Rasheed Ogunlaru's Blog, page 39

Putting the heart back into your life & business: principle 1

Week 1 Clarity

My work as a coach/ speaker is all about helping people embrace life and live it from their heart. And that mean all aspects; life, career, relationships and business.

That work led to write my new book Soul Trader – Putting the Heart Back into Your Business (published in the USA today 28 Nov 2012). It was published in the UK last month and received a warm reception/ reviews and has also attracted sales in South East Asia – a part of the world that has taught us much about finding ‘self’ and fulfilment which has long been enterprising.

My goal was and is to remind us that life  -and business – is simply about people, exchanging our gifts/talents and the spirit and essence of our interconnectivity. Everything else is an overlay – and much of the overlays are crumbling in various ways across the globe.

 All too often we live life from our heads only and hence we lose heart and passion. The book is all about how to follow your heart and business (or indeed career) that you and your customers will love, by following your heart, passion, vision and mission. 

So to help celebrate the launch of the book  over the next 8 or so week’s I will be sharing a little of the 7 principles which will help you be it that you are at a point of career change, self discovery, starting a business or indeed if you have been in business for some time.They will help you develop, insight, clarity, foresight and help you step ahead and enjoy a more fulfilling life by embracing your own magic. Let’s begin this week with the first and fundamental principle. 

 

Principle 1 Clarity

“Until you are clear nothing will be. Once you are clear everything will be.”

So what’s really important to you in your life, career/business and relationships? 
What has been your life journey so far?
What has been your learning so far?   And I mean the learning have you actually stopped, listened and applied the learning?
Are you grateful for all that you have seen, achieved, survive and for the gift of life – or are you overlooking these things? 
What are your skills, passions, talents and gifts? (write them down – and ask those you know/trust) 
Are you following your passion, talents and skills?   Until you do you are unlikely to feel motivated and and fulfilled. A cat cannot live as a dog.
Where are you at right now in your life, career / business and relationships?
What are the key opportunities you have and challenges that you face? (write these things down)
What tools, resources and support do you have and what additional ones do you need? 
Action: Mindful of your answers to these questions what are the 2-3 priorities? What simple actions could you take to start or progress with these things and who can help you?  I warmly encourage you to listen to your heart and follow up as feels true to you …in your own way at your own pace.


It is all very well that you are clear, next we need to look at life from the perspective of those around you, those in your life. Let us call them your customers. If you are business that will actually mean your customers (as well as suppliers, contacts and staff). If you are looking at this through the lens of your own life and career then those customers include those you work for, with and serve as well as the friends, family and connections in your life. We will look at this next week in the second principle: customers. 

If you enjoyed this article and found it useful you may well enjoy the Soul Trader – Putting  the Heart Back into Your Business. Soul Trader is written by Rasheed Ogunlaru a leading life coach, motivational speaker and business / corporate coach.

Soul Trader is published by Kogan Page and available from Kogan Page or here on Amazon and from selected book shops

Soul Trader costs £14.99  / $19.95

Discover more about the book and enjoy videos from Soul Trader. 

Simplify your life…

Just in case you missed last night’s free Simplify Your Life live video chat / seminar over on EvolvedHeart here it is below.

Each month we’ll be holding a special free live chat on a topic that’s close to your heart on Evolved Heart. All you need to do to watch the chat or or a previous one is to visit the Live Chat page here www.evolvedheart.com/live-chats and then select the chat you’d like to watch. The live chats are then broadcasted live on that page. All the chats are archived on the Live Chats page so you can watch it again – or pass it on to friends.

Now back to the Simplify Your Life talk. I hope you enjoy it. 

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

Free coaching competition winner

A huge congratulations to Andy Baker who won the 5 hours free coaching competition over on my self development website EvolvedHeart

Andy and the runners up who will receive my ‘Become Who Your Are’ coach yourself 1hr 45 video download. Plus they’ll also receive a copy of my ‘Become Who You Are’ semi-mediatative talk. 

And and runners up you’ll all be hearing from me in the week and well done. Check out the Evolved Heart Facebook page for more www.facebook.com/evolvedheart 

Meanwhile a huge thanks to everyone who took part.

Best wishes, Rasheed

Rasheed’s new FREE online seminar series

 

Great news folks; each month I’ll be  be giving a FREE live chat, talk / seminar. Each talk will be on a topic aimed to help you flourish in your life, career, business and relationships.The talks, which will take place on my new self development website Evolved Heart will be interactive so you can join in, send in your questions and take part. 

The talks will be archived  here so you can tune in if you missed them or pass on a link to friends, family or colleagues who may also be interested. Plus our very own Tum Kazunga – the internet maestro – will be on each live broadcast to introduce the session, receive your questions, manage the controls and to throw questions at me too.

We’re keen to make them on topics that interest to you so you’ll get the opportunity to vote on the topic that you’d like and right now we have a vote on right here on our Facebook page for the next one which will take place on Nov 22 at 7pm UK time. The choices you have for that are

1) Simplifying your life

2) Clearing & calming your mind

3)  Success & fulfilment tips & myths

***Vote now***

Plus on 28 Nov well be holding another special Soul Trader Live chat (see live chats page).Likewise for details of all the live chats all you need to do is bookmark the Live chats page and then log in at the time of the chat . So bookmark / check out the Live Chats page here .

Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading life coach, motivational speaker and business coach.

Following your heart

 

“Following your heart should never be an after thought – it should be that that leads to meaningful, mindful throughout and passionate action’ – Rasheed Ogunlaru.

 

Times have changed. In the past it was the case that you should and would do what for head told you, what others told you.It was not about what felt right in your heart but what was expected. But the nature of challenges that we face now are so pronounced that they cannot be solved with the head alone, but with the heart.

Yesterday evening I was very pleased to discover that The Voice newspaper had written an article about me, my new book Soul Trader – Putting the Heart Back into Business and the work that I do encouraging people like yourself to follow your heart.

The piece is written by Vic Motune a former acting Editor and long time former Deputy Editor of The Voice who himself is passionate about these topics. And he is not alone. More and more people I meet, of all walks of life, are following their heart.

The article, like the book highlights that for all sorts of reasons, the economy, job insecurity and the wish for autonomy or ‘doing something that feels right to me’ is leading so many people who I meet, coach and who attend my workshops to follow their hearts, walk their own path.

What does that mean to you. Are you following your own path are you following one that someone else built for you? Are you writing your own script or reading one that was prepared for someone else? These are important questions.

Real joy and fulfilment will (re)emerge the moment you embrace yourself, your own magic, your passion and what resonates as true with you. Of course taking the steps may also take some courage but it will be rewarding and heart-warming. Sow where are you at right now? What really feels meaningful to you? What really chimes with you? What no longer seems important to you.

Who are those that you know who are following their heart? How have they walked that path? What clues does this hold for you? What help do you need? What would you do if you felt slightly more courageous? What would you advise someone dear to you who was in a similar situation? Perhaps then it is time to act on your own wise advice. 

You can read the article in The Voice here. And you can get your copy of Soul Trader – Putting the Heart Back into Your Business here.

 

 

 

Interview with a life coach – Rasheed on life, business & the heart

I was recently interviewed by fellow, coach author and speaker Arvind Devalia on his popular Blog site.

Arvind is a coach passionate about helping people to live joyful lives and through his blog and books helps to encourage people to ‘make it happen’ in their lives. 

Here’s our interview .…and visit Arvind’s site for more inspiring articles and tips. 

Are you trading away your soul or are you a Soul Trader?

Every now and then you meet someone who blows you away and inspires you to raise your own game.

Earlier this week, that’s exactly what happened to me – I went to the book launch party for my friend Rasheed Ogunlaru‘s latest book.

Like me, Rasheed is a coach, author and inspirational speaker and though we have known of each other for years, we only recently connected face to face. And yesterday was the publication date of his new book – Soul Trader (Amazon USA /Amazon UK )

Soul Trader is one of those life changing books that any inspiring entrepreneur or indeed any established business person should read.

As Rasheed says, brutal business is sick and dying. And welcome to the era of the Soul Trader

Practical and motivational Soul Trader is a coach yourself companion, with insights, inspiration, tips and tools to help you and your business progress whatever your stage.

“Cut the cost & raise the impact of your business – by following your heart” – Rasheed Ogunlaru

The book highlights we’re sick of running and working for soul-less businesses that don’t care about customers just our cash – which is many are crumbling. It replaces mindless business with heart-centred entrepreneurship.

“The world is changing and so is what we want from businesses. Mindless businesses are dying and heart-led ones are being born. We’re sick of soul-less businesses that only care cash not their customers. We want and need fulfilling, sustainable, meaningful ones in balance with our lives – that make an impact in the lives and those they serve and in the world. ”

Follow your heart, utilise your network, build rich relationships and you’ll cut the financial and emotional costs of starting / growing a business in tough, changing times says Rasheed.

The book totally resonates with me and it is my great pleasure to interview Rasheed and introduce him to my readers:-

1. Rasheed, your story and your book is so inspiring! Thanks for creating such a wonderful book – it’s going to inspire a lot of people around the world. What inspires YOU?

I’m really just inspired by life, being alive and this magical gift of life. But beyond and within that I’ve always been passionate about people, their magic and their own possibilities when they do that.

In terms of people who have inspired me; my mother has been a great inspiration. She is one of life’s extra-ordinary, ordinary people.

The Gandhi’s and Mandela’s have inspired me too – all those who pointed us to our inter-connectedness, peace and compassion.

On a more every day level I’m inspired by nature, space and silence.

2. So many people are doing jobs they don’t enjoy – and are in businesses without soul. Why do you think that is?

It’s simply conditioning. From as soon as we can speak we are told who we are, what our background is, how we should be and what we should aspire to.

For a number of generations that has meant – usually for good intentions – that we are told that we should aspire to be something sensible – doctor, lawyer, office manager or whatever else. We are rarely told to follow our real passion and talents or to find our purpose and forge a career from these things. So we end up stuck in loveless jobs and all sorts of situation.

Thus it takes real courage and mindfulness to step back and ask ‘what feels true to me?’

Ask yourself – what will it take to live my best possible life?

However the economy, serial redundancy, job uncertainty and that voice from within – combined with the more holistic times we are in, are making more people ask that question.

3. What advise can you offer those people who just can’t change jobs?

I would say give yourself the space for a moment to step back and ask yourself:

‘Who am I?’
‘What’s really most important to me in life?’
‘Where am I at?’
‘What kind of job do I really want to do?’

It may be that if you feel that you can’t change jobs or if you feel that employment is no longer working for you that you may be wanting or needing to explore becoming your own boss.

This often happens when people feel stuck or they have reached a ceiling – or if they just have new dreams. Maybe intuition is whispering in their ear!

4. What’s the single one thing that you believe stops people from making the most of their life? What else?

Fighting life rather than embracing life.

I often say that there are only two ‘choices’ in life: to fight it or to embrace it.

When you fight life (and sometimes this is natural too) you will lose. When you embrace it you become one with life and you are lived. As you embrace (accept life) those barriers and fears tend to dissolve away and you flow.

There really isn’t anything else because everything else is within life and the embracing: fear, procrastination, motivation – these things are common complaints people bring to me but when you accept life you understand and appreciate fear.

You also realise that most things that are procrastinated over are things that are not really important or pressing to the true you below the ego. And when you embrace life you discover your true motivations so you are motivated.

5. What 3 tips can you offer for any young entrepreneur starting of on their life journey today so that that they too can create the business they really love?

1) Identify all your skills, passions, gifts and talents and build a business around that. It’s important that you know your magic, use your magic – and from that you can create magic.

2) Now it’s all about your customers – research, understand, talk and listen to them. Care about them – shape your business around them and you’ll have a business

3) Develop a rich network of people with different skills, styles and strengths who share your values. That means that whatever life throws at you – and presents you and your business, you will be able to respond because you will have a team. Everything is interconnected. Build rich connections and spot them.

6. Maybe not everyone wants to consciously lead a life of full service to others. But I do believe that everyone deep down wants to make a difference to others. What suggestions can you offer to those people who are reluctant to serve others in some way?

At least they are being honest! Or perhaps short-sighted.

It’s easy for us all to think we are all about serving when every act of service also is about serving ourselves. I am no different. Perhaps what is useful is first to accept that we are concerned with our immediate concerns. Honour that.

Honour your own desire to be safe & secure and to progress. But then the invitation of life is to realise that your progress – and certainly your peace and security – will be dependent on connection, care, compassion and co-operation with others. This is what the Soul Trader is really about

Compassion is the key. First be compassionate to yourself. As a result, through life’s own grace you will become compassionate to others. You will look to see how what you do can help not only yourself but others. That way your own fulfilment and that of others becomes more likely and not just remain a vague possibility.

Follow a simple path to a useful life.

7. There is a rapidly growing awareness about the need for change and equality in the world. What are your hopes for your future? How can my readers here approach work and business more soulfully?

We all ‘think’ the world needs to be changed. Funnily enough, sometimes there’s a level of ego.

We want the world to change so it works more in our favour! Gandhi was right – the only change that needs to happen is you – you must embody the change you want to see.

I would put it this way ‘It is not the world that needs to change – it’s our consciousness we need to raise’. The problems we see in the world are man-made and mind-made.

My hopes for the world and I guess you could say it’s my mission is for a world where people are more at peace with themselves and with each other – that will generate a peaceful world. It is very easy but it requires everyone to do their own bit by addressing the change in themselves not in the world.

This is important if you change your relationship to yourself you will be at peace with yourself and others and you will move from conflict to compassion.

Step 1: First of all be at peace with the contents of your mind –make JOY your home.
Step 2: As you accept the contents of your mind, your mind will become more at ease – more at peace.
Step 3: As this happen, it is like the dust settling after sandstorm…you will be clearer, more peaceful, more tolerant and more grateful. You will naturally sing your song and allow others to sing their’s and there will be more harmony. You will create a business that is actually needed and that actually serves

8. Finally, what’s next for you? What new challenges do you intend to conquer now?

This lovely quote once came to me ‘the world is already yours – why try to conquer it’.

For me next is to be still and to be silent – which is funny for a motivational speaker and writer! To be grateful. And then just to continue the work and be true to what arises from the silence. This is the only way I can be true to myself and to hear what it is (if anything) I should be doing less.

It’s easy to get caught up in doing this and that and changing the world when all one needs to do is really appreciate it and to flow with it.

And Arvind, thank YOU for inspiring so many people through your blog and for your service that gives to the world.

 

Soul Trader cuts the complexity and cut-throat mentality out of business, introducing an easy, painless and economical way of being your own boss or building a business through seven chapters of ‘heart centred’ principles / steps: Clarity; Customers; Courage, Co-operation, Conversations, Creativity, Compassion…and a concluding principle; Change.

Clarity: Know your mission, talents & values – let this passion propel you.
Customers: See life through customers’ eyes to win their custom and loyalty
Courage:  Unleash your inspiration / wisdom and adopt an athlete’s attitude
Co-operation: Punch over your weight; collaborate. Use / build your network.
Conversations: Learn the art to connect, converse, create and convert leads.
Creativity: Know when to work, rest and be at your best, (re)gain life balance.
Compassion: Connect from the heart – be transformational not transactional

You can now get your own copy of the Soul Trader via Amazon USA /Amazon UK.
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Rasheed Ogunlaru is a top coach, speaker and author – check out his website.
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Join me at London Business Village 12 &13 Nov 2012

Global Entrepreneurship Week is held every year to encourage  and empower people of all walks of life into being their own boss and running their own business.

This year my partners at the British Library’s Business & IP Centre are going bigger and bolder than ever in supporting the event, by running a special free 2 Day London Business Village event. 

The event will include experts exhibitors, masterclasses, networking opportunities and much more. So be it that you’re thinking about  being your own boss and starting out and want tips, advice and information – or be it that you’ve been in business for some time and are keen to raise your game, profile, profits and knowledge – there will be something for you.

I’ll be among the expert exhibitors on both days so do stop by, say hi and have a chat. I can help you think about where you are at, what you want from your business and how to move ahead. I’ll also copies of my business and self development books too including Soul Trader – Putting the Heart Back into Your  Business. 

London Business Village at the British Library, 96 Euston Road London NW1, Book your place / see the full programme.

 

Live video talk with Rasheed 22 Nov 7pm at EvolvedHeart.com – you choose the topic, vote now

 

 

I’m delighted delighted to announce that my next free live talk will take place on Thurs 22 November at 7pm UK time on my new ‘self’ development website EvolvedHeart.

And this time we thought that we’d let you choose the topic that most resonates with your heart. Here are your choices:

1) Simplify your life

2) Clearing & calming your mind

3) Success and fulfilment – myths & tips

Vote now here on Evolved Hearts Facebook page - and you can check out which of the 3 topics is winning the race at the moment. Personally I’m not surprised about the one that’s in poll position at the moment.

Meanwhile put the date in your diary and join us at EvolvedHeart.com on 22 Nov at 7pm…and tell your friends.

Soul Trader launch: film, photos & thanks

 A huge thanks to the 100+ or so of you who joined me for the launch of Soul Trader – Putting Your Heart Back into Your Business last Tuesday. You made it a magical night and we completely sold out of copies.Here’s some photos and a mini movie from the launch. A huge thanks to; publishers Kogan Page, event managers Meredith Bespoke ; photographer Anna Runefelt and Simon Paul Sutton for the mini movie. If you were there see if you can spot yourself in the photos/ film. 

Get your copy of Soul Trader today -       Check out the Soul Trader page here on my website

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the full photo album on my new Official Facebook page

Tips for creatives

In my work as a coach and as life & business coach partner to the British Library’s Business & IP Centre I meet many creatives, artists and all sorts of people following the passion. But for some reasons many creative people in particular really do struggle in their careers and in their business. So I was delighted when Fran Taylor at the British Library asked me to share tips for creatives on her blog for creatives.

Read the interview with me below or here on Fran’s Inspired By Creative Indusries blog.Inspired By is well worth bookmarking if you’re a creative. The interview focused on artists, designers but my applies to anyone who is a creative, artist, healer, therapist –  or anyone following a career from the heart.

 

Life coach Rasheed Ogunlaru’s tips on creativity and business

Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading life coach, speaker and business coach and author of Soul Trader – Putting the Heart Back into Your Business published this month by Kogan Page.  He also regularly runs workshops at the British Library Business & IP Centre.

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and how you work with creative people?

Well I’m a life coach, speaker and business coach. In a nutshell I help people to identify, clarify and move ahead in their lives, careers and relationships. So I work with people on their life, business and career goals, their confidence, their life balance, action-planning, focus, motivation, time management, people skills – and their self acceptance so that they can live happier lives and enjoy more successful and fulfilling careers. But my first career was in the media and then I was a singer-songwriter – and it was this that led me to re-train as a coach initially to help singers and creatives to move head in their lives, careers, relationships. So I understand the ups, downs and challenges faced by creatives – and I enjoy working with them in a creative way to clarify and pursue their dreams and be their authentic selves in all they do.

Do you have any advice for designers or makers looking to commercialise their work, who are not sure where to start?

Sure, the first thing is to stop, step back and ask yourself what’s really important to you personally and professionally. Write this down. What specifically do you want to create? What do you want to achieve from your work: financially, commercially, vocationally. Be honest and let your heart write the list. The more specific the better. That’s step one. The next step is to really study your field, master your craft, seek out good people in and around your industry. Many creative people are masters of creating but they don’t take the time and attention to learn about your business side. But your art is your business – so take the time to learn about your field, how it works, the different avenues to promote and sell what you do.

From here I’d advise that you develop a rich network of people who can help you and you can help. The chances are you may need admin, financial marketing, website, legal and other advice. Attend industry events, join industry groups for your field. many of them have professional development events, conferences and exhibitions and many provide legal, marketing and other support.

Make use of the support and seek out other like minded artist – but also network with and connect with those others in and around your industry: web designers, suppliers, lawyers, agents. Take a genuine interest in them, make genuine connections. Understand the world from their point of view not just yours. Over time you’ll develop a rich network of people who can help you in all areas. Keep friends and family in sight too.

A lot of designers working for themselves have told me that they are surprised by how little time they have to be creative, and how much time it takes to run the business side of things. Is this something you’ve come across as well?

Yes to an extent this is true. The business and admin side of things do take time. But my advice to any creative is this: see your whole career and business as a creative exploit. Remember that business is itself the result of creativity. Huge numbers of creatives never realise this. Be creative about how you approach it. There is no one way. One of the things I’m desperate to get to get across to creatives, including in my new book Soul Trader, is to use your very creativity, people skills and passions to build your business. Do not look at business that is something thats over here and making clothes, jewellery, art, or music as something over there. See them as one.

Lastly, do you think that people can learn to be more creative through practice, or is it something that you’re born good at?   Are there any things people can do to be more creative?

Both. I think that many people have a natural creative flair. As many others have a natural flairs in other areas. But the thing about creativity is that we all tend to have it in different areas and only in some cases where it’s pronounced do we say ‘that person is creative’. Your whole life, relationships and career is a result of your creativity. And certainly I do think you can become more creative by identifying your passions and inspirations, spending time in nature and with the people, places and things that really captivate you. You can become creativity by allowing a little space in your life: one hour less TV or online. You can be creative by seeking out the books, music, art, poetry, film that speaks to you and being with it. You can become a little more creative by rearranging a room, buying something in a new colour, by walking a different way to work. You can be creative by listening to your heart and imagination when it is calling to you to let it be and breathe.