MM458

MM458

So, about 10 days ago, while we were away, the boiler stopped working and there was no hot water or heating. As you can imagine, it's hard to try and fix something like that over the phone so I just told the kids to use the gym showers and put an extra layer on, until...

MM457

MM457

Amsterdam was fantastic. We managed to travel with no issues and the trip was a welcome distraction from the day-to-day 'normal' life. As most of you will know, culturally, Amsterdam is different that the major cities in the UK. You can't walk for 5 minutes without...

MM456

MM456

At the moment I am on my way to Amsterdam, via London and the Eurostar. We decided to have a short break away to decompress and regenerate our resilience. Christmas and the New Year were great, but not relaxing, and, if we were not careful,...

MM455

MM455

The year is passing fast and i feel that there are certain things I haven't managed to do, yet. For instance I haven't been to the swimming pool once and my goal was to go at least once a week, so not doing so well with that. I did spend most of Saturday...

MM454

MM454

So, after agreeing to support my wife (Sandra) with her visits to the gym, I found myself lacking motivation to go yesterday. I'd already trained 5 times during the week, with a couple of quite tough sessions, I felt I'd done enough! I knew that if it looked like...

MM452

MM452

I appreciate it is the 9th January, but as this is the first MM of the year, I feel the need to say "Happy New Year". I hope you all had a fantastic festive break and managed to remain calm and in control, most of the time. Our Christmas was busy, as normal, and there...

MM451

MM451

This is the final MM for 2022 and I am happy to say "It's time for a well deserved break". This year has been interesting and continues to challenge us all, in our own separate, and, collective ways. I, personally, have had some upsetting and...

MM450

MM450

After putting up with some email and web site issues for a while, I thought now would be a good time to sort everything out, once and for all. I gave a local IT guy a call and started the process by telling him what I was experiencing and what I needed from him...

MM449

MM449

Well, I need to mention the World Cup at some point so, after a few interesting results, I thought I'd raise the question of talent and performance. Why is it that a group of talented people can do amazing things in one game and then fail to 'turn up' in another? Is...

MM448

MM448

As parents, I think, all we want is for our kids is to grow up, be good people and to find their own way to success. I know, for sure, we have tried our best to ensure all of our children know right from wrong and good from bad and that the choices they make...

MM447

MM447

Well, I am still resisting putting the heating on but I have nearly used all of the logs. The fire has been used most evenings, for two reasons: 1 it takes the edge off the chill in the air and 2, I love an open fire. I don't know whether it is a childhood memory but...

MM446

MM446

So, in preparation for the cold winter months, I decided to buy a 'smart' turbo trainer to do some indoor cycling training. I had a 'normal' turbo but I found it really, really boring just cycling on a stand. This turbo actually links up to an app where you...

MM445

MM445

Some of you may have noticed that the MM is, sometimes, coming out later than normal on a Monday. This is because I am trying to practise what I preach when it comes to the balance in my life. I'd normally factor some time in on a Sunday to write and schedule the MM...

MM444

MM444

Wow, what a weekend. I've just got back from dropping the grandkids back to their Dad and now have time to sit and catch up on some work. I picked the kids up on Saturday and we set about doing the normal stuff together and, fortunately, Cloe had come home for...

MM443

MM443

Anyone that has helped teach one of their kids (or someone else's kid) to drive, will know the emotional rollercoaster ride I am experiencing right now. Initially, it was fairly safe and low risk, I took Eddie to an, almost empty, car park and let him practise driving...

MM442

MM442

There I was cutting the grass, weeding the edges and doing a general clear up in the garden when I heard the roar of the fans at the AFCB vs Leicester game. I thought " Oh my word, I have changed!". I was actually enjoying the gardening and was glad I wasn't at the...

MM441

MM441

I am currently sat in Arrecife airport after enjoying a short break away to Lanzarote with Sandra. As you'd expect, the weather was not 'full on sunshine' but we did manage to top up our tans a little bit. We had booked an apartment in Arrecife, which...

MM440

MM440

There are no words really needed to feel the pain and sorrow of the world this week. As with anything, life does go on and there are things to do, put right, improve and fix. Areas that need attention, problems that need solving and the world keeps spinning! I know...

MM439

MM439

I had a friend text me a couple of weeks ago, to arrange a catch up coffee. We have known each other for over 25 years and we both live in Bournemouth, but it had been a while since we last met, so we agreed a date, time and venue. It was great to hear his news, get...

MM438

MM438

My grass is turning green again, isn't nature amazing! It encapsulates all the things we talk about in businesses, and life, to be successful. Words like resilient, re-energise and grow, develop, recover and thrive, spring to mind. The lessons for success are right...

MM437

MM437

After the holiday, it took me about 5 minutes to get busy again, not all work related things, but busy non-the-less. I really enjoyed the time away from the office and, although I did some work while I was away, the break was relaxing, fun and well needed - for...

MM436

MM436

As I am on holiday I thought I'd share this podcast with you. A friend of mine (Stuart) has been doing these for quite some time and I was honoured to be asked to be on a recent podcast with him, and it came out last week. It's only a 20 minute listen / watch and...

MM435

MM435

Well, it's that time of the year when everyone is going on holiday or has just been away somewhere. FaceBook (and all of the others) are full of pictures of holiday experiences and people enjoying time away from their normal routine of life. We are off to Turkey on...

MM434

MM434

What a blistering few days, the weather has been amazing and Bournemouth has been packed with visitors. There are festivals and multiple events happening all over the place, it's great to see again. It does present some problems though, the local traffic has been...

MM433

MM433

Anyone moving home or doing a house clearance will feel our pain.We have spent the last month going through years and years of 'stuff' that my Mum and Dad had collected and stored. When my Dad died, we cleared some of it, but not everything. We held on to things that...

MM432

MM432

I love my home office! I spent nearly 2 years working from my dining room table, getting interrupted, distracted and feeling guilty for having all of my 'stuff' taking up our communal eating space! I don't know what took me so long to decide on an outside office...

MM430

MM430

So, at the weekend, I finally cried over recent events in my life. I had 'parked' everything due to the fact I had a busy couple of weeks to get through. It wasn't a real melt down, but it did allow me to release some emotions I'd been holding on to. I was sat on...

MM429

MM429

What a great few days of celebration for the Queens Platinum Jubilee. Last week I posted a picture of my Mum (Our Queen) and celebrated her life. This week it's a picture of the Nations Queen and we have been celebrating everything she stands for over the past few...

MM428

MM428

So, tomorrow we say goodbye to our Mum. I didn't know if it was appropriate to do a MM and mention something that is very sad. My thought is that as we all produce blogs, vlogs, podcasts and content for others, about key messages or stories, so why not share this...

MM427

MM427

After a fantastic weekend with the family (Apart from the result for Liverpool!) I am now in Newcastle for the next couple of days, working. The joys of travelling on a Sunday are back and in full swing, but I can't complain, it's work. I question whether I am getting...

MM426

MM426

I had a call from Cloe (My Daughter) last week and she mentioned that she hadn't received the MM for a couple of weeks and wondered why. I thought I was on top of things and there had been a couple of Bank holidays so I hadn't missed any, but I had. To be fair, I...

MM425

MM425

Last week the washing machine decided to start making a noise and bounce all over the place when it went into the spin cycle. So I immediately "googled" the problem and got a few possible causes, which I set about trying. Checking the drum was the first port of call,...

MM424

MM424

Finally, we got to see the Grand children again. It has been a couple of months since we saw them and Sandra (My wife) and I were feeling like bad grand parents because we hadn't arranged to see them. We have both been busy and trying to make time for everyone, but,...

MM423

MM423

After another busy week I managed to claw back some time to spend with friends and family on Friday and over the weekend. I did a few things around the house, that have needed doing for some time, rearranged some plants in the garden and I managed to do a...

MM422

MM422

After a very busy week, I had Friday marked in as an 'admin day'. It started really well and I managed to do all of my emails, invoices and expenses before my 10am virtual workshop delivery. After the session, I decided to assemble the new BBQ, which previously I had...

MM421

MM421

After a long drive to Wetherby (5 hours) to deliver a 4 hour workshop, followed by another 5 hour drive home, I was pleased to do some virtual delivery the following day. I was absolutely wiped out by the driving and I'd forgotten how much I dislike driving and meal...

MM420

MM420

On Sunday morning I got the dreaded NHS notification that I'd been near someone who had contracted CV-19 and that is the first time I'd experienced that feeling of dread. I had a sore throat and a blocked nose but I felt ok and had upped the vitamin intake, so thought...

MM419

MM419

So, after having the boiler serviced and the pump replaced I thought everything would be ok, for at least a couple of years. But no, the heating stopped working and has been out of action for about 10 days now, which has really pleased the Broad household - NOT. I...

MM418

MM418

It's been a mad few weeks with storms and wars and it makes me wonder what the hell is going on in the world. I woke up on Saturday morning, the sun was shining and I just lay there, listening to the silence. Normally I'd turn the TV on and catch up with the daily...

MM417

MM417

So, there I was standing in my kitchen, feeling satisfied that I was on top of things and everything was in control. I had taken the dog to the vets for some checks, the plumber was changing the heating pump and I was all prepared for a call I had later in the day....

MM416

MM416

I thought that building the log cabin would take me 2 days! How wrong was I? Actually getting the main building up was fairly straight forward (after some advice and direction from my mate Gary!) but then came the 'fiddly bits'. A bit of cutting was required, which...

MM415

MM415

I was out, last week, talking to the builders, they have become friends as they have been here so long! Mark was talking about all the changes he has to make now he is older, and how he has had to slow down with the heavy labouring jobs and focusses more on...

MM414

MM414

Well, I went and did it! I ordered the Log cabin for the back garden and this will be my designated office when I am working from home. I looked at several options and opted for a corner unit to maximise the space and minimise the 'land grab' in the garden. A friend...

MM413

MM413

My dog is going mad, literally. He has lost his hearing, his eyesight is poor and now his mind is playing him up. He wakes up between 2am - 4am barking and not really needing anything. We let him out, give him half a tin of food and he settles for about 2 hours and...

MM412

MM412

I trust you all had a fantastic break and are now looking forward to a more positive and productive 2022. The New Year brings with it, a tradition of making resolutions to do some things differently and, if you, like me, have used the pandemic to slip into some bad...

MM411

MM411

Last Friday we (Sandra and myself) went out for a meal with a couple of friends. We have been meaning to do this for quite some time and finally it happened. It was a really pleasant evening and our conversations were mixed with happy and sad news but we laughed a...

MM410

MM410

I am looking forward to Christmas and enjoying the seasonal goodwill so I hope this new variant does not start to impact everyones plans too much. Having said that, I am not planning big parties and loads of socialising anyway, I think I must be getting old and,...

MM409

MM409

I forgot how nice and easy my job is. I was in London with a client last week, delivering a face-to-face workshop and it was great fun. I even got to use the trains, stay in a hotel and meet the group for an evening meal, plus a couple of beers. The last...

MM408

MM408

Well, after everything I wrote last week about planning and preparation, I had an absolute disaster on my trip to Ireland! I did the classic mistake of putting the wrong address into my 'maps' and ended up 32 miles past my destination in some country lane, in the...

MM407

MM407

As I mentioned last week, I am off to Ireland today to do some work for a client and I am slightly nervous about doing some face-to-face coaching. How strange! I've been coaching people for over 20 years and, up to now, haven't really thought about...

MM406

MM406

I almost did everything I set out to do last week,  there were a few hiccups to deal with but nothing too stressful. I am still dealing with the 'building site' that use to be my back garden and the initial 2.5 weeks is now on its 7th week. I did change a...

MM405

MM405

This time last week I was celebrating my Birthday, sitting in a hotel in Edinburgh , enjoying the Scottish hospitality with my wife (hence no MM). This is the first time we have travelled for quite some time and it's nice to be able to have a break...

MM404

MM404

Being able to adapt and flex between environments, is something that I have been working on for a few months. My home working situation changes almost daily and I have had to deliver my virtual workshops, 1-1 coaching, meetings and complete my admin tasks in a variety...

MM403

MM403

Well, the house is still a complete mess and we are constantly moving stuff out of the way to get to other 'stuff'. As most of you know, we recently had the kitchen replaced, which took longer than anticipated and is still not completely finished and, at the same...

MM402

MM402

I finally have my weekends back! The first time for a long time, I was really looking forward to the weekend. Over the past couple of years I have gone through peaks and troughs with work and, sometimes, I couldn't tell you which day it was. They all merged into each...

MM401

MM401

I was co-delivering a 1 hour workshop last Friday for a client and, whilst the group were in their break out rooms, I got talking to my co-presenter. We discussed holidays and, as she worked for a cruise company, she shared some of her plans and previous cruise...

MM400

MM400

Finally, last Friday,  I managed to dust off my boots and get back on the playing field again. I was asked a while ago if I wanted to play a charity game, for Ringwood veterans, and I had agreed. As the game got closer I started to wonder if I'd made the right...

MM390

MM390

Some of you noticed that, last week, I missed the MM. I had a few people comment, which actually pleased me as it shows that it is being read and expected by some. ​The reason I missed last week was because I had such a great weekend and was spoilt rotten by...

MM399

MM399

It's my wife and Daughters Birthday today. 23 years ago Cloe appeared and my wife has shared this special day ever since. It has changed the dynamics over the years and meant we all had to adapt how we celebrate each milestone. Sandra's 30th and 40th and Cloe's 16th,...

MM398

MM398

This weekend Bournemouth hosted the annual airshow after the "covid enforced" break. It was great to see the display returning with the Red Arrows back in action as well as all of the other planes / helicopter displays. I am always amazed at the speed and noise of the...

MM397

MM397

Three weeks ago, my wife and I went to the doctors for our annual medical check-up, required by social services to be foster parents. I went first and was put through the normal tests and measures which finished with my blood pressure (BP). It turned...

MM396

MM396

So, as you know, there is no holiday this year and I am at home now when my kitchen is being replaced, which was not the plan. I have no kitchen, there are boxes full of 'stuff' all over the place and my temporary office is cluttered again. I'm in a mess, we are all...

MM395

MM395

I have a dilemma!  I am supposed to be going to Spain soon, I have the flights and accommodation booked but now realise how much it's going to cost. The tests have taken a cheap, short, break away and changed it into an expensive 4 days. If it was just me...

MM318

MM318

I was in Poland last week delivering a workshop on motivation and influence. It is a fantastic topic to explore and we had an interesting day discussing how and what motivates us, who and what influences us and then turned it around to try and understand...

MM317

MM317

Last week I spent 5 days in Sligo, working for a client. My business partner, Mark, was working in Gallway so on Thursday evening we decided to meet halfway for a catch up and a meal. I drove for an hour, met him in the pub and we had a great time putting the world to...

MM316

MM316

With Remembrance Sunday behind us, for another year, it leaves me reflecting on the past and how that has shaped our present world. We have so much to be grateful for and owe so much to those that gave their lives. I feel proud to have followed in my Dad's foot steps...

MM315

MM315

What do you do when the day starts off badly and then continues to get worse? I am working with a client at the moment that is focussed on improving it's customer service. My delegates are mainly male and, most of them, have been in the organisation a long time and...

MM314

MM314

After the IT meltdown last week, I managed to retrieve all of the data I lost - phew! (Thank you Mark B) I don't know about you, but I am enjoying the change in the weather. The clocks went back, leading to darker evenings, and I think it just bring something...

MM313

MM313

After upgrading my computer operating system I suddenly found that I couldn't open my emails! I had been using an old email programme that I was now not able to open up with the new version. I have to be honest, I was so angry! (Please email me if you normally do...

MM312

MM312

With mental health week last week I heard so many people say "It's okay, not to be okay" and I understand and respect the intent that statement has. Personally, I'm not sure that is the way forward as it almost accepts, that some people are struggling, but it doesn't...

MM311

MM311

Last week I was in Ireland working for a couple of clients and on Wednesday I needed to pick up a hire car and drive from Dublin to a hotel in Sligo. I had prepared for the journey, taken my sat nav and had the hotel details so just had to put the post code in...

MM310

MM310

I don't know if you saw the speech given to the world leaders, by Greta Thunberg, the 16 year old Swedish girl on climate change, but I thought it should have been sounding alarm bells. I don't mean about climate change, although I agree we need to take...

MM308

MM308

The weather was fantastic at the weekend, which made the Saturday bike ride a bit more pleasurable. There were 10 in the group and we all set off at 0800 for a planned 3 hour ride. What I found interesting is, that during the ride, people had spurts of...

MM309

MM309

So, another social weekend delayed this weeks MM. I love it when a plan comes together, the restraints are removed and you can just let your hair down. I met up with a couple of RAF mates of mine, which was planned some time ago. It doesn't always run smoothly, as we...

MM307

MM307

At the weekend, my laptop and iPad required a software update. After plugging them in and making sure I had saved everything, just in case, I pressed the button. I didn't really look at what would be changing as, normally, I don't notice any changes. This time was...

MM306

MM306

It seems ages since I last wrote a MM and, to be fair, there have been Bank holidays and a family holiday that have taken priority. The family holiday was in Turkey this year and it was excellent. I managed to switch off from work (apart from 1 conference...

MM305

MM305

Talk about hitting the ground running after completing L'Etape! The guys dropped me off at Champagne-Ardenne rail station so I could get the train to CDG airport and catch my flight, to Warsaw, to deliver a workshop the following day. I was...

MM304

MM304

Some of you may have noticed (or not) that I missed last weeks MM. I was fully optimistic that I would have time to craft something to share but I think I underestimated my position!As some of you know, I had committed to completing L'Etape du Tour this year which...

MM302

MM302

This weeks MM is slightly later due to a busy weekend. I had to prioritise a few things as I'd planned to do some gardening (much needed) it was my anniversary, so I wanted to spend time with Sandra, and I also wanted to get out on my, final, long bike ride...

MM301

MM301

Watching the FIFA Women's World Cup is fascinating. The standard and pace of the game has improved and I find myself being more interested, and feeling, more positive in this contest than the male version. It seems to be honest (no flopping) and the intention to...

MM300

MM300

Having woken this morning to the news that Boris and his partner had an argument over the weekend, was hilarious. What levels do people go to, to service their own needs? I wonder how many other arguments there were, all over the world, that evening, that were...

MM297

MM297

Last Bank holiday weekend we went camping in Wales. It's always a risk camping in the UK as the weather is unpredictable and even the weather apps can get things wrong, so the planning is important, but having a back up plan is more important. Fortunately, this...

MM296

MM296

I planned my travel, last week, to make sure I arrived in Newcastle early enough to check in to my hotel, have something to eat and get an early night, before delivering a workshop for a client the following 2 days. Everything went well. I landed at the right time (no...

MM295

MM295

At the weekend I went to watch a triathlon, that I'd normally compete in. (The Swashbuckler in Beaulieu - highly recommended) It was a nice change to 'rock up' later than usual and watch other athletes compete. The weather was fantastic and it...

MM394

MM394

What a stressful week! I have been trying to get to grips with presenting using a certain virtual platform and it has been painful. It's clunky, confusing and, for me, not fit for purpose. I gravitated towards a more dynamic, useful platform but, it seems, some...

MM294

MM294

Well, after all Tiger Woods has been through, most of it was his own doing, he has finally beaten the odds and made an amazing comeback. The strong message for anyone that has experienced hard times in life, failed, been miserable, tried again, failed...

MM393

MM393

Last Wednesday, I went sea fishing with a group of people to celebrate a friends Birthday. It's not something I do on a regular basis, in fact, probably twice in 12 years, but it was a fantastic day out. We all met at 0945, a very social time of the day, and boarded a...

MM293

MM293

I, like you, get quite a few emails during the day. It's not unmanageable but I do sometimes get fed up, of the useless, unhelpful intrusions to my day. The advertising, marketing and general, product based emails, that I receive, do get an 'unsubscribe' click at...

MM392

MM392

So, it's not coming home! Last nights result would have had a massive impact on the productivity in quite a few organisations this morning. Hangovers, bad moods followed by numerous conversations about what England did or didn't do, should have or shouldn't have done....

MM391

MM391

I'm sure that, like you, there are days when we feel that we are snowed under with things to do, things running around in our heads followed by external interruptions, such as the phone or people talking at you. Last week my head was spinning so...

MM303

MM303

What a fantastic result for Simona Halep and Novak Djokovic winning Wimbledon singles, England for winning the Cricket World Cup and to Lewis Hamilton for winning his sixth British Grand Prix - it was a great weekend for sport. These are amazing examples of...

MM299

MM299

I had a walk down the beach at the weekend and stopped for a coffee along the front. I was doing the normal thing of 'people watching' that we all tend to do when we are out on our own. I left the phone alone and just watched what was going on. It was great to see...

MM298

MM298

I saw this video clip of an interview with Jurgen Klopp (click here) and I have to say "It was a refreshing watch". I love the way he comes across, and his relaxed explanation, of how he has worked with the Liverpool team to build the success within the...

MM292

MM292

A short change in the weather conditions and it was mayhem. Gardening started, washing out on the line, BBQ organised and bike ride completed! It's amazing what a bit of sun does for productivity, with tasks that get put off when we have a cold / wet spell. The...

MM291

MM291

Last Wednesday I felt pressured. I had 4 coaching calls to make, a flight to catch and a hotel to get to, in a place I hadn't been before. The problem was, I needed to get nearer to Southampton as my last call finished at 5pm and my flight was at 6:30pm and...

MM290

MM290

Well, the weather is interesting at the moment, so at least we can talk about something other than Brexit, which is quite refreshing! I have put a couple of bike rides off due to the blustery, windy conditions. It might just be me making excuses, but, I don't find it...

MM289

MM289

Sometimes changes, seemingly, come from nowhere and have a massive impact on people and businesses. There are plenty of examples in the news at the moment with the car industry making big changes, the retailers making big changes and some IT firms having to reinvent...

MM288

MM288

Last week was a strange week for me. I had a few things going on that really flattened my mood and energy levels. It's really unusual for that to happen, even for a day, for me, but I was running at about 60% all week. Knowing that I was under pressure I had to summon...

MM287

MM287

Spending time with friends and family can be a challenge. It takes organising and squeezing into a schedule that is already packed. It can mean putting something else off or making compromises with other planned activities, but, It is worth the effort. I have...

MM286

MM286

Finally, the weather was pleasant to do our normal Saturday ride without having to put massive layers on. I hadn't been out for a while so was a bit apprehensive, as the distance is never published, so you could be joining a 100, 70 or 40 mile ride. As...

MM285

MM285

Sometimes it's good to stick with what you know and not try to dabble in stuff that you know little about - especially when it can be life threatening! Last week we decided that the kitchen was too dark and we needed better lights, so, off we went to B&Q, selected...

MM284

MM284

The planned bike ride over the weekend looked like it was going to be snowed off but, as the weather evolved, Sunday looked promising. We agreed a 07:45 meet for a 100 mile ride which is perfect for the stage of my training.  I got the bike ready, the bike...

MM283

MM283

Having spoken to a few clients last week, I realised that everything is still the same - it's forever changing! All businesses are having to be creative, search for new sales strategies or develop the next wonder product, something that differentiates them from...

MM282

MM282

I popped into see my mate at his house last week and found him in his front room, out of breath, sweating and hardly able to talk. His Neo Tacx turbo trainer had arrived and he was doing a session 'in France'. It made me realise that he is serious about...

MM281

MM281

It's come to that time when I have to make a decision with my car! Do I run it until it breaks or do I part exchange it while it's still worth something? Normally I go down the route of getting my car fixed, repaired and parts replaced to keep it going, but this time...

MM389

MM389

If you are into sports, or not, and specifically football, you would have seen or heard about the terrible incident with Christian Eriksen at the weekend.​ I watched in horror as the medical team carried out life saving skills on him, whilst his team mates...

MM388

MM388

So, at the weekend I joined a few hundred people to do a cycling event. I had been persuaded, 5 weeks ago,  to sign up for the 102 miler by my mate as he was joining a few other people to do the ride. I have been out on 5 training rides and each of them was...

MM387

MM387

A good friend of mine sent me a video to watch last week and it had some great messages so I thought that, for this weeks MM, I'd share it with you. Click here to watch the video (Only 8:16 minutes) Who would you call at 03:00 and would they answer?

MM386

MM386

With the announcements from Boris, opening up England again, I am approaching this with caution, which is not my normal style. I won't be running around hugging everyone but I will start shaking hands again. One of the things I didn't like, about the...

MM384

MM384

Great news, it's a good job I'm not a vet! Billy is looking like a new dog. He does have a bad back and was in pain, but, with a dose of pain killers, has almost returned to normal. As you can imagine everyone is relieved and is pleased to see...

MM383

MM383

So, today is going to be a sad day. I have to take my dog, Billy, to the vets and I have a feeling it will not be good news, and, this week will be his last. He is 12 years old and has had a great life and, in fact, the last year has probably been the...

MM382

MM382

What a result, football is back on and now the gyms are open again. I have booked my first session for today, at 12pm, and I am looking forward to getting back. Although I have carried on with my exercise, it has been different, in a good way. I am building...

MM381

MM381

Well, finally we can start to play football and have a round of golf again. I feel so happy that these activities are available as they are a big part of my life. I also like the fact I can have a BBQ with friends and socialise a bit, I just hope the...

MM380

MM380

Last Friday I was on my way to pick my Son up from the local skate park at around 8pm. On my way I noticed that the car in front of me did not have their rear lights working, which could have resulted in an accident, so I decided to flash my head lights to warn them....

MM379

MM379

I forgot to mention a few weeks ago, that the young lad moving in with us does not speak a word of English and we do not speak his language either. So the past 2 weeks have been interesting, but we have got by. The ability to communicate using mainly...

MM378

MM378

School is back! There are so many parents smiling like cheshire cats this morning. A wave of relief has spread over those parents who have struggled to home school their children. I must admit, I have had it easy as my children are older and only one of them is...

MM377

MM377

Spring is here and we have had some delightful sunny days recently. It does make it easier to be upbeat, get jobs done and puts an extra bounce in your step. Not that the weather is 'the' determining factor, but it is a considerable one for most. I did get a few...

MM376

MM376

A slightly later MM this week due to other activities at weekend taking more of my time. Sometimes it's good to prioritise other things and the weekend was absorbed with Grandchildren and family stuff. On Saturday I managed to sit down and watch a film, in...

MM375

MM375

I hope you all had a nice weekend and enjoyed Valentines day, irrespective if you have a partner or not. I noticed that the shops suddenly got busier over the weekend, with people doing their last minute shopping for this specific day. It is crazy, but it made me...

MM273

MM273

Last week I celebrated another Birthday and enjoyed the day spending time with my family. I noticed that, this year, I got a few more 'physical' cards which was a pleasant surprise and made me feel appreciated as a friend, Father, Son and Husband. The social...

MM373

MM373

On Friday I had my second negative CV-19 test. I am getting tested, every week, for 12 weeks so the scientists can build data on asymtamatic transmission of the virus, well at least I think that's what it's for. I must admit it's nice to know I haven't got...

MM372

MM372

Last week I caught one of the foster kids stealing. After installing a sneaky internal camera, I caught the culprit, red handed. I had a feeling that there was some movement in the kitchen downstairs after we had gone to bed, for the...

MM371

MM371

I hope you had a great weekend and your week ahead looks positive. Last week I think the family finally experienced a dose of 'cabin fever'. With 8 of us (plus the dog) living under the same roof, the house appeared to shrink. Everyone was getting in each others...

MM370

MM370

After a nice weekend, I am looking forward to getting some things loaded on to and checked off of my to do list. I don't know about you but my 'to do lists' have changed massively. It now includes things like: Go for a walk and enjoy nature Do some meditation /...

MM369

MM369

I hope your Christmas was fun and full of nice surprises, mine certainly was. 2021 is starting with a limp and although Brexit is agreed and done, to some degree, we still have loads of hurdles to jump over. Businesses are still reeling from the affects of CV-19 wave...

MM368

MM368

The Christmas tree is finally up and decorated. We left it later than normal but decided to involve the Grandchildren in the experience. Nanny always has the final say, as to which tree we end up with, but everyone chipped in with their comments. Personally I stay out...

MM336

MM336

Normally, on Bank Holidays, I refrain from doing a Monday Motivator but seeing as things are different this year, I thought I'd reach out and wish you all a Happy Easter. I hope you make the most of what you do have today. Here is my 'to do list' for...

MM335

MM335

With so much time on my hands I feel like I am not being productive enough and I am at a loss as to what I should do! So, Mark and I decided to do a conference call and discuss how we could approach building the business again. We talked about key...

MM334

MM334

Another week completed to get us nearer to the end of COVID-19's impact. Being positive, every day is a step closer to normality and the return of the routine in our lives. Although I have made a decision to wake whenever I wake, and not set an alarm,...

MM333

MM333

Well, I hope this MM finds you well and in good spirits. I know that must sound like a crazy thing to say, but what else can we do? I am going mad as work is cancelled, or postponed, and some of my clients have just gone quiet! My potential earnings,...

MM332

MM332

I travelled to Leeds, last week, to do some shadow coaching with a client, but instead of flying I had to take the train, due to Flybe no longer operating. My Son dropped me off at the station and I went to the platform to wait for the train when I suddenly realised...

MM331

MM331

Panic buying, events being cancelled and businesses closing, what a time we are having because the media are spinning everything negative about Coronavirus. I know it is bad and needs dealing with, but by generating this hysteria, the media has done more bad...

MM330

MM330

As you are reading this, I will be in Krakow on a short break away. This is one, of the few trips, I have booked this year and it gives me something to look forward to, every few months. The reason I have started to book more breaks away is because I...

MM329

MM329

Rain, rain, go away..... Yes, even I have had enough of the relentless rain! The reason I am getting bored with the weather is that it is now impacting my routine. Jack's (My Son) football games have been cancelled, cycling has been called off, which means...

MM328

MM328

After a week of meetings, calls, emails and a couple of days working from home, I feel satisfied. Not every week has the variety of last week and I do sometimes forget how great my job is, working with people and having the flexibility to plan my working week to...

MM327

MM327

Wow, what a storm! Ciara certainly blew the cobwebs away over the weekend. Knowing that the storm was coming and how severe it would be, was really helpful. I secured things in the back garden, checked shed doors and garden gates to ensure they wouldn't get damaged or...

MM326

MM326

Over the weekend there was some brilliant sport to watch on TV. With Liverpool winning again, Bournemouth getting a well needed win and Spurs turning over Man City, I couldn't complain. It does bewilder me that, even with some of the best players available,...

MM325

MM325

At the weekend we decided to go to a hotel and have a meal, to give my wife a break from cooking a Sunday roast and spend time with my Mum. We went to a place we hadn't been before and it was a great choice. The venue had loads of character, it was spacious and the...

MM324

MM324

I was out in Arnhem last week working when I received some bad news, a good friend of mine, from school, lost his battle with cancer. He died peacefully, if that is possible, and had his family around him. I went to visit him about 5 months ago, as I knew he was ill,...

MM323

MM323

What a great week, everything is back to normal and I feel like I am in control again. I managed to get back into my gym routine and it's amazing how busy the gym is! I bumped into people I haven't seen for years, starting their New Years resolutions, long may it...

MM322

MM322

Happy New Year! Are we back to normal yet? It feels like I have been 'playing' at work for the last few weeks. Don't get me wrong, I have done everything I needed to do, but that is about it! Have you hit the ground running or are you still easing your way back...

MM320

MM320

"Manners maketh man." Do you know what that means? Then let me teach you a lesson. What a great quote from the film, Kingsman: The Secret Service where Colin Firth played the part of Harry Hart.  I though of that quote while observing some young...

MM319

MM319

So we are finally in December and I must admit, I am looking forward to the Christmas break. This year has been an interesting one for me and I have never said this, about any previous year before, but "I will be glad to see the back of 2019" Even...

MM321

MM321

After delivering my final session for the year, last week, I am now into a different type of 'productivity mode'. It's time to catch up with the admin and round off the year, whilst ensuring we have plans to start the New Year strong. It's also time to...

MM367

MM367

The gym was so busy last week and everyone seemed so happy to be there. The new standard of cleanliness is amazing with everyone wiping down machines, putting weights back and being polite to each other. Why wasn't it always like this? Having worked in gyms, for a...

MM366

MM366

Well it's finally here, Christmas music has landed! I must admit I am looking forward to Christmas as I see it as a celebration of survival this year. It won't be the same as other years and I know most people will feel the same. I am viewing it through a...

MM365

MM365

Walking down the beach this weekend was nice. The weather was ok ,with potential rain at any moment, but it was pleasant. It was quite busy as I think everyone had the same idea to get some fresh air and a bit of exercise. There were runners, cyclists, dog walkers,...

MM364

MM364

The weather was terrible on Saturday and I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed dropping my Daughter and Granddaughter to Hengistbury Head (near the beach) to meet her Mum and watch them get absolutely soaked within minutes. The reason for my enjoyment was not a sadistic...

MM363

MM363

Over the weekend things seemed quiet, but normal. I think I have become use to the feeling of being in lock down, social distancing and going on walks in remote places. The restrictions are not as harsh as the original lock down and some shops are operating at...

MM362

MM362

So, after the initial lock down and 5 months of no 6-a-side football, I finally got the chance to play our normal Monday game again. As usual, I assumed I could just begin where I left off which was my first mistake! Within 35 minutes I had 'pulled' my...

MM360

MM360

I bumped into my wife in the kitchen, literally, and she said "You always get in the way" and I replied " Your spacial awareness is shocking" - it made us both laugh but it does raise the fact that we all see things from our own perspective. Life is full of conflict...

MM359

MM359

Here it is, the cold wet weather is upon us. The darkness has arrived and the energy of the nation has plummeted. Communication between families is now monosyllabic and reduced to minimum interaction, everyone is in a bad mood. But only if that's how you...

MM358

MM358

So, before the weather gets really bad, we decided to go camping in the New Forest at the weekend. I have to admit that after committing to going I immediately regretted it. I knew the weather was turning and the possibility of a nice sunny weekend was unlikely,...

MM344

MM344

I have, in the past, thought about changing the Monday Motivator into the Monday Moan! It would be so much easier to moan about things I don't like, disagree with or think are wrong with this world, my life and my job. I can immediately think of loads of things in...

MM342

MM342

I don't know about you but I am 'zoomed out' and fed up with virtual engagement. It was fun and exciting to start off with, and I think will be more readily used from now on, but it isn't the same as getting in a room and having a genuine face-to-face experience. I...

MM341

MM341

Simple things! I recently brought a new electric toothbrush that monitors time and pressure when cleaning your teeth. It comes with a timer, which has 4 stars (completed 2 mins) and also a face that either smiles, is neutral or frowns, depending on how you clean your...

MM340

MM340

There is a light at the end of the tunnel - fantastic. This is not the first time I have heard this in my life and I am sure it is the same for you. Throughout my life there have been dark moments and someone, close to me, would have used that...

MM339

MM339

Another 'virtual' week completed and things are moving along nicely. It has taken a while to move away from holiday mode, into panic mode, followed by chilled mode and now into production mode.  I don't know about you, but the stages of change have...

MM338

MM338

Another week, ticked off, and another couple to get through before we find out more information on how we are going to exit this saga. I do like to catch up most nights and listen to the updates and hear the reporters questions, although I do find some of them...

MM337

MM337

Staying at home, and staying mentally positive, is tougher than I thought it would be. Fortunately, with 5 of us (plus the dog) all in one house, we are getting on well. There have been no big arguments, no 'real' cross words and no sulking. We are probably doing...

MM357

MM357

With, potentially, tough times ahead again it's a good time to prepare for a bit of a rollercoaster ride. I hope the' ups' are brilliant and 'downs' are not too extreme for anyone. The next few months will be interesting and challenging and there will be...

MM356

MM356

So, back in the UK now having been cycling in Switzerland. I have 14 days isolation and the question is "Was it worth it?" The answer is not so simple because it depends who's perspective you are looking from! From my perspective, I think it was fantastic. We did some...

MM355

MM355

So, because our original cycling event was postponed from July to September and then subsequently cancelled, it felt like we needed to still do something. I have to admit I was a bit nervous about completing the 108 mile ride with over 15,000 ft climbs in one day,...

MM349

MM349

It's great when the sun comes out again and the weather opens up the possibility of doing outdoor activities. At the weekend I went cycling, had the obligatory BBQ and watched an evening film in a neighbours back garden. It was really nice to be able to do that and...

MM348

MM348

I know this is not a Monday but I feel the need to write a mid-week blog based on some feedback I had about my recent MM regarding 'Black Lives Matter'. I had no-idea that I would offend anyone, which only goes to show how uneducated I was about this particular...

MM347

MM347

Well, as some of you know, I am a Liverpool fan and it is impossible for me not to mention being Premiership champions with 7 games still left to play. I know Man City gave us a beating last Thursday, but it does not take away the amazing season Liverpool have...

MM346

MM346

It was my Mum's 80th Birthday on Saturday and we had a big party planned in a nice venue with a band and food booked. The invitations had all gone out and people had organised hotels and travel. As you can imagine, it didn't happen! With the current travel...

MM345

MM345

Having 4 children is starting to pay dividends, Fathers day yesterday, was fantastic. All of my children were thoughtful, wrote in cards, brought gifts and made an effort during the day, to make me feel appreciated. We even finished the day with a BBQ, a few...

MM354

MM354

The 'staycation' in Wales was fantastic! We had 3 days with 9 of us camping, which, could have been disastrous if the weather had been awful. Fortunately we had 2 scorching hot days where we got a chance to visit the nearby lake and get out on the peddlos, go horse...

MM353

MM353

I saw a short interview with Robin van Persie talking about a conversation with his Son. It made me smile and realise that there is a message there for everyone. Click here for the short clip As I am officially on holiday for the next 10 days and going to...

MM352

MM352

After 4 years of living with us, one of our foster kids is moving on. It is a sad time but mixed with the joy of success. He is getting his own flat and now is an independent adult. We will, of course, keep in touch and offer him ongoing support and guidance - this...

MM351

MM351

My Son was getting excited about his planned holiday to Mallorca, on the 3rd August, when the news about Spain having a second spike came in. I could tell that emotionally he was still planning on going, so I left it a while before I had a conversation with him!...

MM350

MM350

This weekend was quite draining, emotionally and physically. Our Daughter finally decided to move back to Brighton, after 3 years at Uni followed by lockdown with us, and she started looking for a replacement property. So she left on Friday, but we secretly...

MM264

MM264

With August just about to begin, I realise that Christmas is not far away! I still have a couple of major things to look forward to this year, as I have the Copenhagen Ironman followed by the family holiday in August that still need some planning. Looking back at...

MM361

MM361

With the weather being so nice at the weekend, I went for a walk with my wife along the beach. Whilst enjoying the calmness and beautiful views I felt a small knock to my leg and turned my head to see this angry woman dragging her daughter away from me, but scowling...

MM280

MM280

I'm not sure how the Christmas break for you was but mine was a rollercoaster ride. As you can imagine, there was laughter and tears, involving friends and family, just like most households at this time. The majority was positive and, for once, my wife and I...

MM279

MM279

As I have officially delivered my last workshop, for this year, it is time to start planning for next year! I feel positive and welcome the time to reflect, celebrate and plan. We have done the normal business planning which is always an ongoing,...

MM278

MM278

After a busy week away, I am ready for a bit of rest. I am enjoying the sense of Christmas being near and love the feeling of joy and excitement that, that brings. In the town centre the lights are up, the music is playing and people are enjoying the atmosphere. ...

MM277

MM277

As much as we succeed in many things in our lives, from passing our first maths test to achieving great things with sport, business or personal goals, we never do it on our own or in isolation. Every success may be driven by one person but the support...

MM276

MM276

How wonderful is life? We have so many options with everything on offer, from education, politics, gender, sexuality, career, social events, watching TV, social media. It goes on and on. The generation of choice is here! The problem is that there is so much choice it...

MM275

MM275

I saw the picture, on the right, last week and it made me think how different we are as humans and how I disagree with the statement, but understand the sentiment. Humans are all made of the same physical 'stuff' but our environment is the thing that needs to be...

MM274

MM274

It's a horrible thing to get a bug, a cold or have the flu. Last week I had a sore throat and ended up with a cold. For 3 days I was sniffing, coughing and sneezing and this is very unusual for me - I hated it. My head and eyes felt like there was a constant...

MM272

MM272

Good morning and happy Monday! After my diabolical travel experience to Berlin, I got some good news from KLM, they paid us compensation that nearly covered the cost of the holiday! Normally I wouldn't complain about things, but in this instance, I decided...

MM271

MM271

Last week I travelled to Berlin, with my wife, to meet up with friends for a short break. It didn't start off well... A delayed flight from Southampton meant we missed a connection in Amsterdam, we were then re-routed via Brussels and finally onto Berlin. My wife's...

MM270

MM270

How do you feel - right now? Excited, motivated, focussed or tired, fed up and empty? Monday mornings affect people in different ways. For some people it's the start to a fantastic week ahead, and for others, it's not! In reality, it's another day in our lives,...

MM269

MM269

I am constantly impressed by talented people and say to myself "I wish I could do that". The reality is though, I probably couldn't put the time and effort in, to get to their standards. As life is busy, and I am no spring chicken anymore, some things are behind me -...

MM268

MM268

Back to reality, with a bump! After 16 days out of the business I found myself struggling to get back into work mode. I don't know how it is for you, but this is the first time I had a problem and I think it was because I had a longer break than normal. I do think I...

MM266

MM266

The football season has started! This is fantastic news for me as I love to watch certain games and enjoy the banter when watching matches with mates. It can take over some evenings and the weekends so, as with anything, it has to be planned and negotiated with...

MM267

MM267

I am sat in my hotel room, after the Ironman (IM) event yesterday, and thought I'd reflect on my experience before heading off on my family holiday. So this is from 3 weeks ago... I signed up for the Copenhagen Ironman event last year with a friend of mine and as...

MM265

MM265

Listening to the news over the weekend I experienced something that we all experience when hearing the different segments - good and bad news. What struck me was the fact we can move from a death to a winning hockey game, without so much as a thought. I am so...

MM259

MM259

Last week, I was driving along on a nice sunny day behind a few cars, when suddenly there was a load of feathers in the air. This normally means a bird has just been killed and I was expecting to see the victim in the road, but, to my surprise, I glanced down to the...

MM263

MM263

Since the long spell of great weather, it's seemed like I've been in holiday mode. Don't get me wrong, I have actually worked as normal and done what I have needed to do, but, I have also taken time out to enjoy the sun and meet people for a catch up...

MM262

MM262

The bubble was well and truly burst and Croatia took the wind out of our sails. It's not coming home - this year! I still feel that coming fourth is a great achievement and has moved English football, and the way managers think, from around the world, into a...

MM261

MM261

I suppose most people are getting excited with the World Cup situation at the moment, even those that don't really like football. My wife was texting me during the England vs. Columbia game and she doesn't like football, so I know the interest, emotions...

MM260

MM260

I was sitting in front of the computer, last Friday morning, when my Daughter walked in the room and said "Let me know when you want to go" which is when I realised I'd said I'd go running with her! I immediately searched for excuses, in my head, and thought about the...

MM258

MM258

Sometimes I'm not sure we know the impact of small gestures, acts or words can have on others. A polite gesture to let someone go first, opening a door for someone or complimenting a person, can change their day. Making people feel good should come naturally and,...

MM257

MM257

Sometimes I'm not sure we know the impact of small gestures, acts or words can have on others. A polite gesture to let someone go first, opening a door for someone or complimenting a person, can change their day. Making people feel good should come naturally and,...

MM256

MM256

So after a few weeks and a string of football injuries, ranging from broken fingers, a 'popped' AC joint through to stitches in my head, I decided to review my football activities. Should I carry on playing, putting things down to bad luck or should I...

MM255

MM255

Loving life and only just getting started! Living the dream! I couldn't be better!  Those are common responses when people are asked "How are you?"  The 'FaceBook facade' is a strong lie people tell and it exists everywhere and, if you dig a little...

MM254

MM254

After the great weather, which extended into the Bank holiday weekend, I feel grateful to live in Bournemouth. The sun, sea and sangria was a welcome change and it put me, and millions of others, in a great mood. I noticed how vibrant people were, the laughter and,...

MM253

MM253

I have just returned from a 4-day trip to Mallorca, cycling. We (me and Tony) went to complete the Mallorca 312 which is a cycling event held every year. It comprises of 3 distances, 167km, 225km and 312km. As we had previously completed the 167km, we decided that...

MM252

MM252

Nearly 40,000 people ran the London marathon yesterday. There were all shapes, sizes, ages, abilities, disabilities but everyone had one thing in common - they all did something that some people will never do. What does it take to complete something like that? The...

MM251

MM251

So the first major challenge for the year was last weekend and it was in the form of the Bournemouth half marathon. I hadn't really done any significant running, up to that point, but I have cycled a bit, so my thought was.... I should be ok. I was supposed to be...

MM250

MM250

Whilst cycling with a mate of mine last week, we were having a chat about the future and how we see things going. I mentioned that I think my wife would be running her NEXT store, in about 5 years time. That made me think of how much she has had to endure, over the...

MM249

MM249

I was speaking to a client last week (Good morning Amanda and Sarah 🙂 on a catch up call, and during the call they mentioned that they still read, and enjoyed receiving the MM. I completely forgot that some people have been reading these posts...

MM248

MM248

Whilst contemplating 'things' I noticed that my computer's screen saver kicked in and the statement "Be the best you can be" started moving along the screen. I previously set that up and it made me think "What does that actually mean?" After all, it is, potentially,...

MM247

MM247

I was delivering a couple of workshops for a client, last week, around Communication and Influence. The material included having quality conversations and dealing with potential conflict. The group in the morning seemed to enjoy the session so I was looking forward to...

MM246

MM246

Well that was a shock! Snow, icy winds and a load of problems with traffic, travel and delays. I must admit, for a change, I actually enjoyed the experience. On Thursday, the Bournemouth cold weather came later than the rest of the country so I made the most of the...

MM245

MM245

On Saturday I had committed to take my Mum and her friend to a reunion with old RAF mates. We started out at 10:30 and got on our way from Bournemouth to Milton Keynes. The sat nav decided the M3 - M25 - M1 was the fastest route so off we went. With traffic doing the...

MM244

MM244

All of last week I was out supporting a project for a client. It was another 'full on' week with a mixture of delivery, facilitation and coaching.  Normally, this is quite a tough week with personalities playing out and emotions rising high, in certain...

MM243

MM243

Last week was so cold and, guess what, our heating broke down! We were so cold and there was no hot water. I went to the gym to shower, the boys didn't bother and my wife boiled the kettle a few times! It was amazing how quickly life changed for us. It was...

MM242

MM242

At the weekend, as planned, we gutted our bedroom, repainted the walls, the skirting boards and replaced the carpet ready for our new bed to be delivered today. This action plan had been booked in our diaries as soon as we had committed to buy the new bed. I did...

MM241

MM241

Last week, I spent the whole week with some graduates at an outdoor centre running team building activities. I had 12 people in my group, but there were 65 'Grads' in total and 5 facilitators.  We worked along side the centre instructors delivering some theory to...

MM240

MM240

Often, on a Sunday morning, I afford myself the luxury of laying in bed, with a cup of coffee watching the Andrew Marr show.  As usual he had a variety of people reading and discussing topics in the newspapers, he interviewed Emmanuel Macron and he had a guest...

MM239

MM239

As the year gets under way and January is nearly over, I thought a short motivational video might assist you in re-energising your actions towards your goals for the rest of the year. I know for a fact, for me,  motivation can come and go, in a heart beat. I...

MM238

MM238

With the first week under our belt, the dust settled and the routine back in place, I thought I'd share an article that I read last year. It's called "13 Things you should give up if you want to be successful" (Click here for the article) I read this and thought...

MM237

MM237

Well it's that time of the year to wish you all a fantastic Christmas and a Happy New Year. What a complete blast 2017 was. There was so much going on, it was difficult to know where to focus! Brexit, Trump, advancements in technology, medicine and environmentally...

MM236

MM236

Have you ever had one of those days where nothing goes to plan? I had 2 in a row last week! I seemed to be well planned but every simple choice seemed to go against me. The choice of route to each destination was the wrong choice with traffic or roadworks getting in...

MM235

MM235

Is there such a thing as coincidence or does everything happen for a reason? It is easy to say "How strange was that" and then move on before really giving things another thought. I have probably missed quite a few opportunities because I haven't explored the...

MM234

MM234

Can you believe people are already putting up Christmas decorations? It's only November and I have loads to do - I can't think of Christmas yet! Although, having said that, I do like to see the effort, people are prepared to put in, to making a great job of lighting...

MM233

MM233

I watched this video last week and thought that, if you have a spare few minutes, this would set your week up in a different way. I personally had to watch it a couple of times as Shawn has so many great things to share and I would recommend having a pen and a piece...

MM232

MM232

After a busy week behind me, I am looking forward to building momentum for 2018. As a business, we have achieved most of what we set out to achieve but this is no time to take the foot off the peddle.  In fact, now is the time to accelerate forward and get...

MM231

MM231

Watching my children grow up fills me with joy, pride and nervousness!  I wonder how things will pan out for them. Will they have fantastic lives and enjoy every moment? I suppose most parents will, at some point, wonder if they have done enough to help each...

MM230

MM230

After months of deliberation I decided to bite the bullet and turn up for a RAF Veterans football match. It's been 10 years since I played 11-a-side football so I was a bit worried about how I'd perform. Over the months building up to this commitment, I had brought...

MM229

MM229

Last week I sent the MM out at a different time. I wish I could say that it was an experiment to see who noticed, but in all honesty, I had run out of time at the weekend, so hadn't prepared as I normally do. I didn't give it much thought until a couple of the...

MM228

MM228

If you have ever used online sites to sell unwanted items, you know that sometimes it's really straight forward and other times it is not! I was trying to sell a bed base for my Mum. It had never been used as it was in her house when she moved in and she already had...

MM227

MM227

Being the assistant manager for an under 18's team, makes the weekends fairly busy but I love being involved, especially as my Son plays. It gives me time to watch him play, see him develop as a player and grow as a man. This weekend was not quite what we had...

MM226

MM226

How was your weekend? Did you get everything done that you had planned? I knew my weekend would be busy so I decided to take a day off on Thursday instead!  I went to the gym, played golf and then went out with a couple of mates for something to eat and a few...

MM225

MM225

Finally after 10 months of waiting, I got the chance to meet my Sister face-to-face and confront her about some 'feedback' she gave me last November.  Even though she had upset me with her words, we still maintained a polite relationship, for my Mum's sake....

MM224

MM224

The weekend was full of joy but tinged with a large dose of sadness. It is time for our second Daughter to move away to her new home (for 3 years). University is the next stage in her life and I am sure it will be full of fun and excitement with pressure and...

MM223

MM223

Well the weather has turned towards Autumn and the wind and rain. You have to be grateful that it is all manageable though.  I still got out on the mountain bike at the weekend, even though I had to take a waterproof just in case, my Son still played...

MM222

MM222

After a fun packed week in Turkey, 3 years ago, I promised my kids that I would treat them to a skydive when we were on holiday this year.  Unfortunately, the drop zone was 250 miles away and the minimum age was 16. This meant that Eddie (12) couldn't now be a...

MM221

MM221

After a fantastic break away in Croatia, I feel refreshed and ready to go again. The holiday itself had some challenges with trying to keep everyone happy, engaged and, sometimes, given space to do nothing. We did boat trips, kayaking, beach days, visits to the local...

MM220

MM220

Everything about this man is amazing. I was on the edge of my seat watching this race and he ran it beautifully, I can't wait to watch the 5000 race. His success is driven by his desire to be the best and this is not only in his sporting career.  He does what...

MM219

MM219

On TV last week, I watched a man filling up buckets with water, from his front room floor. There had been a big rain fall and his house ended up with water up to six feet deep. You could see the marks where the water had reached and, as you can imagine, his place was...

MM218

MM218

As our holiday will be upon us soon, I have realised that this is probably the last time that (the three remaining home based children) will be coming with us. Next year the idea of going on holiday with Mum and Dad, will be replaced with an exciting 'friends' holiday...

MM217

MM217

Saturday was a complete write off! I went out with a group of people for a (motor) bike ride at 09:30 and didn't return home until 5:15pm. It wasn't quite like 'Wild Hogs' but it was fantastic. (Click here for full film!) I didn't get any of my planned...

MM216

MM216

After another week away, delivering different material to a diverse number of people, I realise that some of the good 'old fashioned stuff' is as relevant today, as it was 20+ years ago. Some information needs to be covered over and over again because, as we are so...

MM215

MM215

You have to love life and the contrast we can experience. I mean one minute I can feel under pressure and tense and the next minute I am relaxed, laughing and having a great time. I delivered some work last week with a client, that I really enjoyed. It was effortless...

MM214

MM214

So last weeks challenge was nothing to do with travel, you will be glad to hear! It came in the form of a house move. Anyone who has moved house will know how quickly the pressure can build between people. My Mum has moved from a 4 bedroom detached house, after 30+...

MM213

MM213

After another busy week, I finally got on the train home. 4 days away in Madrid and London and boy was I looking forward to getting home. Unfortunately, the train ride home had some problems and I ended up sitting in a train on the tracks for 3 extra hours before the...

MM212

MM212

I met up with my mate to do a CrossFit session and after we had finished we caught up quickly. He is currently busy with work and travelling all over the place, his life is hectic. I have also been very busy and we haven't really had the chance to catch up, which I...

MM211

MM211

After a horrific week in Manchester followed by senseless killings in London Saturday night, it seems strange to write a MM and try to be upbeat. My heart goes out to all of the people involved and to all those affected. What has the world come to? I have...

MM210

MM210

It seems that people are out to test me. I feel battered and bruised from the pressure to get things done. All because someone is being unreasonable and impatient.  In short, life has been stressful and frustrating. Now I get how it feels for most people in...

MM209

MM209

Last week I was delivering a session on having quality conversations, especially in stressful situations. Things like controlling your emotions and seeing things from someone else's perspective, were discussed. I loved covering this topic as I feel it is an easy one...

MM208

MM208

Who would believe it - exercise is good for you! It's on the news again and the message is the same as it has been for years. If you exercise for 30 minutes a day you can reduce the risk of: Heart related issues High blood pressure Diabetes Dementia Depression Click...

MM207

MM207

Last week was busy, which meant time away from home, in hotels, travelling and hard work. I enjoyed every minute, it was challenging, exciting and rewarding. I did love getting home, being around my family and getting back into my own bed. Having said that, the...

MM206

MM206

The half marathon last weekend was great, we all finished and without any injuries. I didn't set a new PB but that wasn't the intention. I enjoyed running with friends, supporting their efforts and achieving this together. Sometimes the objective is not about...

MM205

MM205

I'm sitting here contemplating the half marathon I have on Sunday. I, once again, have not really done enough training to make this a comfortable experience. I feel that this is a strong pattern in my life that I may need to address. It's not just in the physical...

MM204

MM204

I finally cut the lawn! I had tried to mow the lawn about a week ago but the lawnmower broke (belt came off) and I couldn't be bothered to try and undo the 5000 bolts to get to it!  So I left it a week before I looked at the broken mower and Sandra had started to...

MM203

MM203

The excitement was building last week for my Son Eddie. He was going on a school trip on Friday but on the Monday morning I noticed a difference in his behaviour. He almost jumped out of bed every morning, counting the days down. The whole week was engulfed with kit...

MM202

MM202

Looking at my diary, this week looks fantastic. Meetings with potential new clients, some 1-1 coaching and a couple of social events.  It couldn't be more pleasant. I do like it when I look forward to the week ahead, although this is not always the case. ...

MM201

MM201

It's a different world now, than 5 years ago, but I think the biggest changes are still to come. I often sit and wonder what things will be like in 10 years time and ask myself the question "Will I be able to keep up?" I have already shut out Instagram and Snapchat as...

MM200

MM200

After 4 days in Amsterdam and a busy 3 weeks I was really looking forward to getting home on Thursday evening.  I arrived at the airport in good time, only to be told that all flights had been cancelled! Well, anyone that has experienced this knows all of the...

MM199

MM199

With another week spent in a bunk bed, it was great to wake up in my own bed, at the weekend, turn the TV on and drink my coffee.  How I missed my routine, the ability to sit up in bed and catch up on the world, whilst sipping my coffee. I am so grateful for...

MM198

MM198

After a week of delivering on a graduate development programme, I really understand that some people get more from certain things than others. It's obvious when we are dealing with young children, some enjoy things that others don't, and therefore take away a...

MM198

MM198

After a week of delivering on a graduate development programme, I really understand that some people get more from certain things than others. It's obvious when we are dealing with young children, some enjoy things that others don't, and therefore take away a...

MM197

MM197

Last week I was doing some work with people that had been in the organisation for years. Some since the age of 17 and had never been anywhere else, others had experienced other industries but had 'ended up here' and never left. They were institutionalised and had...

MM196

MM196

Due to the influence of a friend of mine, I have started to try a new form of exercise (for me) called CrossFit. This is basically high intensity activities using a variety of exercises from multiple sports, then adding weights. It's killing me! Every time I go...

MM195

MM195

Letting go can be the hardest thing to do, but, for some situations, it's the best solution for all involved. It could be a relationship that is not working, a job that sucks, an employee that is just not working out, or a sport you have 'out grown' ...

MM194

MM194

With the weather taking a turn for the worse and the rail strikes affecting many people and businesses, it's easy to be a bit down about things. Cold, wet, stuck in traffic or spending hours commuting can certainly knock, even the most resilient person. Before you...

MM193

MM193

With Christmas finished and the New Year festivities over, it is time to put some thought into 2017. New Years resolutions with some purpose and planning, is what I am thinking. I must admit, I do get a little bored when people tell me about the things they will try...

MM192

MM192

With the build up to Christmas reaching frenetic levels, I realise I have, once again, left things to the last minute.  I always feel as though there is plenty of time and then suddenly, whoosh, it's nearly Christmas and I have so much to get organised....

MM191

MM191

Last Friday I got the opportunity to attend a workshop  called The Charisma Connection. A friend of mine was delivering the session locally and I was intrigued to find out what it was all about. The day went well and was different from my original expectations. I...

MM190

MM190

What a fantastic week, another trip to Amsterdam followed by a productive Friday and relaxing slip into the weekend. I am sure it was not the same for everyone though. I listened to the people from Holland, last week, describing their lives.  They all seemed...

MM189

MM189

Last week, sitting at Amsterdam airport, having finished delivering a 2-day management skills module, I watched people.  I was there early enough to enjoy a pint and something to eat, whilst making some really interesting observations. As you can imagine there...

MM188

MM188

For the last couple of weeks I have experienced a 'technical glitch' with the Monday Motivator, meaning I couldn't load pictures and create the message I wanted to. So, as you do, I called the service provider and asked what was going on and could they fix it ASAP -...

MM187

MM187

On Saturday morning I woke up and found myself in a productive mood. I thought "Today is a great day to get stuff done". With my wife and Daughter at work and the rest of the guys planning their days, I decided to do some jobs I'd been putting off. Cleaning the car,...

MM186

MM186

How do you protect yourself from all the pressures of modern day living? Our window cleaner was talking the other day about how he struggles with some aspects of family life. His two children (boys 7 & 9) constantly argue and he finds himself becoming angry and...

MM185

MM185

So, after completing the ironman two weeks ago, the only exercise I have come even close to doing, is watching it on TV. I have had some things to do and also allowed myself some 'down time' from sport and exercise. I could get use to this! I do realise that if I...

MM184

MM184

I was lying in bed on Saturday morning when my eyes flickered open.  I looked at the time and it was 06:44 and I suddenly thought "Wow, this time last week I was on a beach in Mallorca, with 2500 other people, just about to start the 2.4 mile sea swim of the...

MM183

MM183

I met with a business owner last week to discuss how we could use his expertise for some of our clients, and vice versa. After hearing what he offers and how he delivers his product, I was really impressed. He had left his job to pursue his passion and the energy came...

MM182

MM182

As much as I truly believe that potential is endless in people, and we can always be even better, there must be a certain amount of personal desire to release it. I have had foster children living with us for 7 years now and have always believed that they can change,...

MM181

MM181

Being classed as a leader in business comes with many challenges and, if I were to look at the 7 qualities on the picture, this would take constant focus to be brilliant at them all. If you were to measure yourself against each quality, how would you score? Some...

MM180

MM180

The past 6 weeks have been fantastic. Time spent on holiday, an opportunity to re-connect with the family and space to breathe. This also comes with some challenges though. A constant need to entertain, keep busy and fill the void of school time that normally...

MM179

MM179

Just back from my week away, and I have some 'admin' to catch up on so I thought another short MM was in order.  Listen more than you speak, you may learn more......

MM178

MM178

As I am on holiday this week and still wanted to connect with you for this weeks MM I thought that I would share some thoughts with you that, someone much more intelligent than me, was quoted having said. I trust one or two of them resonate with you and keep you going...

MM177

MM177

With the Summer holidays upon us, I do expect to be distracted from time to time. I become a taxi driver, driving instructor, an activity / event planner and I spend time just being with the kids. As a self-employed person, often working from home, this can be a...

MM176

MM176

It is disappointing when a contract falls through or a sale doesn't complete so how do we deal with a negative result or rejection? Sometimes I hide away and avoid people to give myself space. Other times I get mad, shout a bit, storm off and hit the gym or go for a...

MM175

MM175

So, after the bad experience at Luton airport last week, which was even worse on our return, I reviewed last weeks MM. I realised that I had not put as much effort into it, as I would normally do, and didn't make the business / life lesson links that I try to do. I...

MM174

MM174

Friday morning, Bournemouth to Luton, the traffic was OK and I was well ahead of time - perfect! But when I arrived at Luton airport, things changed! It was terrible, why would anyone choose to use Luton airport?  The experience was awful. It was crowded, hot and...

MM173

MM173

Last Sunday I had one of my milestone events to complete and I was ready for it. I have done quite a bit of training and was thinking that this would be a good test leading to my Ironman in September. A couple of days before, I started getting my kit ready and was...

MM172

MM172

How has your week been? Did you enjoy the negativity spreading across all aspects of our media?  From the England team crashing out of the Euro 2016, another terrorist attack and of course the rumble of politicians positioning themselves for the next challenge...

MM171

MM171

A couple of recent events have been prolific in the news and have captured the attention of most people in the UK and possibly the World. The first one is our exit from the EU and the second one was the brutal murder of Jo Cox MP. (R.I.P) Both of these stirred...

MM170

MM170

Last week I was delivering a workshop on change and change management and while I was going through the material it was great to see the lights go on! Change happens every day, it could be a job title, structure change, re-organisation or a new product and I think...

MM169

MM169

The news of the death of Muhammad Ali, last week, was not a surprise, but, it was very sad. (Click on picture to see Michael Parkinson's tribute) I grew up watching his fights with my Dad and we both loved his style, confidence and attitude. He brought something...

MM168

MM168

Whenever I get some space, I try to do something productive so I don't feel it has been wasted. Having said that, I do count 'down time' as productive.  The same as an athlete would count their rest days as productive. However, I am not an athlete and do have...

MM167

MM167

I am sure quite a few of you watch TED Talks and a friend of mine recommended one to me last week. As I am always looking for material / things to share on the MM's I love it when I get something that someone else thinks is worth watching. The particular talk was...

MM166

MM166

When do we get too old to dream? I mean when do we grow out of wishing for the bigs things in life and just accept what we have, or don't have? I saw this video on FaceBook last week and it is so true. It's really short so please have a quick look: Click...

MM165

MM165

Often I am amazed how simple it is to affect someone else's life, in a good way or a bad way! I strive to be a good person, whatever that means, and do things I think are fair, and, for the right reasons. I don't really know how much impact that has on the people I...

MM164

MM164

Last week was a very strange week and the news of more celebrity deaths was very present in the news. The thing is though, loads of other people also lost loved ones that didn't make the national news, but, it a different way, the news was circulated via email,...

MM163

MM163

Some of you will be familiar with Tripp and his hilarious sketches about conference calls and corporate life. I saw this sketch last week about business speak, how it is sometimes overused and how confusing it can be. Have a quick look (2.45 mins) and see if this is...

MM162

MM162

Getting certain task started can be a struggle at times. I don't know about you, but I have been meaning to clear out my loft for some time now and it is something that always get replaced by something more inviting. Does that sound familiar and does the picture on...

MM161

MM161

Having been away recently I had time to do some people watching, which is a favourite past-time of mine! It's amazing that, just by watching people in their natural state (when they don't know they are being watched) what you can pick up about them. I appreciate it is...

MM160

MM160

Last week I managed to get some time to join a friend of mine in Barcelona for a couple of days cycling. We planned to do 2 x 4+ hour rides taking in some of the steep hills to put us through our paces. It worked, although, not without some blood, sweat and, nearly,...

MM159

MM159

With the internet, and everything it brings, we are only a second away from inspiration, motivation, education and information. You choose what you want, type it into your search engine and voila! Clearly there is a mixture of good, bad and ugly material but, whatever...

MM158

MM158

Communication is a wonderful thing and the use of language, how we emphasise words, the tone we use, and what our body says, can make it very impactful. Last week a couple of friends of mine were travelling by taxi in London and the cab driver passed a cyclist, who...

MM157

MM157

Wow, what a week. Have you ever had a week that you were glad was over, but happy to have been involved with? I had a week like that last week. It was tough, for many different reasons, but ended up with a satisfying coffee at the beach.  When I reflect back on...

MM156

MM156

The feedback from last weeks MM was very positive, with many people printing off the 10 tips - thank you for sharing that with me. It does put a smile on my face and makes it all worth while. I watched Bear Grylls with President Obama last week and found it...

MM155

MM155

At the start of a leadership development programme we often get a leader in the business to come along and share something profound with the delegates to set the scene. Sometimes the talk is general with no real impact and groups are left asking themselves "What was...

MM154

MM154

A few weeks ago, I got caught speeding and had the embarrassing situation sitting next to a policewomen being shown my offence on the speed camera and speed gun. I took the punishment and paid the fine as soon as the notice arrived. Two weeks ago I received a letter...

MM153

MM153

I spent all last week with a group of graduates (65 in total) assisting a team of people to deliver a "Graduate Impact Week" What a fantastic experience and something, that, I took so many lessons from. (Thank you 'Team Brenscombe') Organising timetables,...

Sales through Service

Sales through Service

I am in the market for a new printer as my trusty (very) old HP Deskjet has stopped duplex printing (double sided). I did some research, looked at some reviews and decided on a Cannon as it satisfied my duplex printing needs and seemed the best balance between quality...

See the Future

See the Future

As some of you know, I like to ride my motorbike at trackdays and last week I went to Silverstone. It was a fantastic day however it was a new track for me so I had to learn my way around. During the down time between sessions (20mins on track, 40 mins off) I had a...

Communicating With Energy

Communicating With Energy

In today’s competitive environment communication has never been so important – whether it’s making a sale, sharing ideas with your team or at an interview, communication is King. So how often do we stop and think about how we communicate in those situations? For most...

The Rarer Cancers Foundation

The Rarer Cancers Foundation

We (Nicole Farmer, Sara Bartlett, Chris Treacher, Mark Anderson, Tony Derbyshire and Darren Broad) have decided to do something called the Ultimate Challenge to raise awareness and money for The Rarer Cancers Foundation. The challenge consists of a series of 5 events...

Influence

Influence

I read an article over a year ago that looked at the Principle of Social Proof – An idea that we, as human beings, are influenced by the actions of others and follow the crowd. The article looked at GP surgeries and the notice you may often see inside – “Last month...