Seven Challenges to the Formula for Guaranteed Success

At events these are, most often, the blocks people erect to ensure they don’t need to take any action at the end of my session!!

1.         Which areas of the FGS cause people the biggest challenge?

Each of the 4 parts in turn:

Know where you want to GO – People either have no idea, or have more than one Outcome and they conflict with each other.

Know where you are NOW – Taking ownership of our lives is very uncomfortable (and uncommon), and yet so very powerful. It means taking responsibility for both how we act, and how we react. We can’t control all that happens to and around us; we can always control how we respond.

Know what you have to DO, to get to where you want to GO – Making a True Decision (a decision that we don’t keep changing) is very tough. You will know when you have done it in your life, and in your team.

Do It! – And keep getting back up again if (when) we get it “wrong.” We only need to look at how many times successful people from all walks of life have “fallen over” and got back up again to know how many others have “fallen over” and stayed lying down…

2.         Do we have to follow it in order (As above)

In my opinion, yes. However as a central premise to the FGS there is no “right” or “wrong” – there is only what “works” and what does not, apply it as you wish and see what works for you, and trust your own experience – your own facts, science and evidence.

3.         It is easier to apply in our personal lives than in an organisation

Yes, “easier,” because your future – your choice. Apply this same principle in a group/team/company and it works – i.e. don’t worry about what others say or do – take total ownership of what you say and do. Help others, and be responsible for only yourself.

4.         ‘Make me into a Man!’ challenge

The most frequent, by far. Cite an impossible and hypothetical dream!

This is a real example – “You say I can achieve anything I want…

ok…I want to cycle for Team Sky in the Tour De France…”

My response – “OK, what happened when you wrote to Team Sky…?” Invariably they haven’t.

Reply – “No, I have decided that is what I want from now”

My reply –  “OK, so what are you going to do about it…”

Look, I am NOT saying everyone can achieve anything, I am saying that if there is one other person on this planet, in poorer circumstances than you, who has achieved what you want to achieve, then so can you.

And that is very very uncomfortable for many people, so to avoid all that commitment, hard work and trial and error, we will make up every excuse we can, and most people will convince themselves they can’t achieve anything, before they have done anything!

If you believe you can’t achieve something, ask yourself the question “how do I know?”

5.         What if I don’t want “success?”    

Success = any outcome you want to achieve in your life by your own definition. The FGS can be applied – indeed, it is applied, to almost every activity we ever do. You know this, because you have done it whenever you have achieved success in your life to date.

6.         It’s not new

Indeed! – it’s how you learned to walk, learned how to do anything, and it is a simplification of the hundreds of success models out there. The world doesn’t need more new success or leadership thinking, until we have actually applied the ones we already have.

7.         But surely only one person can win a race?

Yup! Sports people I have spoken with say the winner is the athlete (or team) who best apply the formula…the roots of the FGS come from sport…but of course there can indeed be only one winner.

So, next time you are in a 100 metre race, apply the FGS for yourself, and don’t worry what the others are doing. One thing I do know whoever doesn’t apply it and believe they do have a chance of winning never will.  – If you start that worry it will actually cause you to lose, and then you will of course be proved “right.”

Massive thanks to everyone who has asked these questions, and bring them on!

Please always remember though, none of this is about me, it is all about you, and what you personally do about it…

David

X

Most schools in our area will welcome an external speaker such as yourself. It’s usually easy to find a slot, then the challenge comes when you actually speak because children are by far the most open, honest and demanding of audiences. By far!

That should excite, rather than concern you. And providing you do just one thing, you will go down well. Leave the Powerpoint and the photos of your last safari at home, and simply, be yourself. Of course, plan and prepare. Involve them in activities and make it interactive. Just whatever you do, be yourself.

(Extract from The Naked Coach)

(Extract from The Naked Millionaire)

What really makes learning work? By Sharon Smyth

The biggest challenge in talent management and development, is how to ensure people really learn, and apply what they learn.

I used to rely on models and theories, which were only sometimes successful – Nowadays I give a different answer, an answer which is derived from a very personal experience, having my daughter. I had never until this point in my life felt so totally clueless, or developed as many new skills and as much new knowledge in such a short period of time.

My learning during this period of my life was rapid, as was the application of my learning. Whilst the context is a non-work one, as time passed I realised that I had undergone an incredibly successful learning process. I wouldn’t want to have the level of stress which I experienced during this period applied to work of course!

There are five key principles which we can all duplicate:

1. Desire: I wanted and I needed to learn.

2. Actually having a go: I had the opportunity of trial and error which was often in a quite limited time span so I could see the results, and with only my own scrutiny.

3. Focusing on the key information: There was lots of information out there but because of the first point I had to sift and sort it quickly to get to the key bits I needed. I was, in effect, forced to be ruthless in seeking the right information and discounting the rest.

4. Keeping it simple: The most effective information was the bits I could understand quickly and apply instinctively.

5. Sharing learning with others: Despite the plethora of information out there, I was astounded by the number of things I truly wished I’d known and yet no one said. I used friends and forums to get answers and crucially share experiences.   So now, when I’m asked how to ensure people really learn, I share these key principles.

Thank you Sharon – You did it – you wrote a book!

With my love and best wishes to you all

David X

Sharon Smyth is a working mum, author and HR specialist from the United Kingdom. Her book ‘The things they never tell you about becoming mum’ is a real world account of the typical decisions and dilemmas that first time mums-to-be, new mums and their families will need to navigate.

Web: http://www.sharonsmyth.co.uk/

Twitter – @sharonmsmyth.  Blog – http://honestyandhumour.blogspot.co.uk

Next time you listen to your favourite piece of music, really listen. Don’t let your mind think about what it needs to do next, just decide to be now. Listen to the music, to the instruments, and how they come together. As other thoughts enter your head, acknowledge them, and let them go again.

(Extract from The Naked Millionaire)

According to figures, there is a clear trend towards companies wanting to build new premises and grow their business – and banks are welcoming viable propositions.

A more positive feeling among banks, despite the figures being lower than the Government would like, means many owners are looking at their existing customer base and working out how they can grow. Either through building on established relationships and offering more, or entering new markets.

So the message is clear. If you have a clear strategy and have done your research, you may well find your bank willing to say ‘yes’. Why not make it happen for you?

It is an essential tool for thriving and moving forward as a company.

When you go on a car journey, if you’re sensible, you will have mapped out your route. You know where you are, where you are going, and how you’re going to get there. It is no different in business. Map out your future plans, funding, market trends, market size, accounting and cash-flow, as well as a multitude of other elements.

Do it today.

(Extract from The Naked Millionaire)

Time to Listen: However long it takes to listen, and again, that’s ok

Give people a standard to live up to…not down to

Three real examples:

1.            Teenagers

A few weeks ago my nephew was playing in a football cup final. Parents of both clubs crowded the lines, supporting their respective boys and teams. Unfortunately much of what they shouted did not work – “Come on, for goodness sake! You need to talk to each other!”; “You’re letting them get to you – get your heads up”; and “stop giving the ball away.” So a small group of us started shouting a subtly different and more positive message – “Well done boys, keep talking” and “Keep your heads up boys, you can win this” and every time they tackled well, or passed it well,  or shot etc. we acknowledged it.

And “we” won – 5-3 on penalties!

Action – Catch people doing things right, and they will keep doing those things.

2.            At Home, and Work

It’s not what you say, it’s what you do. If all you did, as a mother, a husband and a leader, was always keep your word, and take action, others will always know where they stand with you.

Last weekend in a supermarket – small boy helps himself to a bag of sweets. Mummy said “you can’t have that”. Boy goes to daddy who says “put it back.” Child starts crying so they say “Oh, ok then.” You must follow through on what you say, always.

I haven’t quite mastered this with my cats – “No, I am not feeding you, it’s not your tea time yet” I say as I follow them to their bowls. “Ok, I say” as I give them a “snack” – “this is the last time.” I can almost tell what they are thinking “Yeh, right David.”

Action – Keep your word, always, and you will be a trusted role model, except with cats.

3.            In a presentation

A company we were partnering introduced a new idea – The Big Picture – in their organisation, with the first stage being a 30 minute introduction.

To the first group the presenter said:

“Now, this is a very complex idea, and we only have 30 minutes. There is no way you will learn much about The Big Picture in that time.”

Outcome – Few remembered much

Then, to the second group, the same guy used one of the most powerful persuasion techniques in the world – the placebo effect.

This time he said:

“Now, this is a really simple idea, and you will be able to pick it up in the 30 minutes we have today”

Outcome – Most remembered a lot

Action – Use the placebo effect, its effect is astonishing

4.           Now Do It!  And trust your own experience, and please share your outcomes with others.

With my love and best wishes

David X

What about an attack that comes in below the belt and when you are least expecting it? Via your computer. An assault on your personal information or business profile in attempt to unlock your password?

Steve Gibbs has been good enough to send us an extract from his forthcoming book, Keeping Your Data Secure II: The Human Factor.

Steve believes ‘password strength’ is vital to stop would-be attackers in respect of securing important data, or controlling physical access to buildings and systems.

He maintains the Holy Grail of of password security would be to find a method that can’t be beaten by a determined and resourceful infiltrator. So far, he says, the best that can be done is to slow the attacker down a lot and try to make their life inconvenient.

Steve maintains a stronger password is one that takes longer to crack and he doesn’t believe there is a practical password which exists that can’t be cracked. Steve urges people to use harder-to-guess passwords so the assailant has to start digging in their toolkit for other methods to get at your password, rather than just typing in their name, dog’s name, date of birth, car registration number etc.

‘People really do use things like this as their password,’ he confirms. ‘To give you a feel for what you’re up against, let’s suppose I am attacking your computer system remotely and I need to get past a password that you have set.’

Steve has three phases which make up a chapter of the book. In his words, in this extract, he will share with you phase one, ‘The Attack’.

‘The first thing I’m going to do is trawl the internet for anything I can find out about you, starting with Facebook, LinkedIn and other social networking sites, and moving on to credit reference agencies, government sites, registers of voters and anything else that will help me build as complete a picture as possible of YOU,’ he says.

‘If you’re a blogger, so much the better – a goldmine of personal information can often be found in people’s blogs. I will also, of course, be Googling you.

‘I’ll be looking for anything that will tell me what your password might be, as a laser-targeted precision attack with one or two password attempts is much less likely to set system alarms off than an attack where I have to try one or two hundred passwords. Or one or two million.

‘If I discover that you are a supporter of a football team, then I’ll perhaps try the team’s name, or maybe their nickname or the name of their ground.

‘However, if you’re a really wealthy individual, I might be attacking you specifically, probably to get at your money. So I will add searches of news sites to my list, and also consider looking at company registration documents, officer and stockholder details and published accounts of any business I discover you’re involved with.

‘If you’re rich, I would probably be more inclined to invest more time and energy in the attack in other ways too, and maybe indulge in a spot of “Dumpster Diving”. Basically this means I’ll be going through your trash, looking for anything with information on it that might help me attack you.

‘Most people these days are alert to the fact that having their old bank statements blowing around a landfill site is not a great idea.

‘Even your average supermarket carries cheap cross-cut shredders, so the chances of finding useful documents like that still in one piece in your rubbish are dropping – but they’re not zero, so I may strike it lucky. And besides, there may be other things in your trash that you haven’t considered you needed to shred, which could still give me useful information.

‘Such as the tickets to the opera that you attended last week. They probably won’t have your name on them, but I wonder if this week’s password is “Madame Butterfly” or something similar?

‘I might also try some social engineering on your secretary or perhaps other staff further down the food chain in your organisation – I’d probably avoid top executives’ secretaries if possible, as they’re likely to be clued up on Social Engineering techniques.’

Steve devotes a whole chapter to Social Engineering, a big topic in its own right. And there are two more phases in the chapter, dealing with the attacker as he or she digs deeper in to their search to break your code.

To sum up, Steve suggests the following.
1, Make your password is at least eight characters long, and preferably 12 or more.
2, Use a combination of all the different character types in your password; lower-case letters, upper-case letters, numerals and special characters.
3, Don’t use words from a dictionary, or other information that could be personal to you but easily discovered from, for example, social networking sites.
4, Don’t use the same password for every system or website that you log into. It only takes one of these systems to be compromised and your password is then “out there”.
5, Change passwords reasonably regularly, and don’t re-use passwords for at least a year or two.
6, Don’t write them down, ever. But if you must, for goodness sake write them down somewhere secure – not on a post-it note stuck to your monitor!
7, Don’t share your password(s) with anyone.

Good advice don’t you think? Yes, we thought so too.

Steve Gibbs is the CEO of NSM Training Ltd (www.nsmtraining.com). You can download a pdf of the whole chapter from the company’s website.

Remember, it costs less to retain a customer than it does to attract a new one. This week, don’t allow a customer walk away as it might prove expensive to get them back.