Learning and having fun!

This past week has been amazing.  Ok, the whole year has really… I am learning so much all the time, coaching brilliant, resilient, inspiring people and having a ball.
I’m doing more travel than I’d like to be, but it’s only for a season.

In May, for example, I’m only traveling out of town once – and only to Orange, which is 90 minutes away.  I’m speaking at Women Wine & Wisdom, hosted by the gorgeous Mary Brell… it will be a lot of fun.

For now though, I’m downloading the last few exciting days.  Last Thursday I met up with Mark Crutcher, a previous client (see November 07 archive) for a quick catch-up since his recent Fiji trip with his family, where he was awarded NSW Retailer of the Year.  His standards across his 3 IGA supermarkets are all outstanding, and his attitude to staff and customers is so generous and respectful.  His attitude to life is brilliant actually.  I wish everyone could hear his inspiring story… Hmm, something to discuss over coffee next week perhaps

We spent three days at Paul & Mary Blackburn’s at their generous invitation, for their “Inner Reflections” retreat.  I had expressed (slight) concern to a friend that they might have a 24 hour period of silence…. So when they announced that it was part of the weekend, Lyndon killed himself laughing… why would he think I couldn’t do it?!
Actually I was looking forward to it and quite enjoyed it.  I really cleared my head of all the busyness and constant ideas and to-do lists… which have really been building up lately with all the travel and intense learning we’ve been doing.  Sigh… (contendedly)  how nice to really, really relax.  I met some really special people and my major insights were around how happy I am and how fun I am… and noticing that I can get too serious at times…  look out world – I’m more fun than ever!  Please don’t be embarrassed if I feel the urge to start skipping!

Family, Friends and Fun

Back from another trip (this is getting ridiculous – we’re averaging every second weekend away)…  It was the big weekend with family for Grandads 90th, and the arrival of Nuy and her family from Bangkok.  I see my Grandparents in Sydney quite regularly, but my cousins are scattered all over the east coast of Australia, so getting everyone (almost) together is pretty special.  I adore my cousins and have special memories of our childhood.  So much has changed in our lives, but the bond of family keeps us connected, even if it’s been a while since our last conversations.

We bought a fabulous digital camera on Saturday so we could capture some family moments as well as all those other random moments when you wish you had a camera.  We’ll be learning to post photo’s and videos on our website, which I’m really looking forward to.  YouTube here we come!  What a great way of connecting and sharing news.

Entertaining friends from Thailand has been so much fun and a chance to see things from a different perspective.  Everywhere we went was a great photo opportunity – we had over 300 photos on our new camera over the two days.  We stopped at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains, rode the Scenic Railway and Cable Car, then home via Orange, where we took photo’s under the gorgeous autumn leaves.
We arrived home to dinner with James Hall & Hannah Welch, who were part of the second team I took to Bangkok, (December 2002).  Nuy was delighted to see them and it was fantastic to reminisce about our time in Thailand.

The next day we visited Dubbo Zoo, (we’ve never spent so long in the Australian section!) then on to Dad & Mum’s farm, via The Burrells farm… to experience sheep shearing, tractor driving, get up close & personal with horses, cows and countless other animals, not generally seen in Thailand.  Of course a farm trip is not complete without Dad’s special BBQ and dinner under the stars, a little cold, but absolutely worthwhile.

Thank you for coming to visit with your beautiful family Nuy!!!

Amazing learning… and other news

Training weekend with internet guru’s Dale Beaumont & Shaun Stenning… Absolutely mind-blowing… my head is spinning, with technical stuff I can’t get my head around, but more importantly – a sense of the unlimited possibilities.   I’m getting a glimpse of how phenomenal the internet is.  Sorry, I’m speechless here… a little tired from traveling, a little (okay, a lot) excited about what we’re doing here.  I can’t wait to share the excitement with you!!!  Our website will be going live as soon as we’ve done all the admin involved and had the site built – early June is most likely.

I’ve recently been noticing how people judge others by their own perceptions and world view.  For example, a generous person will easily recognize and value generosity, because they speak the same language.  One who is more self-focused and small thinking will misconstrue a generous act, seeing it with suspicion, questioning “what’s in it for them… what’s she/he after”.  I’m sure you could identify people you know who obviously have an abundance mentality – “there’s plenty for everyone”, or a scarcity mentality –“I have to get in and get mine before the greedy people do”.

As always, there’s much learning… I am so thankful for the generous people in my world and the wonderful friendships I develop with like-minded people.  I’ve also been learning that I can assume the best in people and rush in with enthusiasm, then be disappointed when things don’t work out.  I’m paying more attention to my intuition now, and being careful to align myself with those who share similar core values and beliefs.

One of the great discoveries over the past month is my friendship with Karen Saunders.  We will be working closely together on a number of projects and complement each others businesses and skill-sets beautifully.   You’ll read more about Karen in future blogs.   She’s amazing and I’m so excited about her possibilities and our possibilities.  Gosh life is wonderful.

What is wonderful in your life, and what are your possibilities? Go looking and find that they’re as endless as they are exciting.

Busy, exciting days…

Yesterday, 1st April was a full and exciting day, beginning with Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, where I met Damien Lynch & Deborah Barit, who are writing a book and surveyed attendees at the breakfast. They asked for me for an interview later in the day, which of course I made space in the diary for! It was great to share the moment with my new friend Karen (who will feature in future blogs I’m quite sure) and learn a little from these authors, although they had us doing most of the talking.

Preparations are underway for my Grandfathers 90th Birthday in Sydney and visit from Thai friends, flying in from Bangkok for all of 4 nights in Australia… it’s looking like being a very full-on, exciting few days.

Before I can think too much about that, it’s time to get ready for a few days in Sydney learning and preparing for our website… the one I’ve dreamed of for a while, but didn’t know such a thing existed. I have resisted the idea of building a website as I didn’t want just an expensive business card… something that will advertise my coaching services… no, it had to be the Taj Mahal of websites, one that is generating an income itself, and providing amazing value, learning and development for those who access it. I have found such an opportunity!

I met Dale Beaumont in 2007 after I read one of his books (which featured a couple of friends and colleagues), made a thanks card and sent it off with my congratulations on his achievements and acknowledgement of how clever and inspiring he is. Seems he liked the card as he invited me to lunch when next in Sydney. Those little cards can go a long way; I wish I wrote them as often as I think to. Although that means it’s all I’d do all day! There are always people to be thanked and congratulated. Who’s in your world you can acknowledge today?

So we’re off to Sydney tomorrow to learn from Dale Beaumont and Shaun Stenning – they’re website developers and internet marketing guru’s – and wonderful, generous, inspiring young human beings. I’m a little daunted by the technical side which is not me at all – but I have my darling Lyndon with me, who’s actually excited about that part. I’m excited by the opportunity to stay connected with clients and friends and connect with new friends everywhere. Woo Hoo! Here we come!