the work of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and the 5 stages of Grief that she identified.

Was interested to note that someone had extended her model to include it into an understanding of how one can accept change, especially when it comes along as a result of the dropping of a bombshell of negative news.

See: The Extended Grief Cycle


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WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

LIFE - Can It Get Any Tougher?

This weekend we received the shock news that old family friends had lost their 21-year old son to a 5-month battle with cancer.

We're all heart-broken for them.

It's going to be tough saying good-bye this week.

Can life get any tougher than when experiencing the pain of losing a loved one... especially a child?

This, as my grieving cousin flies in from America, having lost her 16-year old son in a car crash during the last week of February. The grief and pain is still very raw. Will it ever dissipate?

Sometimes we just have to be GRATEFUL for the small things that affect us when compared to the giant challenges of others!


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LIFE - Sometimes YOU Just Have To Have A Sense Of Humour

In the immortal words of Robert Burns: "The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men, gang aft agley." - To A Mouse

In order to get more time for myself to invest into WISDOMS... we sent our little grand-daughter to day-care last week (granny & grand-pa are her full-time guardians). She's never been sick for even a day in two years.

Just four days, and hordes of snotty-nosed kids, later... and our entire family has been knocked-out with colds and flu since Sunday. It's Friday - 90% of what I was going to do this week has not been done.

And we're not looking like recovering soon.

As the Mexican's tend to say: 'Life, sometimes she is a beach'.

Deal with it!

I am not necessarily a believer that we are the architects of our own misfortunes... we are not bullet-proof... we are not immortal super-heroes.

Perhaps the Mexican's are right... sometimes LIFE just forces you to slow down a bit, lie in the sun... and just smile.. ;-)

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Every Cloud Has The Sun Waiting To BREAKTHROUGH

It didn't take Tony Robbins long to respond to the pulling of Breakthrough Insider by NBC after just two episodes airing.

Listening to Tony's response, shot on the shores of a Fiji island, we learn that NBC is in the process of re-organisation and perhaps looking for a new time slot to air the program to match the 2.9 million viewer demand.

We also learn that Oprah gets a similar viewership... go figure!

What interests me is the quality of the programming that NBC have chosen to replace it with.

Says something about the shallow nature of viewership demands for non-thinking (mindless?) entertainment on TV... doesn't it.

Hey... I like comedies and reality shows too. So is this a commentary on me?

The reality is that it is all about the numbers.

Tony Robbins deals with it well.


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Even The BEST Suffer Setbacks

Was amazed to hear that Tony Robbins' Breakthrough Insider was pulled by NBC after just two episodes airing - see: Breakthrough with Tony Robbins: NBC TV Show Pulled, Cancelled

I believe Tony Robbins to be one of the best in his field... even the best suffer setbacks.

It will be interesting to watch how he takes this failure and turns it into a learning experience.


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Wear YOUR Failures Like Badges Of Honour!

Was swimming at the gym on Friday when this thought entered my mind:

Wear YOUR Failures Like Badges Of Honour!

For some reason I was thrown back to thinking about an overly-arrogant business owner from my younger days who signed over franchise rights to myself because he 'claimed' I had stated on my CV that I was a varsity graduate.

Finding that I was making a small fortune from my rights, he wanted to find a way to take the rights back.

Amusingly, right from my early days I was always quite proud of the fact that a matric failure could persevere and pass matric in the end, and make his way to varsity only to be found out in his second repeat year... and still go on to do the things that I did in business.

I didn't know then that failure was a great learning experience... but I just found it to be honest and a show of integrity to state in my CV that I had spent a few years trying to get out of matric... and that my varsity career was incomplete.

Besides, I was able to highlight my sporting achievements - representing SA Universities at my favourite sport.

Seems that Mr. Arrogant was trying to claim that he misinterpreted that to mean that I had claimed a varsity degree - and that I had there by misrepresented my CV to him. All bull, of course. At best, he read what he wanted to read... at worst, he was just trying to diddle someone out of a contract (and failed... ;-)

To cut a long story short, this self-same individual was later jailed for his part in +- R250 million investor-fraud scam. Sometimes what one perpetuates with a lack of integrity catches up with one.

And... I have always gone on to broadcast my many years of trying to get out of matric and playing around and not succeeding at varsity (of which I am not proud) as critical learning experiences for myself.

So, for me, there has never been any shame in trying something (especially something new or out of your comfort zone) and not succeeding.

As long as YOU do it with the integrity of giving it YOUR best shot.

So here's a thought to explore:

Wear YOUR Failures Like Badges Of Honour!

Found this on Google search: Failure as a Badge of Honor


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Breakthrough - So YOU Think You've Got Problems?

Was just viewing the back-story episode to Frank and Kristen Alioto's breakthrough moments with Tony Robbins, and phew... the 44-minute episode misses tons of drama from 30-days of shooting the program that just couldn't be aired due to lack of time. Incredible!

Imagine celebrating YOUR wedding day and becoming a quadriplegic... making a breakthrough with Tony Robbins (Breakthrough Insider and click on Episode) and then... discovering that your mate has a brain tumor.

So YOU think that YOU've got problems, huh?

Here's what I'm doing right now... I've accepted the invite by Tony Robbins to participate in his amazing program.

Hi, It’s Tony, welcome to your Breakthrough Challenge course. Together we’re about to embark on a 6-week journey towards a more extraordinary quality of life. It's just 20 to 45 minutes each week, but I think you'll find that this small investment in yourself will give you huge returns.

Take your personal breakthrough challenge. I will post a new personal coaching session for you after every episode airs (don't worry I'll send you a reminder). In each session I will take the lessons from the show and teach you how to apply them in your own life in a very simple yet powerful way to create your own breakthroughs and help those you care for as well.

I look forward to our journey together… Let’s start!

Live strong and live with passion,

Tony Robbins

P.S. I really look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments on this program because we are utilizing this forum to refine this process into a course that we will be offering later to help people all around the world. Thanks!

YOU can participate too.

It's FREE... for goodness sake.

YOUR Personal Breakthrough Program with Tony Robbins.

What an opportunity!

I don't care who YOU are, or how together YOU are or not, how busy YOU are or not... this is an exceptional opportunity for a fascinating personal learning experience.

Go to Breakthrough Insider


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Breakthrough - Confront YOUR Real Issues

I cannot exhort YOU more to get along to Tony Robbins' Breakthrough Insider - and click on Episode.

Here YOU will view the story of... 'Frank and Kristen Alioto, a couple whose wedding night turned tragic after Frank suffered a swimming pool accident that rendered him a quadriplegic. With Tony Robbins' help, Frank learns to overcome his limitations and reclaim his life and marriage.'

If those Breakthrough Insider files are taking up too much bandwidth (as they do at my end), perhaps follow these sub-standard links that someone appears to have hacked to promote their own product. The Tony Robbins' message and content is the most important:

Breakthrough with Tony Robbins part 1 of 5

Step 1. Re-write YOUR Story

Step 2. Confront YOUR Real Issues

Breakthrough with Tony Robbins part 2 of 5

Step 3. Discover Your Inner Strength

Step 4. Redefine What Is Possible

Breakthrough with Tony Robbins part 3 of 5

Step 5. Exceed Your Expectations

Breakthrough with Tony Robbins part 4 of 5

Step 6. Change Your Belief System

Breakthrough with Tony Robbins part 5 of 5

Step 7. Own Your Breakthrough

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Are YOU About To Make YOUR Big Breakthrough In Life?

Had a fascinating group discussion yesterday with participants in our - WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program - process and witnessed the clear moment of breakthrough for a number in the group.

For them, I provide this link to perhaps the finest BREAKTHROUGH specialist in the world right now - Anthony Robbins:

Play all around this link, view everything - Breakthrough Insider

Enjoy - YOU are ready for this... :-)


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Winning Is Tough - How Tough Are YOU..?

Well worth taking another listen to Art Williams .

Just how committed are YOU?

Art has it right in this priceless clip from 1987.

Listen here:





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Can YOU Be Better, Make Something Better? You Betcha!

Art Williams is a billionaire insurance executive with a simple message.

YOU can be better, create something better, do something better.

Listen to him.




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WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Winning - Are YOU Almost There?

So what is the difference between winners and losers in life?

That's a question that many people ask.

YOU can do no worse than to listen to Art William's profound message. He gets it.





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WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

When A TEAM Win Is Better Than An Individual Win

Lance Armstrong - 7 times winner of the Tour de France - is perhaps one of the race's most iconic figures... and in his last Tour de France (2010) he was beset by all sorts of problems that left him in 23rd place overall.

Yet, still he engineered a team that was to take the First Team prize... and grab the headlines to highlight the challenges faced by 28 million cancer sufferers around the world (by highlighting the number 28 on the back of their podium jerseys).



Super-achievers are always looking for ways to engineer a win in everything they do.

Lance Armstrong is a master at this... on top of being one of the best athletes of his time!


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WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

How To WIN By Not Winning At All

Alberto Contador wins the 2010 Tour de France... without winning a single stage.

Think about it... there's a metaphor in there somewhere.

The race doesn't always go to the fastest, or to the best climber... it also goes to the smartest strategist who maintains a constant peak performance state to outlast the rest.

Here he is signaling his 3rd Tour de France win:



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How To Win When YOU Don't Feel Like Getting Out Of Bed

Ever had a sleepless night with bronchitis before an important day?

Ever just not felt like getting out of bed to face the day?

Of course YOU have... we all have!

What do YOU do?

That was Mark Cavendish's vexing decision to make after 17 tough, tough days of The Tour de France and a sleepless night with bronchitis before the 18th stage.

What he do.

He pushed himself up... got dressed... onto his bike... and began pedaling.

Five hours later he sprinted first across the line in Bordeaux!


Sometimes when YOU are not feeling well, it pays just to try to do things as YOU would normally do. If YOU are well-trained, prepared, disciplined... that might just carry YOU through to an incredible result.


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WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Enjoying YOUR Journey - Can It Be Done?

Watching Lance Armstrong's intense focus over the 16th stage of the Tour de France 2010 - the world's fastest-paced and most beautiful travelogue - one cannot help wondering if the professional riders really get to enjoy the journey.

Just take a look here at the sheer quality of the reporting online and at the beauty of the countryside that they go through.

Many metaphors could be extracted from the Tour de France, but the reality is that these professionals spend their lives training in these mountains, taking in the beauty during their resting periods, to get to the point where they can put their heads down to race flat out.

So YES... despite what YOU may see on one competitive day of a cycling race... YOU really can enjoy whatever YOU do... these riders do!

Life is a journey to be enjoyed!

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WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

What Experience Does For YOU

Watching Lance Armstrong break away into the lead up the infamous Col de Tourmalet in his final Tour de France - 2010, one of the experienced commentators quipped: 'Lance is unlikely to have the speed in his legs to win in the final sprint, but what he does have is the experience to outwit and outlast the others'.

Well called. Lance narrowly missed crossing over the line first by a second or two... and that after a 200 kilometer race with the world's best

“It was full-gas all day,” Armstrong said. “I’m not the best on the race, but I still have the spirit of a fighter, I suppose. I focused on the stage. Tried to get in some moves, but I wasn’t fast enough in the end.” - quote.

And that is what experience gives YOU - the stamina to hang in longer than most.

YOU know how to deal with the pain that comes with peak performance.

YOU know how to work through the lows to reach those highs that will come.

Experience gives YOU the stamina to operate at a faster pace than most.

Experience keeps YOU in the game longer than most.

Build up YOUR experience... it pays in the long run.


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WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Do YOU Find The TIME To Do Mindless Things?

There's not much nicer than a roaring fire on a mid-winter's evening.

And once or twice a week, for some forty-five minutes to an hour, you'll find me swinging an axe to chop firewood.

My wife calls it a 'mindless' task and wonders why I just don't pay someone to do it.

But, here's the thing, it is not a mindless task for me... not only is it keeping me in some sort of physical condition, it also allows me to think through new business projects and ideas.

The other 5 days a week, I swim for an hour (3 times a week) or gym for an hour (twice a week)... again, 'mindless' activity, some might say... five glorious hours per week where I get some quality THINKING done.

As I think back to my many swimming & running training days...and younger days of paddle-skiing days in the surf (up to 3 hours at a time - if not much of the day if I could)... these 'mindless' activities were all great THINKING time.

THINKING time - the most precious time that YOU can have!

Do YOU do it?

Do YOU get out and walk, run, swim... participate in some 'mindless' activity.. ;-)

It might just be good for YOU and YOUR business. Do it!

Let's close today's thought with an 'interview' comment or 3 from the twenty-second of our potential virtual Board of Advisers:

Seth Godin - American Entrepreneur, Author, Public Speaker - Permission Marketing & Purple Cow.

1. quote: 'Cows, after you’ve seen them for a while, are boring. They may be perfect cows, attractive cows, cows with great personalities, cows lit by beautiful light, but they’re still boring. A Purple Cow, though. Now that would be interesting. (For a while.) The essence of the Purple Cow is that it must be remarkable. In fact, if “remarkable” started with a P, I could probably dispense with the cow subterfuge, but what can you do? This book is about the why, the what, and the how of remarkable..'
   
2. quote: 'My goal in Purple Cow is to make it clear that it’s safer to be risky –to fortify your desire to do truly amazing things. Once you see that the old ways have nowhere to go but down, it becomes even more imperative to create things worth talking about. You must develop products, services, and techniques that the market will actually seek out..'
3. quote: 'The Purple Cow is so rare because people are afraid. If you’re remarkable, it’s likely that some people won’t like you. That’s part of the definition of remarkable. Nobody gets unanimous praise– ever. The best the timid can hope for is to be unnoticed. Criticism comes to those who stand out. The winners will be companies that figure out what’s working fastest–and do it more (and figure out what’s not working–and kill it). The lesson here is simple: The more intransigent your market, the more crowded the marketplace, the busier your customers, the more you need the Purple Cow. Half-measures will fail. Overhauling the product with dramatic improvements in things the right customers care about, on the other hand, can have a huge payoff.'

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Do YOU Create 'Million Dollar Ideas' For YOUR Business?

The biggest fun one can have in life is creating really successful ideas that make a lot of money.

Do YOU know how to 'milliondollarize' YOUR business ideas.

Mastery, almost speaks for itself, and is defined as: outstanding skill; expertise.

That makes Business Mastery- the display of outstanding skill and expertise in areas of business.

Each and every one of our virtual Board of Advisers described below these posts has displayed some element of business mastery in their chosen field of business.

YOU can too.

At WISDOMS, the sixth pillar of our - WISDOMS - Powerful Peak Performance Program - Business Mastery - dip.bus.mastery was developed to stimulate the development of quality Million Dollar Ideas, Joint Ventures, Strategic Alliances for practical launch in the market place.

Let's close today's thought with an 'interview' comment or 3 from the twenty-first of our potential virtual Board of Advisers:

Simon Cowell - British music executive, television producer and entrepreneur - Pop Idol, American Idol, Britain/America's Got Talent, X-Factor.

1. quote: 'When I was 30 the company that owned Fanfare went bust, and I effectively lost everything. I had to move in with my parents. In hindsight, it was the best thing that happened in my life because I learned the value of money: not to borrow money and not to live beyond my means. And I learned that getting there is more fun than being there. But one thing that I have always been able to do is to own up to my mistakes and not blame others.'
   
2. quote: 'Work hard, be patient, and be a sponge while learning your business. Learn how to take criticism. Follow your gut instincts and don't compromise.'
3. quote: 'If you've got a big mouth and you're controversial, you're going to get attention. I can't bear political correctness. I don't like a rule driven life and I hate the fact that you can't criticize a fat person. I actually really like Donald Trump. I think he's entertaining. There are so many unhappy billionaires, and he's a happy one with a great sense of humor. I didn't think I'd like him. I like people who don't take themselves too seriously.'

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Do YOU Have What It Takes To Be A True Entrepreneur?

Entrepreneur magazine - www.entrepreneur.com - defines an entrepreneur as: 'Someone who assumes the financial risk of the initiation, operation and management of a business.'

"The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It's as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer."
- Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese's

Well, okay, maybe... as an entrepreneur I sometimes think that a definition of what WE do is something akin to Einstein explaining the theory of relativity and Stephen Hawkings explaining the science behind the making of a black hole in the deepest recesses of our universe!

There is just so much to being an entrepreneur.

To keep it simple, YOU would probably count yourself to be a successful entrepreneur if YOU owned a business that generates handsome profits for YOU every month by providing goods/services to a hungry market.

Knowing how to do that will make YOU a true entrepreneur.

At WISDOMS, the fifth pillar of our program WISDOMS - Powerful Peak Performance Program - Entrepreneurship - dip.entrepreneur was developed to help our subscribers/delegates to acquire the essential entrepreneurial skills needed to develop and grow a quality business.

Let's close today's thought with an 'interview' comment or 3 from the twentieth of our potential virtual Board of Advisers:

Bob Davis - the founder and CEO, President and Chairman of Lycos from its inception in June of 1995 through its $5.4bn merger into Terra Lycos in 2001.

1. quote: 'Speed saves lives in all fields, of course, but in business today it is the great differentiator, an essential survival tool. We live in a world where a company is measured by its ability to accelerate everything from manufacturing to marketing, from hiring to distributing. If we can produce or process something faster, we can often do it for less money, serve our customers better, and get a jump on our competitors. For almost any business these days, speed is indeed life.'
   
2. quote: 'Speed is of the essence, and needs to be ingrained throughout the organisation. With products, marketing, distribution, even people, you need to act swiftly. If you're a pro football coach, for instance, trying to build a winning team in a few preseason weeks, you can't afford to gently nurture someone's nascent talent. You build on the strong players and cut the weak.'
3. quote: 'The quickest path to bottom-line growth, for instance, is revenue growth. A company needs relentless focus on increasing sales, expanding markets, and developing new customers.'

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