Colin Myles's Blog, page 18

Not Important to be Important

" Things come and go, they go up and down, only way to stay up, is to be nice to your public and never forget where you came from; it's not important to be important, but it is important to be nice " Billy Paul

A couple of weeks ago I went down another rabbit hole on Youtube. Landing on the video for Billy Paul's " Me and Mrs Jones ". Which led me onto a video of him a couple of years before he passed on , saying the wise words above. You can watch here [4:15]

In the whole scheme of things, he summed up life, right there. But the part that stuck with me was the " not important " part.

You and I both have come across many people who believe their job title defines who they are. That it insulates them from those below them in the food chain. And people should be worshipping them for gaining such and such a title. Hogwash !

It is not about titles, but how you treat people. The type of person who swans around basking in the glory of a title, without treating people with respect and empathy . . . Watch Out.

Because if you don't perform to a credible standard, the people you treated as inferior beings, ain't going to help you. They will just sit back, snicker and find subtle ways to screw you over. It will be like death by a thousand cuts.

Nothing happens without people. If you want a successful business, guess what ? People have to like and trust you, your product/service, before they hand over any money. If you want a successful career in any field, people have to trust you. You have to be credible.

For some, these things may come as a shock. Go back and read the words of Billy Paul, because, that is life.

Colin Myles Author

P.S.
My book Life Positioning
is now available from Barnes & Noble

Now Available

My book, Life Positioning is now available from Barnes & Noble

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/life...

This is amazing for me and a first.

Colin Myles

The Jewel is in The Lotus

Hero with a thousand faces, is the book I am currently reading. About one third way through the book, appeared the phrase/mantra . . . Om Mani Padme Hum, roughly translated as " the jewel is in the lotus".

It is the most said prayer/mantra in the world. Today we will look at the phrase from a personal development point of view.

Most people enjoy the beauty of the lotus in bloom. But beneath the surface, the roots of this beautiful flower are in the muck and mud at the bottom of the pond. Way down there it's roots quietly among the muck, mud and turmoil, bed down. Slowly over a three to six month period, the stem starts to grow. Popping the head above water, waiting until the day, it flowers into a lotus.

Those of you beginning your personal development journey, will feel at times as if you are stuck in the mud. It can feel like family and friends don't want you to progress. So they keep slinging mud and brickbats to keep you in position. Don't worry, they are afraid of your growth, afraid they will be left behind. They will try their best to keep you at the same level as themselves.

But like the lotus, you can use this muck to grow. Patiently like the stem of the lotus, you plant your roots firmly and continue to grow a little bit each day. After time the muck won't be your stranglehold, just a source of nourishment.

Keep moving upwards and you will poke your head above the water. Now you just face the sunlight of your dream/goal and you will blossom into a jewel for people to marvel at.

It is not easy wading through all the negative muck and mud. Remember your friends are not afraid for you. They are just afraid they will be left behind in the shade when you blossom. Become a jewel, become the best you possible. The jewel you seek is within you.

Colin Myles Author

P.S.
Inch by inch is a cinch
Yard by yard is hard
Mile by mile is a trial
Jim Rohn Quote

GANRIKI : Power of Observation

In last weekend's FT, I read the obituary of Kazuo Kashio, one of the founders of Casio along with his three brothers.

Kazuo named Ganriki; insight/power of observation as one of the key elements of their success. They believed in been nimble and in the state of permanent re-invention. They excelled at recognising consumer trends. They believed that what they produced must work from the word go, combined with good design.

In the article, I learned they produced the world's first in-jet printer. The first mass market digital camera. All started off by the pocket calculator. Later on Casio watches became the cash flow foundation, for re-invention to flourish.

At some stage we have all used their calculators. I even remember when a Casio watch was a desired xmas or birthday gift. How many budding music legends started out with a Casio keyboard. You still see them in department stores and music shops. Look closely at the buskers in your area and see how many use a Casio keyboard piano.

Along with Ganriki, Kazuo believed having a young spirit was another vital component of their success. Let's boil this down to seven stepping stones for you budding and existing entrepreneurs out there.

1. Ganriki . . . insight / power of observation
2. Nimble and alert
3. Permanent re-invention
4. Recognise consumer trends
5. Products that work
6. Good design
7. Young spirit

If these seven attributes are what assisted Casio to become a global brand, maybe just maybe to paraphrase Sir Issac Newton; it might be worth your while to stand on the shoulder of this global brand and see your future.

Colin Myles Author

P.S.
If I have seen further, it is by standing on ye shoulders of giants.
Sir Issac Newton

Jinba ittai

Last week I kept hearing a car advert on the radio. It was for Mazda and very quickly a Japanese term was been used. It took me about three listens before I caught the words" Jinba ittai ". Loosely translated as perfect harmony.

It is a term used in the ancient art of Yabusame. Which is riding a horse with your knees, pulling the bow back and firing your arrow, all at the same time. To be able to do this, one must achieve "Jinba ittai ", the rider becomes one with the horse.

In our modern world with it's many distractions. How many of us can say, we achieve perfect harmony with our purpose ?

Your career, have your reached perfect harmony and your work flows effortlessly ? Your new habits to improve yourself, have you achieved perfect harmony yet ?

Perfect harmony, where you are one with your aims, goals, career, passion and purpose, can appear illusive. To paraphrase Vince Lombardi " becoming one with your purpose is a long journey and along the way you may attain excellence ".

It is a rare occurrence to meet someone in tune with themselves and their work. Before they achieved perfect harmony, they will have become excellent at what they do. To go from excellent to Jinba Ittai, this is your pot of gold at the end of your rainbow.

Today, start your journey to attain Jinba Ittai.
What you become along the path, may surprise you !

Colin Myles Author

P.S.
"
Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence".
Vince Lombardi

Reason Story Lesson

A couple of weeks ago, I watched a documentary about three great blues sidemen. Their glory years, their wilderness years and their final years, after been found and reborn thanks to a younger generation of musicians. One of their sons, relating his father's struggle in the music business used the phrase ; " I guess there is always a reason, story and lesson in everything". The phrase struck a chord.

We are all at certain stages in our life/career cycle and there are reasons, stories and lessons, surrounding where we are right now in the cycle.

Reason
There is always a reason, cause and motive for a circumstance which explains certain results. Think long and hard and you will hit upon the reason, why you are where you are now. Being truthful with yourself, you will also know the cause and motive behind the results you have achieved.

Story
It is defined as ; the account of some happening, incident or series of incidents.

There is always a story behind your results. Chance encounter, someone's sudden departure launches you up the ladder. Your company made layoff's. Suddenly your obscure skill becomes fashionable, or  it went out of fashion. You said yes to an opportunity, you said no to an opportunity. Someone you trusted came through or they lied, robbed and cheated you.

Only you know the story.

Lesson
It is defined as ; a useful piece of practical wisdom acquired by experience.

The experience of your story provides the lessons in your life. Whether you choose to learn from or ignore them, is up to you. Those experiences and lessons go back into the karma cycle. Five years into the future, the reason, story and lesson will be the same or have changed beyond your wildest dreams.

How you learn and take action from these three things, will determine your destiny. They will determine your legacy.

It is your story and only you have the power to write the ending.

Colin Myles Author

P.S.
The experience of your story provides the lessons in your life.
Colin Myles Quote

Constructive You

A lot of books have been written about how to become a better person, including my own ; Life Positioning.

Also millions of hacks have been shared across social media.

Today I would like to share with you, one simple way, to improve your life and yourself.

Are the words you use constructive or destructive ?

Constructive means . . . helping to improve, promote further development or advancement.

Destructive means . . . to destroy or damage.

Life on a daily basis is a series of ups and downs, obstacles to overcome or go around. The words you use about these daily occurrences will determine your positive or negative outlook.

Do you complain because it is raining outside or grateful that nature is getting the water it needs to survive and thrive ?

A project doesn't quite go to plan. Seven out of your ten key markers were a success. Three fell short and hindered the project. Do you spend more time talking constructively about the seven and how they could improve the three that lagged for the next time. Or do you harp on about the three to such and extent, nobody wants to work on projects with you ?

You have the choice with your words, to help improve and promote advancement or to destroy and damage.

The words you use, constructs the you, the outside world sees.

Are you a force for improvement or a force for destruction ?

Your choice !

Colin Myles Author


P.S.
The words you use
Constructs the you
The outside world sees      Colin Myles Quote

Love is Gratitude [Sales]

A couple of weeks ago sitting in my car, while waiting for an appointment, I took out my copy of poems by Rumi. One line in one poem caught my eye, " love is gratitude ". As this was a sales appointment, I wondered about this statement.

How do you know someone loves your company, product or service ?  They show their gratitude by buying your product or service.

How do you get them to love you ?
By providing excellent product or services.

What does excellent mean ?  Extremely good and outstanding. Here are some more words connected to excellent . . . exceptional, sublime, perfect, first-rate.


So all you need to do for people to show they love you, your company, product or service is . . .
Provide product and services which are always, exceptional, sublime, perfect and first-rate.

When you do this, people will show their gratitude and buy from you. The more people are grateful for the product and service your provide, the more sales you earn. The more sales you earn, the more successful you become.

How hard can it be ?

Colin Myles Author

P.S.
People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care.
Zig Ziglar

Karma Character

Karma according to Wikipedia is " a spiritual principal of cause and effect, where intent and actions of an individual {cause} influence the future of that individual {effect}."

Character ; if you want to know someone's character, just look at how they treat people who can't do anything for them.

So there I was a couple of weeks ago having coffee and cake in my favourite coffee shop, enjoying a break. A gentleman came in and ordered seven cakes. As the owner was looking after him, two people came to the till to settle their bill.

The cafe had a new assistant, a young lady from Italy. The couple wanted to pay for their coffee, the assistant said " that would be $4.40". The lady paying said " here is $10 and you give me back $6 ". I could see the new assistant trying to translate in her head from italian to english, that this didn't make sense.

The gentleman ordering the cakes looked at me and we both raised our eyebrows. The new assistant due to her lack of fluent english handed the customer back $6.

Now nickel and dining someone out of 0.40 cent , due to their lack of fluency in your language is not good karma. It didn't say a lot about the person's character.

So the question for you to ponder is ; What do people see when they look to your character ?

The answer is yours to consider . . .

Colin Myles Author

Poise is Power

Over the past month I have been re-reading the works of Florence Shovell Shinn and one line stuck in my head, " Poise is Power ".

Poise can be described as, dignified, a self confident manner or bearing, composure, self possession. The words self assurance, polish, grace, refinement, calmness and tact can also be used to describe poise.

Power can be summed up in two ways. " The ability or capacity to do something or act in a certain way " or The ability or capacity to direct or influence the behaviour of others or the course of events ".

The power in poise is the ability to direct or influence the behaviour of yourself. To behave with dignified grace, calmness and self assurance. This is where the power lies.

As Kipling wrote
" If you can keep your head when all about you
   are losing theirs and blaming it on you
   If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
   but make allowences for their doubting too "

The ability to control yourself as opposed to letting others or outside events control you, this is power. To take a step back and express in a calm detached manner, this is the power of poise.

Sometimes all it takes is five minutes of reflection to consider, instead of immediate action. On other occasions when others believe they need an answer now, your ability to say " come back in 24 hours and we will talk ". You would be amazed how 24 hours can put something into perspective. It is a rare skill, this thing called poise. It comes with practice.

Poise is power and those with poise don't allow themselves to be led as if they had a chain on them.

So today ask yourself this one question ;
Are you poised or led a merry dance by outside influences ? One is power, the other . . .


Colin Myles Author