Rasheed Ogunlaru's Blog, page 35

Blossom with Evolved Heart

Are you looking to make headway in personally or professionally? 

If so check out Evolved Heart my free self development resource. I launched Evolved Heart last year with marketing and internet specialist Tum Kazunga. To share lots of the tips, articles, video and resources I’ve  written and created over the years as well as share loads of new content,

The site is packed full of articles, videos and tools to help you flourish in all areas of your life.  But it all has a focus on living life from a more mindful, heart-centred space.

Plus every month we run a free Live Chat talk/ seminar on a specific topic. This means you can log on watch, join in, comment and have you questions answered. Increasingly our plan is to involve guests to. 

The site will be particularly useful for you if you’re keen to a personal, spiritual or professional development journey and you can also find us here on www.facebook.com/EvolvedHeart

Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading life coach, motivational speaker and business / corporate coach and Co-Founder of EvolvedHeart.com. He is also author of Soul Trader – Putting the Heart Back into Your Business.

We’re into season two – so where are you?

Spring has sprung, longer daylight hours has begun and things have started warming up. Some people are already remarking about how time flies. But time is relative. However the seasons and looking at the year in quarters can sometimes be a useful way of tacking stock, addressing what needs to be looked at and moving ahead.

It’s no surprise that many businesses and organisations split the year into quarters to help them plan, focus, budget and stay on course. Could looking at the year in such a way be useful for you – especially if you tend to start the year well and then feel as though you lose your way.

So if we do look at the year in quarters or season then we’re very much now into season two. So where are you? What’s happening personally and professionally.

The questions below will help to take stock, re-focus and hopefully move ahead.


What were your priorities, goal or aspirations at the start of the year?


Where are you things at now in terms of these things?


What has been achieved? (and give yourself credit  for this)


What areas are you having difficulty  with?


What areas do you need to prioritize between now and June?


What help – if any – do you need to help you?


How will you review how you progress?

 

A little help

Good luck with this next phase in your year and do get in touch if I can help. Remember there’s all sorts of information and support available on my free newsletter which you can get here.   There’s also heaps of free tools, resources, videos and free live chat seminars over on Evolved Heart, my free self development resource website. Meanwhile if you’re looking for coaching for yourself in your life, or for your business or your team in your organisation do get in touch.  And remember there’s also a range of events that I speak at including my regular ‘Soul Trader’ workshop at the British Library. Check out the events page here for more.

Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading life coach, speaker and business corporate coach. His clients include entrepreneurs, entertainers, Chief Executives, organisations, teachers, healers and the public. 

 

 

Soul Trader: your signed copy at the British Library

Soul Trader – book display at The British Library book shop, London NW1

 

Soul Trader – in the heart of London

I’m absolutely delighted that you can now get your own signed copy of my new book Soul Trader – Putting the Heart Back into Your Business from the book shop in the British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1.

Having a book in the book shop of one of the world’s most prestigious library’s is a real joy and an honour.

I’ve been a proud partner to the British Library for a number of years running workshops for new and established entrepreneurs. If you haven’t already visited the British Library then put it in the diary.It’s home to some of the world most wonderful, rare and historical books. It has a treasures room which include the Magna Carta. It runs a range of fascinating exhibitions. It is the home to millions of books, magazines, journals and reading materials …and you can enjoy the surroundings, restaurant and cafe.

Soul Trader being stocked in the library co-incides with the launch of my new ‘Soul Trader’ workshop which takes place each month starting next week on April in the Business & Intellectual Property Centre.

Both are all about helping you to follow your heart, be your own boss and build a business that you and your customers will love

Discover the book: see reviews, watch some videos.

Book on the workshop: select a date that suits you.

 

 

Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading life coach, business coach and motivational speaker who helps people of all backgrounds find  fulfilment in all areas of their lives – from within.

FREE Live chat special – Health & Happiness

Live Chat 7pm UK time (2pm EST) Tues 16 April 2013 

* Worried about your weight or feeling out of shape?

* Living with an injury or with poor health?

* Need to address your eating and lifestyle habits  - and keen to get / stay fit?

Join me and my special guest, holistic personal trainer Adam Cox founder of Movement Lifestyle for this FREE Live Chat special over on Evolved Heart at 7pm on Tues 16 April. 

 

Well be discussing all things health and fitness; from why we tend to really wrestle with poor health habits, yo-yo dieting and being overly caught up in the notion of ‘body beautiful’ while below the surface we may have a poor level of physical and emotional wellbeing. 

More importantly we’ll be exploring how you can adopt a more healthy, balanced holistic approach to your health and wellbeing that is sustainable rather than focused on fabs and short term approach.

 

 

To watch / take part

1. Book mark this page on Evolved Heart and tune in at 7pm UK time (2pm EST) on Tuesday 16 April:  www.evolvedheart.com/health-and-happiness

2. Email any advance questions or points to admin @ evolved heart.com mark your questions ‘Health & Happiness  – Live Chat’. 

******

Rasheed Ogunlaru meets holistic health specialist Adam Cox 

At a life or career crossroads?

Are you at a turning point in your life? 

Have you got a clear idea of where you’re heading next? Are you feeling uncertain about what’s next?  Or feeling open about it and the possibilities?

Perhaps like a few of my clients you’re starting a completely new career, travelling overseas to start a new life or you’ve had to change your lifestyle due to health issues, family matters or relationship changes. 

Maybe in your case that you feel a bit stuck and that you’re wanting to create a change.  Whatever the case may be, your mere mindfulness that this is where you are at can in itself be useful. Life changes are a big part of life. We’re all different when it comes to change; some of us seek out change and challenges all the time. Others of us like more of a sense of routine and stability and most of us actually have some areas where we like the change, variety and other areas where we like things being pretty much steady. What’s useful is knowing the kind of person you are and knowing the blend of comfort and challenge that actually helps you grow. Sometimes we may not actually know this until certain situations arise that test and challenge us – and that present us with opportunities. 

Getting ready and steady…

How are you feeling about where you are right now?

How are you feeling about the change / changes that you’re about to undergo or that are underway?

If you are at a point of change how ready are you? Is there more planning and preparation you could do? What more do you need / want to do or would be useful to do?

How have you handled life’s changes and challenges in the past and what have you learned about yourself – and what (if anything) could you apply or stay mindful of that might help you right now?

If you’re at the point where you’re feeling that something needs to change…what areas do you feel need change? What kind of change is it that you seek? What would help you to be able to make that change? What hel, advice and support do you need or could you seek out? And how could you begin in however small a way.

Help at hand  / getting help

If you are at a point of change: personally, in your career, in your home life, in your relationships or in your business or organisation – and if you’d like some coaching do get in touch with me and we can have a chat about where you are, what you’d like and how I can help.

There’s also lots of free articles and videos that might help you on my free self development website EvolvedHeart.com  You’ll also find lots that can help you on my shop here on the website

I’d also like you to think a bit about those around you in your life. Do you have the kind of support that you need personally and professionally? 

Could you do with some more help? Are you the kind of person who tries to do everything by themselves? Perhaps it’s the case that you need some more space – or that you need some support. Again be mindful about what it is that would help you along the next stretch of the road. 

 

 

Life as a creative artist

Life as a creative artist, or running a creative business can have its challenges and it’s ups and downs. 

From the outset being a artist, painter, singer, musician, dancer, designer, maker, poet – you name it – can be seen as taking a risky path. It can be  un-certain, highly competitive, isolated and can be a a tough environment to make a living.

Whilst the rewards can be great if you happen to make it to the top of your profession it can be very taxing, challenging an difficult. Being a creative can also bring about a range of pulls between wanting to be free to express oneself and create – and needing to ensure one creates a sustainable living. In some areas of the arts – like sport – the shelf-life of a mainstream career can also be short and injury or other setbacks can cut a career short. But that’s just a part of it – the buzz and rewards of being an artist also come from creating, expressing, performing and connecting.

As a coach with a background in media and as a singer-songwriter – and who works with many creatives and creative businesses – I’m very mindful of the journey of the creative; personally, spiritually and professionally.  

If you’re a creative or creative business you may well enjoy this two part interview with fellow-creative Sarah Warsop. Sarah is a dancer, choreographer and jewellery maker. Sarah has worked independently, ran her own dance company and served as jewellery-maker in residence at the British Library. We discuss the ups and downs of life as a creative, finding your own path and making your own mark.

If you’re a creative artists or business owner you may get a lot out of my new Soul Trader; your life, your business at the British Library’s Business & IP Centre. Held once a month the workshop gives you the space to step back, take stock, gain clarity, get organised and motivated and develop a flexible plan to move ahead in your life, career and business in a way that is true to you and your customers.

Creativity… Soul Trader – Chapter 6

The video above is my brief overview of Creativity, the sixth principle from my book Soul Trader – Putting the Heart Back into Your Business.

Life is creativity. Business is creativity. Creativity gives birth to business. Creativity gives birth to money not the other way around.  We are creativity. We are the product of creativity and we have the ability to create. That is the nature of life. 

Very often we forget that we are creative. And ironically business can become stagnant when we forget this link.  At the same time it’s import for us to be mindful of creativity and the balance between flow and framework, structure and spontaneity. It’s this that the book explores.

When are you most and least creative? What environments are most nourishing to you? Are you taking enough time out for hobbies, pass-times, interest and pursuits and the the things that energise and re-juvinate you. If you are not then you and your business may be suffering. Do allow your creativity / skills and talents of yourself, your staff, your associates and your suppliers …and indeed your customers to flow into your career / your business. If not you may be missing an opportunity.

 

 

 

The Beatles were right!

 The Beatles were right when they pointed to ‘love being all you need’. Now of course there will be physical needs of the body: food, shelter, warmth. There will physical urges of the body: connection, intimacy, sex, reproduction. There will be advanced needs as you develop you’re identity: recognition, status and so on. That is all part of the human condition.

But as you develop and as your conditioning to life develops you will find yourself in all sorts of situations in your life, relationships, career etc. You will also find yourself asking yourself all sorts of questions ‘ Where am I at in my life?’, ‘How can I move forward?’, ‘Why is this happening?’ , ‘Why isn’t that happening?’.  As these questions emerge and as the situations of life unfold – and as you gather information (knowledge) you will begin to develop views and opinions on pretty much every thing. These views will be influenced (largely) by what you have been told, what you have experienced and all the ‘noise’ around you. 

Where are you at right now in life? What are your circumstances? What do you feel about yourself, others and life in general? Broadly speaking your relationship to life will pretty much shape how you feel about it. If you have a healthy relationship to yourself and life you will probably find that you are in (so far as you are able) that you are in a healthy space in life. Your mind will be healthy, your approach to life and others will be healthy.

We are now beginning to move toward and explore what is love.  Check out the video above. 

 

Living a happy, healthy, sustainable life

A few months ago I met Adam Cox, a holistic personal fitness trainer. Adam has a remarkable story . Following ten years of ill health, he realised that he needed to charge of is own health and fitness. In his case this didn’t just mean making a few changes to what he ate and his exercise regime. He studied food, nutrition, the body, exercise and trained as a holistic personal trainer and founded Movement Lifestyle which helps people live healthy, happy, sustainable lives.

Having made some big changes to my own routine last year I’ve become quite fascinated by how little we often know about what we’re eating and how we very often abdicate responsibility (or hand over too much of it) to others when it comes to health and fitness. Or in other cases that we just don’t have the deeper knowledge and awareness that we need to live healthier and more sustainable lives which is something Adam is working to help people to achieve through his work.

In Adam’s case he works with a range of people including those seeking sustainable weight loss, those who have had injuries and those who are re-couperating – as well as others who are looking to achieve a healthier and fitter body shape. 

If you’re interested in this topic you’re likely to find my interview with Adam (above) very interesting and i’ve been fascinated by his integrated mind, body, spirit approach to health and wellbeing which ties in closely with my own approach as a coach. 

I’ll be recording more interviews with Adam over the coming months to pick up on some more specific themes around health and fitness so watch this space and my YouTube Channel.

Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading life coach, speaker and business / corporate coach. He specialises in helping people find lasting fulfilment – from within. 

 

How to win more business …naturally and authentically

There’s lots of ‘noise’ around how to win more business, gain customers and so on. But I feel that is often overcomplicated – and in all the noise I observe that many people overlook some of the basics that are actually key to winning business Be sure that you have the basics in place: research your field, ensure your product/service is excellent, ensure you know / adopt and have the right rules/regulations, procedures and process in place. Be sure also to seek out the right help and support and the right team to help you (I will return to that in a future blog/video) and then the focus must be on really building rich relationships with your customers. Rasheed is a leading life coach, speaker and author of Soul Trader – Putting the Heart Back into Your Business. He is also the life / business coach partner to the British Library Business & Intellectual Property Centre. Join Rasheed at one of his forthcoming business events / talks