Rasheed Ogunlaru's Blog, page 19

Catch the Coach! | May 2017 | Life is not a list!

It’s time for the May issue of Catch the Coach! your video newsletter for success and fulfilment with leading life coach, motivational speaker and business / corporate coach, Rasheed Ogunlaru. In this issue:

* Life is not a list

* Your News

* Tip for the Month – your intention

* Quotes for the Month

Click on the video above to watch.

Join Rasheed for Networking for Success. Next dates 4pm-7.30pm on 17 May, June 20th Book Now.

Join Rasheed for Soul Trader: your life, your business: 10am-1pm 25 May. Book Now.

***Rasheed’s events are run at and in proud partnership with the British Library Business & IP Centre ***

For details of Rasheed’s audio talks, books, downloads and videos coach  visit our online shop.

 

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Chose your counsel, company & companions wisely

At first glance the quote above can seem a little tough or harsh.  But if you look a little closely these are actually words of comfort, caution and consciousness pointing you to your own inner wisdom.

The quote itself was inspired by a short video a friend of mine sent to me this morning. It was a short little bit of comedy – but it spoke so deeply about the world we live in, people, personalities and the human condition.

This quote is not a million miles away from my other quote “you will rarely make wise decisions if you surround yourself with fools.” Both quotes invite you to really consider the people in your life, the role they play and your mindfulness around it. But it also invites you to consider whose advice you seek out on specific matters. Think twice about seeking the advice of a baker on banking of or a fisherman about kite-flying. Of course they may have experience or they may have a fresh perspective – but the point here is being very mindful.

There will be times where you specifically want the view of someone who is not an expert on something. There will be times where this is apt and shrewd but be aware.

Stop for a moment, consider the people in your life, consider the time you spend with each of them. Is it wise for you to up the time spent with some and reduce the time spent with others? I’ll never forget the time when running one of my career development programmes when on day two of the programme I asked delegates how they found day one. Day one was all about self awareness, self love, self confidence and end with me inviting people to consider those in their lives. One of the ladies on the course reported back that she used to spend up to three hours per night on the phone supporting a friend! Can you imagine that; up to three hours per night? She went on to report that she told this friend that she’d no longer be available to do that. It must have taken a lot of courage. As she told this story you could tell the burden that it had removed. She was not saying she would no longer have the friendship or be of help but she had realised that it was unwise to continue how it had been. The friendship had been nearly all one way traffic – it also was robbing the lady on my course of space for her own life, progress and wellbeing.

 

 

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Finding yourself – is unlike other journeys

“Unlike many other journeys, when it comes to finding self and matters of the heart you’ll swiftly find yourself lost if you follow someone else’s path.” – Rasheed Ogunlaru, Coach – Speaker – Author

Finding yourself is unlike other journeys. Other journeys are external pursuits. You go here and you go there. The journey of finding yourself may appear like that at the beginning but it is actually an inner journey – home to the heart.

Interestingly the journey of finding yourself – for some – involves lots of time, energy, pursuits, paths, reading and so on but these are all just pointers. It may involve listening to many other people’s voices but all the wise ones will point you to yourself … to your ‘self.’

The quote at the top this page is a gentle reminder that your life is not a carbon copy of someone else. While there may be many books to read yours is unique and in complete for you are living it, walking it, writing it. Embrace this wonderful journey. Learn to appreciate the highs and lows, the triumphs and the tears – and the learning that is present in every day – in every situation.

Learn to listen your own voice, to follow your own foot steps to trust your own self – to get to know your own inner wisdom and life lessons. The only difference that the so-called wise people perhaps have over you is that they listen to life, they embrace it, they flow with it, they learn to cherish and embrace it and see that it all is a great teacher. They know that you cannot take that bit and leave the other – they know that there is no ‘this’ without ‘that’.

Enjoy your journey.

 

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Catch the Coach! | Apr 2017 | Now is the Time

It’s time for the April issue of Catch the Coach! your video newsletter for success and fulfilment me, Rasheed Ogunlaru.

In this issue:

* News

* The Time is now – 12 Tips on Time

* Let the sunshine in

* Tip for the Month – From what you lack to what you have

* Events: Networking for Success & Soul Trader

To receive Catch the Coach! regularly by email in the written format (including video) simply visit my free stuff page.

For all Rasheed’s events visit http://www.rasaru.com/events

Book onto Networking for Success  next dates Apr 19, May 17 & June 20.
Book onto Soul Trader; your life, your business 25 May and 7 Sept
British library business & ip centre 
Back to brilliant interview.

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Catch the Coach! | March 2017 | Spring Clean Your Life

It’s time for the March 2017 video of Catch the Coach! my newsletter for success and fulfilment with myself, Rasheed Ogunlaru, coach, speaker and author.

This month the theme is spring cleaning – your life, career, relationships, work – and your mind. In this issue

* News & Events

* Spring clean your home

* Spring clean at work / spring clean your work

* Spring clean your Relationships

*Tip for the Month – Money Mindfulness

* Now booking Networking for Success – held monthly at the British Library:

* Watch my latest  FREE Soul Trader webinar: Spring Clean & Stock Take Your Business.

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World Book Day 2017 | The Gift of Inner Success

Today is WorldBookDay 2017. It’s a day to celebrate books, encourage literacy, share the books that have informed, inspired, empowered, entertained and enlightened us. It’s a day to encourage children and adults alike to read. It’s a day for readers and authors alike to celebrate.

They day has invited me to stop and reflect on my journey as an author. I’m author of three books: A Zest for Business, Soul Trader – Putting the Heart Back into Your Business and The Gift of Inner Success. Each book has it’s own journey and tells it’s own story. I’ve written widely about Soul Trader and it is my best known and most widely read book so I won’t say anything more about that. I’ll do so in more depth around October when it celebrates its 5th Birthday. A Zest for Business – a realised this lunchtime – was published 10 years ago. Co-written with four wonderful colleagues: Suzanne Whitby, Heather Darnell, Nicole Cohen and Helen Parkins it was a powerful collaboration. We were collaborating fellow small-business specialists and the book was a handbook to help small business owners on that journey to start and grow their business.  It covered rules and regulations, motivation, administration and operations, getting a web presence and marking and promotion. It was a really handy handbook  at that. What’s fascinating is how the world and the wold of business has changed so much since – especially in terms of social media which then was in its real infancy.

The Gift of Inner Success

“Success is meaningless without fulfilment; both begin within” – Rasheed Ogunlaru.

So that being said, the book I want to write about today and home in on is The Gift of Inner Success.

 The Gift of inner Success, started my journey as a life coach, motivational speaker and as an author in earnest. The above is the quote is the opening quote I put at the front of the book. The version of this book that people read and listen to now was recorded as a stream of consciousness. The audiobook – which you’ll find in the store on this website – is that recording. I then had it transcribed later and Helen Parkins (who I co-wrote A Zest for Business with) did a gentle edit. That is the book.

I approached the book the way I approach music and songwriting; being open to it and letting it flow in. I always find the results are more profound, strong and potent than ‘me’ trying to write it. I prefer to let life write it. My job is to trust the process and fortunately it has served me as a coach, author and songwriter.

Creating authentically and success are two separately things occasionally they may cross paths but as a creative your job is to create not expect riches, fame or praise. These things may bring riches but also often have their own price tags, side effects and costs. Write because you love, because you care, to express and to share. Write to help and to heal. Then riches beyond money and materialism you will discover. That has been my experience.

Happy #worldbookday

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You cannot pour more water into a full cup…

“You cannot pour more water into a full cup without causing a spillage” – Rasheed Ogunlaru

This quote is simple but profound. It is a self apparent wisdom but like so many such wisdoms it isn’t always self-applied.

We live in a world of 24-hour this and that, super-fast brains and broadband – and where at the same time many are overwhelmed, over-stressed, over-stretched, over-worked – and often overlooking what is really important. Do you recognise this picture? Have you been there? Is that where you are now personally or professionally?

The human species may be a race but the human experience should not be one. As they say we all know where such a race ends so why be in such a hurry to get there.

Stop,  step back, pause, breathe…..

Are you spinning too many plates?
Have you got too much on your plate?
Are you dishing out too much to others?
Are you going at too fast a speed?
Have you room to be and breathe?

There is also a notion that doing lots, rushing around, being busy is effective, essential and productive. Not always so  – and rarely is it sustainable.

This quote points to the fact to be mindful of your cup, what’s in it, the importance of space, the importance to take things at the right space, and to watch out for the problems that can occur for you, your wellbeing, your mental health, your physical health, your life-balance, your relationships, your work, your colleagues, your customers – and ultimately our world if you are not mindful.

Patience, ease, mindfulness, gratitude, simplicity, inner peace.. these are also qualitative virtues that are often overlooked and under-appreciated but they are the very ones that will bring you more joy, contentment and richness in your life than all the things that you are encouraged to pour into the cup of your life.

If lots of this topic chimes with you and you need a little help and support you may find my Become who you are and  Space, Stillness, Silence semi-meditative talks very, useful indeed. You’ll find them here on my website in the store.

You’ll also find lots to help you simplify your life and on the journey of insert contentment in the free stuff area of the site – and on my YouTube Channel (see the social media links at the top of the page). But also as my quote points to maybe this reminder is enough.

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Digital vs Human | Rasheed meets futurist & author Richard Watson

Is technology replacing our sense of humanity? What’s the role of a human being going to be in the 21st century? Are we sleep walking into technology and artificial intelligence ? Can actually predict the future – but we’re too lazy? When it comes to business and politics are we too short-termist in our thinking. These are just some of the themes explored in the interview above with futurist Richard Watson author of Digital vs Human.

I met Richard very recently at an event hosted by our mutual speakers agency Speakers Corner at one of their wonderful events with the Knowledge Guild at which Richard was speaking. I was struck by his authenticity and we spoke after and told him instantly that I was keen to interview him.

Richard wonderfully poses questions I’ve been mindful of and actually goes further through his work to point to some solutions. We share a passion that we as a species need to be more conscious and compassionate. The thing I take most from this interviews is Richard’s point that actually there are lots of things that relate to ‘the future’ that we can actually predict but perhaps it’s that we don’t want to face those decisions or look at scenarios other than the ones that we wish and hope for.

If you’ve been interested in the changes in our world from those in the digital technology, Brexit, the US elections and change in Europe and across the globe you are likely to find this interview fascinating.

I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did.

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Catch the Coach! | Feb 2017 | 5 Dimensions of Love

Welcome:

Hi and welcome to the February 2017 issue of Catch the Coach! (Watch the video version above)

Since February is famous as being the month of love with Valentine’s Day at the heart of the month I thought I’d dedicate this whole issue to the topic of love – in all it’s dimensions. So here I explore 5 dimensions of love – and one extra for luck.

Soul Trader: Your Life, Your Business: Build a business that is true to your heart and that customers love. 10am-1pm Wed 8 Feb 2017. See full details. Book Now


Networking for Success: Flourish in your life, career and business by building rich relationships. 4-7.30pm 21 Feb 2017. Book Now.

 

Tip for the Month: Follow your heart

Often our minds are so noisy we loose touch with our true self, our purpose and what is true to us – and that which truly nourishing for us.

Listen to your heart – Don’t just think. Deeply tune in to yourself and others.
Trust your heart: Decision-making? Don’t rely solely on you mind. Check how you feel
Follow your heart: Whenever you’re in ‘two minds’ trust heart to guide your path.

 

Self Love

“Self love is the first love and the foundation of love”

Without this life is hollow.

Without it there is no inner peace.

Without it all other relationships will prove challenging.

Without it you’ll always look to others to make you feel complete.

With it all relationships can be, dance, sing, blossom and breathe.

Top Tip: Embrace yourself and life itself as it is today. In this way all your inner battles battles – and most of your worldly ones – will be resolved instantly and peacefully.

 

Family Love

Family relationships can be among the most comforting, nourishing, supportive… and the most challenging and traumatic.

Whatever has or hasn’t happened in the past know that with mindfulness you will be wiser for accepting – and taking the learning from all of your high and low tides. Love them close if that is how life has flowed. Love them from a distance if you’ve drifted apart.

You do not own them – don’t try to control them
Hug them but do not try to keep them in your hold
Let your differences be your richness not your divide
Give everyone the space that they need to grow
All in it wise to let everyone live their own life

 

Friendships:

Friendships are often among the most powerful and empowering of all life’s relationships.

The saying “just friends” should only be uttered by unwise. They are often the most fundamental to our day-to-day love.

Let them know that you love them
Be grateful for them all – past and present
Be there when they call and need support – and reach out when you sense the need
Know that you may come together, drift apart, travel together or go your own ways
Wish everyone well whatever path they take.

 

Your Partner / lover 

“If you truly seek love – or seek to truly and deeply love – live life with an open heart”

If you seek love be open to it. If you’re in love cherish it. The lover, partner, husband, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend relationship can be the most powerful, magical and significant relationship. It can also be full of conflict or illusive if you are closed, controlling or fearful.

Top Tips…. Honour 3 things

1) Yourself – be who you are

2) Your partner – let them be, breathe, grow

3) The relationship; tend it, nourish it, cherish that you had it if it has passed

So the secret is to honour all 3 individually and as a whole.

As with all relationships it may last a single season and most of a lifetime. It is the richness, quality, love and depth that is the true measure of this type of love not the time length – which you cannot know or fully control.

 

5.Your life work… your career / business

First find what you love and then follow it and become one with it.

Clarity – be clear on roles, strengths, vision, values, needs and (common) goals
Consistent –be true to you word and put your best into your work
Caring – care about doing a good job and care about others welfare
Considerate – look at things from various viewpoints – especially customers
Cheerful and cordial – smiles, joy and appreciate make work worthwhile

 

And finally; things you love to do

“Don’t get lost in the love of things – but rather in the things you love to do. “

Getting caught up in possessions can be a trap. But finding joyful pass-times, hobbies and interests can be a wonderful escape, beautiful discovery and the perfect antidote. Don’t get so caught up in worth that you forget to play. This fun, freedom, creativity can bring richness and new dimensions to all the other aspects of your life and relationships.

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No regrets…living your life

“It’s always wiser to follow your heart than to walk someone else’s path” – Rasheed Ogunlaru.

A neighbour just shared with this article pictured above: a list of Top 5 regrets a reported patients saying in their final hours.

Perhaps like myself you may have seen this type of list many times. Those lists of things of things that people wish that they had said, done, not done and so on.

My neighbour remarked that rarely do these lists include people saying ‘I wish I’d made a million pounds/dollars.’  And again, as the old adage goes, very few people say “I wish I’d spent more time at the office”.

So as this year takes shape it’s well worth just taking stock of what’s really important in your life.

Just yesterday I caught up with a new client for his second coaching session. He is in the very rare position of having done very well in business, and being in a position having left it, to really consider what he wants to do with his life now. Perhaps like yourself friends and family are really important to him. As we spoke he began to realise and express how so often life is lived through another kind of list; the list of expectations, the list of worries and so on. It put life and what’s really important back in perspective.

This article pictured above also puts life back in  perspective.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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